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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Part 3: The Poet Masturbates, Chaps. 1-14, pp.93-114.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Jaromil see as the sign that his verses have true power?
(a) His own thrill at the sounds of the words.
(b) The poems' ability to stand on their own as independent works.
(c) The artist's enthusiastic reaction.
(d) The emotion on his mother's face when she reads them.

2. To what does Jaromil poetically compare Magda?
(a) Earth and stability.
(b) Ice and cruelty.
(c) Water and sorrow.
(d) Fire and passion.

3. According to Kundera, what is "tenderness"?
(a) Treating the woman like a child, for fear of consequences.
(b) The proper response of a parent to the child.
(c) The sheltering of a child so that he does not mature.
(d) The affection of the woman for her lover.

4. What does Jaromil think is the quintessential surrealist object?
(a) The statue of Apollo.
(b) The telephone receiver with the dangling cord.
(c) The chair leg if seen by itself.
(d) His mother's light blue perfume bottle.

5. What justification does Maman give herself for her initial infidelity?
(a) Innocence.
(b) Anger.
(c) Lust.
(d) Sadness.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Xavier leave the beautiful woman?

2. How does Jaromil's father prepare for leaving home several days at a time on business trips?

3. How does Maman mourn her husband's death?

4. While kissing the old woman, why does Xavier turn on the light?

5. What does Xavier do with the husband after his presence is discovered?

(see the answer key)

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