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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. Which of the following statements best describes Kafka's physicality?

2. What is the name of Kafka's father?

3. What does Kafka claim to be in order to get a discounted rate at his hotel?

4. What does Dr. Shigenori Tsukayama conclude happened to the children in the clearing?

5. How does Nakata kill Johnny Walker?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kafka spend his first day of freedom in the city?

2. How does Kafka react to the presence of the young woman's spirit in his bedroom?

3. How does the police officer on duty react to Nakata's confession of stabbing a man to death?

4. What regimen does Kafka adopt and exercise everyday that he is away from home?

5. Who is Hoshino, and why does he decide to take Nakata on the road with him?

6. What hypothesis does Doctor Shigenori Tsukayama make about what happened to the school children in the woods?

7. What does Kafka steal from his father before he runs away from home?

8. What warning does Oshima give to Kafka before dropping him off at the cabin in the woods?

9. What does Johnny Walker keep stored in his walk-in freezer?

10. What note does Sakura leave for Kafka when she leaves for work in the morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The face of evil took many different forms in this novel - Johnny Walker, Colonel Sanders, and the white salamander. First, describe how each of these creatures embodied the force of evil. Then, explain why each of these beings was so intent on opening the entrance stone.

Essay Topic 2

There are many talking animals in this novel. First, create a list of animal characters and explain their role within the novel. Then, discuss your reaction to the presence of talking animals in an adult novel. Was their integration into the storyline successful? Why or why not? How does their presence make this novel fit into the genre of magical realism?

Essay Topic 3

Mrs. Saeki's song proves to be the thread that unifies all of the story lines in this novel. Choose at least two key elements of Mrs. Saeki's song and explain how these elements tie the story lines of Nakata and Kafka together. Then, explain whether or not you believe Mrs. Saeki's song is significant enough to warrant the title of this novel, and why.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 881 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample