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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. During the Revolution, what signs would hang in the windows of the clubs in Shanghai?

2. Where did Helga go on the night Gallimard went to the opera house?

3. What does Toulon state will not be part of Gallimard's job requirement?

4. What does Song call Gallimard?

5. In what year does Scene 12 take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Song's opinion of Madame Butterfly differ from Gallimard's?

2. How do Gallimard and his wife agree in regards to their opinion of the Chinese people?

3. Why does Toulon choose to put forth Gallimard's choices and opinions to his superiors in intelligence instead of his own?

4. Why did Toulon decide to keep Gallimard on board with the intelligence division?

5. In the opera, how does the character of Butterfly look on Pinkerton?

6. Why is Gallimard's experiment with Song considered a success when she claims that she has given him her shame?

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

8. How is Gallimard talked out of seeing the doctor?

9. Why does Song need Chin to acquire a baby for her? What kind of baby does it need to be?

10. What is Song's opinion on how managed to change Gallimard's destiny?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gallimard serves as the narrator throughout the play. The fantasies and flashbacks are his. Write a characterization of Gallimard and how he fits in with the structure of the play.

1. What was Gallimard's life like growing up? How did his days as a youth help to create the man he is now?

2. Describe Gallimard's relationship with women. Is Gallimard an attractive man? How does his physical appearance reflect his place in society? How does he talk to women? What is his sex drive like?

3. Descibe Gallimard's relationship with his wife. Why did he marry her? What is his opinion of love? How does that affect his interactions with other characters and his actions in the play?

Essay Topic 2

Each woman in Hwang's story has a distinctive role to play and her own interpretation of the feminist point of view.

1. Describe in turn the women of the play (specifically, Song, Helga, Chin, Renee). What is their role in the life of the play?

2. How does each woman express their sexuality in the play? What are their individual strengths? Their weaknesses? How do those qualities affect their relationships with other characters?

3. How do these women's personalities compare to each other? How do their lives as women differ?

Essay Topic 3

When Song is on the witness stand, he describes his situation with Gallimard in great detail. One major point he has relates to the masculine/feminine characterization of the West and East and the "Rape mentality" the former has for the latter.

1. How does Song define "Rape mentality?"

2. How does this mindset relate to Song's opinion of international relations? How do those relations compare to Song's opinions of men and women from those countries?

3. How do all of these factors culminate in Song's relationship with Gallimard?

4. Do you agree with Song? Do you believe Gallimard's intentions reflect Songs opinion on their relationship?

(see the answer keys)

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