A Living God by Lafcadio Hearn – MCQs (25 Questions)

Choose the correct option for each question.

1. Who is the protagonist of "A Living God"?

   a) Tada
   b) Hamaguchi Gohei
   c) The village priest
   d) Ujima

2. What is Hamaguchi's position in the village?

   a) A wealthy farmer
   b) Village headman (muraosa) and choji
   c) A priest at the temple
   d) A fisherman

3. Where is Hamaguchi's house located?

   a) In the center of the village
   b) Near the temple
   c) On a plateau overlooking the bay
   d) On the beach

4. What unusual natural phenomenon does Hamaguchi observe?

   a) Heavy rainfall
   b) Strong winds
   c) The sea receding and the ocean floor becoming visible
   d) Multiple earthquakes

5. What danger does Hamaguchi recognize from the sea's retreat?

   a) A storm is coming
   b) An earthquake will strike
   c) A tsunami is approaching
   d) High tide will occur

6. How did Hamaguchi know about the tsunami warning sign?

   a) He read it in a book
   b) He heard stories from his grandfather
   c) The priests told him
   d) He observed it during a previous tsunami

7. Who is Tada in relation to Hamaguchi?

   a) His son
   b) His grandson
   c) His neighbor
   d) A village servant

8. What does Hamaguchi ask Tada to bring him?

   a) Water
   b) A pine-torch
   c) A rope
   d) Blankets

9. What does Hamaguchi set on fire?

   a) His house
   b) The temple
   c) His harvested rice fields
   d) The forest

10. Why does Hamaguchi set fire to his rice?

    a) To celebrate the festival
    b) To create a signal that will draw villagers to safety on the plateau
    c) He is angry at the harvest
    d) To satisfy the god Ujima

11. What is Tada's initial reaction to Hamaguchi setting the fire?

    a) He helps immediately
    b) He shouts at his grandfather to stop
    c) He ignores his grandfather
    d) He calls the priest

12. What does Hamaguchi sacrifice to save his people?

    a) His life
    b) His home
    c) His wealth—his entire rice harvest
    d) His family honor

13. What is the Japanese word for village headman?

    a) Choji
    b) Muraosa
    c) Ujima
    d) Tada

14. What does choji mean?

    a) A priest
    b) The wealthiest man in the village
    c) A farmer
    d) A fisherman

15. What religious preparation is happening in the village when the story begins?

    a) A funeral ceremony
    b) A wedding festival
    c) Festival preparations to pray to Ujima
    d) A temple construction

16. What sign accompanies the sea's retreat?

    a) A loud noise
    b) Heavy rain
    c) A slight earthquake
    d) Lightning

17. How do the young villagers respond when they arrive and see the fire?

    a) They celebrate
    b) They try to put out the fire
    c) They run away
    d) They ignore it

18. What sound accompanies the tsunami's arrival?

    a) Wind howling
    b) Thunder-like roar
    c) Silence
    d) Music

19. What happens to the village below when the tsunami strikes?

    a) Some buildings survive
    b) The entire village is engulfed and swept away
    c) Only the temple is destroyed
    d) The people in the village are saved

20. Why are the villagers saved from the tsunami?

    a) They fled to the ocean
    b) Hamaguchi's fire brought them to the plateau where they were safe
    c) The tsunami did not reach the village
    d) They took shelter in the temple

21. What does Hamaguchi do for the villagers after the disaster?

    a) Makes them leave the village
    b) Offers his residence to the homeless villagers
    c) Asks them to find new homes
    d) Leaves the village himself

22. Why are the villagers grateful to Hamaguchi?

    a) He gave them money
    b) He performed a religious ceremony
    c) He risked everything to save their lives from the tsunami
    d) He rebuilt the temple

23. What title or status do the villagers give Hamaguchi after he saves them?

    a) King of the village
    b) Priest
    c) A "living god"
    d) Guardian spirit

24. What does the story teach about true divinity or godliness?

    a) Gods demand worship and rituals
    b) True divinity comes through selfless action and sacrifice for others
    c) Gods are distant and remote
    d) Divinity is only found in temples

25. What is the central theme of "A Living God"?

    a) The power of natural disasters
    b) Religious superstition
    c) Self-sacrifice, wisdom, and leadership in times of crisis
    d) The importance of wealth

Answer Key

i) b – Hamaguchi Gohei
ii) b – Village headman (muraosa) and choji
iii) c – On a plateau overlooking the bay
iv) c – The sea receding and the ocean floor becoming visible
v) c – A tsunami is approaching
vi) b – He heard stories from his grandfather
vii) b – His grandson
viii) b – A pine-torch
ix) c – His harvested rice fields
x) b – To create a signal that will draw villagers to safety on the plateau
xi) b – He shouts at his grandfather to stop
xii) c – His wealth—his entire rice harvest
xiii) b – Muraosa
xiv) b – The wealthiest man in the village
xv) c – Festival preparations to pray to Ujima
xvi) c – A slight earthquake
xvii) b – They try to put out the fire
xviii) b – Thunder-like roar
xix) b – The entire village is engulfed and swept away
xx) b – Hamaguchi's fire brought them to the plateau where they were safe
xxi) b – Offers his residence to the homeless villagers
xxii) c – He risked everything to save their lives from the tsunami
xxiii) c – A "living god"
xxiv) b – True divinity comes through selfless action and sacrifice for others
xxv) c – Self-sacrifice, wisdom, and leadership in times of crisis