AP English Literature and
Language: MT 1
Norwegian Wood by Murakami Haruki
Level 4 Reading Guide and Essay Prompts
What’s included?
This PowerPoint includes:
 Essay Prompts
 Reading Guide
 Instructions and expectations for all tasks.
 BY THE TIME YOU FINISH THIS LEVEL 4 UNIT YOU’LL
NEED TO TURN IN 1 ESSAY and 33 READING GUIDE
QUESTIONS.
Essay Expectations
 These essay options are more of a conversation piece
 Your essay should:
 Be 500-700 words
 Have multiple point thesis statement
 Have an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion
Essay Prompt # 1
 The Science of Scumbags
 “Languages are like games. You learn the rules for
one, and they all work the same way. Like women”
(201), says Nagasawa. Essay Question: What is the
rule that applies to all the women you have read
about: Naoko, Midori, Reiko?
 Tips: Think about defining this rule. Think about the
moments in the novel that form this rule.
Essay Prompt # 2
 You Feel Me?
 “I don’t feel it’s O.K. if nobody understands me. I’ve got
people I want to understand and be understood by. But
aside from those few, I figure it’s kind of hopeless. I don’t
agree with Nagasawa. I do care if people understand me”
(210), Toru says to Hatsumi. Essay Question: Why does
Toru care if others understand him?
 Tips: Look for moments in which he seeks compassion or
understanding from Naoko, Midori, or Reiko. Prove that
Toru needs empathy from any or all of them.
Essay Prompt # 3
 Table For One
 “But Watanabe’s practically the same as me. He may be a
nice guy, but deep down in his heart, he’s incapable of
loving anybody. There’s always some part of him that’s
wide awake and detached. He just has that hunger that
won’t go away” (210), Nagasawa says about Toru to
Hatsumi. Essay Question: Why isn’t Toru capable of loving
anybody?
 Tips: Look for moments in which he chooses numbness
over love for Midori. What is he thinking in these
moments? What is he feeling? What is the source of these
feelings?
Essay Prompt # 4
 All the Tigers in the World
 “You were so nice to me when I was having my problems, but now
that you’re having yours, it seems there’s not a thing I can do for
you. You’re all locked up in that little world of yours, and when I try
knocking on the door, you sort of look up for a second and go right
back inside” (253), Midori writes in a letter to Toru. Essay
Question: Argue the reason why Midori can save Toru.
 Tips: Examine the scenes with Midori and Toru. First, define Toru’s
problems. Then, figure out the qualities of Midori that will solve
these problems. Consider how she keeps Toru in touch with the real
world. Consider what she likes about Toru (“You talk like Humphrey
Bogart. Cool. Tough.” — page 51). Consider how Toru loves her
(“enough to melt all the tigers in the world to butter” — page 265).
Essay Prompt # 5
 Time to Get Hurt
 “Despite your best efforts, people are going to be hurt
when it’s time for them to be hurt. Life is like that” (269),
Reiko writes to Toru. Essay Questions: Argue that Naoko
died at the right time in Toru’s life.
 Tips: Think about what’s going on in Toru’s life with Midori.
Why is Naoko’s death the appropriate obstacle? What
values, ideas, and beliefs are challenged by the death?
Think about how he copes with the death—did he deal
successfully with things?
Essay Prompt # 6
 Orderly Conduct
 In the beginning of the novel, Toru provides a
flashback with Naoko and the meadow and the field
well. This takes place at the sanatorium.Essay
Question: Why do we learn about Naoko and the
field well before we begin the larger flashback
(Toru in college)?
 Tips: You must have a convincing thesis about the
narrative effect of the flashback. What impressions
about Naoko do you learn from the flashback in the
meadow? Think about how the novel would function
if we simply learned about Naoko and Kizuki on
pages 18-25. Why isn’t this information enough for
the reader? How are your impressions about Naoko
from the meadow scene confirmed throughout the
novel?
Reading Guide
Expectations
 3 questions per
chapter
 Each answer must
include textual
evidence or your
own reasoning as
support
Reading Guide Chapter 1
 Based on her words and actions, how would you describe
Naoko?
 Why do Toru and Naoko keep this idea (of a field well)
alive?
 What does the field well represent for each of them? What
informs this?
 Her problems won’t continue for the rest of her life—any
guesses on what problems?
 Why doesn’t Murakami detail the problems for us? Isn’t it
important to understand them?
Reading Guide Chapter 2
 How do Toru’s descriptions of the dormitory differ from his ones of the meadow
(Chapter One)?
 Toru says, “It made no practical difference to me whether the place was right wing
or left wing or anything else” (12). He also claims to not care too much about the
ritual of the flag. Do you believe him in both cases? Why does he pay attention to
these things, if he doesn’t care?
 Why does the name, Storm Trooper, work better than his real name in the story?
 Naoko looks different (19). What do you think caused these changes? What clues
informed your assumptions?
 How is their interaction different than the memory in the meadow?
 What do you think Naoko means when saying, “It’s like I’m split in two and playing
tag with myself” (21)?
 Why is the back-story of Toru, Naoko, and Kizuki on page 22 and not before this
moment in the story?
 Do you think Kizuki had already planned his suicide when he and Toru were playing
pool? What information might imply this?
 When Toru left Kobe and the girl he was sleeping with, was it the right thing to do?
How so?
Reading Guide Chapter 3
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Toru says, “I doubt if I could really love anybody” (28) to Naoko. Does he really believe that? Why does he say that
to her?
When Toru and Naoko walk close to each other, he says, “None of this had any special meaning” and “My arm
was not the one she needed it, but the arm of someone else” (28). He narrates this information. Does he speak
the truth to us, the audience? Why or why not?
Is it the right thing to do when Toru makes up stories about sex with Naoko for his dorm neighbors?
Toru says, “The first time I saw Nagasawa drunk and tormenting a girl, I promised myself never, under any
circumstances, to open myself up to him” (32). Why?
“As much as I found myself caught up in Nagasawa’s power, though, I still missed Kizuiki” (32). Throughout the
novel, Toru feels more tied to the past than to the college life he’s living. Pay attention to what pushes him
toward one life or the other.
“When you’re surrounded by endless possibilities, one of the hardest things to do is pass them up” (34). This is
Nagasawa’s philosophy on womanizing. Does it make sense to you?
Consider Toru’s male friends, Kizuki and Nagasawa. Each one is entirely different from each other and from Toru.
Is this realistic? Why does Toru get along with each of them? Why are they his friends? Does he understand his
friendship to each person?
“Each tale had its own internal logic, but the link from one to the next was odd” (38). Toru describes Naoko’s
unusual behavior; she tells many stories. Why does she do this? What is her goal? Is talking this way effective for
her goal?
“I slept with Naoko that night. Was it the right thing to do?” (39). This is Toru’s question. How would you answer
him?
How does Murakami write the love scene between Toru and Naoko? Why does he write it this way?
“She and I had probably needed each other more than either of us knew” (41). Do you agree with Toru? Why?
On page 45, how does the description of the roof and the nighttime scenery relate to Toru’s emotional state?
What words indicate this?
Toru’s memories of fireflies are brighter than the firefly in front of him. How does Toru’s vivid memory, here,
relate to the overall story so far? Consider the firefly and its behavior.
Reading Guide Chapter 4
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Earlier Toru claimed that the campus politics didn’t matter. So why does he describe the politics in the beginning of this chapter?
“Hey, Kizuki, I thought, you’re not missing a damn thing” (48). It is rare for Toru to directly address his dead friend. Why does he do it in this instance? Why doesn’t he
just deliver his comment to us?
Based on the conversation on pages 50-53, do Toru and Midori have a future together? Why? What about their candor, their expressions, their comments indicate this?
“Don’t be silly. I’m just an ordinary guy. Like everybody else” (51). Is Toru being honest or modest or both when he says this? Does he sound like Humphrey Bogart, as
Midori believes?
