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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. Who is visiting with Himiko when Bird arrives?

2. What does Bird tell the doctor he wants to do with the baby?

3. What word does Delchef write in the book in #141?

4. The person in #145 suggests that Himiko and Bird ______________________.

5. What does the one-eyed doctor advise Bird to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What temporarily squelches Bird's desire for sex with Himiko?

2. What is Delchef's opinion on how Bird is handling the situation regarding the baby?

3. Who is Kikuhiko and how is he introduced to the story?

4. What happens to Bird when he goes to his job at the school in Chapter 9?

5. Describe the motif of fear in the book and how Bird transcends it after talking with Kikuhiko.

6. What role does Himiko and her comfort with her own sexuality play in helping Bird in his journey of transformation?

7. What is the significance of Bird's worrying about the top on the car and Himiko's swerving to miss hitting the dead sparrow on the road?

8. What instruction does Bird give the doctor regarding the baby's dwindling condition?

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

10. What outward signs in Bird's life indicate that he has made internal transformations?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two other examples you can identify in the book and note why they are examples of irony.

Essay Topic 2

Project into the future ten years after the end of the novel and write a brief synopsis for Bird's life. What is his relationship with his son? What is his relationship with his wife? Have his dreams of going to Africa been completely squelched? What is Bird's state of mind? How does Bird feel about himself now?

Essay Topic 3

There are only a few characters in the book who have names. Why does the author choose to name the characters he does? What point is the author trying to make by not giving names to the other characters? Why is it significant that the baby does not have a name until late in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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