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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 do the art students treat Sasaki when he changes his style?

2. What does Matsuda say the world sees when they look at Ono and Matsuda now that the war is behind them?

3. When Ono and Matsuda examine their lives, what do they see, according to Matsuda?

4. What honor had Ono received in 1938?

5. What shows European influences on Moriyama?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Matsuda console himself when thinking of his actions during the war?

2. Why is Ono irritated at Setsuko's insistence that Saito never heard of Ono until the miai?

3. What stylistic devices does Moriyama copy from the classic artist, Utamaro?

4. How does Ono explain Naguchi's suicide to Ichiro?

5. Why does the smell of burning still make Ono uneasy while he is relaxing in Matsuda's garden?

6. When does Ono achieve his greatest feeling of triumph?

7. Why did Moriyama's students never comment directly to him about his paintings?

8. After re-establishing contact with Matsuda during Noriko's marriage negotiations, what contact have Ono and Matsuda had before Matsuda dies?

9. How does Ono answer Ichiro's question about why men drink sake?

10. Why didn't Moriyama applaud his student's maturing talent as an artist?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

First, Shintaro calls Ono a traitor. Second, we learn about the artwork that has made him call his friend a traitor. Third, we learn of Matsuda's persuasive conversation that induced Ono to change his painting style, and fourth, we learn that the work resulted in his expulsion from Moriyama's tutelage. Analyze the way the clarity of the story is affected by this type of organization. Why do you think Ishiguro chose not to tell is story in simple chronological order? What effect does dealing with time in this way have on you as a reader?

Essay Topic 2

Young Miyake tells Ono what he believes is "the greatest cowardice of all." Later, Ono explains what he believes to be the greatest cowardice. Analyze the similarities and differences between their points of view. Do these stated opinions influence Ono? If so, how? Is cowardice or courage a matter of importance to him?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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