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Alan Paton’s

Cry, The Beloved Country

Ultimate Study Guide

Mrs. Huynh-Duc

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Background Info. on Alan Paton ALAN PATON was born in 1903 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. In 1922, he graduated from the University of Natal with a degree in mathematics (and later a second degree in education). Beginning in 1925 he taught at a native school in Ixopo, and following that he became principal of Diepkloof Reformatory for boys.

After World War II, he began studying prisons and reformatories, traveled to the United States, England, Canada and Sweden. While on this trip he got the idea for Cry, the Beloved Country, which was published in 1948.

Some of Alan Paton's other works are Too Late the Phalarope (1953), The Land and the People of South Africa (1955), Hope for South Africa (1959), Tales From a Troubled Land (1961), Debbie Go Home (1961), and Ah, But Your Land Is Beautiful (1982).

Literary Devices

in Cry the Beloved Country

1. Homeric or Epic Simile: A lengthy comparison, usually comparing something extraordinary to something ordinary, which uses words such as like, as, and so.

2. Foreshadowing: The use of clues in a literary work to suggest events that have yet to occur.

3. Personification: Giving human qualities to inanimate objects, ideas, or animals.

4. Onomatopoeia: Words that imitate sounds.

5. Homeric Epithet: A term used to characterize a person or a thing, usually repeated frequently.

6. Imagery: Descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the five senses.

7. Alliteration- Repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.

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1. Paragraphs two and three in Chapter 1 sharply contrast. Explain the significance of these two paragraphs in terms of the novel's central theme. (Come back to this later if you can't answer it at first.)

2. Identify Stephen, John, and Gertrude.

3. "Once such a thing is opened, it cannot be shut again." Explain.

4. Why does Stephen Kumalo go to Johannesburg?

5. "The lights . . . fall . . . on the grass and stones of a country that sleeps." Explain the symbolic significance of this statement.

6. What does "Umfundisi" mean?

7. "The journey had begun. And now the fear back again . . . ." What fears does Kumalo have?

8. What happens to Kumalo when he first arrives in Johannesburg?

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9. Identify Msimangu and Mrs. Lithebe.

10. Describe Gertrude's sickness.

11. Why is Gertrude's sickness upsetting to Kumalo?

12. What is Kumalo's brother John doing in Johannesburg?

13. "The tragedy is not that things are broken. The tragedy is that they are not mended again." Explain what Msimangu means.

14. "It is fear that rules this land." Who fears whom?

Match each vocabulary word from this section to its correct definition. ___ 1. kloof A. A motor truck.___ 2. bracken B. A small, secluded, wooded valley.___ 3. lorry C. Ravine___ 4. kraal D. A rural village.___ 5. pilgrimage E. A widespread, often weedy fern.___ 6. dell F. A long journey or search.

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1. Describe Kumalo's meeting with his sister (when he finds her in Johannesburg).

2. Kumalo bought Gertrude and the child new clothes. Why is that symbolically important?

3. Describe Kumalo's first meeting with his brother John in Johannesburg.

4. What is Msimangu's one hope for his country?

Match each vocabulary word from this section to its correct definition.

___ 1. self-denunciation A. Showing a brooding ill humor.___ 2. fidelity B. To please or satisfy.___ 3. municipality. C. A strong, irresistible force; exerted.___ 4. sullenly D. Self-accusation; self-condemnation.___ 5. cunning E. Faithfulness to obligations or duties.___ 6. compelled F. A political unit, such as a city or a town,___ 7. gratify incorporated for local self-government.___ 8. exposition G. Subtlety and deceitful

H. A statement or rhetorical discourse intended to give information about or an

explanation of difficult material

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“I Am Laertes’ Son” Use your textbook, pages 656-658.

1. Identify-- Cicones

2. Describe the events on Ismaros.

3. What were Odysseus’ feelings when Calypso held him captive?

4. Why did the Cicones defeat Odysseus and his men?

“The Lotus-Eaters” Use your textbook, page 658

1. Identify-- Lotus Eaters

2. What keeps Odysseus from reaching home?

3. What happens to the crewmembers who eat the Lotus?

4. What problems does Odysseus have with his men?

5. This episode is so brief, and yet it is one of the most famous parts of The Odyssey. Why do you think readers find it so interesting?

“The Cyclops” Use your textbook, pages 660-670

1. What are the two lies that Odysseus tells the Cyclops in his cave?

2. Is Polyphemus (the Cyclops) a good host? Why or why not?

3. Why does Odysseus blind Cyclops instead of kill him? How does he do it?

4. How do Odysseus and his men escape?

5. At the end of this scene, what does Odysseus arrogantly do?

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“The Island of the Winds” (In Italics on p. 673)Identify--Aeolus (Aiolus):

1. Who was at fault for Odysseus’s misfortune in this adventure?

2. Summarize the events in this adventure.

“Land of the Midnight Sun” (In Italics on p. 673)Identify-- Laestrygonians:

1. How many ships are left at the end of this adventure?

2. Summarize the events of this adventure.

“Circe” pp. 673-674Identify Each of the Following--

Circe:

Helios:

Aeaea:

Eurylochus:

Hermes:

Teiresisas:

“The Land of the Dead” pp. 675-677

1. Find two examples of an epithet from Book 11.a. b.

2. Who is Tiresias?

3. Summarize what Odysseus must do when he arrives at the Underworld with his men.

4. Summarize the message that Odysseus is given about the remainder of his journey.

5. How will Odysseus’s life end?

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“The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis; pp. 678-683

Identify--Sirens: Scylla: Charybdis:

1. Summarize Circe’s prophesy to Odysseus. What dangers await him and his men?

2. Why does Odysseus put wax in his men’s ears?

3. What does it mean that the sirens have “dropped under the sea rim” (line 759)? Explain.

4. What do you think of Odysseus’s decision not to tell his men about the danger of Scylla? Is his silence justified? Why or why not?

5. Do you think Odysseus is a good hero if he’s dependent on information and help from the gods and goddesses to get home?

“The Cattle of the Sun God”p. 684-686

Identify--Helios: Eurylochus:

1. Since Odysseus is captain, do you think he have enforced his men to bypass Thrinakia?

2. In this epic, Odysseus is constantly taking credit when things go well. Now, when a tragedy occurs, he blames the gods for making him fall asleep. What does this reveal about his character?

3. How does Odysseus lose the rest of his men?

4. His next stop is Calypso’s island, where we first met him in Book 5. Does “in medias res” make sense to you now?

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“Coming Home” (Italics) and “The Meeting of Father and Son” pp. 690-6941. Describe the warnings that Athena gives to both Telemachus and Odysseus.

2. How long as Telemachus been away from Ithaca?

3. Who is Eumaeus?

4. Locate and describe an example of magic.

5. Contrast the religious beliefs of:

a. Odysseus:

b. Telemachus:

6. Explain the dramatic irony that is found in the scene of Eumaeus’ hut.

7. Who does Telemachus mistake Odysseus for?

8. Was the reunion of Father and Son a satisfying scene for you, the reader? Why or why not?

“The Beggar and the Friendly Dog” pp. 694-695

1. Who is the only one to recognize Odysseus as he makes his way home?

2. What did Eumaeus say about Argos and what happened to Argos after seeing Odysseus for the first time in 20 years?

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1. Describe the scene between Penelope and “the beggar” (italics).

“Test of the Great Bow” pp. 698-702

1. What is the impossible task that Penelope asks the suitors to perform? What will be the result if they are to accomplish this task?

2. What trouble do the men have as they try to accomplish this task?

3. What are the orders Odysseus gives to Eumaeus? Philoetus?

4. What has Telemachus done to help sabotage the suitors?

“Death at the Palace” pp. 703-705

1. Why did Odysseus turn on Antinous first?

2. Describe the reaction of the suitors after Antinous’s death.

3. What plea does Eurymachus make for the other suitors?

“Odysseus and Penelope” pp. 706-709

1. How does Telemachus “pay” the servants who were not loyal to Odysseus?

2. What is Penelope’s reaction to the first sight of Odysseus?

3. What was the sign that opened Penelope’s heart to Odysseus?

4. What is the mood of Book 23?

The Odyssey in Chronological OrderDefine: in medias res-

Odysseus Book Elsewhere/Ithaca9

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