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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. Bird wants to stop ________________________.

2. That night, Bird awakens frequently from dreams in which ________________________.

3. How does Bird get to work the next day?

4. What does the baby do as Bird watches?

5. What has Bird's wife been told about her baby?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Bird scratching behind his ear after his tiny son does the same thing?

2. How is Bird's burden somehow lightened when he finally accepts responsibility for his son?

3. Why is Bird conflicted when Himiko's father-in-law says she and Bird should go to Africa?

4. What is the significance of the name, Kikuhiko, to Bird and to the story?

5. How have Himiko's feelings about Bird evolved over the last few days?

6. How are Bird and Delchef in contrast regarding their attitudes toward responsibility?

7. What is the symbolism of Himiko's repeatedly getting lost on the way to the clinic?

8. What is the content of the letter which Bird received at his job?

9. What does Bird feel after his sexual encounter with Himiko?

10. What reason does Bird give Himiko for taking the baby back to the hospital for the operation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in 1960s Japan when the women in the novel are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms did they have that 21st century women do not have?

Essay Topic 2

Kenzaburo Oe is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 3

Explain what it means that Bird is a man who keeps running away. In what areas does Bird seemingly fail? How does Bird feel about these failures? What is the turning point where Bird refuses to run away any longer?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,312 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample