Chapter 1:

Pre-reading

1. What does the title and the picture of the cover of your edition of the novel suggest about the
focus of the novel?

Reading

2. Explain why Butcher does not pay much attention to the stories Boston tells.

3. What mood is created in the first paragraph and what does it lead you to expect?

4. There is something of a contradiction here. Die Aap and Tsotsi are said to listen attentively, yet
they do not seem really interested in the stories. Explain this contradiction.

Post-Reading

5.1 What is surprising about Tsotsi’s hands?

5.2 What is ironic about Tsotsi bringing his hands together as if he is going to pray?

6. The four members of the gang are very different. What do their actions and words reveal about
their chief characteristics?
7. Comment on the effect that Tsotsi has on people when he walks down the street on his way to
commit a crime.

8. Explain why Gumboot describes his year away from Maxulu as a short one in some ways and a
long one in others.

9. Outline the reasons that Tsotsi chooses Gumboot.

10. What is particularly tragic about the timing of Gumboot’s death?

Chapter 2

Pre-Reading

1. How do you feel when you are asked very personal question, especially by people who are not
close friends?
Reading

2. What phrase in the second line reveals that Butcher’s laughter is intended to belittle Boston?

3. Boston seems to dislike violence. What possible reason does he have for slapping Rosie?

4. Soekie does not know her birthday. Explain how this is possible.
5. People usually pay for their drinks once they have been given them. Why does Soekie collect the
money before she pours a round of drinks?

Post-reading

6. Compare Boston’s attitude to violence to that of the other members of the gang?

7. What does the description of Rosie reveal about the life of some women in the township?

8. Briefly explain what Boston means when he says that Gumboot Dhlamini has died because of his
decency.

9. Comment critically on Boston’s warning to Tsotsi.

10. Suggest a reason for Fugard’s choice of ‘sprawling’ to describe the effect on Boston of the first
kick.

Chapter 3

Pre-reading

1. Based on what you know about Tsotsi so far, what reaction do you expect him to have to his
violent attack on Boston?
Reading

2. Boston’s warning sounds in Tsotsi’s head again and again, but the words are not exactly the same.
Explain why this is happening.

3. What is ironic about Boston’s chief function in the gang?

Post-Reading

4. Explain why Soekie is so anxious to have Boston taken away from her shebeen as soon as possible.

5. Tsotsi sees his purpose in life as killing or striking fear in the hearts of people. Explain how his
three rules help to keep him on that path.

6. Some sights and smells evoke the past for Tsotsi. Identify two of these.

7. Explain Butcher’s disappointment when Tsotsi ignores the young prisoner, who passes them one
day when they are rolling dice.

8. While he stand taking shelter among the Bluegum trees, Tsotsi is able to think more calmly and
explore the reasons for his angry explosion. What does this reveal about the change that is
beginning to happen in him?
9. The woman suddenly thrusts the shoe box with the baby inside it into Tsotsi’s hands. Suggest a
reason for her action.

10. In the light of what you have learnt about Tsotsi thus far, what do you think Tsotsi is likely to do
with the baby?

Chapter 4

Pre-reading

1. Discuss the dangers face by people working in small shops in impoverished communities.

Discussion could relate to their vulnerability to break-ins, looting and to armed robbery.

Reading

2. From whose perspective is the first part of the chapter told?

3. Comment on Cassim’s sales strategy.

4. Explain why Cassim is not alarmed at first, when Tsotsi comes into the shop.

5. Tsotsi does not find it easy to move through the crowd on his way back to his room. What does
this reveal about the mood of a Saturday street?

Post-reading

6. Discuss the inner conflict that for about two hours prevents Tsotsi from going right into the shop.
7. Cassim describes Tsotsi as “a bad egg”. How appropriate is this description?

8. Comment on the irony of the power dynamics in the conversation between Cassim and Tsotsi.

9. Explain Tsotsi’s reason for deciding to keep the baby.

10. What makes the ruin of MaRhabatse’s home such an appropriate place to hide the baby.
Carefully explain.

Chapter 5

Pre-reading

1. What would you usually expect to happen at a burial service? Include the social importance of a
funeral in your discussion.

2. What qualities would you expect a successful gang leader to have?

Reading

3. Comment on the ironic aspects of the funeral.

5. What makes this day rather different from the usual pattern of this particular gang’s life?

Post-reading

6. Compare the way Butcher sees the woman who passes by and the way Tsotsi sees her.

7. Comment on Butcher’s effectiveness as a substitute storyteller for Boston.

8. Discuss the effectiveness with which the writer conveys Tsotsi’s failing ability to be the gang
leader.

9. What is the relationship between Butcher and Die Aap? Explain how it is linked to the theme of
social disintegration.

Learner’s own motivated response.

