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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. How does Noriko say Ono has behaved since his retirement?

2. How does the atmosphere of the miai change after Ono's confession?

3. What does the corporation offer Mrs. Kawakami?

4. What does Ono think about the return of the old floating world?

5. According to Suichi, Ichiro's father, why does Ono quit painting?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ono feel compelled to confess his activities during the war during the miai?

2. What is Mrs. Kawakami hesitating to decide?

3. Suichi says that American heroes are better role models for his son that Japanese heroes. Why would that be?

4. What does Ono see as the result of his confession during the miai?

5. Why does Ono lose respect for Shintaro?

6. How does the Bridge of Hesitation get its name?

7. What prediction does Setsuko's mother make about her that is now proving accurate?

8. Why does Ono say he would never forgive himself if he became like his father?

9. After the surrender, one of the Sugimura sisters visits the house, obviously more concerned about the building than its inhabitants. Why doesn't Ono feel angry toward her?

10. Why is it unlikely that the Miyakes withdrew from marriage negotiations because they felt inferior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many questions in this story are left unanswered or answered only by implication. Did Ono's father burn his paintings? Did Moriyama burn his paintings? Why did the Miyakes withdraw from the marriage negotiations? Discuss such subtleties and ambiguities as a stylistic device for you as a reader. Do you find it intriguing? Frustrating? Both? Neither? For instance, how would the story have been different if the author had simply said, "The Miyakes withdrew abruptly from the marriage negotiations when they talked to Kuroda and learned that Ono had turned him in to the patriotism committee," or "My father tried to teach me that art was an unacceptable career choice by burning my paintings."

Essay Topic 2

Ono expresses the belief that his confession of guilt about his war activities rescued the miai from discomfort, and made relaxed social interaction possible. Do you think other characters would have the same opinion? Would things look different from another perspective? Tell the story of the miai from Noriko's point of view.

Essay Topic 3

What do you see as Ishiguro's overarching theme in this story? Why did he write it? What is he trying to teach, and to whom? Consider the fact that the book was published first in English.

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