The River Between Study Guide #3

The River Between Name:_______________________________
Study Guide 12-16

Chapter 12
1. What action has Kabonyi taken and how does Waiyaki feel about this situation?



2. What new law of the church was now put into effect? How would this affect Waiyaki?




3. What event is implied at the end of chapter 12?



Chapter 13
1. Why did Waiyaki and Kamau dislike each other?




2. What is the “new kiama”?






3. What might Ngugi have intended with his emphasis on water and the rain in this chapter?




4. A symbol is a concrete object used to represent an idea. Explain some of the water symbolism in this chapter.





5. What could the rain be compared to on page 66?



Chapter 14
1. What was Marioshoni? Whose idea had it been? Why has it come into existence?






2. How do chapters 13 and 14 seem out of order? Explain why Ngugi might have put them in the order he did.



3. What is “the white man’s magic”?
4. The importance of circumcision in Gikuyu culture is reviewed on page 68. Summarize what it says?




5. Reread the description of the rivalry between Makuyu and Kameno (p. 69-70). Describe where the rivalry is now, what each side stands for, and Waiyaki’s place in the rivalry.





Chapter 15
1. Personification is a figure of speech in which a nonhuman thing is given human characteristics. Give an example of personification on page 73.




2. “And all at once, Waiyaki recognized the shape in his mind that had refused to melt into nothingness.” (p. 74) Identify who/ what the shape is.





3. Nyambura’s emotional state since the death of Muthoni has been one of great loneliness and grief. Where does she find companionship?


Chapter 16
1. Using context clues, define the following words:
thingira (p. 78)

Shambas (p. 79)

2. Give a two sentence description of Njahi. (p. 79)



3. Describe Waiyaki’s confusion regarding the following in this chapter:

The old prophecy:

Kabonyi:

4. Why did Waiyaki forgive Nyambura for not visiting him at the school as they had agreed?



5. Waiyaki receives a warning from______________ at his mother’s hut. This person tells him to be careful of ______________, who dislikes Waiyaki out of ______________.