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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. How does Stephen describe the houses in the village of Yamaguchi?

2. Why do Stephen and Matsu go to the shrine?

3. What is a shime-nawa?

4. When does Stephen's father leave Tamuri after his second visit to see Stephen?

5. Who is the person who meets Stephen at the train station in Tarumi?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Stephen think of Matsu when they initially meet?

2. How does Stephen react to the news in his mother's November,1937 letter?

3. How does the visit to Sachi impact the relationship between Stephen and Matsu?

4. What agreement do Stephen's parents seem to come to after his father's visit?

5. What does Stephen struggle with at the Shinto shrine and why?

6. Why does Stephen lie to his mother?

7. What is Stephen's physical condition when he first arrives at the beach house in Tarumi?

8. Describe the relationship between Stephen and his father in the beginning of the book.

9. What conflicting accounts of the war does Stephen hear?

10. Why is the painting of the garden of importance to Stephen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The act of suicide is an ongoing theme in this story. Tomoko, Kenzo, and many lepers chose to take their own lives. Sachi did not, although her own father wanted her to in order to restore family honor. Compare and contrast the suicides of Tomoko and Kenzo and other people's responses to them. What were the benefits and drawbacks of their decisions? What were the benefits and drawbacks of Sachi's decision not to take her own life to both her self and the people closest to her?

Essay Topic 2

While Stephen is the main character in the story, there are also many supporting and minor characters that add to his tale. Choose one other main character, one supporting character, and one minor character. For each one, compare and contrast him or her with Stephen and give examples of how that person affected his life in positive or negative way.

Essay Topic 3

Honor is a theme explored in many circumstances and relationships in the Samurai's Garden. In regards to Stephen's parents, their marriage and the way both dealt with the revelation of his father's affair, discuss what it means to be honorable. Give specific examples and explain why you believe that his parents did or did not act honorably in each one. What do you feel they should have, if anything, done differently? What information that you do not have would change your perceptions of them and their actions?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 981 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample