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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. What does the sickle signify to the blacksmith?

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

3. At what kind of house do Takezo and Matahaci find help?

4. What does the priest call the action of killing the men?

5. Whose family does Matahachi want to find?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Akemi try to kill herself?

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

3. How does Takuan scare Takezo away from Otsu?

4. What does Akemi feel about stealing from corpses?

5. Who is Jotaro?

6. How does Jo's father show his torment in this section?

7. Describe Matahachi's reunion with his mother?

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

9. How does Musashi escape Osugi and Gon?

10. How do the villagers punish Takuan?

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

Pick two characters from the book and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motives? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 3

Why do Muashi and Matachi fall out with each other during the novel? What does it say about there friendship that they eventually reconcile? What does the novel say about friendship in general?

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This section contains 635 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample