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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. In Chapter 8, what does Baldabiou drink with Joncour?

2. What is the lake along the Chinese border that Joncour passes on his trip to Japan?

3. What color dress is Hara Kei's mistress wearing when Joncour arrives and they are sitting at the lake?

4. What was Joncour wearing the first time Baldabiou saw him?

5. What did Baldabiou ask Joncour about when he returned from Egypt?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are the silkworms of Japan not affected by disease? What is their history of trade?

2. What is the symbolism of the exotic birds kept caged at the house of Hara Kei? What does this tell Joncour? What else does Joncour see at Hara Kei's house?

3. Describe the party at Hara Kei's house. Who is there? Are these important people? Why? Why not?

4. Why does Madame Blanche tell Joncour that the girl will not die without him? Is she trying to help him? What does she know that he does not?

5. Why does the mistress bring an Asian girl for Joncour? What is this a symbol of for both of them?

6. When the silkworm disease begins to spread in the early 1860s, Baldabiou observes that "nearly" all of the eggs are affected. What is he thinking? Where is he thinking of buying eggs?

7. When Hara Kei asks Joncour who he is, what does he tell him? Why does he give so much detail? Is it necessary to tell the whole truth? Why does Joncour do this?

8. What is Madame Blanche's calling card? What does she give the men she sleeps with?

9. When Hara Kei tells Joncour that the mistress "doesn't speak your language", is he referring to more that French? What is he trying to tell Joncour?

10. When Joncour seeks out someone who can translate the note for him, Baldabiou informs him of Madame Blanche, but tells him not to ask her personal questions. Why do you think Baldabiou gives Joncour this suggestion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of St. Agnes to Baldabiou? Why do Joncour and his wife name their youngest daughter Agnes? Why is Baldabiou fascinated with dolphins? Why would he want to put dolphins in the cloister instead of animals with Christian references?

Essay Topic 2

In the author's description of the trip from France to Japan, he describes it exactly the same except for the description of Lake Baikal. Each time Joncour travels past the lake, the locals are calling the lake by a different name. Why is this significant? What does this symbolize? Why would this be the only point where the author deviates from his description?

Essay Topic 3

How, in the end, does Joncour live in peace? How does he find peace? When he discovers that Helene wrote the letters, what does he feel that he lost? Does this discovery take away his peace? How?

(see the answer keys)

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