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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 is Takanatsu?

2. What city do Kaname and Misako live in?

3. Worried about going with Takanatsu, what excuse does Hiroshi use to excuse himself from the trip?

4. What does Takanatsu say about the different types of women in Chapter 5?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What sort of woman does Kaname tell Takanatsu he is looking for? What does Takanatsu joke about Kaname's post-divorce life?

4. What have Misako and Aso decided together that Aso need not promise her?

5. What does Hiroshi worry about the trip Takanatsu invites him on to Tokyo?

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

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

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

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

10. What does Misako note about Peony's behavior when Peony and Kaname meet her at the train station? How does this relate to Kaname?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and interpret at least three of the secondary characters of the novel. What sort of relationships do these characters have with Kaname? Do they have a significant role in the novel? Why or why not? Do these characters influence Kaname's decision to divorce his wife?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze Tanizaki's use of symbolism in the novel "Some Prefer Nettles." What are some examples of symbolism in the novel? What do these symbols represent?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of dolls in the novel "Some Prefer Nettles." What are some examples of dolls in the novel? What comparison does Kaname make between the dolls and his real life?

(see the answer keys)

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