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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. When does Joncour go to his park and sit by the lake?

2. Why is Joncour drawn to the light on the lake, and what does he think it is?

3. What does Joncour pack the eggs in for his fourth trip home?

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

5. When Joncour asks about Hara Kei the morning after the party, what is he told?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Joncour arrives home nine days late, what does he ask of his wife? Why does he ask her this?

2. 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?

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

4. Why does the author describe the train trip so vividly returning from Japan on the fourth trip? What is the significance of the heat that Joncour sees on the fields and with the other passengers? What is he watching happening?

5. 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?

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

7. 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?

8. On the fourth trip to Japan, describe the young boy that Joncour follows? What is he playing? Why would he play music as they wander through the villages?

9. On his final trip to Madame Blanche's, what does she tell Joncour about his wife that he did not know?

10. Why does Joncour take Baldabiou to the house of Jean Berbeck that he buys? What is he looking for? Why does he think that Baldabiou will understand?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do the two English characters, the one in France at the party, and the one in the Japanese village, have in common? How are they different? Why do you think the author introduced these two characters, one in each country, to play off the main characters? What do they bring to the story? How would the story have been different without them?

Essay Topic 2

What do you think the relationship was between Helene and Madame Blanche? How do you think Helene found Madame Blanche? Do you think Helene saw her before she translated the letters? Why? Why not? Why do you think Madame Blanche visited Helene's grave?

Essay Topic 3

Why do Joncour and his wife travel? What does this bring to their relationship? In the end, when Joncour stops traveling, why does he decide to do this? Why, in his later years, does he not enjoy traveling and seeing new places? Why does he never return to Japan in later years when the journey is easier?

(see the answer keys)

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