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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. What does Gallimard believe about God?

2. What does Marc compare a pool full of naked women to?

3. What is the setting of Scene 12?

4. In Act 1, Scene 7, when Gallimard is speaking to Helga, what does he say about the Chinese?

5. What does Butterfly use to kill herself in the opera?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story of Madame Butterfly, how is Butterfly treated by Pinkerton?

2. Describe the character of Renee.

3. What seems to be other people's opinion of Gallimard? Does he reflect that same opinion?

4. Why did Song take so much care in her first appearance to Gallimard when he finds him in France?

5. How does Toulon's view of the Americans and their actions reflect France's opinion of their place in this historic time period?

6. Define the "Rape Mentality" that Song describes in the courtroom.

7. In the plot of the opera Madame Butterfly, what is the relationship between Pinkerton and Sharpless? How does that story relate to Gallimard?

8. How does Marc's marriage and his treatment of women and that of Gallimard's differ?

9. What did Song mean when she said the fascination Caucasian men have for Oriental women is always "imperialist?"

10. How does the Chinese opera differ from the performance Gallimard saw at the ambassador's house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Much of the characters' are driven by the culture they came from. There is a distinct role that the social backdrop plays in the storyline.

1. Describe the nature of the cultures that surrounds Hwang's story. Most noticeably, the Chinese and French influences. Is there any other cultures that have a personality within the plot? What are some of the characteristics we associate with each culture and how does Hwang play on them?

2. Which characters fit into their cultural stereotype? How has their culture played a part in building their personality? How does it play a part in their motives?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the theme of parenthood in the play.

1. Why does Helga want to have a baby? Why does she want Gallimard to see a doctor? Why is there conflict over this?

2. Does Gallimard want to be a father? Why or why not?

3. What are Song's motives for "mothering" Gallimard's child? How does introducing a baby change the stakes for Gallimard and Song?

Essay Topic 3

The politics of a changing world play a major part in the direction of the plot. Write an essay on how the political tumult defines the conflict between certain characters and situations.

1. What are some of the major political events that happen while Gallimard is in office? What are the major global events that occur during the 1960's?

2. As the 60's progress, how does life for the characters in the play change? What is at stake for characters involved? How does the play and the stakes within it change as time goes by?

3. Describe how the growing chaos of the 1960s reflect events within M. Butterfly.

(see the answer keys)

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