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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 was one of the characteristics of this era in question #73?

2. When did the Shogun end relations with the Spanish and Portuguese?

3. Why couldn't the Japanese surround the ships?

4. How is the place where the enormous ships appear described?

5. What do many historians think of Manjiro's influence?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the Dutch's visit to Edo to see the head Shogun.

2. Who commanded the American forces and why did they come to Japan?

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

4. Who were the lower classes in the cities and what was one advantage to their class?

5. Why did the Dutch submit to the rigid restrictions of the Japanese?

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

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

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

9. What were some negative aspects of the Tokugawa period?

10. Describe the life of the Dutch who resided in Deshima.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One major theme of Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun is that of the meeting of two dissimilar cultures and how the two cultures evolved to signing a treaty of mutual benefit. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast some of the major cultural differences between the Americans and Japanese. Consider differences in the area of food, art, gender, and warfare.

2. The Japanese and the Americans each thought the other group barbaric. Discuss the term barbaric and analyze the ways in which each group applied the word to the other. Is either group accurate in naming the other barbaric? Discuss with examples.

3. Discuss the advantages of two cultures having a mutual exchange of ideas, trade and military support.

4. Discuss the disadvantages of two cultures having a mutual exchange of ideas, trade and military support.

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Commodore Perry is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Commodore Perry demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Commodore Perry's character flaws, and explain how the flaws help or hinder his obtaining his objectives.

3. After analyzing Commodore Perry's strengths and weaknesses, decide if he is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?Can an historical fiction have a plot?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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