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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 does Shintaro want Ono to do for him?

2. How does Taro react to Ono's confession?

3. What is a miai?

4. Who does Ono think Ichiro is pretending to be when the boy imagines himself on horseback?

5. How does Mrs. Saito feel about the demonstrations in the streets?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why does Ono decide to watch Mitsuo during the miai?

4. Why does Ono's father burn his paintings?

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

6. Why does Ono say he would never forgive himself if he became like his father?

7. What is the difference in Noriko's behavior between her first and second miai?

8. Ono says that he would not have made his admission of guilt at the miai had he not felt compelled to do so. What social situation compelled him?

9. How does Saito regard the demonstrations in the streets?

10. Why does Enchi ask Ono to leave when he learns who he really is?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several places in this story where a character's speech does not reflect their actual opinions. Setsuko's conversations with her father are examples. Select and analyze a scene where you are able to establish that what is being said is not genuine. How do you know? How is the writer able to convey that double message to you as a reader?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Compare and contrast the personalities of Noriko and Setsuko based on their conversation and behavior. Remember that Ono comments on the character of the two girls. Do your observations agree with his?

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