Cry, the Beloved Country: Questions Chapters 13-16
1) What in your view is the significance of the visit to Ezenzeleni, the mission to the
blind, in Chapter 13?
2) The language of the book has been discussed a good deal. One of its features is
that it offers literal translations of Zulu phrases: "Go well" and "Stay well" are the
English versions of "Hamba kahle" and "Sala kahle". What other features of the
language of the novel strike you as significant?
3) In Chapter 15 Father Vincent says: "But sorrow is better than fear. For fear
impoverishes always, while sorrow may enrich." To this Stephen replies: "I do not
know that I am enriched." Consider what exactly Father Vincent means. Why is
Stephen unable to respond to what Father Vincent says? Do we feel that Stephen
is in the end enriched by his sorrow? Try to elaborate.
4) Also in Chapter 15 Stephen complains to Father Vincent about Absalom: "He is a
stranger," he said. "I cannot touch him, I cannot reach him." Give your
interpretation of Absalom's state of mind and feeling.