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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 does the piano player say after the end of each song?
2. What does Baldabiou say it is like to hold Japanese silk?
3. Who came to Japan in 1853?
4. What kind of fleet of ships did the Americans bring to Japan?
5. How does Joncour describe Japan when asked after his first trip?
Short Essay Questions
1. What happened when Jean Berbeck decided not to speak anymore? Why is this significant information in getting to know the character of Joncour?
2. What is Madame Blanche's calling card? What does she give the men she sleeps with?
3. 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?
4. Describe the party at Hara Kei's house. Who is there? Are these important people? Why? Why not?
5. It is against the law to sell silk eggs in Japan. Why is it reasonable in the eyes of the silk manufacturers to break a law in Japan? Are they concerned for the welfare of Joncour? Why? Why not?
6. Why does the mistress bring an Asian girl for Joncour? What is this a symbol of for both of them?
7. Why are the silkworms of Japan not affected by disease? What is their history of trade?
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. When Baldabiou first broaches the idea of going to Japan for silk eggs, why do the local silk manufacturers not know anything about Japan?
10. Why does Joncour arrive in Hara Kei's village on foot? What message is he sending to the mistress?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
When Hara Kei tells Joncour that the mistress does not speak his language, is there a deeper meaning? What would it be?
Essay Topic 2
Why does Joncour build a park? What is the significance of a windy day and the lake? Why is Joncour drawn to his lake on windy days? What is he thinking about when he sits by the lake after he first finishes the park and then later in the novel? Does the meaning, for him, change? How?
Essay Topic 3
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.
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This section contains 1,058 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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