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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 Yoshida do after discovering the celebration?

2. What does Kinshi say he did the last time there was a new play?

3. What will Jiro be able to do someday if he is employed properly?

4. What does Jiro keep doing?

5. What does Jiro do that is rude?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Jiro and Kinshi get to do on stage during one performance?

2. How do some of the attendees feel about the resemblance of Joman to Saburo?

3. What does the Shogun do about Saburo?

4. Why does Jiro make mistakes and how does his mother react?

5. How is Jiro's family getting along?

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

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

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

9. Where does Jiro and his father sell their puppets?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Master Puppeteer.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Master Puppeteer. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The Master Puppeteer. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an important part of what makes The Master Puppeteer interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Jiro. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Kinshi. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Saburo. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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