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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 Jonassen's nationality?

2. What does the interpreter try and persuade Rodrigues to do?

3. Who waits for Rodrigues in another room?

4. From where does the unknown guest come?

5. What has Rodrigues not had to endure so far?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Rodrigues and Inoue discuss in Chapter 7?

2. Where do the guards take Rodrigues in Chapter 5?

3. What are Rodrigues' feelings towards Ferreira?

4. How does Rodrigues react to the sound of his jailer snoring?

5. Why did Ferreira decide to apostatize?

6. Describe Rodrigues' new life in Japan.

7. What does the priest contemplate as he watches the death of the old man?

8. How does the interpreter treat Rodrigues now that he is employed by the magistrate?

9. What ultimatum does the samurai give Rodrigues in Chapter 5?

10. What does Rodrigues think when Kichijiro brings him rice?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Silence is part of the historical fiction genre.

1) What are the conventions of the historical fiction genre in terms of character, language and plot?

2) In what way did Silence help to set the template for similar novels? Do modern novels still use the ideas used in Silence?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the novel's dialogue. How does Endo's dialogue contribute to the following areas:

1) Character

2) Setting

3) Plot

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Endo use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Aside from the main character, Rodrigues, examine the way Endo uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

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