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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 did Matahachi expect the officials to punish him?

2. What is the the name of the samurai for whom Geki wants Musashi to work?

3. What does Kojiro say he is interested in serving?

4. Who does Musashi want to tell about the dead bodies on the hillside?

5. What do Musashi and Iori build in this chapter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Kojiro motivation for becoming a samurai?

2. Why does Ichinomiya want to kill Matahachi?

3. What does Jo admit under questioning from Takuan?

4. How does Daizo con Matahachi in this section?

5. How does Musashi test Sannosuke's skills?

6. Why do Matahachi and Osugi want to claim a lock of Musashi's hair?

7. Why is Matahachi trying to throw the gun away?

8. What has happened in the fight between Seijuro and Musashi?

9. Why is Musashi happy he is not accepted to an official position?

10. Why does Musashi agree to stay with Yoshino at her teahouse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the main turning points of the book? How does Yoshikawa develop his story to get to each turning point? What happens to the story after a major turning point?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's themes?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 665 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample