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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 does Natsuki honestly believe makes her see the world the way she does?

2. Who is living at the house in Akishina in Part III?

3. What can Natsuki's husband not stand the sight of?

4. What does Natsuki keep in the tin box?

5. What does Tomoya say abandoned places always have?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Yuu react when Yota invites Natsuki to his house?

2. What happens to Yuu in adulthood?

3. Who comes to visit at Akishina and what is the reason for the visit in Chapter 5?

4. Why is Tomoya fired?

5. What does Natsuki begin to believe Yuu thinks of her in Chapter 5?

6. Who advocates for Natsuki to be able to visit Akishina, and why?

7. What does Tomoya say taboos are just another form or?

8. What does Miho tell Natsuki about Natsuki's abuse?

9. Who does Natsuki believes gives her the power to kill the evil creature in Part III?

10. Who takes Natsuki and Tomoya to Akishina, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How and why does Murata establish Akishina as a refuge and a place of comfort and solace for Natsuki in the early stages of the novel? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Do you think Murata's portrayal of the rigidity of Japanese society seems realistic? Why or why not? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What do you think Murata means to communicate to the reader about the dynamic in Natsuki's family by repeatedly having adult characters in Natsuki's extended family and who are friends or neighbors challenge her mother's harsh views of Natsuki? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 502 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample