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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. How many poets participate in the recitation?
(a) Fourteen.
(b) Twelve.
(c) Eight.
(d) Eleven.

3. What happens to Jaromil's uncle?
(a) He is charged with fraud and imprisoned.
(b) He contracts pneumonia and dies.
(c) He is charged with being an enemy of the state and imprisoned.
(d) He leaves his wife to hide in a remote village.

4. According to Jaromil, how do socialism and love interact?
(a) Socialism comes from the root of love.
(b) Socialism stifles love.
(c) They are complete opposites.
(d) Socialism allows for true love to exist.

5. 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) Dismisses Jaromil as an unimportant character.
(d) Moves the point of observation to another character.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does the girl come to see the man rather than going home?

2. To Jaromil, what does Xavier represent?

3. In Kundera's example, what will happen to the poet if he steps outside his mirrored domain?

4. How does the film begin?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. "History does not always make a dramatic entrance, it often seeps through every-day life like dirty dishwater. In our story, History makes its appearance in the guise of underwear" (Part 5, Chapter 8, pg 239). What does this mean in the context of Jaromil's story?

2. Maman is disillusioned about the cinematography girl after the girl does not invite her to the party. How does this show the similarity between Maman and the girl?

3. Jaromil's first revelation about duty is that it is "voluntary and represents human daring and dignity" (Part 5, Chapter 11, pg 263). Given his situation, is this true?

4. Why does Jaromil want to undress the redhead? How does this show his inadequate understanding of relationships?

5. What are Jaromil's hopes for the two women in his life? What does this show about his understanding of both women?

6. Kundera says that the young person can be so loyally devoted to an idea because he believes in absolutes (Part 5, Chapter 6, pg 220). How does this fit with Jaromil's personality?

7. In planning the documentary about Jaromil's life, what do Maman and Jaromil reveal about themselves? What do they reveal about their relationship?

8. What arguments do Jaromil and the redhead have concerning their families? How does this illustrate Jaromil's juvenile mindset?

9. Near the end of the book, Xavier betrays Jaromil by leaving him behind. What is the significance of this scene?

10. After a period of estrangement from Maman, why is Jaromil ready to make peace with her? How do the two of them have very different perceptions of this reconciliation?

(see the answer keys)

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