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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. With regards to love, what was Sabina's nature?

2. Tereza has a dream where she marches around a pool of naked women who are overjoyed by their sameness. What does this part of her dream represent?

3. What did Franz try to create for the woman he had fallen in love with?

4. In Tereza's eyes, what did books represent?

5. What does Marie-Anne and her mother do when they have a party?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part 3, Chapter 4, how does Sabina feel about her own unfairness towards the immigrants?

2. What does the word "woman" represent for Franz?

3. Do you think that Tomas and Tereaz met by chance or by fate?

4. What argument does Tereza use when she rejects the offer to take photos of a cactus?

5. In Part 1, Chapter 3, what did Tomas struggle with after Tereza returned to her small Czech town?

6. How does Franz expect Marie-Claude to react to his confession about his affairs and how does she actually respond?

7. Why did Tomas initially reject the Swiss doctor's office to in Switzerland?

8. What did the bowler hat represent for Sabina?

9. What did Tereza feel when she stood naked in front of Sabina as Sabina photographed her?

10. How did Tereza react to her mother's phone call telling her she had cancer and only 5 months to live?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the three options to write about:

1. Throughout The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Kundera brings up God on a number of occasions. Using examples from the book, discuss his views on this particular subject.

2. Except for Simon and Marie-Claude, all the characters are involved in some type of infidelity. Does the political environment influence people to this type of lifestyle?

3. Describe "kitsch," especially how the author relates it to politics. Use 2 examples, not concerned with the book, of modern day situations that would be considered "kitsch."

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the three options to write about:

1. Throughout The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the question of weight and lightness is often used to describe the reason behind a character's actions. Discuss which characters are pursuing lightness, which characters are more pursuing weight. Tomas, Tereza, Franz and Sabina.

2. Recurring dreams have a strong impact on Tereza. These dreams interpret her inner struggle with Tomas's affairs. Cite 3 dreams that were particularly frightening for Tereza.

3. Throughout The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Milan Kundera expresses quite a few observations about the Communist Regime and the people that oppose them. Cite 3 views that adrress those views.

Essay Topic 3

Tomas and Tereza's love is based on her fidelity.

1. Did Tereza's infidelity help her achieve her goal of having Tomas all to herself? What would have happened had Tereza not had an affair? Did her infidelity cure her from jealousy?

2. Tereza does not believe that Tomas would throw her out if he learns of her affair. What then would Tomas have done? How would him knowing have changed the nature of their relationship?

3. Had Tereza not given up her life to Tomas, making him certain of her fidelity, would he have fallen in love with her and married her? What does your answer say about his character?

(see the answer keys)

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