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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. Why does the Tortoise often destroy his own paintings?

2. What remains of Sugimura's planned Kawabe Park?

3. What does the visiting Gisaburo say about nights in the floating world?

4. Which of Sugimura's plans does Ono believe is "eccentric"?

5. Why does Matsuda think the two men should not blame themselves for their earlier actions?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Matsuda believe was his and Ono's great misfortune?

3. Why does Matsuda say he never married?

4. What does Ono say the New Japan proved about him and about Matsuda?

5. What happened to Moriyama's best student, Sasaki?

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

7. How has Ichiro changed in the year since Ono last saw him?

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

9. What do we learn about Setsuko from Ono's conversation with Matsuda?

10. What has changed since 1948 in regards to Ono's painting?

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 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?

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.

(see the answer keys)

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