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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. When Bird arrives at school, he learns that he has a meeting with _________________ after class.

2. Where do Bird and Himiko go after leaving the baby at the clinic?

3. What name does Bird give the baby at the hospital?

4. Himiko says that she will go to Africa with whom?

5. What concerns Bird about Himiko's car?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

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

4. What is the significance of the mention of the maps of Africa?

5. What is the content of the letter which Bird received at his job?

6. What word does Delchef write in the dictionary for Bird and what is its significance?

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

8. What does Bird view the vagina and womb as and what does Himiko suggest that he do to get over his distaste for the female body?

9. What do Bird and Himiko do when told that the baby is nearly strong enough for the operation?

10. In what way has Bird essentially changed universes in his life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of Bird. What are his physical characteristics? What are his motivations? What are his fears? What are his dreams? What else can you say about Bird?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,046 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample