Tsotsi Questions

Chapter 1

1.1 Identify why Tsotsi is silent for most of the chapter and how this contributes to the
atmosphere.

1.2 What makes Tsotsi a particularly menacing brand of gangster?

1.3 Choose three sentences or phrases that summarise Tsotsi’s perception of the members of his
gang.

1.4 Compare the four gang members and describe what their niche is within the group.

1.5 Why is Friday a good night to commit a crime?

1.6 How does Boston’s reaction to Tsotsi’s suggestion, that they find their next victim on the
train, differ from the reactions of the other members? What does that indicate about his
character?

1.7 What weapon does Butcher prefer to use? Why? What does that tell is about him?

1.8 What indications are there that the men have a bad reputation in the community?

1.9 What is the purpose of the author giving a detailed description of Gumboot Dhlamini’s life?

1.10 Discuss the details about the life of the migrant mine workers in terms of the theme of the
novel.

1.11 List and explain the three mistakes that Gumboot made on his last day.

1.12 Explain each gang member’s role in Gumboot’s murder.

1.13 Explain Boston’s reaction to the murder. What does it tell us about him?

1.14 Why does Tsotsi whisper an obscenity in Gumboot’s ear?

Chapter 2

2.1 Why does Fugard set the episode at Soekie’s after the murder? Analyse the description of
Soekie’s place. How does this relate to a theme in the novel?

2.2 What evidence is there is the beginning of the chapter that Boston is losing control?

2.3 Explain why Boston asks Tsotsi questions.

2.4 Describe how the murder of Gumboot affects each of the gang members.
2.5 What else, other than vomit, did Boston spill after the murder? Why?

2.6 In what way is Boston like a “cornered animal trapped in a ring of ridicule”?

2.7 What do Boston’s words, “everything you are not”, reveal about his opinion of Die Aap and
Butcher?

2.8 Identify what Tsotsi’s reaction to Boston’s questions reveals about his character.

2.9 “Your maag can’t take it.” What does this sentence tell us about the township language
Fugard has chosen for these thugs to use?

2.10 Tsotsi wants everything to stay “the same as always”. Why?

2.11 What is the function of Rosie’s presence in this chapter? Link this to a theme in the novel.

2.12 Why does Soekie try to get Rosie to go home?

2.13 For every two drinks the other have, Tsotsi has one. Explain why he does this.

2.14 What does Boston mean by ‘decency’?

2.15 “What is that?” What is ironic about Butcher’s reaction to Boston’s used of the word
‘decency’?

2.16 What disturbing truth do we learn about Tsotsi’s past?

2.17 Evaluate Tsotsi’s description of himself as ‘meaningless as a handful of stones’.

Chapter 3

3.1 What sparks Tsotsi’s attack on Boston?

3.2 Describe Tsotsi’s three rules.

3.3 Why are the three rules significant?

3.4 How do the rules reflect Tsotsi’s personality? How do they protect him?

3.5 What is the importance of Tsotsi’s knife?

3.6 What is Tsotsi’s state of mind when he leaves the shebeen?

3.7 Why does he want to be alone?

3.8 What descriptions in this chapter indicate that this novel takes place in apartheid South
Africa?

3.9 Tsotsi can’t always keep his memories at bay. Mention two events that force the concept of
memory to the surface.
3.10 Who is Petah?

3.11 What is Tsotsi trying to run from throughout the Chapter? Select a character trait this
reveals about him.

3.12 Based on the spider anecdote, why does Tsotsi avoid all thought of the past?

3.13 What words seem to indicate that the woman in the bluegum grove actually chooses to give
the baby away?

3.14 Why does Tsotsi kill neither the woman nor the baby in the bluegum trees?

Chapter 4

4.1 How is the narration different in this chapter?

4.2 Why does the author change the narration?

4.3 Why is Cassim in such a nervous state?

4.4 Cassim offers a clear insight into how the members of Tsotsi’s gang are perceived by the
community. Quote two consecutive words that incorporate a metaphor to describe the gang.

