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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 did Kazu's coworkers stop inviting him out for drinks?

2. What does the homeless woman tell the homeless man about Shige while Kazu watches them?

3. What does Kazu worry his life lacked?

4. What did Kazu notice as he stared at his son's face after he died?

5. Why was Kazu unable to take his children on a helicopter ride in Haramachi during the Bon holidays when they were young?

Short Essay Questions

1. What friend of Kazu's does he hear an old homeless man and woman discuss, and what does he learn about him?

2. Describe what happened when Kazu took his children to Haramachi during a festival for the Bon holidays?

3. How old was Kazu when he first began to work, and what did he do for work?

4. Describe the conversation between the homeless man and woman after the woman repeats her disbelief that Shige is dead.

5. What is the history of the Statue of Times Forgotten, which Shige told Kazu about?

6. What did Kazu and his father, mother, and wife each do to support and feed the family around the time his first son was born?

7. When did Kazu move to Tokyo? Why? How often did he see his family?

8. What happened in the Tohuko region and Hokkaido after the Tokyo Olympics ended, and what type for work did Kazu do in Sendai?

9. What was Kazu's relationship with his children like while he was working in Tokyo?

10. What does Kazu begin to feel about his life after his son dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay analyzing the narrative structure of Tokyo Ueno Station. What effect does this have on the story and the reader? Use direct examples from the story to support your analysis.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing how the author uses character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the symbolic significance of Kazu's family's economic status has on the story. Why is this important and how does it develop the themes of the story? What would be different if his family were wealthy? Use examples from the text to support your viewpoint.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 783 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample