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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. On what activity does the narrator try to instruct Zorba in Chapter 16?
(a) Meditation.
(b) Writing his thoughts down.
(c) Playing the Santuri.
(d) Cooking.

2. What does Madame Hortense want from Zorba in Chapter 19?
(a) To be married immediately.
(b) To impregnate her.
(c) To support her.
(d) To build them a new house.

3. For what do the villagers gather to watch in Chapter 20?
(a) The narrator holds a celebration for the mine's reopening.
(b) Zorba celebrates the beginning of the railway construction.
(c) Zorba weds Madame Hortense.
(d) A newborn baby is baptized.

4. What news does the monk Zaharia bring in Chapter 24?
(a) He has burned down the monastery.
(b) He robbed the monastery.
(c) He has quit his life at the monastery.
(d) He wants to become a lignite miner.

5. What gift does Mimiko deliver from the accused in Pavli's death?
(a) A loaf of bread.
(b) A basket of oranges.
(c) A bouquet of flowers.
(d) An aromatic oil.

Short Answer Questions

1. What causes the Easter celebration to abruptly stop?

2. What does the narrator say about Hortense becoming a bride?

3. What does Zorba say prompted him to quit the army?

4. How does Zorba compare to Hortense's former lovers in her eyes?

5. How does Zorba describe proposal and marriage?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

2. What does Zorba say about the act of crying when Madame Hortense dies?

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

4. What does the narrator succeed in doing in Chapter 21 that Zorba could not?

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

6. Describe the monastery bishop's first theory on religion.

7. What story does Zorba tell in Chapter 20 that supports the theme that appearance creates reality?

8. In his third theory of religion, what does the bishop give as God's reason for sending religion to the masses?

9. What does Zorba say about women when the narrator reveals that he has proposed to Madame Hortense on his behalf?

10. Describe the actions that follow after the widow enters the church at the Easter celebration.

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. What causes the Easter celebration to abruptly stop?

The widow enters the church.

2. What does the narrator say about Hortense becoming a bride?

It takes away from her allure as a widow.

3. What does Zorba say prompted him to quit the army?

Seeing the orphans of a priest he killed.

4. How does Zorba compare to Hortense's former lovers in her eyes?

He is not as exotic.

5. How does Zorba describe proposal and marriage?

As "the trap."

Short Essay Answer Key

1. What does Madame Hortense actually think of Zorba?

Madame Hortense thinks Zorba will make a useful husband but does not think much of him above and beyond that role. She wishes also that he were as exciting and accomplished as her former lovers.

2. What does Zorba say about the act of crying when Madame Hortense dies?

He says that he isn't ashamed to cry in front of men because of the unity they share. He says that crying in front of women is different because it is a man's job to prove his courage when before women.

3. 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."

4. What does the narrator succeed in doing in Chapter 21 that Zorba could not?

The narrator recognizes that Madame Hortense is seriously ill and takes care of her both mentally and physically. He mentally encourages her by reminding her of her wedding while physically bringing a doctor to attend to her. He uses Zorba's romantic speech tricks while conscientiously attending to her health as well. Zorba, on the other hand, is a successful romantic but not a responsible partner.

5. 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.

6. Describe the monastery bishop's first theory on religion.

He believes that the shape of a flower influences its color and its color then has an influence on its properties which in turn produce a specific effect on humans. He summarizes this theory with the belief that men should be careful when walking through fields of flowers because of the peculiar effects the flowers are having on them.

7. What story does Zorba tell in Chapter 20 that supports the theme that appearance creates reality?

Zorba tells a story in which his grandfather takes a piece of wood, calls it part of the True Cross, and declares that it will protect the soldier to whom he gifts it from all harm in battle. The soldier then becomes a brave and invincible warrior simply because he believes that he has nothing to fear.

8. In his third theory of religion, what does the bishop give as God's reason for sending religion to the masses?

He says that God sent religion as an act of mercy for the masses in order that they might experience living in "eternity." The bishop believes that only a few people on earth are able to live an eternity during their natural lives on earth.

9. What does Zorba say about women when the narrator reveals that he has proposed to Madame Hortense on his behalf?

Zorba says that women are delicate creatures and are unable to handle such jokes.

10. Describe the actions that follow after the widow enters the church at the Easter celebration.

Because the villagers blame the widow for Pavli's death, Manolakas leads a mob to the church when they discover that she is there. When she walks out of the church, the mob surrounds her and Mavrandoni blocks the door to keep her from going back in. The mob begins to throw stones at her, and several pull knives as well. Mavrandoni says it is his right to declare judgment and orders her to be killed. The narrator attempts to save her but trips on a rock. Zorba arrives and also attempts to save her. Momentarily, he does as he wrestles Manolakas away from her, but ultimately Mavrandoni cuts her head off.