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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What personal aspect was considered a political crime during Jaromil's time?
(a) Depravity.
(b) Elegance.
(c) Extravagance.
(d) Poverty.

2. At the beginning of Part 6, Chapter 1, what does Kundera do with the story?
(a) Makes Maman the main character of the story.
(b) Begins to intersperse his prose with lots of poetry.
(c) Moves the point of observation to another character.
(d) Dismisses Jaromil as an unimportant character.

3. Why does the lyrical poet make his poetry striking?
(a) His life is uneventful.
(b) Only striking poetry will be accepted by the readers.
(c) He speaks out of powerful places in History.
(d) His subject matter demands a strong voice.

4. What happens during the second half of Jaromil's poetry recitation?
(a) He loses his place on the page and becomes flustered.
(b) The audience gives him a standing ovation so he has to stop reading.
(c) Lights come on and a camera starts rolling.
(d) The pretty cinematographer throws a rose to him.

5. Why is it important to Jaromil that he die by fire?
(a) A man's death conveys a message about his life.
(b) He thinks of himself as a gruesome beacon for the future.
(c) He thinks fire would be the quickest way to die.
(d) He wants nothing to remain of himself but his poems.

6. According to Kundera, who ruled the epoch about which he is writing?
(a) The judge and the lawyer.
(b) The young people.
(c) The farmer and the factory worker.
(d) The hangman and the poet.

7. Why is there silence at the beginning of the question-and-answer time following the recitation?
(a) The poets are professional and know what the questions will be.
(b) Everyone is respectfully waiting for the silver-haired poet to speak first.
(c) No one knows how to begin.
(d) No one cares about the poems enough to ask questions.

8. What had the middle-aged man done when the girl was arrested?
(a) Pleaded with a judge to free her.
(b) Tried his best to rescue her.
(c) Gotten another girlfriend.
(d) Tore up her picture and called her an enemy of the future.

9. When Jaromil wants to recite poetry to the redhead, what disturbing thought occurs to him?
(a) His fame will never surpass that of the famous poet.
(b) He has only written political poems, which she will not understand.
(c) He has not ever written something of value and purpose.
(d) The only modern poetry is that which will be understood by a common girl like her.

10. Just outside the prison, why does the girl hate to see the horses and riders?
(a) She takes it as a bad omen.
(b) She feels far below them and pitiful by comparison.
(c) She thinks they are out to capture people, possibly her.
(d) She has always been afraid of horses.

11. When Maman returns home early one evening while the redhead is visiting, what does she pretend is happening?
(a) She is having a heart attack in the kitchen.
(b) The redhead is having cramps and needs her help.
(c) Jaromil is disobeying a house rule and the redhead must leave.
(d) She is sick and needs Jaromil to take care of her.

12. Symbolically, what role does Maman want to play in Jaromil's life?
(a) A large meadow.
(b) The source of eternal light.
(c) A guardian angel.
(d) An all-encompassing embrace.

13. Why had Jaromil not known about the film about his life?
(a) Maman was subtly hoping the film would actually be about her.
(b) Maman had wanted it to be a surprise.
(c) He was too caught up in the redhead to notice.
(d) The cinematographer was not comfortable having Jaromil deeply involved.

14. When does Jaromil feel that the girl belongs to him completely?
(a) When she swears to love him forever.
(b) When he writes a poem about her.
(c) When she lets him undress her.
(d) When his hands are around her neck.

15. What question does the middle-aged woman have for the group of poets?
(a) How is modern love different from love in the past?
(b) How will socialism affect poetic forms?
(c) Why was the bus stop moved down the road?
(d) How will socialism affect their personal lives?

Short Answer Questions

1. When the redhead is fifteen minutes late, what is the first excuse she gives Jaromil?

2. What does Lermontov assert is the highest quality in life?

3. In the cinematographer's apartment, what happens?

4. What disguise does Jaromil use for treating the redhead with cruelty?

5. How many poets participate in the recitation?

(see the answer keys)

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