4.5 Mention some ways in which the author uses humour to break the tension in this chapter.

4.6 Explain why Tsotsi waits for the store to be empty before buying milk. What internal conflict
is he facing?

4.7 Which two characteristics of Tsotsi are in contrast to the characteristics previously
revealed?

4.8 Why is Tsotsi unable to see on the label that condensed milk is not suitable as baby milk?
Which socio-economic problem does Fugard introduce here?

4.9 Why is buying baby milk an embarrassment for someone like Tsotsi?

4.10 Why is MaRhabatse’s house a ruin?

4.11 Discuss the significance of Tsotsi caring for the baby.

4.12 How is the arrival of the baby in Tsotsi’s life “destructive”?

4.13 Tsotsi uses his knife to open holes in the condensed milk tin. Discuss the irony in this action.

4.14 “… a game he had never dared play and the baby was the dice, so to speak.” Explain this
metaphor.

4.15 Give two reasons why Tsotsi uses a thin square of wood to cover his window.

4.16 Why are there many areas of ruins in the township?

4.17 What fundamental change takes place in Tsotsi at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 5

5.1 Why is Reverend Ransome so troubled?

5.2 Describe the symbolism of the township cemetery.

5.3 What socio-political point is the author making with his descriptions of the cemetery and the
burial of Gumboot Dhlamini?

5.4 Describe Boston’s physical and mental condition when he regains consciousness.

5.5 Give two reasons what the author refers to the smell of dirty rags in the room.

5.6 Compare Tsotsi making the “kill decisions” at the beginning of the novel to now. What has
changed and how does this reveal his overall change of character?

5.7 Explain the following line: “Something had tampered with the mechanism that had governed
his life.”

5.8 What is significant (and acts as a foreshadowing) about the woman who walks past Tsotsi’s
room?

5.9 Identify how the dynamic of the group has changed.

5.10 Die Aap and Butcher are both flat characters who do not have much depth. How does the
author illustrate this as they stand around waiting for Tsotsi to appear?

5.11 How does the author illustrate that Boston’s character is more in-depth? Refer to details in
this chapter as well as details in chapters 1-4.

5.12 Why is it difficult for Tsotsi to formulate a plan for their night’s operation?

5.13 What is the irony of Tsotsi wanting to know from the others where Boston is?

5.14 How does the author illustrate that there is not much loyalty between the gang members?
How is this ‘good’ news for Tsotsi?

Chapter 6

6.1 How does this chapter deviate from the plot of the novel so far?

6.2 What is the purpose of the description of Terminal Place?

6.3 Describe Morris’s miserable life and WHY Fugard includes all the details about his accident and
life as a crippled man.
6.4 Like Gumboot, Morris Tshabalala is also a man. Discuss how these characters are different
kinds of men.

6.5 How does Fugard use the character of Morris to criticise the unfairness of the world created
by apartheid?

6.6 Why does Tsotsi choose Morris as his next victim? What does that say about him?

6.7 How does Morris become aware that Tsotsi is following him?

6.8 Discuss two ways in which the descriptions of the newspaper seller break the tension.

6.9 Discuss the significance of the newspaper headlines in terms of the setting of the novel.

6.10 Describe what connection Tsotsi makes with Morris and identify how that influences his view
of Morris.

6.11 Identify the atmosphere and explain how it develops Tsotsi’s internal conflict.

Chapter 7

7.1 Refer to the first paragraph. What indication is there that something profound has changed
in Tsotsi?

7.2 Why does Tsotsi step on Morris’s hand?

7.3 What is the effect on Tsotsi of the curse muttered by Morris? Why?

7.4 Why is Tsotsi alone? What does this mean?

7.5 Tsotsi realises that he is not after Morris’s money. Why is he drawn to following and
attacking him?

7.6 Compare Tsotsi’s feelings towards Morris to his feelings towards Gumboot whom he stalked
earlier.

7.7 What new ‘truth’ does Morris discover after all the years when he thought nothing
mattered?

7.8 Why does Morris accuse Tsotsi of not wanting to live?

7.9 What, according to Tsotsi, is the truth about life?

7.10 Does Tsotsi understand Morris’s explanation about a person’s will to live? Explain your answer.

7.11 Why does Morris say: “Mothers love their children”? Explain Tsotsi’s response to the
statement.

7.12 Morris makes Tsotsi realise that his power over life and death can have another meaning.
What is this?
7.13 Explain the motif of light and dark throughout the time Tsotsi stalks Morris.

