•Reverend Kumalo travels from Ndotsheni to Johannesburg to look for his son because he is afraid that he might never see him again.
The two sentences show the difference between a story and a plot. The first sentence forms part of the story; it tells you what happened. The second sentence forms part of the plot of a story; it explains the reason why Reverend Kumalo went to look for his son. It links the action (Reverend Kumalo travels to Johannesburg to search for his son) to one of the main ideas in the story (fear).
2.2 Five plot elements
A plot has five main elements: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and the denouement or resolution.
To do:
Study the following explanations of how the five main plot elements organise the action in a story.
| Plot element | Explanation |
| Exposition or introduction | You are introduced to the characters and the setting of the story. The setting tells you where, when and in which circumstances the story happens. You are also introduced to problems that cause tension and conflict in the story. |
| Rising action | Tensions, conflict and crises arise from decisions and actions taken by characters or brought about by circumstances. |
| Climax | A climax is the most intense moment or crisis in the story. It is its turning point. |
| Falling action | The actions that follow the climax of the story start resolving the problems that caused complications at the beginning of the story. |
| Denouement or resolution | All the complications of the problems in the story are resolved or explained. |
2.3 Reading for plot and main ideas in the story of the novel
Now use your understanding of the five main plot elements to build your own “big picture” of the plot and main ideas in Cry, the Beloved Country. Read the chapters in your copy of Cry, the Beloved Country to trace the plot and to identify the main ideas linked to the plot. Your study work guide provides a detailed plot summary linked to the main ideas of the story in Annexure A. You will find it at the back of this study work guide. The main ideas are written in italics so that you can spot them more easily.
Take notes while you read:
Use the detailed plot summary in your study work guide to identify points where you can pause your reading. The pauses are organised according to the plot elements as they apply to Books One, Two and Three. Either add your own notes in the space provided or draft your own summary.
Picture the plot elements in the novel:
A graphic illustration is presented below to guide your understanding of how the plot elements are organised in the novel. A solid line represents the overall structure of the plot. It starts at the exposition in Chapter 1, Book One; moves from rising action to climax to falling action across the three books and ends at the resolution in Chapter 7, Book Three. The climax of the entire novel happens in Chapter 11 of Book Two. The plot structures of Books One, Two and Three form part of the overall structure of the novel, although each book also has its plot elements that fit into the main plot structure.
Plot overview of Cry, the Beloved Country: A summary
| Book One | Book Two | Book Three | |||
| ExpositionIntroduction to the Umzimkulu River valley, Reverend Kumalo and his family. A letter from Theophilus Msimangu in Sophiatown introduces the problem of his sister’s illness. Reverend Kumalo decides to travel to Johannesburg to help his sister and to look for his brother and his son. | Ch. 1 & 2 | ExpositionIntroduction to James Jarvis’ life and views. He and his wife receive news that their son was murdered. | Ch. 1 | ExpositionIntroduction to the caring and suffering community of Ndotsheni. | Ch. 1 |
| Rising actionReverend Kumalo travels to Johannesburg; he receives news about his sister and his brother; his discovery of the corrupting influence of Johannesburg on his sister increases his anxiety about finding his son. | Ch. 3, 4 & 5 | Rising actionJames Jarvis and his wife travel to Johannesburg; he discovers his son’s commitment to social justice. | Ch. 2, 3 & 4 | Rising actionReverend Kumalo faces challenges in restoring Ndotsheni. | Ch. 2 |
| Rising actionReverend Kumalo takes care of his sister; he is saddened by his brother’s rejection of the tribe and the church; his anxiety about Absalom grows as he continues his search for his son. | Ch. 6 & 7 | Rising actionFear in the trial of Absalom Kumalo, Matthew Kumalo and Johannes Pafuri. | Ch. 5 | Rising actionReverend Kumalo’s hope for mercy for his son dies while new hope arises when he watches the mysterious land-surveying activities to build a dam. | Ch. 3 |
| Rising actionReverend Kumalo experiences the consequences of social injustice in Johannesburg and in Absalom’s life; he discovers that his son was sent to the reformatory for robbery; his hope of finding Absalom rises because he was released on good behaviour. | Ch. 8, 9 & 10 | Rising actionMore discoveries lead to increased complications and tension about the gold mines and in the lives of James Jarvis and Stephen, John and Gertrude Kumalo. | Ch. 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 | Rising actionActivities to prepare for the restoration of the valley of Ndotsheni increase when the new agricultural demonstrator, Mr. Litsitsi, arrives. | Ch. 4 |
| Rising actionThe murder of Arthur Jarvis deepens Reverend Kumalo’s fear, increases the search for Absalom and heightens tension despite a break at Ezenzeleni. | Ch. 11, 12 & 13 | ||||
| Climax The turning point: Reverend Kumalo finds his son in prison; his fear was well founded; Absalom is arrested for the murder of Arthur Jarvis. | Ch. 14 | Climax: Book Two and the novelThe turning point:Reverend Kumalo and his son suffer intensely when Absalom is sentenced to death; the young white man from the reformatory comforts Reverend Kumalo in his suffering. | Ch. 11 | ClimaxThe turning point: Reverend Kumalo is overjoyed; he may continue restoring the land, the church and the people of Ndotsheni. | Ch. 5 |
| Falling action Acts of compassion and caring give some hope to Reverend Kumalo, Absalom and his girlfriend. | Ch. 15, 16 & 17 | Falling actionPractical matters following Absalom’s death sentence are taken care of; an appeal for mercy will be lodged; Gertrude chooses her old life in Johannesburg but Absalom’s wife chooses a new life in Ndotsheni. | Ch. 12 | Falling action The restoration of the land, the church and the people of Ndotsheni starts taking shape. | Ch. 6 |
| Resolution of the novel as a wholeReverend Kumalo finds comfort in his suffering; in his vigil for his son he has communion with God; his son dies while hope for a new way of living dawns. | Ch. 7 | ||||
After you have used the plot of Cry, the Beloved Country to help you make meaning of the novel as a whole, you can use the following explanatory notes and activities to guide your thinking about the novel.
3. Post-reading activities
Paton has written the text of Cry, the Beloved Country in such a way that the powerful message of the novel is also an amazing work of art. The explanatory notes and activities that follow guide your thoughts about and beyond the text which you have read.
The author uses literary elements to put forward his message about the need for social and political change in South Africa. The first literary element or device is theme. Study the following explanatory notes on theme in general and on the themes in the novel.
3.1 Thinking about theme
Definition: A theme is a main idea that has meaning to the reader beyond the story. That is, it has universal meaning. This means that the author’s beliefs and views written into the story also have meaning in your author’s own life and in the lives of everyone else. A theme expresses truths and lessons about life that everyone experiences.
Example: You know what it feels like to be afraid and lonely.