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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. Having a shadow cut off the sun just as Tagomi begins to read into the sun's effect on the jewelry in order to emphasize his mood is an example of the use of what literary device?
(a) Allusion.
(b) Metaphor.
(c) Irony.
(d) Flashback.

2. Why does McCarthy, rather than Frank, go to Childan's shop to market their jewelry?
(a) Childan is a childhood friend.
(b) Childan might recognize Frank.
(c) Frank is busy producing more.
(d) McCarthy is more sociable.

3. What are Americans portrayed as doing by the author of The Grasshopper Lies Heavy that impresses Juliana?
(a) Helping to erase world suffering.
(b) Working to eliminate foreign competition.
(c) Succeeding in conquering the world.
(d) Fighting to free the British.

4. What does Tagomi do to spite Reiss?
(a) Makes an appointment with vom Meere.
(b) Reports him to the Third Reich.
(c) Communicates only through his assistant.
(d) Signs for the release of Frank.

5. In Chapter 8, what disguised personage is Reiss alerted to through a radiogram from his superiors?
(a) An Italian diplomat.
(b) A Japanese general.
(c) A German official.
(d) An American businessman.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do Baynes's thoughts tell the reader about Mr. Yatabe at the end of Chapter 10?

2. What does Tagomi feel he can no longer do now that his most prized possession has been tainted with evil?

3. In Chapter 7, how do Paul and Betty react to Childan's comments about Abendsen's theories?

4. Because he feels The Grasshopper Lies Heavy is a dangerous book, what does Reiss think should happen to its author?

5. When Tagomi inquires about General Tedeki in Chapter 14, he learns Tedeki is ________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Paul's proposal to mass market the Edfrank Jewelry is turned down by Childan, despite the fact this could have made him very wealthy. What has the jewelry come to symbolize to Childan that makes it more important than wealth? How does this realization affect him?

2. In Chapter 8, upon entering the Kasoura neighborhood, Childan thinks to himself, "I do not belong here." In what way is this statement true? What does the author draw upon from actual history to depict this scene?

3. In Chapter 9, Joe accuses Juliana of being guilty of "worry, fear, and suspicion about him and everything else in the world." In what way is this true? Are her feelings well founded? What might this be foreshadowing?

4. In response to Paul's return of the jewelry, it is said that "long habit had caused Childan to suppress any show of authentic feelings ... He could sense it there..the mask." What is this saying about Childan? What other characters do we find wearing "masks"? Why? What does this further say about this society in general?

5. As her concern about Joe and his real identity and intentions grow, Juliana's thoughts revert to Frank. First, she thinks, "Frank. Help me. I'm into something I don't understand." A bit later she informs Joe, "My husband is a Jew." What does this suggest about her feelings about Frank? What is further revealed about her character?

6. Tagomi buys a piece of Edfrank Jewelry at Childan's suggestion. What selling angle does Childan use that convinces Tagomi to buy it? What does Tagomi hope to get from this purchase? What does this say about his present state of mind? What has the jewelry come to symbolize overall?

7. Paul sees The Grasshopper Lies Heavy as being "possibly within the genre of science fiction." Betty disagrees because "science fiction deals with the future, in particular where science has advanced over now." Paul notes, however, that "it deals with an alternate present" as many well-known science fiction novels do. How do their definitions fit into the classifying of The High Castle as science fiction? Is there anything you would add to their definition?

8. Why is Tagomi shocked when the elderly man shows up for the meeting with Baynes? What concerns does Tagomi share with him? What is the visitor's reaction to these concerns?

9. Back in the park, Tagomi thinks of his perception of the world as an optical distortion saying, "our space and our time creations of our own psyche, and when these momentarily falter ... all sense of balance is gone." What does this mean? How does it relate to Tagomi's present state of mind?

10. Wegener speaks of the political situation of the Third Reich and its plans for Japan. As he explains what the Japanese must do to protect their own interests and country, Tagomi grows more and more upset. Why, if Wegener is trying to help, is Tagomi so disturbed?

(see the answer keys)

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