Lesson Four Cry,the Beloved Country Mrs. Stephanie Loomis

1. World Literature and Composition
16 March 2012
Journal Prompt
How do you respond to
this quote?

2.  There were times, some in the very
midst of satisfaction, when the
thought of his son would come to
him. (93)
 She said it tonelessly, hopelessly, as
one who is used to waiting, to
desertion. (99)
These chapters break my heart…still
 There is no prayer left in me. (105)
 There are times…when God seems no
So much sorrow
more about the world. (105)
 Cry, the beloved country, for the
unborn child that is the inheritance of
our fear. Let him not love the earth to
deeply…for fear will rob him of all if
he gives too much. (111)
 What broke in a man when he could
kill another man? (119)

3. Your questions
(in no particular order)
 Chapter 11: Why was  Ch. 13: How did traveling to
Kumalo dumb inside Johannesburg open the eyes
and had no prayer left of Kumalo? What did he
in him? resolve to do when he
arrived back home? Why?
 Chapter 13: Why does
Kumalo feel spiritually
refreshed?  Chapter 12: How does the
mindset reflected in the
 Chapter 11: What is so conversation between the
significant about the husband and wife on pages
murder of Arthur 108 and 109 hold back
Jarvis? change?
 Chapter 12: Why is  Chapter 10: Why did
Kumalo so cold at the Msimangu react so poorly
end of the chapter? towards Absalom's girlfriend?

4. More…  Chp. 13: What makes
 Ch13: How does
Kumalo blind? Are you
Msimangu’s sermon to
often blinded by the
the blind allow Kumalo
same thing?
to see God’s plan
 Chapter 12- on page
differently?
107 Mr. McLaren
 Ch 12: In what ways do
says, “For it is only
the loss of possessions
because they see
result in the “loss of
neither purpose nor goal
whiteness”?
that they turn to drink
 Chapter 10: Why does
and crime and
the small boy offer so
prostitution.” Do you
much comfort to
think this same idea is
Kumalo?
what is affecting society
 Chp. 12: How does
today?
Paton’s writing style
 Chapter 12: what was
affect chapter 12?
de Villiers plan?

5. More…  Chapter 11: Why is the
murder of Mr. Jarvis a
loss to South Africa?
 Chapter 10: how did
 Chapter 12-What is so
playing with the child
dangerous about living
with the wooden blocks
in fear?
help Kumalo?
 Chapter 13- During the
 11: Why do white
search for his son, what
officials automatically
does Kumalo lack?
assume that the
 Chapter 12: Would
murderer of Anther
opening up new schools
Jarvis was a black
and giving the Black
man?
people more rights
 13: Why was Kumalo so
really decrease the
touched by Msimangu's
 crime rate?
speech?

6. More…  Why is the police visit
 Chapter 11: How does seem heavy? (116)
the reaction to Arthur  What guilt did Kumalo
Jarvis’ death show the feel? (110)
difference between the  How did Kumalo learn
people in the humility? (120)
countryside and the
people in the city?  “For it was not only a
voice of gold, but it was
 Chapter 13: What effect the voice of a man
did the sermon have on whose heart was
Stephen Kumalo? golden, reading from a
book of golden words.”
 Ch 11: Why does (122)
Msimango urge Kumalo
to rest for a few days?  What is the most
beautiful passage you
read this week?

8. Cry…
Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn
child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let
him not love the earth too deeply. Let him
not laugh too gladly when the water runs
through his fingers, nor stand too silent
when the setting sun makes red the veld
with fire. Let him not be too moved when
the birds of his land are singing, nor give
too much of his heart to a mountain or a
valley. For fear will rob him of all if he
gives too much. (111)

9. Homework
 Read THROUGH chapter 17
 Write one question per chapter
 Email questions to me no later than 6 pm
Monday night (19 March)
 Resource Bibliography
The Resource Bibliography is a list of sources you think you may use. Include
all the bibliographic information (publisher, et al) so that your Works Cited
page is simpler to compile. I strongly recommend the list be longer than
the 7 required sources so you have room for editing as you research.
 ALSO—make sure you actually USE these
sources in your essay!