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 does Seijuro say he has paid to have sex with Akemi?

2. What is the name of the priest who takes in Akemi?

3. What does Jo convince Musashi to take him on as?

4. Who did Oko take the items from that she has sold?

5. What do Gion and his followers like to do together?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Matahachi's mother's character?

2. What punishment so officials hand out to Takezo at the castle?

3. How does Musashi find Otsu again?

4. Describe Matahachi's reunion with his mother?

5. What are the reasons Seijuro cannot fight in this chapter?

6. What signs are there that stealing from corpses is becoming a lucrative business?

7. What is Matahachi's life like with Oko?

8. How does Akemi try to kill herself?

9. Why does the blacksmith want to kill Musashi?

10. How does Takuan scare Takezo away from Otsu?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the books work as a series? Why did Eiji Yoshikawa decided to write a series of books instead of just one? How does Eiji Yoshikawa develop the story and character throughout the series?

Essay Topic 2

Why is honor such an important theme in the book? What does the theme of honor say about Japanese culture?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 658 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample