Book1 CBTC

What is the setting of the story symbolic of?

the culture at the time (went form something beautiful to a place of turmoil after gradual destruction)

Theme of fear

Fear dominates the land, everyone is afraid (even Stephen) and especially people in Johannesburg. Many are afraid of the natives for there has been a spike in crimes.

who is the main character of the story?

Rev. Stephen Kumalo

On the train to Claremont, Msimangu admits that he does not like segregation but he…

laments that the whites and blacks are not apart because blacks are often thrown off the train by young hooligans, and black hooligans do the same

One of the richest black women in Johannesburg is a….

liquor seller

the man that stops them is the famous Dubula. What does msimangu tell kumalo he is known for?

he is a part of the great trio of black Johannesburg politics: John Kumalo is the voice, Dubula is the heart, Tomlinson is the brains.

msiamngu and kumalo decide to embark on the eleven mile walk to Alexandra. Who's house do they arrive at when they finally reach their destination?

Mrs. Mkize

Upon first arrival, Mrs. Mkize acts scared and only tells Kumalo that Absolam has been gone about a year now. Kumalo is unsatisfied with how little information she shared, so he turns back. This time…

he swears that no harm will come of her for telling what she has to tell. Mrs. Mkize admits that Absalom and his friends would often bring back clothes and watches and money in the middle of the night.

Who does Mrs. Mkize tell kumalo to talk to?

the taxi-driver, Hlabeni, who was friends with his son

What do they learn about Absolam from Hlabeni?

he says that he heard that Absalom went to Orlando and lives amongst the squatters in Shanty Town.

What do Stephen and msimangu witness on their taxi ride back to Johannesburg?

They watch a car driven by a white man that the police stop because he is carrying black passengers. The white man confronts the police and dares them to take him to court.

What is an intercalary chapter?

a chapter that removes the reader from the plot in order to introduce a BIG idea

What was apartheid?

Under apartheid, nonwhite South Africans (a majority of the population) would be forced to live in separate areas from whites and use separate public facilities, and contact between the two groups would be limited.

what is a shanty town?

a small section of land packed with people (black people weren't allowed to own property or live in houses)

In South Africa, what were shanty towns like?

very unsanitary, a lot of illness, people randomly went to houses and asked for rooms to rent

Who does Stephen turn to for enjoyment while waiting for msimangu to take him to shanty town?

Gertrude's small boy (but even in these moments of satisfaction he remembers his son)

Msimangu takes Kumalo to Shanty Town, and shows him a building that he credits to…

Dubula's work (black nurses being allowed to be trained by white nurses)

A nurse points the men to a woman that tells Kumalo that she let absolam stay with them because he had nowhere else to go, but the magistrate sent him to the reformatory. Who is this woman?

mrs. Hlatshwayos

What does the white man at the reformatory tell kumalo about absolam?

Absalom was given leave partially because of good behavior, partially because he got a girl pregnant. Absalom is not married, but everything is arranged for a marriage. He is now in Pimville.

they go to pimville and meet absolam's girlfriend. what does she tell them?

Absalom went to Springs on Saturday and has not yet returned

Msimangu lashes out when Kumalo argues that he wants to do more because her child will be his grandchild. What does Msimangu say in anger?

He doesn't necessarily know if the child even is his grandchild (implying his son's girlfriend has been with many men)

After this, they learn that Absolam has not been at work in a week. Masimangu apologizes for his outburst, and they agree to..

see the girl again

Msimangu wants Kumalo to rest because the man at the reformatory will do a better search for Absalom than he can. So, he tells him he wants to take him to…

Ezenzeleni, the place of the blind, to hold a service for them, but he will return two days later.

At dinner at the mission house, it is discovered that there is news of..

the murder of an engineer by natives

Who was the murder victim?

Arthur Jarvis-renowned for his interest in social problems and for his efforts for the welfare of the non-European sections of the community.

In the intercalary part of chapter 12, what big idea is introduced?

Native crime- will more education resolve it?

Chapter 12 then transitions to a regular chapter in which the readers learn what?

Absolam is WANTED by the police

On their silent journey to Ezenzeleni, what does Kumalo realize Msimangu was right about?

there is no need to fear the one thing in a great city where there were thousands upon thousands of people.

What does Kumalo think about Ezenzeleni?

it is great, for the blind had eyes given to them and made things that he could never make such as baskets.

What is the significance of the sermon Msimangu gives in chapter 13?

It was meant for Kumalo. (Reminds him that "the Lord opens the blind eyes to bring out the prisoners from prison") Kumalo enters Ezenzeleni metaphorically blind, but leaves the area with a newfound vision.

The young man from the reformatory has arranged for Kuala to visit his son in prison. What does Msimangu insist John do before he leaves?

Tell John about where he is going and why

What does John worry about when Kumalo comes to him and what does he decide to do about it?

John worries that his son and Absalom are companions. John decides to accompany Stephen to the prison.

Why does Absolam say he carries a revolver?

For protection- he never knows when he is going to be attacked

Why does Absolam say he shot the white man?

He was frightened and did not mean to kill him

Why does Absolam say when his father asks why he never wrote? how does kumalo reply?

Absalom blames the devil, but Stephen asks whether he can say that he fought with the devil and had no strength left.

When Stephen leaves his son, he sees John Kumalo and tells him the story. John Kumalo insists that…

there is no proof that his son or the other young man were there at all. John Kumalo asks Stephen who will believe his son.

What do Father Vincent and Kumalo discuss in chapter 15?

Getting a lawyer for Absolam.

Why does Vincent think it's important they get a lawyer?

1. Because John's son and another man claim that they weren't there

2. To prove why Absolam truly shot the gun: Was it to kill or was it out of fear? (less punishment if they can prove it was out of fear)

In Chapter 17, Kumalo goes once again to visit Absolam's girlfriend. What does he inform her of?

The fact that Absolam is in jail(she didn't know)

What does he also ask Absolam's girlfriend at this time?

if she truly wants to marry his son (he does not wish to take her into the family is she is unwilling)

what upsets kumalo about the girl?

She is 16 and pregnant. this woman that wants to be with he son has already been with 2 men before Absolam.

What does Kumalo ask the girl out of horror of her past sexual history?

Asks is she would marry/sleep with him if he wanted it

He insists that if she repents of this plan, she must tell them and not run away as she did from her mother. What plan have they agreed on?

They would live together in Ndotsheni and she would marry Absolam.

Absolam's girlfriend is now staying at mrs. lithebe's. What doe mrs. Lithebe warn the girl not to do?

not to hurt Stephen Kumalo with her carelessness.

What do Kumalo and Absolam discuss upon his second visit?

-arranging the marriage

-john's son and other man harassing him

-lawyer coming soon

What is the name of the white man that will be Absolam's lawyer?

Mr. Carmichael (one of the greatest lawyers in South Africa and one of the greatest friends to the blacks in South Africa.)

Mr. Carmichael is taking the case pro deo. What does this mean?

"For God." (will cost Kumalo little to nothing)

All roads lead to ___

Johannesburg

What is Msimangu's one hope for his country?

He hopes that one day "white men and black men, desiring neither power or money, but desiring only the good of their country, come together to work for it."

What is Msimangu's greatest fear?

In chapter 7 after him and Kumalo meet with John, he states that his greatest fear is that one day people will stop loving one another and start to hate instead.