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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 visitor to the theater bring?

2. How does Jiro feel about himself in regards to his family?

3. In what country does Jiro live?

4. For what is Yoshida disciplining one of the boys?

5. What is Jiro's part in the new play?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Okada respond to Jiro's question?

2. Who does Jiro meet at the theater and what does the person tell Jiro?

3. Where do Jiro and his father go and spend their money, and who do they talk to there?

4. What does Jiro hope about his father and what is the outcome?

5. Who posts the roles for the new play and what is Jiro's role?

6. What play does Okada finish and what do the apprentices worry about concerning the new play?

7. Who does Jiro find at the house when he gets home and what does Jiro learn from him?

8. What do the authorities and merchant's guild offer?

9. How does Jiro practice puppeteering skills?

10. What does Jiro discover when he goes to steal the script for the next play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Jiro and Kinshi. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Saburo and Kinshi. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in The Master Puppeteer help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 2

The Master Puppeteer belongs to the youth historical fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the youth historical fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a youth historical fiction and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in The Master Puppeteer. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Peterson chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Peterson chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Peterson's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Peterson use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

(see the answer keys)

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