10. Die Aap and Butcher interpret Tsotsi’s hitting the palm of his hand with his fist as a signal that he
is about to announce the target area. How does this action underline the way in which Tsotsi and the
group are drifting apart?
Chapter 6

Pre-Reading

1. Why would a paraplegic be easy prey for robbers?

Reading

2. Egged on by his gang, Tsotsi makes the decision to go to the ‘city’, the term that is used for the
shopping centre near Terminal Place. Why are the people safer there in the early morning than after
sunset?

3. A ‘quid’ is a colloquial term for a pound, the currency at the time. Why is “quadrangle” a clever
term for this shopping centre? (clue: A quadrangle is a space where people assemble)

4. Some words are written to reflect the way they are pronounced in the community. One example
is “Lay-ee-deeshin” (late edition). How would the following be written in formal English?

4.1 “Cit-ee-deshin”

4.2 “Layeet-spotreesilts”

Post-Reading

5. Why does Morris Tshabalala shout obscenities at the children who do not treat him respectfully?

6. Morris routinely uses the insult “whelp of a yellow bitch” when people step on his hands. Why
does it affect Tsotsi so deeply?
7. What is the reason for Tsotsi’s choosing Morris Tshabalala?

8. Morris becomes a beggar because he has no other choice. Comment critically on this statement.

9. In what way is Morris’s present life of criticism of the evils of apartheid?

10. Comment critically on the success with which Tsotsi is depicted as playing a cat-and-mouse game
with Morris Tshabalala.

Chapter 7

Pre-Reading

1. Based on what you have read so far, do you think that Morris Tshabalala would welcome death?
Explain your answer.

2. Skim the first paragraph. What sign is there that Tsotsi is no longer an expert criminal?

Reading

3. What prompts Tsotsi’s flashback?

Post-Reading

5. In what ways are Morris and the yellow bitch that Tsotsi remembers similar?

6. Discuss the credibility of Tsotsi’s decision not to kill Morris.

7. What is Morris’s reason for leaving all his money in a pile under the street light so Tsotsi can see
it?

8. Discuss your response to the meeting between Morris and Tsotsi.

9. What is the extraordinary realisation that Morris reaches, on this night.

10. Explain why Tsotsi cannot go back to making the choice to kill. As part of your answer, outline
the events that have led him to this point.
Chapter 8

Pre-reading

1. The church bell of the Church of Christ the Redeemer rings at the beginning of the chapter. What
event in Tsotsi’s life could the bell be foreshadowing?

Reading

2. What kind of effect does the resounding bell have on the township?

3. The ants invade the condensed milk tin. What does this reveal about Tsotsi’s ability to look after
the baby?

4. What picture are we given of Miriam as she takes her place in the queue?

5. Simon, Miriam’s husband, has disappeared after being involved in the bus boycott. How is this
incident liked to the theme of the oppression of Apartheid and its negative effects on society?

6. When Tsotsi knocks at her door, Miriam is not suspicious at first. Explain why she tries to slam the
door shut to prevent him coming in a few minutes later.

7. Tsotsi issues brusque instructions and very short explanations to Miriam. What does this reveal
about his social skills?
8. What makes the thought of breast feeding the baby so revolting to Miriam? Explain clearly.

9. Refer to Tsotsi’s comment that “a backyard bitch would have looked after its puppies better”. It
Tsotsi’s response in keeping with what we know about him?

10. The writer describes Sunday night in some detail. What is his purpose in doing so?

Chapter 9

Pre-reading

1. What is the happiest memory of your childhood?

2. Skim through the first paragraph. What kind of world is evoked by the atmosphere that is created
here?

Reading

3. Why is Tsotsi’s mother so particularly happy on this day?

4. How do we know the police raids are a frequent occurrence?

Post-reading

5. Is Tondi’s way of bringing up her son justified? Substantiate your view.

6. Explain why the bitch has become so seemingly bad tempered.

Learner’s own motivated response.

8. What is remarkable about the way the old woman speaks to David before she goes off to find his
mother?

9. When David joins up with the band of homeless boys, he is unwilling to go off scavenging with
them at first. He longs for them to return as they are all he can remember. How does this description
help you to understand how deeply David has been affected by the events of the previous day?

10. David adopts the name “Tsotsi” when he begins a life of crime. What does this symbolise?

Chapter 10

Pre-reading

1. The chapter begins with someone knocking at Tsotsi’s door quite early in the morning. Who could
it be?

Reading

2. What is the significance of Tsotsi’s checking to see that the baby is all right first, rather than
checking to see that his knife is ready for action.

