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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 was the only reason Simon became involved with the editor?

2. When asked to sign the letter, why didn't Tomas give the secret policeman an immediate and unconditional "no"?

3. How did Tereza feel in the country?

4. How did the engineer respond to Tereza's resistance?

5. What concerned Tomas about moving to the country?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does Tomas make a mistake by returning to Prague from Zurich?

2. What does Franz realize at the end of his trip to Cambodia?

3. What is "kitsch?"

4. What is at stake if Tomas does not retract the article he wrote?

5. When talking to his son, Simon, what is Tomas's attitude about the article he had written?

6. What did Tereza worry would happen if Tomas found out about her affair with the engineer?

7. Describe Simon's relationship with his mother.

8. What causes Tereza to suspect the engineer was sent by the secret police?

9. Why does Tomas resign from the clinic?

10. Prior to suggesting they move there, what experience has Tereza had with country life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the three options to write about:

1. Throughout The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the question of weight and lightness is often used to describe the reason behind a character's actions. Discuss which characters are pursuing lightness, which characters are more pursuing weight. Tomas, Tereza, Franz and Sabina.

2. Recurring dreams have a strong impact on Tereza. These dreams interpret her inner struggle with Tomas's affairs. Cite 3 dreams that were particularly frightening for Tereza.

3. Throughout The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera expresses quite a few observations about the Communist Regime and the people that oppose them. Cite 3 views that adrress those views.

Essay Topic 2

Sabina and Marie-Claude are two of the coolest characters in this novel.

1. Comapre and contrast the characters of Sabina and Marie-Claude. How are they the same? How are they different?

2. Has Franza chosen a mistress that has similar characteristics to that of his wife? Cite 5 examples of how Franz fails to read through the women he married and his lover.

3. Who has less compassion towards Franz, his wife or Sabina? Cite several examples from the book to support your case.

Essay Topic 3

Milan Kundera writes that Franz and Simon are the dreamers of this novel.

1. Compare and contrast the characters of Franz and Simon. How are they the same? How are they different?

2. What purpose does Franza and Simon serve in the novel? Use 3 events from the book where Franz and Simon's characters have an influence on the theme, and the characters, of the book.

3. Who is the bigger dreamer, Franz or Simon? Cite several examples from the book to support your case.

(see the answer keys)

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