View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is it about Ramsey that makes Tagomi unwilling to share all the information about Baynes with him?
(a) He is said to be friends with Baynes.
(b) He is suspected to be a spy.
(c) He is known to be a gossip.
(d) He is considered lower in social status.

2. What does Frank's question to the I Ching about Juliana suggest?
(a) He regrets putting wealth above her love.
(b) He feels ashamed he never approached her.
(c) He wishes they were still together.
(d) He wants to avenge her captor.

3. What does the mystery client encourage Childan to report?
(a) Shipping failures to the Trade Commission.
(b) Missing items to the authorities
(c) Increased customer demands to his suppliers.
(d) Discovered forgeries to the police.

4. In Chapter 6, Tagomi is now convinced that Baynes really is ___________.
(a) An inspection agent.
(b) A German national.
(c) An allied convert.
(d) An escaped prisoner.

5. While visiting with Tagomi in Chapter 5, what does Baynes feel regret about?
(a) A political action.
(b) An airline conversation.
(c) A public speech.
(d) The cultural prejudice.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Wyndam-Matson's feel about "historicity"?

2. What word best describes Wyndam-Matson's reaction when Rita tells him about The Grasshopper Lies Heavy?

3. What are the pincos of Sacramento described as being?

4. What image set forth in The Grasshopper Lies Heavy seems to upset Joe the most?

5. What does Frank's memory of the landlord Omuro being beheaded by the Japanese Mission because of profiteering off ex-servicemen say about the Japanese?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the mystery client that comes to place an expensive order with Childan described? What appears to be his real purpose? Who can you assume this client to be, and why is he doing this?

2. One way an author can develop character is through descriptions of physical appearance and behavior. What descriptions does the author give of Wyndam-Matson? How do these descriptions reflect the way he runs his business in regard to such things as his treatment of employees, production, and such?

3. How do Childan's and Frank's perception of the Germans and the Japanese differ? What motivates these views?

4. In Chapter 4, Frank speaks of Gresham's Law. What does this law suggest? How does Childan's reaction to the discovery about some of his merchandise reflect his understanding of the importance of this law?

5. In Chapter 3, what suggestion is the author making by putting Hitler in a sanitarium and then noting that the present world in this novel is the product of his mind? What similarities are seen in the thoughts of Juliana and Baynes to support this view?

6. What is Childan's plan when he makes an appointment with his supplier, Ray Calvin? What does this further reveal about his character? Do you feel this is a realistic reaction?

7. One aspect of science fiction is that there is an element of the real world in it. What similarities can be seen in World War II and its aftermath as related in the High Castle and the history as we know it?

8. Wyndam-Matson and his girlfriend get into a long discussion about historicity. What is historicity? What point does Wyndam-Matson make about it? How is this idea supported in the novel?

9. What does the reader learn about the fate of the Slavs and Africans? In what way is Dick continuing to keep his "fiction" tied to reality? What comment might he be making about some of the realities of true USA history?

10. Despite initiating a relationship with Joe, whom she finds attractive, Juliana begins to feel uncomfortable around him. Why? What might this be foreshadowing?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,420 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample