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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 smell of burning means now that the war is over?

3. What does Ono believe should give Matsuda and him satisfaction as they review their lives?

4. How does Sugimura plan to leave his mark on the city forever?

5. What does Ono mean when he talks of the art students "slanging" one another?

Short Essay Questions

1. What effect did Moriyama try to create in his paintings?

2. Why does Ono approve of his teacher's distancing himself from his students' discussions?

3. Why does Matsuda say he never married?

4. What European influences distinguished Moriyama's work from Utamaro's?

5. How does Ono console himself that he did not visit his old friend as often as he had intended to?

6. What does Matsuda say the smell of burning most likely means now that the war is long over?

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

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

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

10. Ono recalls the influence of Moriyama on his own behavior. What does he say he adopted from his teacher?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Bridge of Hesitation is an important symbol in this story and Ono says that he spends a great deal of time there. What does the bridge represent? Are there various possible meanings? Consider the fact that in the midst of the destruction of much of the area, the bridge remained.

Essay Topic 2

At the miai, Saito suggests that boys should not be confined, but should be allowed to run free even when they hurt themselves. He uses this as an argument in support of the street demonstrations which he views as legitimate use of freedom of speech. The maturation of boys to men is a significant theme in this story. The men, from Matsuda arguing with his caregiver, Suzuki, to Ono's arguments with his daughters about Ichiro seeing a scary movie and drinking sake, argue for freedom and the women urge restraint and greater care. Using examples from the text, select one character and write about their maturation process. Ichiro, Kenji, Kuroda, or Ono himself would be good possibilities. Are these developing men symbols of their country as a whole? is it, as Taro Saito suggests, a baby democracy learning how to govern itself?

Essay Topic 3

Moriyama said that the floating world disappears with dawn and sobriety. His work was to try to capture and validate the beauty of that world. But the phrase "floating world" means more. What else does the phrase represent? Why do you think Ishiguro chose it for the title?

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