View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the dramatic action that led to the kiss between Jaromil and the university girl?
(a) The girl dropping her briefcase.
(b) The police light flashing through the trees.
(c) Running from the police.
(d) Jaromil falling off the porch steps.

2. Jaromil agonizes over his hair. What kind of hair does he have?
(a) Dark, thick hair.
(b) Soft, blond hair.
(c) Very curly hair.
(d) Thin, brown hair.

3. What is unusual about Xavier's presence at the blond girl's funeral?
(a) He knows nearly half of the other mourners.
(b) He attended the funeral although he did not truly love her.
(c) He is not at all sad that she died.
(d) He is the only one who knows what caused her death.

4. Why do Jaromil's drawings favor dogs?
(a) He cannot draw any other animal.
(b) He loves dogs better than any other animal.
(c) He draws dogs best.
(d) He sees dogs as the symbol of virtue and natural goodness.

5. Why is Jaromil filled with pride after sleeping with the redhead girl?
(a) She relieved him of his virginity.
(b) She is strikingly beautiful.
(c) She does not ask questions about his inexperience.
(d) She thinks he is experienced.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Xavier leave the beautiful woman?

2. In Part III, Chapter 19, how does Jaromil get a fever?

3. Who was Jaromil's first and greatest friend?

4. How does the artist show Maman that he is not interested in a relationship with her?

5. With whom does the famous poet appear on the street?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Xavier's interactions with the woman in the apartment, what role does water play?

2. Who is Jaromil's only school friend? What picture do these two children present?

3. When Jaromil returns at midnight after walking the university girl home, Maman becomes hysterical because she was worried about him. What does this scene show about these two people's perception of love?

4. What revelation does Maman have about her husband one night after a party? How does this affect her relationship with Jaromil?

5. Why does Xavier leave the woman behind at the end of Part 2?

6. "It was sad, but beautiful, too: for a moment, Jaromil lost the feeling of being a mere child" (Part 3, Chapter 25, pg 150). What causes this moment? Will it last?

7. "He [Jaromil] was searching for immensity. His life was hopeless, small, everything around him was flat, gray" (Part 3, Chapter 8, pg 104). How does Kundera's presentation of the novel prove this to be true?

8. At the debate in Part 3, Chapter 15, what arguments does Jaromil make about progress? Given his own life, how are these views ironic?

9. How does Jaromil prepare for a date with a girl? How does his preparation actually make him completely unprepared for the date?

10. Why is Maman angry at Jaromil because of her love life? Is her anger justified?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,945 words (approx. 7 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample