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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 could a Chinese husband kill a wife according to the law?

2. What is not fully enforced during the trial?

3. When Jen's wife is abandoned, what situation does she find herself in?

4. What or whom do the people have fear of after the murder case?

5. P'u Sung-ling told a story about a woman who had a relationship with a nobleman and was pregnant. What happened to her?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Wang in a desperate situation after her lover leaves her?

2. What does Li do to avenge the death of Wang's wife?

3. Why do you think Spence named the book The Death of Woman Wang?

4. How does the boy that Ts'ui Meng befriended rescue him?

5. What is Chinese law regarding adultery?

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

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

8. Describe Wang's surreal dream.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story of Ts'ui Meng, Ts'ui Meng kills a woman who tortured and killed her mother-in-law and also her husband. Is he justified in his action? Was he just? Did Ts'ui Meng have the right to take the law into his own hands? What character traits are revealed by his actions?

Essay Topic 2

Spence gives the example of the bandits who take over power in different parts of China. Who are the bandits? How are they violent? Why are people afraid of them? The bandits take over control and seize what they desire when they want it. What does this reveal about their nature? Are they sadistic? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Natural disasters occurred throughout the narrative.. How did these events impact Huang and in what ways? Describe, giving examples of observations he made about T'ang-Ch'eng.

(see the answer keys)

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