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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 does the author call a vision of heaven at the end of Chapter 15?

2. What country does Viktor receive a visa for on March 1, 1939?

3. What is the title of Chapter 34?

4. What do Mussolini, Chamberlain and Daladier sign on September 30th?

5. What is Thomas an expert on?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were conditions like in Tokyo in 1947?

2. What problems does Viktor have with the vitrine in Chapter 15?

3. How did Anna save the netsuke?

4. Why did Iggy like Japan?

5. Describe Emmy's relationship with her children.

6. Why did Iggy find it easy to settle down in Tokyo than some other foreigners?

7. How did Elisabeth help her parents flee the country?

8. Why does Edmund think Emmy had so many lovers over the years?

9. Why was Iggy happy to settle down in Tokyo?

10. Why are Joseph Roth's novels so interesting to Edmund?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the book's chronological setting.

1. What were the main concerns during the early part of the 20th century? How does the author express these concerns?

2. How would the author change the book if it was set in today's society?

Essay Topic 2

Which family member in the book does de Waal identify with the most? Why does he identify with that particular family member? How do think they would have gotten along if they had met in real life?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

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