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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 later say about Eva?

2. In what is Mirek reveling?

3. Who does Kundera watch in the ring?

4. For what does Mirek ask Zdena?

5. Why does Zdena urge Mirek to take this action?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Marketa asks Eva to pretend she is Marketa's cousin?

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

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

4. What does Mirek think of Zdena when they first meet and then become lovers?

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

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

7. Why does Mirek want his old love letters back from Zdena and do you think his goal is possible?

8. How is the fur hat symbolic?

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

10. What is upsetting about Mama's visit and why doesn't Marketa do anything about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Part 4, Kundera describes graphomania, which is the obsessive drive to write a book. In order for this condition to exist, the people in the society must have an elevated sense of well-being, an absence of dramatic events in their life and a general isolation between individuals. Discuss the following:

1. Research the term graphomania and explain it fully.

2. Do you think all writers suffer from graphomania?

3. From what compulsion do writers that do not come from countries with the conditions listed above write?

4. Do you think Kundera suffers from graphomania?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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