View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who surprises Christopher while he is investigating the Emory case?

2. What prevents Christopher from developing the level of intimacy with his English school friends that he developed with Akira?

3. Years later what does Christopher recognize about the plump-faced man?

4. Who causes Christopher to lower his guard?

5. What musical instrument does Uncle Philip encourage Christopher to go with him to see?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Christopher's earliest encounters with Sarah like?

2. What does Sarah tell Christopher about marriage?

3. Describe the game Christopher and Akira invent.

4. What is the "dining room episode?"

5. What does Christopher remember about Uncle Philip on the day of Wang Ku's visit?

6. Describe Sir Cecil Medhurst's speech at the Meredith Foundation Dinner.

7. How is Christopher and Akira's friendship when Akira returns from Japan?

8. What kinds of presents does Uncle Philip give Christopher when the boy comes to visit his office?

9. Where is Christopher's father's study and what are the rules about it?

10. Where is Charles Emery's body found?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS is written in first person. Why is this the most effective choice for Ishiguro's purposes? Discuss the impact of first person on character and story development.

Essay Topic 2

What role does the advent of World War II play in the novel? How does the shape of world events parallel events in Christopher's life?

Essay Topic 3

The motif of the outsider is featured in WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS. Choose three scenes from the novel where Ishiguro uses this motif to advance the plot and develop characters. How is this done?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 703 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample