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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 the Baron Shinkawa arrive early to the cherry festival?

2. What do all the women in Kiyoaki's family wear for the New Year's celebration?

3. When Kiyoaki sees Satoko in "Chapter 8," what stands out most to him?

4. Why does Iinuma want his flirtation kept secret?

5. How is Kiyoaki described in contrast to Honda?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Satoko respond when she first finds out she is pregnant?

2. What do Honda and the senior nun talk about?

3. After visiting Satoko at the monastery, what solutions do Kiyoaki's parents come up with to get her out?

4. What does Kiyoaki's father do when he learns of Kiyoaki's affair with Satoko?

5. In "Chapter 53," what confuses Honda about Kiyoaki?

6. What happens when Satoko visits the Gesshu Monastery after her abortion?

7. In "Chapter 38," what does Honda think of the dead mole?

8. Why do the Siamese prince's fellow students lack sympathy toward them when Chao P loses his ring?

9. In "Chapter 6," what does Kiyoaki write in a letter to Satoko?

10. What makes Honda an unlikely friend for Kiyoaki?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are gender roles and expectations reflected in this novel? Remember the Siamese twins' ring and Satoko's relationships with her family and society.

Essay Topic 2

What role does blackmailing play in this novel? What does the act of blackmailing reveal in "Spring Snow"?

Essay Topic 3

Consider the narrator of this novel. What is effective about having a third-person, disconnected narrator? What is ineffective? Define third-person, disconnected narrator in your essay.

(see the answer keys)

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