Oprah's Cry, the Beloved Country Discussion Questions for Part 3
Oprah Winfrey has selected Cry, the Beloved Country as one of her book club selections. She has come up with 16 different discussion questions based on part three of the book. Here are two of them:
1. What do you see as the significance of the
bright young boy, Arthur's son, who appears in Chapters 31 and 33?
Response: The bright young boy has a great significance to this story. Similarly to Mrs. Lithebe and Father Vincent in Book 1, Arthur’s son is a bright light for the other characters in this dark time. However, Arthur’s son is also hope for the future. He is the link between old South Africa that is unfair and a new South Africa that is not prejudice.
2. Write an evaluation of Stephen's night vigil on the mountain. What does it achieve for him? What does it achieve for the reader?
Response: Kumalo and the reader achieve many things. Kumalo spends the time in prayer and confesses his sins. This helps him ultimately to find peace in his situation, his loss, and his future. Kumalo finds hope for the future even in these sad circumstances. The readers also get hope, but hope for the future of the country of South Africa.
Response: The bright young boy has a great significance to this story. Similarly to Mrs. Lithebe and Father Vincent in Book 1, Arthur’s son is a bright light for the other characters in this dark time. However, Arthur’s son is also hope for the future. He is the link between old South Africa that is unfair and a new South Africa that is not prejudice.
2. Write an evaluation of Stephen's night vigil on the mountain. What does it achieve for him? What does it achieve for the reader?
Response: Kumalo and the reader achieve many things. Kumalo spends the time in prayer and confesses his sins. This helps him ultimately to find peace in his situation, his loss, and his future. Kumalo finds hope for the future even in these sad circumstances. The readers also get hope, but hope for the future of the country of South Africa.