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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. How does Mrs. Kawakami's bar seem to Ono while the construction is under way?

2. How does Setsuko make up to Ono for Noriko's excluding him from the outing?

3. What does Ono think about the spirit of the old floating world?

4. What kind of mistakes does Ono believe are not shameful?

5. What does Shintaro want Ono to do for him?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Migi-Hidari show its loyalty to the emperor?

2. Why does Enchi treat Ono in such a friendly way when he arrives to visit Kuroda?

3. Why does Ono feel compelled to confess his activities during the war during the miai?

4. What does Noriko accuse Ono of when he is working in the garden?

5. What is Mrs. Kawakami hesitating to decide?

6. Why is Ono worried about Kuroda's attitude now?

7. Why does Suichi become angry at Kenji's funeral ceremony?

8. What is surprising about Noriko's comments to Setsuko about Ono?

9. What does Ono conceal from Noriko in the weeks leading up to her miai?

10. How does Ono acquire his house for less than half its value?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you make of the fact that Ono's paintings are not on display even in his own home, and that he will not show them even to his own grandson? What does it tell you that Ono will not draw or paint with Ichiro, although he encourages the boy to draw? What does it tell you that at the end of the story he tells Matsuda that he is painting again? Analyze what Ono's art work means to him in the context of these facts.

Essay Topic 2

We meet Taro Saito only briefly in this story, and yet Ishiguro establishes a clear personality for him through his actions and conversation. What do you know about Taro? How do you learn it? Analyze this character based on the information you have.

Essay Topic 3

We learn about Suichi's character through what he instructs Setsuko, what he wants for Ichiro, and the way he behaves when Kenji's ashes are brought home. Describe this young man based on textual evidence. Ono expresses the belief that Suichi has been "embittered." What embittered him?

(see the answer keys)

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