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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Chin want to make sure that Song remembers?
2. Who does Comrade Chin report to?
3. How much time passes between the year Gallimard is fired from the embassy and the year Song travels to France to live with him?
4. What does Song say she wants to do now that her life as an actor is over?
5. According to Chin, where does pollution begin?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Who is the Butterfly in M. Butterfly? Write an essay backing your argument.
1. At the beginning of the play, who does Gallimard cast as Butterfly? What is his reasoning for doing so?
2. Who does Gallimard claim is the Butterfly at the conclusion of the story? Describe how and why the situation has changed during the progression of the story.
3. Describe Hwang's use of symbolism during Gallimard donning of the Butterfly costume at the play's conclusion.
4. Do you feel Hwang's choices were strong? How would you choose to end the play?
Essay Topic 2
Hwang wrote M. Butterfly after hearing details on the true account of a French diplomat falling for a cross-dressing Chinese spy. However, the spectrum of ideas presented in this play are Hwang's. Write an essay summing up the larger ideas of this play.
1. What are the political themes of this play? What did Hwang hope to achieve by resenting them dramatically? Was he successful?
2. What are the gender issues associated with this story? How is the perception of the feminine/masculine a major thematic element?
3. Dramatically, what did Hwang attempt to present with this play? What are we as the audience supposed to walk away from this story feeling or wanting?
Essay Topic 3
Write an essay on the climactic encounter between Gallimard and Song when he asks to see her naked for the first time.
1. When Gallimard leaves the reception where he had his encounter with Toulon, what is he feeling? What is the catalyst for his emotions?
2. What are the reasons Gallimard gives for wanting to strip Song? How does she react? Why?
3. How does Song talk Gallimard out of seeing her naked? What is at stake for her?
4. How is this moment pivotal in the life of the play and the relationship between Gallimard and Song? How do his feelings for her change?
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This section contains 439 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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