Chapter 7 Flashcards
(10 cards)
Refer to the first paragraph of this chapter. What indication is there that something profound has changed in Tsotsi?
In Chapter 1, Tsotsi says that he ‘never makes mistakes’ . This chapter starts with the announcement that he has
Tsotsi’s first interaction with Morris Tshabalala causes him to have a flashback. Describe the details concerning the flashback.
The only memory Tsotsi has about his childhood is the image of a lame, yellow dog crawling towards him. Recalling Morris Tshabalala’s curse, ‘Whelp of a yellow bitch’, brings the memory back to Tsotsi.
Tsotsi realises that he is not after Morris Tshabalala’s money. Why is he drawn to following and attacking him?
He is driven to destroy him because he is ugly, and he has residual anger towards Boston that he wants to take out on Morris. Morris also reminds him of the dog of his memory,and he wants to destroy that memory.
Morris assumes that Tsotsi is after his money. What does he do to avoid being attacked?
He leaves his bag of money so that Tsotsi can find it
Describe the twist in events when Tsotsi eventually catches up with Morris.
Instead of attacking and killing him, Tsotsi asks Morris what he feels
Tsotsi has developed the ability to not feel a thing for his victims. What has happened to him as he follows Morris?
He realizes that he has sympathy for Morris as he struggles through the street
What surprising revelation does Morris have while he is asking Tsotsi to spare his life?
He realizes that, despite all his hardships, he wants to live
Morris makes Tsotsi realise that his power over life and death can have another meaning. What is this?
Tsotsi realizes that he can choose not to kill someone
What, according to Tsotsi, is the truth about life?
Life is ugly and the effort of staying alive is horrific
Discuss the significance of Tsotsi commenting that the ‘same light’ fell on the baby and even Gumboot Dhlamini
Previously, Tsotsi was associated with shadows and was drawn by a ‘dark purpose’. The presence of ‘light’ and Tsotsi’s observance of it, suggests an inner change beginning to blossom
