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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 Jiro shocked when the play opens that night?

2. What does Jiro discover when he sneaks into the storehouse?

3. Who is Hanji disguised as?

4. What does Jiro agree to do after the last performance of the day?

5. What does Yoshida tell the boys to get?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jiro conclude after seeing the Samurai sword?

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

3. What does Jiro beg Kinshi to do and what is Kinshi's reply?

4. Describe the conversation between Okada and Jiro.

5. How does Kinshi get out of his chores and what do the other boys do?

6. How does Joman avoid being executed?

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

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

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

10. What happens when the boys are sewing and practicing later that night and how does Yoshida react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think The Master Puppeteer is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of The Master Puppeteer, Jiro grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. The Master Puppeteer might be considered a slice of Jiro's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that The Master Puppeteer is a "bildungsroman" of Jiro. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Jiro as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Rick?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Jiro's growth throughout The Master Puppeteer, do you think The Master Puppeteer could be considered Jiro's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in The Master Puppeteer who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by The Master Puppeteer. Questions that Peterson most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Peterson' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Peterson' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Peterson and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

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