Silk Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

Alessandro Baricco
This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 162 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.

Silk Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

Alessandro Baricco
This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 162 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.
Buy the Silk Lesson Plans
Name: _________________________ Period: ___________________

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

Short Answer Questions

1. By Imperial Decree, how many masts could a ship have sailing into Japan's harbors?

2. What is the lake along the Chinese border that Joncour passes on his trip to Japan?

3. When Hara Kei was a child, his father told him to shoot an arrow into the air. What was Hara Hei supposed to do after that?

4. When Joncour arrives at his house in Hara Kei's village on his third trip, he can see Hara Kei's house. What does he notice?

5. What kind of silkworm eggs does Joncour buy in 1861?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

4. How is Helene described? What is her most important attribute?

5. When the silkworm disease begins to spread in the early 1860s, Baldabiou observes that "nearly" all of the eggs are affected. What is he thinking? Where is he thinking of buying eggs?

6. When Joncour seeks out someone who can translate the note for him, Baldabiou informs him of Madame Blanche, but tells him not to ask her personal questions. Why do you think Baldabiou gives Joncour this suggestion?

7. What happens every time Hara Kei appears? Who leaves? Is this by design? Why do you think that?

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

9. How much of the year does Joncour work? How much time does he have for leisure? Describe his work routine.

10. Why does the mistress bring an Asian girl for Joncour? What is this a symbol of for both of them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you think the relationship was between Helene and Madame Blanche? How do you think Helene found Madame Blanche? Do you think Helene saw her before she translated the letters? Why? Why not? Why do you think Madame Blanche visited Helene's grave?

Essay Topic 2

The character of Baldabiou is very curious, as he lives on the edge of normal life all the time. Describe some of the oddities of Baldabiou and attempt to round out his character by describing where you think he came from and, mostly, where you think he is going at the end of the novel.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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