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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 object does Tomoko ask Matsu to bring to her after she is afflicted with leprosy?

2. How does Keiko address her father's behavior to Stephen?

3. What do Stephen and his father seek to discuss on the June, 1938 visit?

4. How does Keiko say her father has brought shame to the family?

5. What does Stephen have with him when Keiko finds him on the day she pays him a visit in March of 1938?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Stephen describe as his memories of Keiko?

2. Describe Matsu's behavior at Sachi's house.

3. What activities surround Fumiko's arrival?

4. How does Keiko feel about her father's behavior?

5. How does Matsu feel about his sister's decision to deal with her disease?

6. Where is the Kerria plant found and what does it mean?

7. What does Stephen discover Matsu doing with his father's fishing knife and why is it important?

8. Why is the fishing knife of great importance to Matsu?

9. What information does Stephen get from Penelope's letter?

10. How does Stephen feel when Matsu walks in and interrupts Sachi's story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Nature is an important setting throughout Stephen's journal and journeys. Choose three separate natural locations or events and:

1) Explain what purpose they serve

2) Relate them to Stephen's growth as a character

3) Describe how the story would change without them

Essay Topic 2

Stephen is often forced to make choices about confronting situations or staying silent and keeping the peace. For each of the following occurrences, explain why Stephen made the choice he did, what values impacted his chosen course of action, and how it affected both him and others in the long run.

1) His father's affair.

2) Keiko's father.

3) Kenzo's attack on Sachi.

Essay Topic 3

Blame and shame are recurring themes in the novel, although they sometimes are related to honor and loyalty. Choose one of these four themes (blame, shame, honor, or loyalty) that you think most shapes the tone of the story.

1) Give at least three examples to support your statement.

2) Explain if or how that theme is related to the other three listed above.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 749 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample