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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. Who is waiting for Musashi when he leaves the castle?

2. Who does Matahachi watch being killed?

3. Which two characters threaten to kill Musashi?

4. Who does Takezo search for once he is safety out of the town?

5. Where does Akemi go to steal from the corpses?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Musashi find Otsu again?

3. How does Jo's father show his torment in this section?

4. What advice does Nikkan give to Musashi?

5. What signs are there that stealing from corpses is becoming a lucrative business?

6. How does Oko prepare for Tsujikaze's visit?

7. Describe Matahachi's reunion with his mother?

8. How does Akemi try to kill herself?

9. Why is Musashi initially ridiculed?

10. Why do Osugi and Gon want to kill Musashi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the books work as a series? Why did Eiji Yoshikawa decided to write a series of books instead of just one? How does Eiji Yoshikawa develop the story and character throughout the series?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following and discuss how it affects the tone of the book and helps to express character and theme:

1. Setting

2. Point of view

3. Structure

4. Language

Essay Topic 3

Aside from the main characters, examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 680 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample