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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 replace with practicality?

2. Where does Scene 11 take place?

3. In the first scene of the play, how old is Gallimard?

4. What does Toulon believe about Gallimard?

5. What is the setting of Scene 12?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Gallimard's character change at the end of Scene 10?

2. How has the relationship between Marc and Gallimard changed during the course of the play?

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

4. What is the premise for Gallimard's favorite musical, Madame Butterfly?

5. Why does Gallimard want Song to say she is his Butterfly?

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

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

8. What is Gallimard's relationship with Marc?

9. In the end, who does Gallimard cast as the role of Madame Butterfly? Why?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the climactic encounter between Gallimard and Song when he asks to see her naked for the first time.

1. When Gallimard leaves the reception where he had his encounter with Toulon, what is he feeling? What is the catalyst for his emotions?

2. What are the reasons Gallimard gives for wanting to strip Song? How does she react? Why?

3. How does Song talk Gallimard out of seeing her naked? What is at stake for her?

4. How is this moment pivotal in the life of the play and the relationship between Gallimard and Song? How do his feelings for her change?

Essay Topic 3

Hwang wrote M. Butterfly after hearing details on the true account of a French diplomat falling for a cross-dressing Chinese spy. However, the spectrum of ideas presented in this play are Hwang's. Write an essay summing up the larger ideas of this play.

1. What are the political themes of this play? What did Hwang hope to achieve by resenting them dramatically? Was he successful?

2. What are the gender issues associated with this story? How is the perception of the feminine/masculine a major thematic element?

3. Dramatically, what did Hwang attempt to present with this play? What are we as the audience supposed to walk away from this story feeling or wanting?

(see the answer keys)

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