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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. What is the name of Kafka's imaginary companion?

2. How does Nakata kill Johnny Walker?

3. Who does Nakata remind Hoshino of?

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

5. Where is Sakura going when she boards the same bus as Kafka?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Goma?

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

3. What information does Kafka provide to Sakura about his sister?

4. What realization does the white cat, Otsuka, make about Nakata?

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

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

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

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

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

10. How does Crow react to Kafka's fear when he is alone in the cabin in the woods?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Kafka is still a young child, he decides to run away from home. First, explain the circumstances leading up to Kafka's decision to leave home. Then, describe the items Kafka took with him during his escape and the process through which he chose these items. Finally, describe at least two characters that helped Kafka during the initial days of his plan.

Essay Topic 2

When Kafka is homeless, he lives many places. Choose two of the places Kafka lives after leaving his home and compare / contrast the settings. Then, explain what Kafka learns about himself directly through his experiences in these varied settings.

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)

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