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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 did Herve Joncour's father want him to do for a living?

2. How much money does Joncour have for his trip to Japan?

3. Who gives Joncour his bath?

4. When Joncour tries to communicate with the mistress in front of Hara Kei, what does he say to Joncour?

5. What does Baldabiou observe about the silkworm trade in 1861?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

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. When Hara Kei tells Joncour that the mistress "doesn't speak your language", is he referring to more that French? What is he trying to tell Joncour?

5. What does Helene do with the silk scarf her husband brings home to her? Why does she react that way? What do you think Helene senses about her husband?

6. Why does the young girl accompanying Hara Kei not have an Asian slant to her eyes? Does this give the reader a clue to her past? What?

7. 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?

8. What happened when Jean Berbeck decided not to speak anymore? Why is this significant information in getting to know the character of Joncour?

9. For the third trip to Japan, who decides that Joncour should go? How much say does he have in this decision?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the items hanging from the litter of the mistress. What do they signify? Which items make noise? Do you believe she is still in the litter? Do you think she is beaten? Are the items hanging from the litter a sign of her captivity? How?

Essay Topic 2

Joncour, at the end of his life, is left with symbols of the past. What are the symbols in the novel, and how many does Joncour hold on to as he grows old? Was Joncour ever able to identify the symbols when he needed to? Is he later able to look back and see his errors in translating the symbols?

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think Helene runs after Baldabiou at the train station? What do you think their relationship was? Why do you think that? What else happens that indicates that they have a close relationship? Do you think Helene experienced the same thing as her husband in the months he was away from her? Why do you think that?

(see the answer keys)

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