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. How many families could live there at a time?

2. What did the groups of five families have to do?

3. What did Commodore Perry do when the Japanese tried to board?

4. Who was the first Englishman to arrive in Japan?

5. Why did the English stop trading in 1623?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was special about the Englishman, Will Adams?

2. Who is Nakajima and what does he tell the Americans and what was Perry's response?

3. Describe the role of the Emperor of Japan at that time.

4. Who commanded the American forces and why did they come to Japan?

5. Describe the two opposing camps to the idea of a treaty with the Americans.

6. What did the native Japanese who served the Dutch have to do?

7. Who were the lower classes in the cities and what was one advantage to their class?

8. Who held the real power in Japan?

9. What was Edo's first response to the messengers and why is it amazing?

10. What was the Tokugawa period and some of its positive aspects?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Commodore Perry is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Commodore Perry demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Commodore Perry's character flaws, and explain how the flaws help or hinder his obtaining his objectives.

3. After analyzing Commodore Perry's strengths and weaknesses, decide if he is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?

Essay Topic 2

Commodore is in some ways a larger-than-life hero, especially considering he is an historical personage. Despite incredible odds, he accomplishes his goals. Discuss the following:

1. Does having a larger-than-life hero make that person less of a hero? In other words, which is more admirable--a hero who ultimately always "lands on his feet," or one who strives against impossible odds and doesn't succeed?

2. Does a character have to be successful in order to be a hero? Would you have considered Commodore Perry a hero had he not obtained a treaty with the Japanese? Would he even be mentioned except in passing in history books? Explain your answer.

3. Choose one other character besides Perry who you might call a hero and explain why you choose that person.

4. Does every work of fiction have to have a hero? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 3

In the world of academe, historical fiction is often considered an inferior form of the novel compared to "classic" literature. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think historical fiction might be considered second-rate compared to the classics, such as books by an author such as Charles Dickens?

2. Do you think historical fiction has the same elements as the classics? Why or why not?

3. What are the purposes do you think for people reading "the classics"? What are the purposes for people reading historical fiction? Is one purpose better than another? Explain your response.

4. Would you read historical fiction even outside an educational setting? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,121 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample