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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. The narrator says that she prefers to be more like a gardener than like a what when it comes to her own narrative?

2. At what time does the flight from Irkutsk arrive in Moscow?

3. The vignette entitled "The Achilles Tendon" opens in what year?

4. The narrator proclaims that "seeing means" (182) what?

5. The narrator explains that the airport in which city is shaped like a computer chip?

Short Essay Questions

1. What object does Tokarczuk use in a metaphor characterizing the nocturnal brain and why?

2. In what way does Tokarczuk use dialogue in order to highlight a lack of sensitivity in tourists?

3. What two points of view does the narrator claim exist in the world and why?

4. In what way does the theme of regret appear within the story of Van Horssen and his mentor Verheyen?

5. When the words of Annushka's supposed tormentor are revealed, what had the old woman been saying?

6. How does the theme of obsession arise within the story about Verheyen?

7. How does Tokarczuk present the theme of being present within the vignette entitled “Irkutsk-Moscow”?

8. How do Existentialist ideals creep into Verheyen's later writings?

9. What significance does the unnamed narrator find in the shapes of airports?

10. What country does the unnamed narrator say is the perfect place for observing people and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of Flights and analyze Tokarczuk’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 2

Write a critical essay about Flights while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, misogyny's role within society, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Tokarczuk's choice to tell the story of Flights using a great deal of first-person narration. What elements of the novel's themes lend themselves to this choice and what are Tokarczuk’s intended effects on the reader?

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