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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. Why does Kaname think Misako is in a hurry to get home after the puppet show?

2. What do Kaname and Takanatsu agree on in reference to Kaname's and Misako's personalities?

3. At the beginning of the novel, what kind of show are Kaname and Misako thinking about going to?

4. If Kaname and Misako act carelessly, what might happen when they divorce?

5. How is Misako and Kaname's relationship affected when Takanatsu is around?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is O-hisa? What does Misako think of O-hisa?

2. What does Kaname suspect Misako would rather do instead of attending the puppet theater?

3. Why does Kaname wish Misako was a loose woman?

4. In Chapter 5, what does Kaname realize he has been looking for during his entire marriage?

5. What does Takanatsu let Misako look at in his suitcase? What jokes does Takanatsu make to Misako, which she reacts to in seriousness?

6. In chapter 3, what does Kaname consider he has always hated? What does Kaname admit Osaka reminds him of?

7. How does Kaname think Osakans are different from Tokyoites?

8. How does Kaname compare the portrayal of women in Hollywood films to their portrayal in Japanese art from the Edo period?

9. What does Takanatsu advise Hiroshi about getting his two dogs to be friends?

10. What does Takanatsu think of Misako's plan to divorce Kaname and marry Aso?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of fantasy versus reality in the novel "Some Prefer Nettles." What are some of the fantasies that Kaname imagines throughout the novel? Why might he have these fantasies? How does his real life compare to his fantasies?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of East versus West in the novel "Some Prefer Nettles." What are some examples of Western influences in the novel? What does Kaname think of the Western influences? Which characters symbolize the East and which characters symbolize the West?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and interpret the character Kaname. What are his defining character traits? What role does he have in the novel? Is he an influential character? Why or why not? What major events take place in his life during the narrative? How do these events impact his life?

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