CHAPTER 5: DUDU, TSHILIDZI AND MOVIE NIGHTS
1. Why did Dudu enjoy writing?
2. What metaphor does Lufuno use to explain why she can’t go back to the
past?
3. Why does Lufuno wish rather to live in the past?
4. Explain in a short paragraph the tradition of movie night in the lives of Tshilidzi
and Lufuno.
5. Why does Lufuno still have “movie nights” here in Cape Town? Give two
possible reasons.
6. In chapter 5, Lufuno introduces a new character in the traditional movie show.
Who is the character and why does she choose to include him?
7. Identify the figures of speech in the following quotes from chapter 5 and
supply the name of the character being referred to each time.
a. Quotes:
b. “He is sprinting like a cheetah.”
c. “I want to go back to my river’s source.”
d. “Would she like him too?”
e. “Go to sleep,” I hiss.
8. It is significant that Dudu was the first person Lufuno trusted with her bracelet.
Explain why this is so and discuss how Dudu handled the bracelet.
9. Both Lufuno and her mother have external ways of finding comfort. What are
they and are they effective mechanisms for the characters to ease their inner
turmoil and tension?
10. Mention three typical teenage activities that Lufuno and Dudu shared.
11. In this chapter, Lufuno accidently gives away her feelings for Mandla to her
little sister. Briefly describe the incident in your own words.
12. Lufuno’s attachment to the bracelet is extremely intense. She says: “It feels
like a part of me is missing.” Explain why you think she places such an
extremely high value on something that could seem insignificant and rather
worthless to someone else.
CHAPTER SIX: MANDLA’S STORY
1. What does Mandla think of Lufuno?
2. What do we learn about Mandla’s father?
3. What does Mandla do to give the first impression that he and his father do not
have an ideal relationship?
4. How does Mandla feel towards his dad? Write four things.
5. Who do you think might Nandi be?
6. What does his cousin mean when he says “Don’t shoot the messenger”?
7. How does Mandla’s father ruin the one thing in his life that gives him
pleasure?
8. What does Mandla learn about the strike from his elders after supper that
evening?
9. In chapter 6 we learn that Mandla and his mother blame his father for
something they cannot forgive or forget. Do you feel this is a healthy state of
affairs? Justify your answer.
10. How is Bongani related to Mandla and what is Bongani’s passion?
11. It is clear that Mandla’s father wants him to understand who is boss. Provide
two examples of this subtle power play between father and son.
12. Name and discuss the new characters introduced in the chapter.
CHAPTER 7: HOME, ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL AND SCHOOL
QUESTIONS:
1. The past year in Lufuno’s life has been traumatic. One of the indicators of her
inner conflict are the regular nightmares she suffers from. Mention at least
three traumatic events that have recently befallen Lufuno.
2. Explain what you think the different elements of Lufuno’s dream mean: “Last
night I dreamed I was lost in the forrest, tripping over the roots of trees
towering above me. I could hear Dudu’d voice ahead of me, but I couldn’t
catch up with her. The faster I ran, the faster she ran – always out of sight,
around the next bend. The last time I called for her, there was no answer…”
(pg41). She woke up from this dream with tears on her face and she shouted
out during the night.
3. Lufuno is bombarded daily with veiled threats about the strike. Discuss the
effect it has on her.
4. Although the news report on the radio has confirmed that no violence has
been declared by the union, there have been incidents of violence. The whole
community is tense and everyone is discussing the strike. Mention three
disturbing incidents related to the strike and directed at those people who
have refused to join the union.
5. Why does Lufuno fall of her chair? How does she react?
6. Discuss the extended metaphor on pg.45, where Lufuno mentally compares
Sindi to a snake. Discuss whether the comparison is accurate and justified.
7. We meet up with a peripheral (minor) character, Funeka, in this chapter.
Describe her interaction with Lufuno.
8. Explain the line: “Fueling themselves with alcohol for ‘smash and grab’
opportunities later.”
9. Which previous scene does the ending of the chapter (the taxi driving away)
remind us of?
10. Describe any new characters introduced in the chapter in short.
CHAPTER 8: THE PARK, GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER, GOING HOME
AND CONFLICT AT HOME
1. When Lufuno allows herself to be led away from the taxi by Mandla to an
unknown destination, it goes against her nature. What does this reveal about
the extent of her feelings for him?
2. What is significant about Lufuno paying for her own Sprite?
3. Where does Mandla take Lufuno? Can this setting be considered even
remotely romantic?
4. In this chapter Lufuno shows a streak of rebellion. We learn that she is not
only a good and dutiful daughter but she also makes mistakes. Discuss the
fact that this makes her a more credible (believable) character and more
realistic rounded person that the reader can relate to.
5. Explain what Lufuno means when she teasingly says to Mandla: “Lobola in
reverse.”
6. Mandla makes, to compares him and Lufuno to Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet. Do you think there is any comparisons between Romeo and Juliet and
Mandla and Lufuno? Provide a reason for your answer?
7. Mandla wants to know more about the Venda culture and he has done some
research about Modjaji. What does Lufuno teach him in this regard?
8. Why do Lufuno’s thoughts constantly return to the promise she made her
parents to return straight home after school, especially on this particular day?
Provide two reasons.
9. The quick kiss Mandla gives her appears to be at a very bad time. What is the
effect of “bad timing” in a novel on the reader?
10. Why is it a bad sign that Lufuno’s mother is coughing?
