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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. For whom does Kundera give a personal astrological reading?

2. What does Michelle and Gabrielle's laughter elicit?

3. How does Mirek feel about Zdena's advice?

4. What does Karel do on the phone?

5. When does Marketa begin to write her mother-in-law?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the fur hat symbolic?

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

3. What do Kundera and other students do around 1948 and why? Do you think Kundera is speaking metaphorically or actuality.

4. What is the larger meaning of the letters which Mirek is supposedly seeking to have back?

5. How does Kundera's loss of his friends in the dancing circle affect him later?

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

7. Where does Mirek stop and why is that problematic?

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

9. What situation in Kundera's personal past does he discuss after writing about laughter?

10. Who is Mirek going to visit and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The final chapter, "Borders," seems to suggest the idea of borders through repetition. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think this chapter is titled "Borders"?

2. Does the concept of borders appear in each chapter? Explain with examples.

3. Do you think there is a reason Kundera titles the last chapter "Borders" as opposed to any other chapter in the book? Explain fully.

4. How is the concept of borders related to that of repetition? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

In Part 2, "Mama," when Marketa learns of Karel's next date with a mistress, both she and Karel are angry. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss why you think both Karel and Marketa are angry.

2. How strong can a relationship be if both feel the need to have sexual liaisons with someone else? Explain fully.

3. Do you think Marketa and Karel's relationship can be salvaged? Explain fully.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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