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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. Why did Ono as a young boy dread his father's business meetings?

2. How does Ono view Shintaro's childlike attitude about the war?

3. How does Setsuko make up to Ono for Noriko's excluding him from the outing?

4. What does Shintaro want to disclaim?

5. What is going in on both sides of Mrs. Kawakami's establishment?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ono lose respect for Shintaro?

2. Why does Suichi become angry at Kenji's funeral ceremony?

3. How does Taro behave during the miai?

4. Why does Ono say he would never forgive himself if he became like his father?

5. How does the Migi-Hidari show its loyalty to the emperor?

6. Why does Enchi ask Ono to leave when he learns who he really is?

7. What is Mrs. Kawakami hesitating to decide?

8. Ono says that he would not have made his admission of guilt at the miai had he not felt compelled to do so. What social situation compelled him?

9. Why does Ono feel compelled to confess his activities during the war during the miai?

10. How does the Bridge of Hesitation get its name?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several places in this story where a character's speech does not reflect their actual opinions. Setsuko's conversations with her father are examples. Select and analyze a scene where you are able to establish that what is being said is not genuine. How do you know? How is the writer able to convey that double message to you as a reader?

Essay Topic 2

The Bridge of Hesitation is an important symbol in this story and Ono says that he spends a great deal of time there. What does the bridge represent? Are there various possible meanings? Consider the fact that in the midst of the destruction of much of the area, the bridge remained.

Essay Topic 3

Naguchi is a character we never meet directly. Ono explains the musician's suicide to his grandson, Ichiro. There are some differences between this conversation and the opinions Ono expresses when Miyake tells Ono that his employer committed suicide and that Miyake finds the action admirable. Has Ono changed? If so, what has changed him?

(see the answer keys)

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