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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 Eriko contemplating the first morning after Mikage moves in in the kitchen?

2. What is the one constant in Mikage's life?

3. What time does Yuichi tell Mikage to arrive at the Tanabe home?

4. What does the Tanabe family bring to Mikage's life?

5. What is Mikage stunned by at the Tanabe apartment?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Mikage's last encounter with Eriko before her death.

2. Describe Eriko's funeral.

3. What events in Satsuki's life foreshadow Hitoshi's death?

4. Why doesn't Mikage want to sleep the first day that she spends at Yuichi's home?

5. Why does Mikage agree to move in with the Tanabe family?

6. Describe Satsuki's first meeting with Urara.

7. What tone does the author use in Part Three of the book? How does the tone used in Part Three compare to the tones in the previous parts?

8. What is Mikage's reaction to hearing of Eriko's death?

9. Describe Mikage's dream.

10. How is sexual ambiguity explored in the first chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Destiny and spirituality are themes in all three chapters of Kitchen. Analyze the way the author uses these themes to tell the story. How is destiny prevalent in the three chapters? What about spirituality? Why are these themes relevant?. Use at least one quote per chapter to prove your points.

Essay Topic 2

In each chapter, the role of a kitchen or food is prevalent. Give one specific example of this from each chapter and use at least three quotes to explain its relevance. For example, Mikage loves to be in the kitchen and finds peace in the kitchen. What elements of this same habit or behavior are present in the other chapter or with other characters?

Essay Topic 3

In all three chapters, there are eccentric secondary characters. How are these characters added to accelerate the events in the novel? How is sexual ambiguity explored using these characters? Why is this significant?

(see the answer keys)

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