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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. Where does Bird reunite with Himiko after leaving the maternity hospital?

2. Bird wants to stop ________________________.

3. Who owns the establishment in #163?

4. Which of the following does Bird NOT say to Himiko?

5. That night, Bird awakens frequently from dreams in which ________________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bird view the vagina and womb as and what does Himiko suggest that he do to get over his distaste for the female body?

2. What is the significance of the mention of the maps of Africa?

3. Who is Kikuhiko and how is he introduced to the story?

4. What is the significance of Bird scratching behind his ear after his tiny son does the same thing?

5. How have Himiko's feelings about Bird evolved over the last few days?

6. What is the significance of the name, Kikuhiko, to Bird and to the story?

7. What word does Delchef write in the dictionary for Bird and what is its significance?

8. Describe the motif of fear in the book and how Bird transcends it after talking with Kikuhiko.

9. What are some of the negative and positive reminders that Bird receives about the possibilities for his future?

10. In what way has Bird essentially changed universes in his life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain what it means that Bird is a man who keeps running away. In what areas does Bird seemingly fail? How does Bird feel about these failures? What is the turning point where Bird refuses to run away any longer?

Essay Topic 2

What is the overall setting setting for the novel? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did Oe choose to use these places in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the role of the family in A PERSONAL MATTER. What does it mean for each of the main characters? How does the family evolve in its support of each other? How typical is this family to most Japanese families living during the 1960s?

(see the answer keys)

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