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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 is the weather like as Bird takes on the gang?

2. What had Himiko been doing before Bird got to her apartment?

3. What did Bird do the summer after he got married?

4. What does Bird do as he reads a short story to his class?

5. What is known about the person in #79?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the altercation Bird has with a student in his class after Bird vomits.

2. Who is Delchef and how is he introduced into the story?

3. How is sex and sexuality a means for Bird to avoid responsibility?

4. What does Bird observe when he visits his father-in-law at the university?

5. How is Bird's encounter with the gang a boost to his flailing ego?

6. What is significant about Bird's hangover and vomiting in class?

7. What is unusual about the doctor who speaks to Bird about the baby?

8. What does Bird notice about the women watching from the windows of the maternity hospital?

9. Waking up sick with a hangover, what does Bird think might serve as partial restitution for the baby's dire situation?

10. How does Bird learn that his child has a problem?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the overall setting setting for the novel? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Oe choose to use these places in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

A PERSONAL MATTER is a classic story of loss and renewal. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Coming of age is an important theme in A PERSONAL MATTER. Can you cite an example to support this theme? Name two other themes and cite examples to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,099 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample