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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. Who do the two Chinese Hanzaburo if he is?

2. What does Hanzaburo die of?

3. What does Hanzaburo tell his wife to do to stop his legs from kicking?

4. What does Akutagawa think is imminent?

5. What kind style story is Spinning Gears?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Shinsuke's opinion on books?

2. What does the doctor say is wrong with the baby?

3. Why does Shinsuke come to appreciate the fact his mother did not breast feed him?

4. How does the author end the story?

5. Why does Oshino need new legs?

6. Why is it so difficult for Oshino to hide his legs?

7. Why does Akutagawa become so upset about the raincoat?

8. Why does Yasukichi write cliches and sentimental clap-trap in the eulogy?

9. Summarize the Spinning Gears story.

10. What are the author's feeling about religion during this time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was the structure of feudal Japan? What problems does these author highlight about feudal Japan? What within the system does the author suggest created these problems?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

In what way is death a constant theme throughout the book? In what way do the Japanese view death differently to other western cultures? Does the author share this view?

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