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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 ask Song?

2. What does Sharpless say will be engraved on Pinkerton's tombstone?

3. What song from Madame Butterfly underscores the scene in which Gallimard is reading Song's letters?

4. Finish the sentence: "...there's no guarantee of failure in life like ________"

5. What does Song get upset about when she enters the room?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Song say she wants to do by the end of her encounter with Chin in Act 2, Scene 9? Is this her own choice?

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

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

4. After seeing Song for the first time on stage, how does Gallimard react to her?

5. What is Gallimard's relationship with Marc?

6. Why does Gallimard want to see Song fully naked?

7. Why does Song speak in Italian at the end of Act 1?

8. What does Gallimard's experience with Isabelle reflect his sex life as a whole?

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

10. How do the actions within the play prove Song's theory that all a man wants from a woman is to submit, and that will result in him recanting his demands?

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

Nearing the end of Act 2, Helga and Gallimard have an altercation involving the changing face of the country. Gallimard seems unable to find happiness in his life in France, and Helga seems lost as well, unable to understand the political upheaval that has followed them from the Eastern world.

1. How was life different for Gallimard and Helga during their time in China? How has France changed in the time they were away? How are the two countries similar?

2. How does Gallimard react to Helga's opinion of their two homes? What does Gallimard want that Helga cannot provide?

3. How does this interaction reflect the larger picture of international changes?

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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