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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. The boy recalls his father promising to ________________________.

2. Soldiers return home from the war with stories of _______________________.

3. What does the boy's sister make him do when she changes clothes?

4. What does the father say is what he most wanted to say about everything?

5. The father implies that no rational person would believe him to be anything other than an American man _______________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the mother have to find a job and why does she have a difficult time doing so?

2. Who does the father address in his confession in Chapter 5?

3. From whose perspective is Chapter 4 told and what is the tone of the characters?

4. What is the father's tone during his confession in this chapter?

5. Who does the father identify himself as being when delivering his confession?

6. How does the author show that the characters are not considered to be real people, but rather just nameless prisoners?

7. Why is the girl digging in the ground with a spoon in the middle of the night?

8. What does the father want to imply to whoever is hearing his confession?

9. For whom does the father speak during his confession?

10. What is the condition of the family's home when they return after their release from the camp?

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

Why are the characters nameless in the story? What was the author trying to accomplish by not giving the characters names? Did she accomplish her goal? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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