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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 color is the earth in "Terpischore: Choral Dance"?

2. How does the child respond to the woman's gift in "Polymnia: Sacred Poetry"?

3. How many jars does the young woman fill at the well in "Polymnia: Sacred Poetry"?

4. In "Erato: Love Poetry," what camera directions describe the shot of the woman's face?

5. What is the title of the first poem in "Elitere: Lyric Poetry"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the rhythm of "Terpischore: Choral Dance."

2. Discuss the ending of the work. Why does it end with a child looking out a window?

3. Describe the wife's relationship with her husband in "Erato: Love Poetry."

4. Describe the woman's experience of the cinema in "Erato: Love Poetry."

5. Describe the contents of the chart in "Polymnia: Sacred Poetry."

6. Describe the woman's feelings regarding the telephone in "Thalia: Comedy."

7. Describe the woman's relationship with the person on the telephone in "Thalia: Comedy."

8. Why does Cha include the first letter to Mrs. Laura Claxton?

9. Identify one central symbol of "Terpischore: Choral Dance" and discuss its relevance.

10. Discuss the use of light and dark in the opening of "Elitere: Lyric Poetry."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Memory plays a significant role throughout Cha's Dictee. In fact, it could be argued the work itself is an act of memory or perhaps a memorial of sorts. Explore the way memory shapes both form and content in this work. Is it a celebration of memory? Or perhaps a mourning of things and persons lost? Or is it perhaps both at once?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's play with genre in the novel. How does Cha manipulate various genres and forms in her work? Does Cha break genre conventions in a way that expands our notions of what a book can do? Or does she simply overstep the bounds of what a book should do? Provide evidence and support for your analysis.

Essay Topic 3

In addition to the motif of suffering, the work exhibits a recurrent theme of transcendence as well. Cha's mother overcomes her exile status and poor health in Manchuria, saintly and Christ-like figures transcend worldly suffering, and the narrator transcends the painful distances between herself and the other women who compose her identity. How does Cha treat transcendence in this work? Is it a happily-ever-after, feel-good ending to a painful experience? Or perhaps it is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit? Is there a religious or spiritual component to her message? Using support from the text, discuss Cha's message regarding transcendence of suffering.

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