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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 does Johnny Walker react when someone tries to kill him in the woods?

2. Who closes the entrance stone?

3. Whose spirit does Mrs. Saeki think is living inside Kafka's body?

4. What is the one thing that Hoshino wishes he could change about himself?

5. What does Colonel Sanders do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mrs. Saeki convince Kafka to leave the world of the deserted village and go back where he belongs?

2. What happens with Mrs. Saeki sleepwalks into Kafka's bedroom?

3. What is the origin of Kafka's name?

4. How does Colonel Sanders explain his physical form to Hoshino?

5. Why did Mrs. Saeki first open the entrance stone?

6. How does Mrs. Saeki react when Kafka confronts her about the possibility that she is his mother?

7. While wandering through the woods, what disturbing dream does Kafka have about Sakura?

8. Why does Oshima wake Kafka in the middle of the night with a frantic phone call?

9. What does Mrs. Saeki ask Nakata to do with her memoirs?

10. Who is Colonel Sanders?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In the Prologue to this novel, Kafka warns his friend, Crow, that "Fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions." What did Kafka mean when he gave his friend this warning? Explain this quote and give at least two examples from the text that exemplify this theory.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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