View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. How does Jiro do in his part of the play?

3. Who is jealous of Jiro?

4. Who does Joman disguise himself as?

5. Who is Mochida?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. How does Kinshi perform when he takes over for Kwada one day?

5. How does Jiro being rude earn him an apprenticeship?

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

7. What do Saburo and his gang do one evening?

8. How does Jiro practice puppeteering skills?

9. What does Jiro admire about one of Yoshida's apprentices?

10. How do Jiro and the other boys feel about Jiro's assignment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jiro's father wants Jiro to be able to help make puppets so they can earn a living, but he also wants Jiro to learn a skill that will help him in later life. Jiro tries his best and feels embarrassed and upset when he makes mistakes. He loves both his parents, but feels a little despairing of ever earning his mother's love. He thinks his mother resents the fact that he was even born, as his elder siblings died. He thinks that his mother would have preferred her other children to survive and Jiro to die. This makes him very sad, but also a little resentful of his mother.

1. Discuss the ways in which Jiro's father might be able to help him with his lack of skill. Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

2. Discuss the ways in which Jiro's mother responds to him that might be responsible for him believing she does not love him. Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

3. Discuss why Jiro would feel both sad and resentful about his mother. Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in The Master Puppeteer. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in The Master Puppeteer. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of class in The Master Puppeteer. Consider the following questions: How does class affect the characters in the story? How is class demonstrated? How rigid is the class system in feudal Japan? What types of struggles are evident because of class?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,108 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample