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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 are two exports the United States is hoping to gain from Japan?

2. When could the Dutch leave the island?

3. What did the rulers deliberately preserve in Japan?

4. What does Commodore Perry have for the Emperor from President Fillmore?

5. What did Commodore Perry pretend to be?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was one consequence of the Japanese's isolation for the Americans?

2. Who did the Americans awaken to see the next morning and what would they be considered today?

3. What were some of Commodore Perry's accomplishments in addition to convincing the Japanese to receive him?

4. What did the native Japanese who served the Dutch have to do?

5. Who is Nakajima and what does he tell the Americans and what was Perry's response?

6. Who were the daimyos?

7. What was one consequence of the Japanese's isolation for the Japanese?

8. What percentage of Japanese were farmers and what was their life like?

9. Describe the scene as the ships steamed into the harbor.

10. What happened after Shogun Ieyasu died?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Getting the most out of this novel requires some familiarity with the Japanese culture. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. How homogenized was the Japanese nation at time of Comodore Perry's visits to Japan? What are some of their common beliefs? How do the Japanese live in today's world? What is the predominant religion of Japan? Is there more than one major religion? Was the Japanese culture patriarchal at the time of Perry's visit? Is it now?

3. How does the Japanese culture inform the plot and actions of Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun? Give examples.

4. Compare and contrast the cultures of two Oriental countries either at the time of Perry's arrival or as they are in the current era.

Essay Topic 2

The Industrial Revolution is mentioned a number of times in the novel Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the level of technology present in Japan to the level present in the United States in the mid-1800s.

2. Research and discuss the technological inventions that amazed the Japanese people: These include the steam engine, telegraph, camera, telescope, rifles and folding ladder. When was each invented? How different was the invention then compared to a similar thing today? Are any of the "new" inventions from that time no longer in use now? Which ones? Why are they no longer in use?

3. The Shogunate deliberately kept Japan from becoming industrialized through keeping Japan isolated. Discuss why you think the Shogunate made this decision.

Essay Topic 3

Many authors if queried would admit that they have an agenda for writing a particular novel. Discuss the following:

1. Define and give examples of the concept of "author agenda."

2. Do you think Blumbeg has an agenda in mind when she writes Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun?

3. What do you think would be Blumberg's agenda(s) (if she has one)? Give examples to illustrate how the agenda is fulfilled.

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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