In the early chapters of 'Tsotsi' by Athol Fugard, the protagonist, Tsotsi, confronts his troubled past while caring for a baby he unintentionally acquires. He grapples with memories of his childhood and the traumatic experiences that shaped him into a gang leader. The narrative explores themes of identity, survival, and redemption as Tsotsi navigates his harsh environment and the consequences of his actions.

1. Tsotsi by Athol Fugard - chapters 1 to 8
A) Put the events below in order:
( ) Targets Morris Tshabala at Terminal Place and hunts him. Does not kill him.
( ) Feeds baby and cleans him
( ) He’s given the baby
( ) Finds ants in the condensed milk tin and kills them
( ) Arrival of gang at his room to plan the next operation
( ) Buys condensed milk at General Dealer Cassim
( ) Decides to find woman to feed the baby
( ) Hides baby at ruin (Gumboot buried)

2. Gumboot’s - washerwoman - comparison - Boston - ants - feed - Simon
A) Complete the gaps with the words from the box:
Chapter 8 - ……………..awakes to the sound of church bells and begins to think about his faith in God. Reverend
Ransome is still disturbed by not knowing …………………… name – he prays to God for help. Tsotsi returns to the ruins
to find the baby covered head to toe in ……………. and instead of leaving it, he cleans the baby. We are then taken to
Waterworks square where a young mother by the name of Miriam Ngidi waits in the long line to get to the tap. Miriam is a
single mother because her husband, Simon, left and never returned. Her son,................, is six months old. She works as a
………….. in order to survive. Back in her room she hears a knock at the door. Tsotsi has followed her. He threatens to kill
her baby if she refuses to accompany him. Tsotsi takes her to his room and forces her to …………. the baby. At first she
protests that the baby is too dirty. She says that a bitch would care for its pups better than he has been doing with this
baby. This …………… has a strong effect on Tsotsi and sparks a clear memory of the events that turned him into what he
has become. Miriam feeds and cleans the baby. It is Sunday night and the people of the township are preparing for sleep.
However, Tsotsi is wide awake – another childhood memory has been reawakened and he is reliving the night that
changed his life.

3. river gang - survival - furious - identity - dismissed - Fugard - illegals - family dog
Chapter 9 - Tsotsi begins to remember his past; he begins to see his old home and how happy he was living with his
mother. ………………. paints the picture of a loving mother and a protected childhood for the young David. His mother
speaks often about the imminent return of his father, whom David imagines as a friendly, good man. There is a stern
grandmother who is sceptical about his man. Eventually the flashback leads him to the events that happened on the day
that his mother was taken to jail by the police in a dompas raid – supposedly to round up………… . She tells him to wait
at home and not move. His granny arrives and leaves shortly after, again telling him not to move. As his father returns
after being away from the family for a long time, he becomes ………………… when he finds out his wife has been taken
to prison. During the outrage the father kicks the………………………, breaking its back. The dog gives birth to a litter of
pups that soon die. He sits next to the dead dogs for hours until he cannot bear it any longer. David runs away from
home where he is welcomed to the ……………………….... which is led by a boy named Petah. They share their scraps
of food with him. He decides to abandon his………………………….. and start his life under the new name Tsotsi. He
stays with the gang until they are dispersed in a police raid. Later he joins other gangs of older boys and learns all the
tough lessons of …………………… in a harsh and cruel world. Feeling the pain inflicted on others is not permitted and
memories of the past are worthless – they must be………………… .

4. Answer Key:
( 6 ) Targets Morris Tshabala at Terminal Place and hunts him. Does not kill him.
( 3 ) Feeds baby and cleans him
( 1 ) He’s given the baby
( 7 ) Finds ants in the condensed milk tin and kills them
( 5 ) Arrival of gang at his room to plan the next operation
( 2 ) Buys condensed milk at General Dealer Cassim
( 8 ) Decides to find woman to feed the baby
( 4 ) Hides baby at ruin (Gumboot buried)
Friday Night:
He’s given the baby
Saturday:
Buys condensed milk at General Dealer Cassim
Feeds baby and cleans him
Hides baby at ruin (Gumboot buried)
Arrival of gang at his room to plan the next operation
Targets Morris Tshabala at Terminal Place and hunts him. Does not kill him.
Sunday:
Finds ants in the condensed milk tin and kills them
Decides to find woman to feed the baby

5. A) Chapter 8
Boston awakes to the sound of church bells and begins to think about his faith in God. Reverend Ransome is still disturbed by
not knowing Gumboot’s name – he prays to God for help. Tsotsi returns to the ruins to find the baby covered head to toe in
ants and instead of leaving it, he cleans the baby. We are then taken to Waterworks square where a young mother by the
name of Miriam Ngidi waits in the long line to get to the tap. Miriam is a single mother because her husband, Simon, left and
never returned. Her son, Simon, is six months old. She works as a washerwoman in order to survive. Back in her room she
hears a knock at the door. Tsotsi has followed her. He threatens to kill her baby if she refuses to accompany him. Tsotsi takes
her to his room and forces her to feed the baby. At first she protests that the baby is too dirty. She says that a bitch would care
for its pups better than he has been doing with this baby. This comparison has a strong effect on Tsotsi and sparks a clear
memory of the events that turned him into what he has become. Miriam feeds and cleans the baby. It is Sunday night and the
people of the township are preparing for sleep. However, Tsotsi is wide awake – another childhood memory has been
reawakened and he is reliving the night that changed his life.

6. Chapter 9
Tsotsi begins to remember his past; he begins to see his old home and how happy he was living with his mother. Fugard paints
the picture of a loving mother and a protected childhood for the young David. His mother speaks often about the imminent
return of his father, whom David imagines as a friendly, good man. There is a stern grandmother who is sceptical about his
man. Eventually the flashback leads him to the events that happened on the day that his mother was taken to jail by the police
in a dompas raid – supposedly to round up illegals. She tells him to wait at home and not move. His granny arrives and leaves
shortly after, again telling him not to move. As his father returns after being away from the family for a long time, he becomes
furious when he finds out his wife has been taken to prison. During the outrage the father kicks the family dog, breaking its
back. The dog gives birth to a litter of pups that soon die. He sits next to the dead dogs for hours until he cannot bear it any
longer. David runs away from home where he is welcomed to the river gang which is led by a boy named Petah. They share
their scraps of food with him. He decides to abandon his identity and start his life under the new name Tsotsi. He stays with the
gang until they are dispersed in a police raid. Later he joins other gangs of older boys and learns all the tough lessons of
survival in a harsh and cruel world. Feeling the pain inflicted on others is not permitted and memories of the past are worthless
– they must be dismissed.