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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. What is Yano's occupation?

2. What does the snake charmer have in his performance?

3. What do some students try to get Mitsuko to do concerning Tsu in Chapter 3?

4. What lines the route of Kiguchi and Tsukada's retreat?

5. What does Enami say about the fighting where Kiguchi was in the war?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Isobe learn about his wife in Chapter 1?

2. What does Kiguchi think regarding Enami and the horrors Kiguchi exprienced in Burma?

3. What happens to the myna bird Numada acquires, as described in Chapter 4?

4. What does Kiguchi ask Enami about doing while Kiguchi is in India?

5. In Kiguchi's flashback, how do the soldiers feed themselves along the Highway of Death?

6. Why is Li forced to leave the employ of Numada's famly?

7. What does Tsukada ask of Kiguchi ten years after the two encounter each other in Tokyo?

8. What does Tsukada confess to Kiguchi about how Tsukada managed to feed Kiguchi during the war in Burma?

9. What information does Enami give the Japanese who are about to go to India on a tour?

10. What happens when Mitsuko tires of sleeping with Tsu?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not? Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Deep River help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Deep River? Why or why not. Use examples from Deep River and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Isobe cannot let go of his wife, in part because he never fulfilled their connection in life.

Discuss what you think is meant by the above statement. Use examples from Deep River to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about what they know, and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Shusaku Endo. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Endo's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Endo's probable agenda concerning that idea.

(see the answer keys)

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