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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 did Gallimard believe Song was doing before they part ways at the end of Scene 8?

2. Where does Scene 13 take place?

3. How does Toulon say Gallimard has changed?

4. In the stage directions, who does David Henry Hwang compare Song to in appearance?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Song seem to feel when compared to Western women? How does this relate to her own education and upbringing?

3. Why does Toulon approve of Gallimard's infidelity?

4. How does the character of Comrade Chin view Song's actions for the government?

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

6. Why was Song beaten? What were Chin's choices for further punishment for Song?

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

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

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

10. Why does Gallimard believe God is a man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marc and Gallimard have different points of view on the definition of infidelity and the morals involved with it. Write an essay comparing and contrasting Gallimard and Marc and their view and treatment of women.

1. How does Marc know Gallimard? What is the nature of their relationship? During their friendship, how did their lives differ? More specifically, what were their places within their social circle?

2. How did Marc view women in his youth? How did he treat them? Did this change after he got married? How do these characteristics differ from Gallimard's? How are they similar?

3. What kind of life did Marc lead while Gallimard was in China? How did their relationship change during the course of the play? How did Gallimard conjured image of Marc affect his actions in the play?

Essay Topic 2

The character of Comrade Chin represents the Communist politics of China. She enforces the law and the needs of her country, which causes many of the plot elements in M. Butterfly.

1. How does Comrade Chin represent the politics of the time period? How does she represent the changing values of the country?

2. How does Chin differ from the fantasy that Song puts forth regarding the ideal woman? What does she think of Song's role in her society? What does she think of Song's tactics? How does she react to Song's opinion on women?

3. Why does Chin have Song beaten? How do Chin's actions affect the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Gallimard's sexuality plays a major role in the plot of the play.

1. What seems to be Gallimard's sexual relationship with his wife? How does it differ from what he shares with Song? How is it different from his sexual encounters with Renee? How about Isabelle?

2. What is the importance of the men's magazine model who strips for Gallimard in his fantasy?

3. Marc is conjured up to encourage Gallimard's lustful nature. Although their characters are different, how are their wants similar? Why does Gallimard feel the need to imagine these interactions with his old school friend?

(see the answer keys)

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