View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Tereza long to end?

2. What did Tereza understand the benches floating downstream to mean in her dream?

3. Why did Tereza respond as she did to the engineer's advances?

4. What did Sabina rebel agains?

5. What happened to Tomas's son as a result of the petition campaign?

Short Essay Questions

1. All her life Sabina had proclaimed kitsch her enemy. But, Kundera asks, hasn't she in fact been carrying it with her?

2. Is it Tereza's fault that Tomas had to leave his profession and ended up a truck driver in the country?

3. Kundera writes, whenever a single political movement corners power, we find ourselves in the realm of totalitarian kitsch. What does he mean by the word "totalitarian?"

4. What is "kitsch?"

5. In the end, Tereza knows she has reached her goals. What are her goals?

6. Describe Tomas's experience as a window washer.

7. In Part 5, Chapter 10, what distinguishes the women who looks like a giraffe and a stork from others?

8. Prior to suggesting they move there, what experience has Tereza had with country life?

9. What does the article about the dogs being summarily shot in Russia signify for Tereza?

10. What is at stake if Tomas does not retract the article he wrote?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If you were asked to retract a letter for the sake of saving your career, what would you do? Would you save your career or your pride? Write how Tomas's and Tereza's life would have had a different outcome if Tomas had retracted the letter.

Essay Topic 2

If you were living in Prague during the invasion, would you have fled the country? Where would you have gone? Would you have stayed for the love of your country and fellowmen knowing you may lose your job?

Essay Topic 3

On a number of occasions, Tomas questions his relationship with Tereza.

1. How many times does Tomas question his relationship with Tereza? Use specific examples that include the when, where and why?

2. Had Tomas not followed Tereza back to Prague, what type of lifestyle would he have pursued?

3. Tomas dreams of a woman he has not yet met. She is the one for Tomas. What kind of woman would have been more compatible with Tomas? What prevents Tomas from letting go of Tereza to find a happier relationship?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 835 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample