View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How cold is it the night that Jen quarrels with his wife?

2. Who does the widower take as a new wife after his wife is murdered in one of P'u Sung-Ling's stories?

3. Who does Jen's wife see with a tumor sticking out of him?

4. Who is protected by corrupt officials despite killing a wife in one of P'u Sung-Ling's stories?

5. What happens to Ts'ui-hsien's husband when he enters his wife's mother's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Huang realize about Wang's death from her body?

2. What is the sad story P'u Sung-ling tells about a young woman and a nobleman?

3. Describe the family conflict around P'u Sung-ling's marriage.

4. How does Ts'ui Meng react to a wife murdering her husband and his mother and what does his mother do to appease the situation?

5. How is the woman Wang described in Chapter 5?

6. Why is keeping order difficult in T'an-ch'eng County?

7. Describe Ts'ui Meng in The Feud.

8. What is Chinese law regarding adultery?

9. What is the conflict between a local farmer and another Wang family?

10. Why is Jen able to survive the beating?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In T'ang-Chen in the 1640s, what creates impoverished conditions for the peasants? What freedom do the peasants lack? What choices do they have? What choices do they make?

Essay Topic 2

Spence's book covers primarily a third-person narrative with some stories interwoven. Do you find this style choppy? Why or why not? Is it comprehensive? Does it flow well?

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the theme of loss. Identify at least two themes about loss in the book. Cite an example to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 747 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample