ChapterNineQuestions
WhilewehavedevelopedasoundunderstandingofMakhayathroughoutthebook,itisinchapter
ninethatheisfullyrevealed.ChapterNinedealswithMakhayasperceptionsofalotoftheisms
ofthebook:tribalism,racism,feminism,colonialism,argriculturalismetc.Heis,inthischapter,
madefullytransparent,boththroughthenarrativepointofviewandthroughtheconversationshe
engagesin.IfweweretoacceptMakhayaasthevoiceofHead,chapternineiscrucialforusdoing
so.
1.Identifythealliterationinthefirstpage
2.ExplainwhyJulyissobeautifulinBotswana
3.ChapterNinefindsMakhayabecomingmoreandmorecomfortableinGolemaMmidi.Thisis
shownthroughhisreaddressingtheinternalconflicthefaces,ashisexternalconflictsaresolved.
Elaborateandexplaintheabovestatements.
4.Gilbertfeltthatyou_____________________________________________________________________________thathad
livedoff___________________________________________________forgenerations_________________________________
___________________________________overnight
5.ThewaythepeopleofGolemaMmidilivedoffsubsidencefarmingiscomparedtothewaythe
idlerichlive.Explainhowthisimagedoes/doesntmakesense.
6.VoiceshadtoberaisedinAfricatoo,andtheyhadtocomefrommenlikeMakhayawhodeeply
cravedabetterlife,notonlyforthemselvesbutforallthousandsofpeoplewhowalkedaround
withnoshoes.DoyouthinkHeadmayalsobetalkingaboutherselfandherpurposeforwriting
WhenRainCloudsGatherhere:Explain.
7.HerearesomegreatcharacterquotesforMakhaya:
Hisinnerlife_____________________________________________________________________________________conflict
thisinner__________________________________________________________________________________allbyhimself
hehadbeenborn__________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________continent
8.BessieHeadwrotethisin1967:
HehadseenitintheslumsofallthecitiesofSouthAfricawhereblackmenhadtoliveandhowaman
walkedoutofhishometobuyapacketofcigarettesandneverreturnedandhowhisseemingly
senselessmurdergaveabrieffeelingofmanhoodtoamanwhohadnone.Thousandsofmendiedthis
waytoboostupthemanhoodofamanlessman.
Someonefamouswrotethisin2004:
Ihaveseen,thedesperationanddisorderofthepowerless:howittwiststhelivesofchildrenonthe
streetsofJakartaorNairobiinmuchthesamewayasitdoesthelivesofchildrenonChicagosSouth
Side,hownarrowthepathisforthembetweenhumiliationanduntrammeledfury,howeasilytheyslip
intoviolenceanddespair.
Explain,indetail,whatideasthesequoteshaveincommon.
9._____________________toldthatdeadthingthatmanwasonlyhissexorgansandfunctionedassuch
WhenRainCloudsGather
ChapterNineQuestionscontinued
10.ItwastoamazeMakhayaafterallthisthatanoldwomaninthevillageofGoemaMmidi,
namedMmaMillipede,wastorelievehis_________________________________________________________________
11.Whatisthesignificanceofthebiblicalreferenceinchapternine?
12.IamMakhaya,the____________________________________
13.HomeworkInourculture,whatdoestheblackdogreferto?
14.shewas_________________________________,butshehadlivedallherlifeinsidethisblackskinwitha
________________________________________________________________
15.WhatistheonethingMmaMillipedethinksMakhayamustlearn?Whyisthissodifficultfor
him.
16.MakhayacallsMatengefourthings,theseare:____________,_____________,____________&____________.
17.Hehadntexpectedanyonetotellhimthatgenerosity_________________________________________real
18.Makhayahatedthewhitemanwithapowerful_______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
19.InMakhayasopinionChristianityenabledthewhitemantodowhatandwhy
20.WhatwasironicaboutMakhayausingdynamiteinGolemaMmidi?
21.MakhayaconfrontedPaulinasgenderexpectationsbydoingandsayingwhat?
22.happinesswas______________________________________________________
23.WhatisMakhayaimplyingwiththefollowingstatement:Welltalkaboutrelativessome
otherday,
24.How/whyisthisstatementsurprisinghewasforcingfriendshipandunderstandingonher
becauseheneededthisinawomanmorethanheneededanythingelse.
25.povertyislike_______________