Chapter 8

8.1 Explain the link between the last section of Chapter 7 and the first section of Chapter 8.

8.2 Why does Reverend Ransome pray on his way to open up for the church-goers: “God help me”?

8.3 Boston is suffering “fear of pain and shame” – why is he in this state?

8.4 When Tsotsi first sees the baby he wants to run away but instead “he took a deep breath,
held it in, and went to work”. Analyse the significance of this and what it reveals about his
change in character.

8.5 How does Tsotsi know that the baby is near death?

8.6 The communal water tap is “indispensable, hated at times, enjoyed at others”. Explain these
descriptions.

8.7 Language and idiomatic expressions are a reflection of the way we live. How does the writer
illustrate this in the descriptions of the Waterworks Square?

8.8 The author mentions that Miriam was waiting for her husband to return, and had to accept
that he was probably dead. What incidents in the book so far confirm this suspicion?

8.9 What reference to the struggle against apartheid infers that Simon may have been
arrested or detained?

8.10 List and describe two ways in which the author shows that Miriam is well brought-up and
has manners.

8.11 How are Miriam’s social skills in sharp contrast to Tsotsi’s?

8.12 Assess the internal conflict with which Miriam is faced.

8.13 Discuss why this is significant and how it affects her first confrontation with Tsotsi and the
baby.

8.14 How is the reader reminded of Tsotsi’s illiteracy in this chapter?

8.15 How does Tsotsi know the baby is close to death?

8.16 Why does Tsotsi threaten Miriam? Why does he not simply ask for help?

8.17 Why is it that Miriam finds feeding the baby deeply satisfying?

8.18 Why is Miriam’s remark about the bitch and her pups so significant?

8.19 Describe the mood on a Sunday afternoon in the township.

8.20 Discuss what Fugard is foreshadowing by giving the description of the church.

Chapter 9

9.1 What is Tsotsi’s real name?

9.2 Why does this ‘flashback’ chapter come at this point in the story?

9.3 What impression is created of Tsotsi’s life at home at the beginning of the chapter?

9.4 Why did the yellow bitch stop being friendly and playful?

9.5 What impression of Tsotsi’s father is created by his mother?

9.6 Why does Tsotsi run and hide when he hears his father’s entrance to the house?

9.7 Analyse why Tsotsi would “have no use for memories” and, in a relatively short period of time
after losing his mother, make the choice to become a Tsotsi.

9.8 Assess the impact of watching his father cripple and kill the dog in front of him as a child.

9.9 Tsotsi awakes from a dream of a storm and thunder. What is the dream really?

9.10 Why do the street children accept David into their gang?

9.11 The child David is clearly distressed on his first night in the pipes. How do his actions reflect
this?

9.12 Explain the symbolism of Petah’s comment that David can ‘choose his name’.

9.13 David says, ‘He dead’ when referring to his real name. Explain the full impact of this
statement.

9.14 How does David come to choose the name ‘Tsotsi’? How is this contrary to his sheltered
childhood?

9.15 Which two survival skills did Tsotsi teach himself as a young child living in the pipes?

Chapter 10

10.1 Chapter 3 describes Tsotsi’s rules for survival. What indication is there now that those
rules no longer apply?

10.2 How does the author show that Tsotsi is struggling to adjust to the fact that he has
remembered his childhood?

10.3 How has the symbolic significance of his knife changed for Tsotsi?

10.4 List three of the memories that fill Tsotsi’s mind.

10.5 The author uses comic relief to ease the tension at the beginning of this chapter. How does
he do this? Why?

10.6 Why has Die Aap come to Tsotsi’s room?

10.7 What has happened to Butcher?

10.8 Tsotsi’s diction and mannerisms have changed. How are they different from the way the
author structures sentences and descriptions, and what does it signify? You may quote in
support of your answer.

10.9 Describe the significance of Tsotsi “ending it” and how this reinforces the theme of
redemption and how it is a step towards Tsotsi becoming redeemed.

10.10 Explain how Tsotsi’s changing psyche is also revealed in his observations of Miriam as she
stands in the queue.

10.11 Tsotsi tells Miriam that the baby’s name is David. What does this reveal about his
character?

10.12 When Tsotsi says that “David” never saw his father, who is he really referring to?

10.13 Assess why Tsotsi doesn’t want to give David to Miriam.

10.14 Explain why Tsotsi races to the pipes and reflect on how we all may have a moment of
realisation when we see something from our past, just as Tsotsi has once he arrives at the
pipes.

10.15 Analyse Tsotsi’s flashback to the game he and the other ‘lost’ boys played in the dusty old
car in the riverbed.

10.16 What is revealed about the timeline of the events in the novel?

Chapter 11

11.1 Who is Marty?

11.2 Why does Tsotsi need to find Boston?

11.3 Why is Boston afraid of Tsotsi?

11.4 Explain the significance of the comparison of Tsotsi carrying Boston ‘like a baby’.

11.5 How does is become evident that Tsotsi feels empathy for Boston?

11.6 Briefly summarise the tragedy of Walter ‘Boston’ Nguza’s life.

11.7 Why did Boston not tell his mother about his expulsion from college?

11.8 Who is Johnboy Lethetwa?

11.9 Boston notices a change in Tsotsi when he looks into his eyes. Quote the sentence and explain
what he sees.

11.10 Differentiate Tsotsi’s feelings towards Boston and his questions at the beginning of the
novel to now.

11.11 As Boston listens to Tsotsi telling his story, he thinks of the concept of ‘mercy’. Discuss how
this word can be interpreted in the context of this chapter.

11.12 Describe how this affects both Boston and Tsotsi’s characters and their relationship.

11.13 What does God mean to Tsotsi?

11.14 Describe how the concept of God would be so new to him and how it may help him become
redeemed.

11.15 Interpret what Boston means by “we are all sick of life” and how, even now, this affects
South Africans.

Chapter 12

12.1 How does Miss Marriot’s treatment of Isaiah reflect the political situation?

12.2 What is Isobel Marriot’s function in this chapter?

12.3 Has Father Ransome has been effective in his purpose as a priest bringing people closer to
God? Explain.

12.4 Why did Fugard choose the name Isaiah for the old man at the township church?

12.5 Comment on Isaiah’s description of Tsotsi as looking ‘tired’.

12.6 Isaiah and Tsotsi have a conversation under the shade of a bluegum tree. Why is this
significant?

12.7 Isaiah plants the seedlings in a crooked row. What else does he not get ‘straight’?

12.8 Why does Tsotsi’s body feel light as he walks away from the church?

12.9 Explain the irony of Miss Marriot’s comment that they ‘don’t allow strangers in the
grounds’, and then, that ‘he is welcome to pray’.

12.10 Tsotsi’s relationship with Miriam starts aggressively but over the course of the novel he
comes to appreciate her. Although he never says ‘thank you’, how does their relationship
change to let us know she is appreciated?

12.11 Describe how the relationship between Tsotsi and Miriam has changed.

12.12 Comment of the image of the white linen blowing in the wind as Miriam does the laundry.
12.13 Identify what Miriam indirectly teaches Tsotsi about life? Identify the belief she leaves
with him.

12.14 What is the significance of David Madondo saying ‘Peace be with you’ to a passer-by?

12.15 Why does Tsotsi return the baby to the ruins?

12.16 Why had the “slum clearance” been resumed?

12.17 Explain the significance of Tsotsi calling himself David Madondo. How has he been redeemed?

12.18 In what way is the end of the novel tragic? In what way is the end of the novel positive?