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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 act by Uekusa in Murasaki and Shonagon surprised and infuriated Kurosawa at the time?

2. In Murasaki and Shonagon, how does Kurosawa assume he knew about the literary soldiers he referenced as a child?

3. In what two subjects did young Akira fail his exams in this section?

4. In Crybaby, what was the subject of Kurosawa's artwork that Tachikawa praised?

5. How does Akira characterize the songs of the Taisho age in Japan?

Short Essay Questions

1. How was Akira Kurosawa introduced to film at an early age?

2. In Whirlwind, what sort of decline did Akira's older brother have?

3. In Honor and Revere, how did Akira improve his math skills?

4. How was Kuosawa's new art teacher different from Mr. Tachikawa?

5. What was Kurosawa's experience at Morimura Gakuen?

6. Years later, what does Kurosawa think about his brother's insistence that they explore the carnage?

7. Describe young Akira Kurosawa' daily schedule.

8. Describe Akira's relationship with Aunt Togashi.

9. How did young Uekusa prove foolhardy?

10. How was young Akira humbled in The Goblin's Nose?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about Akira Kurosawa as an outsider in his own life. Begin by discussing his earliest memories, how he has transformed them into mini-films. What other situations from his early childhood have become fodder for his films? Discuss how his early life is marked by an analytical appraisal. Why is he able to so easily dissect his though process in deeply emotional moments from this period?

Essay Topic 2

Akira Kurosawa spends a large portion of SOMETHING LIKE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY discussing his difficulties in class. Write an essay about these shortcomings and how he does or does not overcome them. What role did both his kendo instructor and Mr. Iwamatsu have in improving his performance in certain arenas? How did Kurosawa fair when military training was introduced into the curriculum? Was he able to overcome his incompetence in this realm?

Essay Topic 3

Each of the three schools that Akira Kurosawa attends offers a set of harrowing challenges for the young boy. As such, they each offer a chance for growth. Write an essay comparing these three schools. What challenges does each offer young Akira? Do these challenges defeat him, help him grow, or both? What mentors and compatriots does Akira meet at each? How is the Akira that leaves different from the one that enters?

Part 1) Morimura Gakuen.

Part 2) His second, unnamed school.

Part 3) Keika Middle School.

(see the answer keys)

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