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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. Franz had given up scores of women because of what misunderstanding?

2. What did Tereza's mother forbid Tereza to do?

3. What did Franz feel with regards to his love for Sabina?

4. What was Sabina's views of modern music?

5. What happened at night that caused Tereza to fear that time of the day?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part 2, Chapter 29, what were Tereza's first thought when Tomas had come back to Prague because of her?

2. What did Tereza write in the letter that she'd left for Tomas in Zurich?

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

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

5. In Part 4, Chapter 3, describe the meeting of the the crowd of umbrellas in the street which Tereza encounters.

6. What type of daughter was Tereza? What was her lifestyle like?

7. Describe Marie-Claude's personality.

8. What were Tereza's dreams about?

9. "That pendant is ugly," Marie-Claude says to Sabina. Why does she make such a remark?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tomas is a surgeon out of a deep passion and desire.

1. How many times does Tomas jeopardize his career? Cite the incidences where TOmas chooses a route that takes him further and further away from his career.

2. Tomas descends from one job to another, but he claims to Tereza at the end that he is happy. Is Tomas truly happy or pretending to be so? Cite 3 incidences that support your theory.

3. Had Tomas remained in Zurich, where his career as a surgeon flourished, would he have been better off? Or was he destined to be with Tereza and didn't really have a choice? Cite 3 incidences from the book that support your theory.

Essay Topic 2

Sabina and Marie-Claude are two of the coolest characters in this novel.

1. Comapre and contrast the characters of Sabina and Marie-Claude. How are they the same? How are they different?

2. Has Franza chosen a mistress that has similar characteristics to that of his wife? Cite 5 examples of how Franz fails to read through the women he married and his lover.

3. Who has less compassion towards Franz, his wife or Sabina? Cite several examples from the book to support your case.

Essay Topic 3

Tomas and Tereza are brought together by fortuitous events.

1. Kandera often brings up the fortuitous events that brought Tomas and Tereza together. How many times does Kandera bring this up> What is he trying to say? Were Tereza and Tomas brought together by chance or fate?

2. Tomas questions the fortuitous events that brought him and Tereza together. Why didn't Tomas go beyond the questioning and conclude whether or not they did belong together? Was Tomas too passive in the relationship, allowing for those fortuitous events to lead the meaning of the relationship? Cite 3 examples that prove your theory.

3. Tereza holds steady to the fortuitous events that brought her to Tomas. Why does that not bring her peace? Cite 3 examples where she fully recognizes she's in an unhappy relationship.

(see the answer keys)

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