View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which famous artist is discovered stabbed to death in his home on the day fish fall from the sky?

2. What does Johnny Walker promise to give to Nakata in exchange for his help?

3. Which of the following short stories by Franz Kafka does Kafka discuss with Oshima?

4. On the day the children collapsed in the woods, how did the teacher describe her emotional state?

5. Who wrote the song "Kafka on the Shore"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Hoshino do during the time that Nakata sleeps at their hotel?

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

3. How does Kafka react when Sakura begins telling him about her boyfriend, who lives in Tokyo?

4. What happened to all of Nakata's money after he lost his job?

5. What happened to the man that Mrs. Saeki fell in love with as a teenager?

6. How does Kafka negotiate a cheaper rate at the hotel where he is staying?

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

8. What happens when Kafka wakes from a blackout at a religious shrine?

9. How does Johnny Walker entice Nakata to kill him?

10. How does Nakata react to Johnny Walker's request to kill him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, the repercussions of sleepwalking affect the characters. Choose at least two scenes in which a character commits a devious act while sleeping and compare / contrast the effects this action has on the character's life. Then, explain how the subconscious of the characters responds to the deepest desires of that character's soul.

Essay Topic 2

While in the library one day, Oshima makes a startling confession about his sexuality. First, explain the truth behind Oshima's sexuality as he described it to Kafka. Then, explain how Oshima's confession affected the gender roles presented in the novel thus far.

Essay Topic 3

Johnny Walker is a malevolent character who seeks entrance to the afterlife. First, describe the character of Johnny Walker and the way that he meets Nakata. Then, explain the way that Johnny Walker has been living and through what means he steals the souls of living creatures. Finally, explain why Nakata was given no choice but to kill Johnny Walker.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 826 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample