Cry the Beloved Country: Major Works Data Sheet Sample

About the Writer: * White * Born in Pietermaritzburg. South Africa in 1903 * Father was Scots and female parent was South African of English heritage * Worked at a reform school with black young persons Historical information about the period of publication: * South Africa already colonized by Europeans * Rampant racism * Introduction of apartheid in 1948 Features of the Genre * Show author’s disillusion with a certain facet of society * Deals with racism. sexism. homophobia. etc. * Normally a call for action. to acquire readers to back up a cause or issue Plot Summary Stephen Kumalo.

a priest in the little South African small town of Ndotsheni receives a missive saying that he must go to Johannesbur. New York City of South Africa. Upon geting to Johannesburg. Kumalo is overwhelmed but is helped by a fellow priest named Msimangu. Kumalo finds his sister Gertrude populating the life of a cocotte and efforts to rock her from her ways. While assorted events occur that teach the hearer and Kumalo about the racial cleavages blighting the state.

Kumalo discovers that his boy who he came to Johannesburg to happen has by chance murdered a outstanding black South African rights advocator. Arthur Jarvis.

Kumalo befriends his son’s pregnant girlfriend and takes her under his wing as a kind of adopted kid. Absalom is finally ruled guilty of slaying by the South African tribunals and is sentenced to hang. Grief afflicted. Kumalo returns to his small town to happen it in a province of disrepair. While in Johannesburg we were introduced to Arthur Jarvis’ male parent. James Jarvis who comes into an uneasy relationship/friendship with Kumalo at this point. Arthur Jarvis’ boy. who is larning Zulu and is eager to larn about the Black South African civilization. introduces many helpful reforms to the small town and institutes a big figure of plans which allow Ndotsheni to get down to lift up once more. This shows the ability and beauty of society when both races work together.

Describe the Author’s Style * Poetic * Descriptive * Sometimes a small acrimonious * Uses South African colloquialisms and vocabulary An illustration from text that denotes author’s manner * And now for all the people of Africa. the darling state. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. God save Africa. But he would non see that redemption. It lay afar away. because work forces were afraid of it. Because. to state the truth. they were afraid of him. and his married woman. and Msimangu. and the immature demonstrator. And what was there evil in their desires. in their hungriness? That adult male should walk vertical in the land where they were born. and be free to utilize the fruits of the Earth. what was there evil in it? . . . They were afraid because they were so few. And such fright could non be cast out. but by love. Memorable Quotation marks

Citation * “The white adult male has broken the folk. And it is my belief—and once more I ask your pardon—that it can non be mended once more. ”—Msimangu * “I see merely one hope for our state. and that is when white work forces and black work forces. . . wanting merely the good of their state. come together to work for it”–Msimangu * “Cry for the broken folk. for the jurisprudence and the usage that is gone. Aye. and cry aloud for the adult male who is dead. for the adult female and kids bereaved. Cry. the darling state. these things are non yet at an terminal. ”—Arthur Jarvis Significance * Talks about how the white’s policies have destroyed the old tribal life. * Declares that the lone hope for South Africa is common apprehension and a communal work for the common good. * Besides talks about how the non-understanding. empowered Whites have destroyed the traditional manner of life and its consequence on the black population and the state as a whole. Fictional characters

Name Role in the Story Significance AdjectivesStephen KumaloJames JarvisAbsalom KumaloArthur JarvisTheophilus MsimanguJohn KumaloArthur’s sonNapoleon Letsitsi Main character throughout most of the novel. The other protagonistStephen’s sonJames’s sonStephen’s friend in JohannesburgStephen’s brotherArthur’s sonAgricultural assistant in Ndotsheni Priest of Ndotsheni. Absalom’s fatherLandowner. Arthur’s fatherKills Arthur. is hanged for itWorks to assist inkinesss. great reformist. killed by AbsalomHelps Stephen find Absalom. retires to monasteryOrator for civil rightsSpeaks Zulu with Stephen. gets milk to NdotsheniSent by James to assist salvage Ndnotsheni’s drought-ruined Fieldss Quiet. low. progressive. blackUnderstanding. forgiving. unfastened to alter. whiteCowardly. lacks moral compass. confusedIntelligent. “bright. ” lovingness. independentKind. bitter. generous. sees things clearlyGreat “Bull voice. ” selfish“Bright” like his male parent. lovingness. precociousSmart. originative. determined Setting ( s ) The little state small town of Ndotsheni and the metropolis of Johannesburg. South Africa. in the 1940s. pre-Apartheid. World War II. S

ignificance of Opening SceneDescribes the landscape and beauty of South Africa. demoing both Paton’s and Kumalo’s fond regard to the African land Significance of Closing SceneThe dawn over Ndotsheni. typifying the eventual visual aspect of hope and alteration in South Africa. Many of the chief characters in the book have died ; Margaret. Arthur. Absalom… . . Stephen and James are aging. Represents that this current apprehension between a few people is non to last. a more ardent school of idea is on the rise. Symbols & A ; Other Devices * The church in Ndotsheni * Light * Nature * Sunrises Possible Themes/Topics for Discussion ( Motifs. Paradoxes. etc. ) * Father/son relationships: both Stephen and James are seeking for their boies ( Stephen literally. James figuratively ) and seeking to understand who they are * Justice vs. unfairness

* Who determines when clemency will be given and to whom? Judges? The person? The people? God? * Appearance of God in day-to-day life and nature * Black vs. white: should they work together or go separate? * Repentance: Is atoning plenty to salvage you? Does atoning do you a good individual in the terminal? * Equality and its ability to fancify society * Acceptance of one’s function in society. is it good? * Is standing by the position quo. non following a progressive stance. helpful? Author’s PurposeProvide societal commentary upon the problems faced by black South Africans at the custodies of white South Africans. and to humanise Africa’s call for aid. Motivate the reader to sympathise one-sidedly with the cause of equality and observe its clear benefits on the societal cloth of a state or other group of diversified peoples.