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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. As Joncour stands on the side of the road with the boy, and the procession is leaving, what does Hara Kei do to Joncour?

2. What does Hara Kei say to Joncour about the fate of the boy who led Joncour to Hara Kei's procession?

3. What are the rumors about Joncour when he returns from Japan the fourth time?

4. After his last trip to Japan, what is Joncour doing when Helene comes to kiss him goodnight?

5. Why does Baldabiou NOT want to send Joncour back to Japan for a fourth trip?

Short Essay Questions

1. Helene runs after Baldabiou at the train station and they embrace and she cries. What does this tell the reader about their relationship? Do you think something happened?

2. On his fourth trip to Japan, what does Joncour find when he arrives at Hara Kei's village? How does he see the village? What is the state of the village a symbol of?

3. What does Joncour mean when he says to the Englishman, "We are all marvelous, and we are all revolting"?

4. What does Joncour know about the Englishman they meet at the Riviera at the baron's birthday party? What is he wearing? Why is he upset when he looks at his wife and the Englishman?

5. The envelope that Joncour receives is mailed from Ostend, which is in Belgium. Who do you think sent the letters knowing this information?

6. Why does Joncour fire his gun on the way out of town and startle the birds? What is he saying, and to whom? Who will get his message?

7. For the fourth trip to Japan, Baldabiou is unsure whether or not to send Joncour. What are his misgivings? When discussing it with Joncour, who is he trying to convince?

8. When the young boy is hanged, why does Hara Kei say the boy was the message of love? What does he mean by that? Does this have anything to do with the boy's happy disposition? What?

9. What does Joncour hear as Hara Kei hold the gun to his head? Describe the sounds of what is happening around him.

10. The letter describes a sexual encounter but eludes to fact that it has already happened? What does this mean?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Joncour is a hero to his town, giving nearly all the town a way to make a living, and yet, he blindly pursues the mistress, knowing full well that he could lose everything for his town. Why does Joncour, in chapter after chapter, move toward his own destruction with little or no reservation to the damage he will do to his town or his wife? How can this man be so blind?

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Helene runs after Baldabiou at the train station? What do you think their relationship was? Why do you think that? What else happens that indicates that they have a close relationship? Do you think Helene experienced the same thing as her husband in the months he was away from her? Why do you think that?

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)

This section contains 1,595 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample