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

2. What has Pearl maintained in Hong Kong?

3. How does the Captain of the ship from Hong Kong cheat Joy?

4. What causes Joy to question the ways of the village?

5. Who is Pearl's husband?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Joy get into China?

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

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

5. What happens to Joy's stepfather, Sam, and how does Joy feel about it?

6. With who does Pearl regularly correspond and how does she help Pearl?

7. What assignment is Joy given in the village, and why?

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

9. How does Joy feel about returning to the Green Dragon Village, and what has happened to the village?

10. What does Pearl learn about the whereabouts of Z. G. and Joy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an important part of what makes "Dreams of Joy" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Joy. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Pearl. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Z. G. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Tao. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of "Dreams of Joy", Joy grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Dreams of Joy" might be considered a slice of Joy's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that "Dreams of Joy" is a "bildungsroman" of Joy. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Joy as she changes from a more carefree, innocent girl to a wiser, young woman. What are the significant events that change Joy?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Joy's growth throughout "Dreams of Joy", do you think "Dreams of Joy" could be considered Joy's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Dreams of Joy" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

(see the answer keys)

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