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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. Of what was Sam Patch afraid?

2. What did Commodore Perry want of the Japanese?

3. Where was the Commodore and some staff invited to tour?

4. What happened to the samurai class?

5. What did Commodore Perry do for the Japanese on his ship?

Short Essay Questions

1. What made Perry decide to sail to Japan despite the Shogun's death?

2. What sort of gifts did the Americans give the higher ranked Japanese?

3. Why was Commodore Perry happy with the treaty?

4. How did the Japanese believe they had saved face, but did they really?

5. What gifts most fascinated the Japanese?

6. When was the Treaty House completed and what did Commodore Perry demand that they change?

7. When did Kayama meet with the fleet and what did he tell them?

8. When did the Shogun die and why was that of concern to Commodore Perry?

9. Describe the exchange between Perry and the Japanese about shipwrecked sailors.

10. What was the Commodore's first impression of Shimoda.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One major theme of Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun is that of the meeting of two dissimilar cultures and how the two cultures evolved to signing a treaty of mutual benefit. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast some of the major cultural differences between the Americans and Japanese. Consider differences in the area of food, art, gender, and warfare.

2. The Japanese and the Americans each thought the other group barbaric. Discuss the term barbaric and analyze the ways in which each group applied the word to the other. Is either group accurate in naming the other barbaric? Discuss with examples.

3. Discuss the advantages of two cultures having a mutual exchange of ideas, trade and military support.

4. Discuss the disadvantages of two cultures having a mutual exchange of ideas, trade and military support.

Essay Topic 2

Many authors if queried would admit that they have an agenda for writing a particular novel. Discuss the following:

1. Define and give examples of the concept of "author agenda."

2. Do you think Blumbeg has an agenda in mind when she writes Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun?

3. What do you think would be Blumberg's agenda(s) (if she has one)? Give examples to illustrate how the agenda is fulfilled.

4. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

5. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

Essay Topic 3

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not? Do you think Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun has a "happy" ending?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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