On pages 59-62, Midori describes her high school classmates, her relief to be in college, and her part-time occupation as a map note writer. From these details, what do
you think is her goal in life? Does she have ambitions? Does she possess the ennui that Toru does, or is she more passionate about life? Do you see her ending up with
someone like Toru?
“Girls are supposed to be a little more elegant when they put their cigarettes out. You did that like a lumberjack” (70). Is Toru criticizing or complimenting Midori? Is
this the part of her personality that he is attracted to? What might indicate this?
“Forget it,” she said. “We never worry about what the neighbors might think” (74). Midori’s attitude about singing while watching the fire sounds very similar to her
assessment of Toru: “You make it obvious you don’t care whether people like you or not. That makes some people mad” (70). Do you think that during their evening
together, they realize this similarity? How?
At the bottom of page 75, Midori confesses her inability to feel after her parents left her life. This confession comes after her song, “I Have Nothing.” Is she callous like
Toru OR Naoko? If she is emotionally vacant—in some way—is it more severe than the other characters?
Pages 76-77 reveal Midori’s idea of perfect love. Toru remarks that it’s crazy. She believes that it’s necessary. Is she justified in her desire?
“For a certain kind of person, love begins from something tiny or silly. From something like that or it doesn’t begin at all” (77). Midori is this kind of person. Is Toru? Is
Naoko? Was Midori addressing Toru with this comment?
On page 77, Midori puts death into context: she would rather die by fire (because the smoke would kill her quickly) than die like her relatives, “a long, long process.”
Kizuki died by choking—almost painlessly. Do you think Midori’s philosophy is related to Kizuki’s suicide?
At the bottom of page 79, Toru thinks about Kizuki, his death, and his friendship. He says he cannot make sense of all of it. Is he being honest or afraid? Can you make
sense of everything at this point in the story?
“I had been feeling especially foggy-brained for the past week and was ready to sleep with anybody, it didn’t matter much who” (80). Why is Toru foggy-brained? Is it
from thinking about Kizuki or wondering about Midori or both? What clues point you to your conclusion?
“Nobody knows how I feel,” spat out the little one, still tearing grass (83). This is the stranger that Toru sleeps with. Do you think sex helped Toru understand how she
felt? Examine Murakami’s descriptions of the lovemaking. How do these actions communicate the love she has for her boyfriend?
“Each scene felt unreal and strangely distanced, as if I were viewing it through two or three layers of glass” (83). Toru comments on the surreal quality of his night out
with Nagasawa and the two girls he met. In reading the scene, does it feel the way Toru describes, or does it feel this way, merely because he has a bad hangover?
Reading Guide Chapter 5
 “I can’t do what you do: I can’t slip inside my shell and wait for things to
pass” (86). This is how Naoko describes Toru in her letter to him. Is it
accurate? Do you think Toru is aware of his behavior? Does he agree with
Naoko’s assessment?
 “That’s what distinguishes us from the outside world: most people go about
their lives there unconscious of their deformities, while in this little world of
ours the deformities themselves are a precondition” (87). Toru, Nagasawa,
and Midori are part of the outside world. What is the deformity of each
person? Is each aware of his or her deformity?
 “The one real problem with this facility is that once you’re here, you don’t
want to leave—or you’re afraid to leave. As long as we’re here, we feel calm
and peaceful. Our deformities seem natural. We think we’ve recovered. But
we can never be sure that the outside world would accept us in the same
way” (88). Naoko says this about her rehabilitation center. Could you say
the same about Toru and college campus life? In what ways?
Reading Guide Chapter 6
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“We never meant to hurt you, but we probably did; we probably ended up making a deep wound in
your heart. It never occurred to us that anything like that might happen” (129). Naoko speaks for
Kizuki and herself. Do you think the opposite might true as well—that Toru has somehow hurt
Naoko without intention?
On pages 131 to 132, Toru explains the newfound beauty of Naoko’s body, along with his memories
of making love to her. Is his understanding of that night possible because of Naoko’s nudity? Or did
he already understand that night? Reconsider by reading the event on pages 39 to 40.
“How come you always like people like that—people like us, I mean? We’re all kinda weird and
twisted and drowning—me and Kizuki and Reiko. Why can’t you like more normal people?” (141),
Naoko questions Toru. If she sees herself this way, does she see Toru as twisted and drowning, too,
or normal?
On pages 143 to 146, Naoko explains her sister’s suicide and the history of depression in her family.
Why does she do this? Does she owe it to Toru? Is she trying to scare him away on purpose? Is she
trying to get him to love her, to understand her, or to let go of her?
Pages 148 to 161 are all about Reiko and her piano pupil. The story doesn’t involve Toru or Naoko, so
how does it relate to the novel? Why does Murakami include this segment? What would happen if
this 13-page story were missing from Norwegian Wood? How would that affect the book? What do
we learn about Reiko from this story? Does this fit your first impressions of her?
“He had done everything he could to heal me, and I had done everything I could to be healed, both
for his sake and for our daughter’s sake. And I had believed in my recovery” (160), Reiko says about
her husband. How does this couple’s relationship resemble Toru and Naoko’s? What might we
assume about Toru and Naoko’s future based on Reiko and her husband’s?
On pages 164-166, Toru describes his first night back in the outside world. Based on his descriptions,
what do you think his attitude is? Is he happy about where he is? Was he happy about being in the
sanatorium? Is one place better than the other for him? What world do you think he belongs in?
Why?
Reading Guide Chapter 7
 On page 169, Midori proposes two fantasy scenarios, each involving Toru. What is the purpose
of both scenarios? Compliments? Banter? Is she in love with him? Is she checking if he is in love
with her?
 On pages 173-175, Midori asks Toru questions about sex because her boyfriend won’t answer
them. What kind of person does this boyfriend sound like and why are he and Midori together?
 Toru says that in order to read a difficult work like Das Kapital, you have to know Marxism (177).
Consider the notion of prerequisites. Much of Norwegian Wood concerns Toru figuring out
other people. Does he have to know special subjects before understanding Naoko, Reiko,
Kizuki, or Midori?
 Pages 177-180, Midori describes how phony the liberal revolutionaries are and how their ideas
won’t change a thing. She very much believes herself to be an outsider. Toru feels like an
outsider. Does he have the same disdain for those around him or is it different?
 On page 183-184, Midori imagines who Naoko is (and isn’t anywhere near correct). Does this
description serve to compliment Toru or comfort Midori that he is like her: sexually liberal?
 Many pages describe the time at the hospital when Midori and Toru care for her father.
Consider Murakami’s purpose for including these scenes. Are they in any way related to Toru
visiting Naoko and caring for her? What does Midori do for her father at the hospital? What does
Toru do for Naoko at the sanatorium?
Reading Guide Chapter 8
 “But Watanabe’s practically the same as me. He may be
a nice guy, but deep down in his heart, he’s incapable of
loving anybody. There’s always some part of him that’s
wide awake and detached. He just has that hunger that
won’t go away” (210), Nagasawa says about Toru to
Hatsumi. What hunger does Nagasawa refer to? Why
won’t it go away? Has Toru been feeding this hunger?
How?
 On pages 211 to 212, Toru provides a flashforward to tell
us about Hatsumi’s marriage and suicide. Why is this
necessary for us? Does it add to the story or detract
from it? Consider its placement in the chapter. Why do
we learn this in the middle of the sequence and not at
the end, when Toru and Hatsumi finish drinking?
 “But there’s nothing I can do but wait for [Nagasawa],”
said Hatsumi with her chin in her hand (216). Similarly,
there’s nothing Toru can do but wait for Naoko. Toru
warned Hatsumi of the dangers of staying with
Nagasawa (215-216). What are the dangers of Toru
waiting for Naoko? Is he aware of them? Where do you
recognize moments of his awareness and where you
recognize moments of his ignorance?
 At the bottom of page 216, Toru knocks on Nagasawa’s
door, but he isn’t inside. What do you think Toru was
going to say to him?
Reading Guide Chapter 9
 “They just keep doing the same things,” I said. “Well, what else can
they do? We all just keep doing the same things.” She had a point
there (225). In the excerpt, Toru and Midori have just finished
watching a pornographic film. What is Midori’s point? What kind of
“things” do we just repeat? Sex? Living? Dying? Loving? Waiting?
Making mistakes?
 In this chapter, Midori appears to be falling in love with Toru. “The
whole time I was traveling by myself, I was thinking of you” (222),
she tells Toru. On pages 226 to 227, she begs to stay the night with
him, because he’s the only one who gets her. Is Toru falling in love
with her, at the same time? Or at other times? When? Earlier when
they first met? Later?
 On page 231, Toru says many things to lull Midori into a pleasant
slumber. Does he mean all these things? Or is he saying them out of
request? Is he the type of person who can say things and not mean
them?
 On page 234, Naoko’s letter discusses dead people talking to her,
because they are lonely like her. What is the significance of this?
Reading Guide Chapter 10
 On page 248, Toru explains the understanding he has come to regarding Naoko’s
condition, his own capability, and even the sense of adult responsibility that Kizuki
avoided by killing himself.
 “You were so nice to me when I was having my problems, but now that you’re
having yours, it seems there’s not a thing I can do for you. You’re all locked up in
that little world of yours, and when I try knocking on the door, you sort of look up
for a second and go right back inside” (253), Midori writes in a letter to Toru. Is he
behaving like Naoko? Can Midori save him? What can save him?
 “I realized that the only way I had been able to survive until then was having you in
my life. When I lost you, the pain and loneliness really got to me” (261), Toru shares
this grownup realization with Midori.
 “Are you crazy? You know the English subjunctive, you understand trigonometry,
you can read Marx, and you don’t know the answer to something as simple
as that?” (262) Midori questions Toru about why she left her boyfriend. Why is Toru
so clueless? Is it because he’s afraid to love Midori or because he’s too distracted?
What do you think would solve his lack of perception?
 “How much do you love me?” Midori asked. “Enough to melt all the tigers in the
world to butter,” I said. (265). Explain Toru’s hyperbole. Why is it such a
compliment? How much does he love Naoko? Would he be able to express it as a
hyperbole? Why or why not? What is it about Toru and Naoko’s relationship that
fails to provoke sweet, quirky sentiments?
Reading Guide Chapter 11
 “You should be happy with Midori. Your pain [from Naoko] has nothing to do with your
relationship with [Midori]. If you hurt her any more than you already have, the wound could be
too deep to fix. So, hard as it may be, you have to be strong. You have to grow up more, be
more of an adult” (288).
 Why do Reiko and Toru both have sex after their private funeral for Naoko? How does their act
of physical union say goodbye to Naoko, their friend?
 “I never have to do this again,” said Reiko, “for the rest of my life. Oh, please, Watanabe, tell
me it’s true. Tell me I can relax now because I’ve done enough to last a lifetime” (292). In this
passage, Reiko refers to sex. Does this sound anything like Naoko’s attitude toward sex? Why
doesn’t Naoko want sex anymore? What doesn’t Reiko? What is it about Toru that begins and
ends the sexual appetite of Naoko and Reiko?
 “I want the two of us to begin everything from the beginning” (293), Toru tells Midori. What
kind of beginning do you imagine them having? Is it one in which Toru is completely honest
about his past or one in which he no longer dwells upon it? Will this beginning help the two of
them succeed in a relationship or is it hopeless?
 “Where was this place? All that flashed into my eyes were the countless shapes of people
walking by to nowhere. Again and again, I called out for Midori from the dead center of this
place that was no place” (293), Toru concludes the novel. How does this ending complete the
story? What questions are left unsolved? What questions are answered? What new questions
are formed? Of the old questions, is there a reason Murakami didn’t answer them? Why doesn’t
Toru recognize where he is? Why doesn’t he recognize people around him? Is he truly an
outsider now? He is usually so adept at describing his surroundings. What enervates him?