The River Between FInal Discussion

The River Between Names: _______________________
Final Discussion ________________________

1. Do you think Waiyaki succeeded in uniting the ridges (i.e. following the prophecy)?
Explain:






2. What, do you think, happened to Waiyaki and Nyambura?







3. Do you think Waiyaki made a mistake in asking Nyambura to marry him?








4. In The River Between, Ngugi wa Thiong’o explores the following question: Is it possible for traditional beliefs/communities and colonial societies to come together or does colonialism create such deep chasms within colonized communities that the future of such communities is sabotaged? Based on what he wrote in the novel, how does Ngugi wa Thiong’o answer this question?









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5. There are many parallel characters in this novel. Can you match them up? (Several characters are used more than once.)
These characters:
A. Want to unite Christianity and traditional beliefs


B. See themselves as saviors


C. Are struggling with a choice: should they betray or harm a person they love?


D. Have dominating fathers


What might be the purpose of all these parallel characters?