Cliffs Notes on Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country

✍ Scribed by Richard O. Peterson

• Publisher: Cliffs Notes
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 83
• Series: Cliffs Notes
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into critical elements and ideas within classic works of literature.

CliffsNotes on Cry, the Beloved Country takes you into a compassionately told story set in the troubled and changing South Africa in the 1940s.

Focusing on a people who are caught between two worlds -- the old with its rituals and and respect and the new with its lack of values and order -- this study guide explores a novel of social protest through character analyses and critical essays. Other features that help you figure out this important work include

• Profile of the author Alan Paton's life and work
• Historical background of the troubled and changing South Africa of the 1940s
• Character web and in-depth analyses of the major roles
• Summaries and commentaries for each chapter within the book
• Review questions and suggestions for theme topics

Classic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

✦ Table of Contents

Paton's Cry, the Beloved Country......Page 1
Contents......Page 5
Life and Background of the Author......Page 7
Introduction to the Novel......Page 16
A Historical Introduction to the Novel......Page 18
A Brief Synopsis......Page 23
Stephen Kumalo (koo-MAH-lo)......Page 24
John Kumalo......Page 25
James and Margaret Jarvis......Page 26
Stephen’s friend in Ndotsheni......Page 27
Hlabeni......Page 28
Critical Commentaries......Page 29
Summary......Page 30
Commentary......Page 31
Summary......Page 33
Commentary......Page 34
Summary......Page 37
Commentary......Page 38
Summary......Page 40
Commentary......Page 41
Figure 1-1 Map of Africa......Page 42
Summary......Page 43
Commentary......Page 45
Summary......Page 47
Commentary......Page 48
Summary......Page 50
Commentary......Page 52
Summary......Page 54
Commentary......Page 55
Summary......Page 57
Commentary......Page 58
South Africa: After The Novel Ends......Page 59
Themes......Page 60
Settings......Page 63
Characters as Symbols......Page 65
Each As Symbolic of a Larger Idea......Page 66
Each as Revealed by Words and Actions......Page 67
Each As a Changed Person Through the Novel’s Experiences......Page 69
Language, Style, and Structure......Page 70
Adaptations of the Novel to Other Media......Page 74
Suggestions to Readers Who View the 1996 Film......Page 75
Comparisons and Comments......Page 76
Review Questions and Essay Topics......Page 77
Selected Bibliography......Page 79