3. Why has Miriam needed to sew buttons onto her blouse?

4. How many days have passed since Tsotsi was given the baby? Draw a timeline showing the main
events each day since he was given the baby.

Timeline

5. Die Aap comes to Tsotsi’s room as a matter of routine every day. Discuss the credibility of what
transpires between Die Aap and Tsotsi on the Sunday.

6. Tsotsi watches Miriam as she waits in the queue for water. What evidence is there that he is
changing?

7. Suggest a reason to makes Tsotsi name the baby David.

8. What indication is there that the relationship between Miriam and Tsotsi is deepening?
9. When Tsotsi explains to Miriam that the baby has never seen its own father, he speaks in a harsh
tone. Explain the reason for Tsotsi’s harsh tone.

10. How do we know that Tsotsi does not fully trust Miriam yet?

Chapter 11

Pre-reading

1. The previous chapter ended off with Tsotsi setting off to find Boston. What kind of meeting do you
think they will have.

Reading

2. Why does Marty want Boston out of her shebeen as quickly as possible?

3. What link is there between the fly paper whose victims are trapped on its sticky surface and
Tsotsi’s former role as a criminal?

4. Explain why Boston has decided to stop wearing glasses.

Post-reading

5. What does Marty mean when she says that Boston has returned to her shebeen too late?
6. Do you think that Boston was unjustly treated at the College? Explain your view.

7. Boston has probably not been able to eat for the past few days but this is not the reason that he is
so thin. What has made him so thin?

8. How has Boston become a member of the gang? Is it a matter of chance, or a choice to do so?

9. Comment on the significance of the inner light that Boston sees in Tsotsi’s eyes.

10. How is Boston’s determined departure down the road linked to the theme of self-discover?
Explain clearly.
Chapter 12

Pre-reading

1. What kinds of people help you to do your best?

Open ended. Some possible answers: People who help are those who are encouraging/who offer
constructive suggestions/who recognise and praise achievement.

Reading

2. What makes Miss Marriot’s treatment of Isaac so particularly offensive?

Miss Marriot treats Isaac, who is an old man, as if he were an intellectually challenged child.

3. Explain why Tsotsi chooses to carry the baby in his coat.

Tsotsi is unwilling to let people know that he has the baby. This is also a way of protecting the
baby from the light.

4. How does Miriam feel about the baby at this point?

Miriam is beginning to love the baby. She has felt fulfilled by being able to meet the baby’s
needs./She is drawn to David and so wants to help him.

Post-reading

5. Why does Isaac find being close to Miss Marriot so distasteful?

Everything Isaac learns about Miss Marriot when she is in close contact has repulsed him. This
includes the way she speaks and her physical attributes.

6. What does the whiteness of the sheets on Mirriam’s wash line symbolise?

The sheets highlight the movement towards a life of new beginnings (being washed clean
suggesting redemption) where doing the morally right thing is affirmed./ The whiteness of the
sheets suggests a world of light which makes courage possible.

7. What makes Isaac’s invitation to come to church so effective? Consider what he says and how he
says it.

Isaac speaks from the heart. Although he has rather a distorted picture of the gospel message, he
is able to present it in a way that makes sense and is directly relevant to Tsotsi. For instance, he
makes the point that God wants people to stop killing and robbing, and that all are welcome.

8. David Madondo says, “Peace to you”, to the milkman. What does this suggest about the
fundamental way in which he has changed?

In his life as Tsotsi, he was filled with hatred and his life signalled terror and violence. He is no
longer Tsotsi. He is David now, and his reason for living is to be a force for good. He feels only
goodwill towards others.
9. David Madondo dies smiling. Comment on what this symbolises in the novel as a whole.

David dies smiling because a happy smile reflects inner peace and self-acceptance, unlike
Gumboot whose joyful smile is distorted into a grimace when he dies./It may be that he thinks he
has succeeded in saving the baby and thus has made a meaningful contribution.

10. Discuss the effectiveness of the ending of the novel, which leaves quite a number of questions
unanswered.

The answer to this question is speculative. One possible argument for its effectiveness is that
Fugard succeeds in allowing the focus to fall on David Madondo and that David’s search for
redemption/peace has been successful./Another possible argument is that the writer avoids a
banal ending that suggests that all the problems can be neatly resolved in an environment that is
fraught with complexity.

You could argue that the ending is not effective because of the questions that it leaves
unanswered. (What happens to Boston? Does the baby die? What happens to Miriam? Where has
Tondi been during this time? Does she ever find out what has happened to her son?)