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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 part of the sick person's body has a problem, as determined by the specialist sent by the newspaper?

2. Who confides that he thinks he is in a difficult spot because of the worsening condition of the sick patient at the game?

3. What country elevated go to an art form?

4. Who insists on playing the game despite the health hazards?

5. Who has an insatiable appetite for the game even when away from the go table?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are amateurs disappointed in the game, according to Uragami?

2. What does Uragami take as a sign of the Master's desire to finish the match?

3. What does Uragami say will happen if Otake forfeits the game?

4. Why is the second session at Ito left up in the air?

5. Why does the Master's wife want to hide details about his health?

6. Why is Uragami coming and going in between sessions of the game of go?

7. What does Otake consider a brilliant move by the Master?

8. What does Otake threaten to do that the Master does not know about?

9. Why do the judges and organizers appeal to Otake to play?

10. When is the Master allowed to play again, in Chapter 25?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kawabata espouses a radical approach to game and thus related employment that would alter the structure of society. He describes the game player in The Master of Go as a proletariat like Marxian philosophy who is rebelling against the government in some ways. Describe the worker in The Master of Go. Do you think this is realistic and characteristic of today? Do you think the issues that Kawabata discusses are still relevant today and if so, in what ways?

Essay Topic 2

The Master and Otake are two of the most active characters in the game of go.

Part 1) What is their relationship? How do they co-exist and how do they interact? What is similar about them, and what is different?

Part 2) What are some events that Otake had a direct influence upon? What are some events that The Master had a direct influence upon?

Part 3) Which character offers support or sympathy to people that attempt to play the game of Go and win? Which one is stronger, and why?

Essay Topic 3

Compare "The Master of Go" with another of Kawabata's other books that deal with socialist issues. Which is, in your opinion, better? Explain. What future scenarios might you want to see in upcoming books? Which characters would you like to see portrayed? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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