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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 is the problem with planting wheat?

2. How are Pearl and Dun married?

3. How does Joy convince the brigade leader to let her do her project in the commune center?

4. What does the government realize about the peasants?

5. What happens three months after Z. G. leaves the commune?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dun confess to Pearl, and what is her reaction?

2. What does the brigade leader say about Yong, and what does he make Yong do?

3. What crop is to be planted the following year and why is this a poor decision?

4. What gives Joy hope as she boils her new shoes?

5. What does Joy say in a letter to Pearl, and what is Pearl's reaction?

6. What contest does the Brigade leader announce and how does the contest contribute to the food shortage?

7. Why does Tao's mother send Joy to the birthing house and what is the outcome?

8. What sort of horrors do Z.G. and Pearl see when they are driving to the village?

9. Why does Pearl agree to leave the commune with Z. G.?

10. What happens that restores the closeness between Joy and Pearl?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Dreams of Joy" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Dreams of Joy" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

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

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Dreams of Joy" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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