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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. Joe's comments about the war and the Germans show that he is opposed to ___________.
2. What does Frank's question to the I Ching about Juliana suggest?
3. How have Frank's feelings for the Japanese changed over the years?
4. What does the young driver's discovery about the character of Baynes suggest about the novel?
5. As Chapter 2 opens, what is Tagomi consulting the I Ching about?
Short Essay Questions
1. In Chapter 5, Tagomi tells Baynes that many books like the I Ching and The Bible are alive. What does he mean by this? How does this appear to be supported in the text up to the close of this chapter ?
2. What new insight does Chapter 5 give the reader into the character of Baynes? What might this be foreshadowing?
3. While consulting the I Ching, Frank thinks of how "his life was bound up with all other lives and particles in the universe." What does this mean? How might it be applied to Chapter 1 and serve as foreshadowing for the rest of the novel?
4. The voice of the radio quotes from The Bible, "What profit it a man if he gain the whole world but in this enterprise lose his soul?" How does this apply to what we have witnessed of this world in Chapter 1?
5. How do Childan's and Frank's perception of the Germans and the Japanese differ? What motivates these views?
6. One way an author can develop character is through descriptions of physical appearance and behavior. What descriptions does the author give of Wyndam-Matson? How do these descriptions reflect the way he runs his business in regard to such things as his treatment of employees, production, and such?
7. What is the source of the conflict Frank faces over his reading of the I Ching? How does he finally interpret this message? What does he decide as a result?
8. In Chapter 1, the author introduces the characters of Mr. Tagomi and the Kasouras as clients of Childan through the juxtaposition of conversations he has with each. What do we learn about each as a result? How do these clients compare?
9. At the close of Chapter 6, we find Frank and McCarthy excited about starting their jewelry business. Despite this, Frank has some real concerns. Why? Are they legitimate?
10. How does Baynes react to Tagomi's apartment? How do his thoughts and reactions to Tagomi's possessions and comments further define his character?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The idea of Good vs Evil is a common motif in literature. Explain how this theme is represented in the novel The High Castle. Who or what represents the Good? Who or what represents the Evil? Is the line clearly drawn between the two? Based upon the characters and events he gives the reader, what can we conclude about Philip Dick's theories about the Good vs Evil conflict?
Essay Topic 2
During his dinner date at the Kasouras, Childan thinks, "The universe will never be extinguished because just when the darkness begins to smother all...the new seeds of light are reborn in the very depths." What does this quote mean? Explain how it applies, not only to the Kasouras, but to the overall novel as well.
Essay Topic 3
The title of Abendsen 's novel is an allusion to Ecclesiastics, Chapter 5, verses 5-7 from the King James version of the Bible. This translates to say:
"Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way .... and the grasshopper be a burden, and desire shall
fail ...Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."
Explain the significance of this allusion as it relates to The High Castle and its inner story, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy. Be specific in explaining how the above Biblical excerpt relates to the characters and the world in which they live.
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This section contains 1,487 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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