Questions on chapters 1-5

Use your own page about Botswana or Ne.se to answer these questions. You don’t have to use them to answer all the questions. Only the ones that are marked *.

1. On p. 3, Mma Ramotswe is sitting in front of her detective agency, thinking about what things used to be like. She talks about “Bechuanaland Protectorate” and “Khama’s Country”. Explain what those are. * (you may have to Google Khama + Botswana)

2. On p. 4, Mma R. reflects on the death of her father. What can we understand her father died from (there is more info about that at the beginning of chapter 2) and how has his working life been similar to that of many Batswana men? *

3. In chapter 2, we find out about Obed Ramotswe’s childhood in the 1930s. What was it like growing up in Botswana at that time?

4. Obed obviously loves Botswana and he says “every man has a map of his own country in his heart” p. 16. What does Obed love about Botswana?

5. What does Obed has to say about God, Christianity and race? (p.17)

6. Obed talks about the British Protectorate, the Boers and the chiefs on p. 18. There is information about this on our Botswana-page. Does the information from our page match what Obed says? What is his opinion about these things? *

7. What was life in the South African mines like for Obed and for other men? p. 21-22

8. How does Obed describe the difference between life in South Africa and life in Botswana, when he describes returning home on p. 25.

These last two questions cover all the five chapters that you have read and to answer these questions you have to use all the chapters you have read so far.

9. There is a lot of talk about men and women in the novel. How do you think Batswana men and women are portrayed? Give plenty of examples and explain your position.

10. What kind of person is Mma Ramotswe? Choose the three adjectives that you feel best describe her personality and explain why you chose them and give examples from the text where she shows these traits.