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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 does Yasuckichi have to write for Lieutenant Honda?

2. What does the narrator is always looking over his shoulder?

3. What does the young naval officer give Yasukichi to help him write the eulogy?

4. What can't the narrator concentrate on writing his article?

5. Who visits Tsuneko at the end of the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Shinsuke's opinion on books?

2. Why does Oshino need new legs?

3. What does the Life of the Stupid Man say about Akutagawa's state of mind?

4. How does Tsuneko react to seeing her husband's horse legs?

5. Describe the image at the river Shinsuke says affects him deeply.

6. Summarize the Spinning Gears story.

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

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

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

10. How does Shinsuke deal with what he calls his fake parents?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the differences between a novel and a short story in terms of the following?

1. Language.

2. Character.

3. Structure.

Essay Topic 2

How does Shinsuke's upbringing affect his character? What does the story say about Akutagawa's own character and the themes he has expressed in his other stories?

Essay Topic 3

How will O-Kim's life change now she has opened her eyes to real life? In what could be said that she be happier than she was?

(see the answer keys)

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