View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Pearl not get along well with the boarders in her childhood home?

2. How does May hide the money she sends to Pearl?

3. Who writes frequent letters to each other?

4. What does Joy realize are empty fantasies?

5. In what do the sisters write to each other?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Pearl visit one morning and how does the older woman seem?

2. What is the Great Leap Forward and what does China hope to accomplish with it?

3. What does Pearl think about as she goes after Joy?

4. What does Pearl think about how she can get into China and who helps her?

5. Why does Z. G. rebuke Joy for sneaking off with Tao?

6. How is the commune set up for The Great Leap Forward?

7. Of what do Pearl's housemates accuse her, and who seems to be supportive of her?

8. What do Z. G. and Joy begin doing immediately at the commune, and why is the work so grueling?

9. How does Joy get into China?

10. What does the Prologue recount?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Dreams of Joy", questions that See most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the See's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss See's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of See and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Dreams of Joy", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in this book. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Joy hears that Ping-Li had begged for a divorce from her abusive husband but was continually told to work for the greater good of China by being a better wife. Desperate, she committed suicide by throwing herself in front of the hay cutter. It is interesting to note that the villagers commented on how red her blood was, a sign of a good communist. There were not repercussions for Ping-Li's husband and dissent began to take over the women in the commune who claimed their rights weren't being respected. A few days later, the villagers were banned from speaking about Ping-Li's death.

1. Do you think Ping-Li was abused because she was not a good wife? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Discuss the symbolism to the Chinese workers of the red blood and what kind of propaganda could make people discuss a woman who has just killed herself in such a manner. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Discuss the reasons you believe the government banned the people of the commune from talking about Ping-Li. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,280 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample