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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 Saburo's gang convince a merchant that the merchant is under arrest?

2. What does Mochida ask Jiro the next morning?

3. What does Kinshi say he has to do?

4. To whom does Jiro think it would be best to talk?

5. What does the Samurai tell Yoshida?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the assistant magistrate first tell Yoshida and what does the assistant magistrate later say?

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

3. What happens in the theater when the play is over and how does the assistant magistrate react?

4. Describe the latest theft Saburo pulls off.

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

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

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

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

9. How does Jiro discover a Samurai sword?

10. How does Jiro manage to get Kinshi his role back in the play?

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

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

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