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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 is the Japanese word for a swordsman?

2. What is the name of the priest who takes in Akemi?

3. What is the name of Osugi's brother?

4. What is the name of the Young Master?

5. What does Nikkan tell Musashi he must learn?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Takezo and Matahachi escape the battlefield?

2. How does Musashi find Otsu again?

3. What advice does Nikkan give to Musashi?

4. Why does the blacksmith want to kill Musashi?

5. How does Takuan scare Takezo away from Otsu?

6. How is Matahachi conned out of money in this section?

7. How does Matahachi take advantage of Sasaki Kojiro's death?

8. Describe Matahachi's reunion with his mother?

9. How is Matahachi's mother rude to Takeo's family in this section?

10. Why do the priest say they killed the men?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 2

Why do Muashi and Matachi fall out with each other during the novel? What does it say about there friendship that they eventually reconcile? What does the novel say about friendship in general?

Essay Topic 3

Pick two characters from the book and discuss their goals and motives. Do they achieve their motives? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

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