This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the narrator tell Zorba that they will one day build?
(a) A statue of Buddha.
(b) A house near the mine.
(c) The monastery of free men.
(d) A new cable rail system.

2. In Chapter 16,what type of power does the narrator attempt to describe?
(a) The power of a sexual relationship.
(b) The power of the human body.
(c) The power of the rail system.
(d) The power of the mind concentrated on one thing.

3. What startling news does Zorba receive when he returns from Candia?
(a) He learns that he is going to be a father.
(b) He learns that the mine will soon close.
(c) He learns that he is expected to propose to Madame Hortense.
(d) He hears that a revolution is brewing on Crete.

4. Who attempts to cheer Zorba up following the death of Hortense?
(a) The monks.
(b) The festival-goers.
(c) The dirge singers.
(d) Anagnosti.

5. In his story, what does Zorba's grandfather tell the old soldier about the piece of wood he gives him?
(a) He says it's part of the True Cross.
(b) He says it's a piece of wood from the house he was born in.
(c) He says it is anything he believes it to be.
(d) He says it's a piece of Noah's Ark.

Short Answer Questions

1. When he arrives in Candia, what news does the narrator receive?

2. What causes Zorba to become infuriated after Hortense's death?

3. What is the statue of Our Lady of Revenge notorious for?

4. What do the narrator and Zorba do on Easter Sunday?

5. Who does Zorba say is having a sexual relationship with his student?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator state is the reason for Zaharia's death?

2. What was Zaharia's inspiration for burning down the monastery?

3. Describe what happened while Zorba was at war that changed his mind about judging a person based on nationality.

4. What two major shifts happen to the narrator in Chapter 21? What major realization do these shifts spur in the narrator.

5. Why does Zaharia say he became a monk?

6. What might be the significance of the narrator inheriting the Santuri?

7. As the narrator watches Zorba comfort Madame Hortense on her death bed with the others eagerly awaiting her death, what does he compare the scene to?

8. When writing letters to Madame Hortense, what does the narrator have to do?

9. Why do you think the narrator's good friend, the soldier, is not named until his death?

10. How did Zaharia appear when he was found dead?

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. When he arrives in Candia, what news does the narrator receive?

His friend Stavridaki has died.

2. What causes Zorba to become infuriated after Hortense's death?

The narrator does not have the answers to his questions.

3. What is the statue of Our Lady of Revenge notorious for?

Killing an Algerian army.

4. What do the narrator and Zorba do on Easter Sunday?

Make a feast for Madame Hortense.

5. Who does Zorba say is having a sexual relationship with his student?

Demetrios.

Short Essay Answer Key

1. What does the narrator state is the reason for Zaharia's death?

The narrator says that Zaharia has fulfilled his main passion and purpose and has therefore accomplished everything that life would ask of him, so he can die.

2. What was Zaharia's inspiration for burning down the monastery?

He says he was acting on a mission assigned to him by Archangel Michael. He acted, however, based on the knowledge he received from Zorba.

3. Describe what happened while Zorba was at war that changed his mind about judging a person based on nationality.

While at war, Zorba murdered a Bulgarian priest who had been invading Greek villages and killing Greeks. Later, when Zorba sees the orphans of the priest, he realizes that nationality doesn't matter. Rather, "good" and "bad" are the only important classifications to consider.

4. What two major shifts happen to the narrator in Chapter 21? What major realization do these shifts spur in the narrator.

The narrator finally sleeps with the widow, which Zorba has been encouraging him to do for some time. The narrator also finishes the Buddha Manuscript and with it, has the realization that he has exorcised the Buddha from himself. These two shifts make it clear to the narrator that "the soul is flesh as well," or in other words the actions of his body are just as important and spiritual as the meditating and thinking to which he is accustomed.

5. Why does Zaharia say he became a monk?

He says poverty led him to become a monk. He was hungry and knew that if he went into the monastery there would be no way he could starve.

6. What might be the significance of the narrator inheriting the Santuri?

The Santuri, Zorba's musical instrument, was one of the symbols in the story of the expression of emotion outside of words. Zorba plays the Santuri in the story when he is happy. The fact that the story ends with the Santuri in the narrator's possession is an indication that he has grown closer to reaching his goal, that of a marriage between the body and spirit, and that he has attained some level of the sought after "freedom."

7. As the narrator watches Zorba comfort Madame Hortense on her death bed with the others eagerly awaiting her death, what does he compare the scene to?

The narrator first compares the scene to a huge exotic bird with a broken wing that has fallen and is dying on the beach, with all of the villagers standing around watching for entertainment. Then he compares Madame Hortense to other animals as well, like an "old angora cat" and "a sick old seal."

8. When writing letters to Madame Hortense, what does the narrator have to do?

The narrator must pretend he is Zorba. Therefore, he must take on Zorba's characteristics in his writings while looking for the best in Madame Hortense.

9. Why do you think the narrator's good friend, the soldier, is not named until his death?

It may be to emphasize the theme of the importance of human interaction and companionship. Just as the narrator is gaining the realization that human connection is essential, his friend dies and his friend's name is revealed. His friend has also fulfilled his passion, which was to serve his country. His name is then symbolically mythologized when it appears in the story.

10. How did Zaharia appear when he was found dead?

He was found shaven bald and pierced with the spear of the Holy Virgin of Revenge.