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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens in Japan after Joncour's second trip?

2. What does Joncour give to Helene when he returns from Japan on his first trip?

3. What kind of living does Joncour make with the silk trade?

4. What would happen to the Japanese if they immigrated?

5. What does Hara Kei tell Joncour about the eggs that were sold to him by the other man?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Joncour observe life? Why is this significant?

2. What is Madame Blanche's calling card? What does she give the men she sleeps with?

3. Why are the silkworms of Japan not affected by disease? What is their history of trade?

4. After Joncour is given the note, he stops for a moment on his way out of town when leaving for home. Why does he stop? What is he doing? What is he thinking? What message is he trying to convey?

5. Do you think Joncour's feminine attributes played into his father's decision that Joncour should pursue a life in the military? What does this say about the character of Joncour's father? What does this say about Joncour?

6. When Joncour meets the Englishman in Japan who is selling guns, he asks about the girl. What is the Englishman's reply? Do you think the Englishman has seen the girl? Do you think he knows more than he is saying? What?

7. How does the author describe the character of the Mayor? How is the telling of his story told in a circular fashion?

8. When Hara Kei asks Joncour who he is, what does he tell him? Why does he give so much detail? Is it necessary to tell the whole truth? Why does Joncour do this?

9. On his second trip to Japan, Joncour sits at the lake with Hara Kei and they are described as "Holding their peace." What do you think the author means by this? Where else have you heard this expression? Do you think there is a connection between a reference to a wedding and a mistress?

10. When Baldabiou first broaches the idea of going to Japan for silk eggs, why do the local silk manufacturers not know anything about Japan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joncour is a hero to his town, giving nearly all the town a way to make a living, and yet, he blindly pursues the mistress, knowing full well that he could lose everything for his town. Why does Joncour, in chapter after chapter, move toward his own destruction with little or no reservation to the damage he will do to his town or his wife? How can this man be so blind?

Essay Topic 2

Who does Baldabiou play billiards against? Why is his loss before he leaves town important? How is his job as mentor over?

Essay Topic 3

How does Hara Kei forgive Joncour his rude behavior? He does it several times in the novel. Does he react the same way each time, or differently? Why does he endure Joncour's lack of knowledge about Japan?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,182 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample