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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. In My Rebellious Phase, what dangerous material did Akira use on some of his pranks?

2. What subject was Kurosawa's older brother in love with when he failed his final exam?

3. What changed for Akira Kurosawa after the fight described in Murasaki and Shonagon?

4. When visiting his father's hometown, Akira was confused when the elders did what?

5. In Morimura Gakuen, Kusosawa argues that children should not be judged merely by what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Years later, what does Kurosawa think about his brother's insistence that they explore the carnage?

2. What is Akira Kurosawa's earliest memory?

3. How did the earthquake provide an opportunity for violence in Tokyo?

4. Why was Akira sent to Toyokawa Village by his father?

5. Why did Akira Kurosawa not fight in the military?

6. How did Kurosawa's brother toughen him up as a child?

7. In Whirlwind, what sort of decline did Akira's older brother have?

8. How did young Uekusa prove foolhardy?

9. In Keika Middle School, how does Kurosawa refute the assessment that he was no good at sports?

10. Describe Akira's relationship with Aunt Togashi.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Akira Kurosawa ends his autobiography with the success of Rashomon, leaving out the following 35 years. Write an essay discussing Kurosawa's choice to end his book at this point. How does this decision create a tight narrative? What story is the author telling, if he is not telling his complete life story? To what extent is this book only the first chapter of Kurosawa's life, the period leading to his break into international stardom?

Essay Topic 2

Akira Kurosawa makes a series of honest admissions about his personal failings throughout his autobiography, but he invariably includes a defense of these faults in the course of the admission. Write an essay about three such admissions and their defenses:

Part 1) What is the exact nature of Akira Kurosawa's physical weakness? How does it affect his ability to succeed in certain realms? Couched in his admission that he was physically weak, what strengths does the author assert? Discuss the physical exploits that Akira insists he accomplished as a teenager.

Part 2) When discussing the beginning of his directing career, Akira admits that he is a stubborn man with an awful temper. Why does he feel the need to tell the reader this? Does is inform some of the bold and often ill-conceived decisions he makes on set? Does it add some context to his unbridled success?

Part 3) At the very end of SOMETHING LIKE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, Kurosawa admits to being a fantastic egotist. What indications of this fact are there throughout the narrative of the book? What final act of egotistical indignation perfectly illustrates this self-regard? How has it served him well in his early career?

Essay Topic 3

Akira Kurosawa spends a large portion of SOMETHING LIKE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY discussing his difficulties in class. Write an essay about these shortcomings and how he does or does not overcome them. What role did both his kendo instructor and Mr. Iwamatsu have in improving his performance in certain arenas? How did Kurosawa fair when military training was introduced into the curriculum? Was he able to overcome his incompetence in this realm?

(see the answer keys)

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