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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. What is Meng's occupation?

2. Where are Hong and Chen housed in Beijing?

3. What is significant about the town of Qufu?

4. Who is Ni Fenglin?

5. What does the letter that Hong delivers say?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens with Hong after he receives the message from Tang?

2. What happens when Hong visits a fortune teller?

3. How is Chen feeling when he starts his examination in Beijing and how does he feel at the end of it?

4. Where does Hong go when he escapes the pirates and who helps him?

5. What does Hong decide to do after Chen takes a position and what does Sun Qi give Hong?

6. What does Hong tell the pirates about the letters he carries?

7. What happens as Hong is with the army about Wang Chih and the outpost where he was held?

8. Why do the brothers stop in Qufu and who do they meet there? What does he ask them to do?

9. Where does the boat stop and Chen looks for Meng Dafu? What do the brothers do after that?

10. What do the river pirates do when they board the boat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in "The Examination". Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bosse chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Bosse chooses the metaphors he does?

3. Discuss Bosse's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Bosse use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "The Examination". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters most need to grow as humans? Why? Give examples. Why characters seem to have reached close to their full emotional/mental growth? Why? Give examples What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of immaturity in "The Examination". Which characters struggle with immaturity? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of tradition in "The Examination". What is Chen's view of tradition? Hong's? Pan? Ma? Why is tradition important to some characters? Is anyone willing to abandon traditional viewpoints? Who? What are the positive and negative aspects to tradition?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of "The Examination" and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of "The Examination" and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot of "The Examination"?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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