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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 is the bird on the crest of the Samurai who visits Yoshida?

2. How does Yoshida react when he hears about what is pinned to the door?

3. Why is Kinshi worried about his part in the next performance?

4. How do the boys decide to give Kinshi his role back?

5. What does Yoshida tell the boys to get?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jiro find when he goes into the storeroom and what happens as he trying to decide what to do?

2. What is pinned on the door of the theater and how does Yoshida respond?

3. What does Okada tell Tozo after Jiro leaves Okada?

4. What is the story that the puppeteer tells Jiro?

5. What does Hanji tell Jiro and offer to do, and what is Jiro's response?

6. What part is Kinshi assigned in the new play and what does Jiro learn as they go to get puppets for Kinshi to practice?

7. How does Jiro arrange the meeting with Okada?

8. What does Yoshida ask Jiro and then tell Jiro to do?

9. What does Jiro think about concerning arranging a meeting with Saburo?

10. Describe the conversation between Okada and Jiro.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The samurai were military nobility who followed a strict code of honor called Bushido. This meant that they dedicated their fighting skills to their master and were supposed to serve him honorably, even to the extent of giving their life for his.

1. Do you think having such a strict code of honor could actually make a samurai act dishonorably? Why or why not? Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

2. Discuss, in depth, how fighting and dying for one master might affect a person's character and life. Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

3. After research, explain what is meant by code of honor in feudal Japan. What are some of the rules of the Japanese feudal code of honor? Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

4. How do you think American soldiers might feel about a code of honor based on the Japanese samurai code? Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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