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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. Which one in the family is a good artist?

2. What is an ever-present nuisance for the families?

3. What does the boy say that his father is fond of?

4. In what city does the family live?

5. What beverage does the woman drink before hiding the bottle in the basement?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the boy recall about his father being taken away and what his mother did after that night to try to keep the family safe?

2. What does the woman do to the old dog?

3. How does the father recognize the girl's birthday even though he is incarcerated?

4. How do the boy and his camp friends show more naivete than harmful intentions in some of their games and habits?

5. What is the boy's life like at the camp?

6. Why are the hardware store owner's actions significant?

7. How much time has passed since the family's initial move and from whose perspective in Chapter 2 told?

8. How do the girl's recollection of the family trip to Yosemite and her father's travels provide some insight into the father's arrest?

9. What is the irony of the picture the boy hangs on his wall in the camp?

10. Describe how the woman goes about packing up the family's belongings.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Otsuka is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 2

Prejudice and discrimination against people unlike you is a common thread in WHEN THE EMPEROR WAS DIVINE. Cite two examples in this book and explain what you think Otsuka was trying to say in each.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the main settings for the novel. Why does Otsuka use the settings she does? What is the time period of the story? How important is the time period to the attitudes and issues of the characters?

(see the answer keys)

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