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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 Mama start to doubt?

2. What does Marketa tell her mother-in-law?

3. Why does Marketa not feel threatened by Eva?

4. To whom does Mirek lie about the reasons he becomes involved with Zdena?

5. When did Marketa dislike her mother-in-law?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Kundera agrees to write an astrology column?

2. Who is Mirek going to visit and why?

3. What happens when Mirek arrives back home and how is this somewhat ironic?

4. How does Marketa meet Eva and how does the relationship evolve to include Karel?

5. What does Marketa contemplate doing with Eva near the end of the chapter?

6. What does Kundera say about laughter in response to Michelle and Gabrielle's laughter?

7. What is it that Marketa does not know about Eva and do you think Marketa would care at this point if she learned this?

8. How does Marketa's feelings towards her mother-in-law change over time?

9. What does this Kundera say about our collective past?

10. What happens when Karel receives a phone call and how is the outcome ironic?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE BOOK OF LAUGHTER AND FORGETTING could be considered a collection of short stories related thematically. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss the theme of laughter as it occurs in three of the parts. Analyze the theme and create a thesis about laughter with which you think Kundera would agree.

2. There is a saying, "Laughter is the Best Medicine." Agree or disagree with this statement as far as this book is concerned.

3. Discuss for which of the characters laughter is important and why. Give specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

In Part 6, Kundera remarks that like Beethoven's final acts, his book is a novel on variations. It is a number of voyages leading into and through one theme. Discuss the following:

1. What is the one theme of this novel?

2. Explain the variations of the theme giving specific examples.

3. Do you think there are other themes besides the one Kundera has in mind? What are they? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

In Part 4, Tamina first asks Bibi and then Hugo to retrieve her letters from Prague. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Tamina does not go retrieve the letters herself? Explain fully with details from the text.

2. In relying upon others to get the letters, Tamina surrenders her personal power over her life. Do you think she is capable of assuming power over her own life?

3. How is living in the past another way of surrendering her personal power?

(see the answer keys)

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