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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 did Kazu do at the 49th day mourning ceremony, which he did not typically do?

2. Kazu observes two women at the Ueno Art Museum barely looking at the pictures and instead discussing what?

3. What does Kazu say is the best way for homeless people to make money because you get your cash immediately?

4. Which of Kazu's family members was the first to die not long after he returned home?

5. Why were homeless people require to evacuate Ueno Park per the notice on November 20, 2006?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Kazu respond to the gift Yoko and Setsuko had given him for his 60th birthday and why?

2. Describe the homeless man Kazu sees on one of the "sarcophagus-like stone benches" (100). How does he know he is homeless? Why might others not know?

3. Describe the conversation Kazu overhears between two homeless men, one of whom had worked in real estate.

4. Why were the homeless often evacuated from Ueno Park and where would they go?

5. What is the Shogitai grave?

6. Describe the image Kazu sees when he goes to the public restroom in November 2006 after being kicked out of the park for the day.

7. What does Kazu say teenagers had been doing to the homeless around when the homeless former realtor had died?

8. What does Kazu see in Ueno Park just about 30 minutes after the homeless were to have all their things out?

9. What artist is on exhibit near the Ueno station? Describe his work.

10. What gift from Yoko and Setsuko did Kazu still wear while homeless? Why did he think about removing it when he considered dying?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Away from the main character examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay examining the symbolic significance of the various monuments and shrines in Tokyo Ueno Station. In what scenes do monuments appear? What is the context? What do they symbolize and how do they develop the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing narrative voice in Tokyo Ueno Station. Include thoughts on how the narrative voice of the story is effective in conveying the story’s themes.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 856 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample