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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. Who narrates part three of "The Joke"?

2. What favor does Ludvik ask of Kostka?

3. Helena believes that there is no split between what?

4. At the beginning of the novel, how long has the narrator been away from his home?

5. What happened in 1956 and how did it affect Helena and Zemanek?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ludvik take the first part of his shave?

2. Why don't Helena's coworkers like her?

3. How is Ludvik's attitude immediately following his move to Ostrava?

4. How does Ludvik describe Kostka?

5. What is Kostka's living situation?

6. How does Ludvik find out the identity of the woman who shaved him?

7. Why did Ludvik send Marketa the postcard?

8. Describe Moravia as Ludvik sees it upon his return at the beginning of "The Joke".

9. How does Helena feel about younger women?

10. Describe the story of the dwarfs Ludvik told Marketa.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast how the people of western Bohemia treat Lucie and the children in the town.

Essay Topic 2

Fully describe the ceremony of the Ride of the Kings. What is the significance of this ceremony in the book?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the time Ludvik spent in Ostrava. How was he as a person before he went? What major events happened there? How did he change?

(see the answer keys)

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