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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 does Toranaga leave the palace in Osaka?

2. What does Domingo say about the prisoners in the place where he and Blackthorne are?

3. How is Rodrigues when the galley arrives safely in Osaka?

4. Who does Yokodo tell Toranaga he should marry?

5. How does Kiri divert attention from Toranaga as they make their escape?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Blackthorne want to get on board the Erasmus?

2. After escaping the harbor, when Blackthorne awakes from his exhausted sleep, what does he find Toranaga doing?

3. Why does Buntaro prepare to commit seppuku at the end of a jetty?

4. Describe the change in Toranaga's orders related to Blackthorne after he is removed from prison.

5. How is tension presented in Toranaga's character after meeting Ishido?

6. What are Blackthorne's questions Toranaga tells Mariko not to answer?

7. What prompts Blackthorne to attack Father Sabastio and desecrate his wooden cross?

8. During the galley trip to Osaka, what happens with the weather?

9. What does Blackthorne tell Toranaga at their first meeting that puzzled him?

10. Why does Yabu personally scale the cliffs to rescue Rodrigues?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, Imagine the Worst and Hope for the Best. Using Blackthorne as your example, make your points around Blackthorne's thinking he was going to be executed in prison only to find out that he has been jailed to protect him from Ishido; and his relief at finding the Erasmus in good condition. Translate that into an essay on how often times people expect the worst but find out things have a way of working out.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, Assimilating Another Culture. Using Blackthorne as your example, note the ways in which Blackthorne changes as he comes under the influence of Mariko. Discuss his changing attitudes toward cleanliness, food, and seppuku that help him eventually to become accepted by the Japanese.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typewritten, double spaced pages on the topic, Loyalty in SHÅŒGUN. Using Mariko as your example, show how the code of the samurai is complete loyalty to a Lord. When a mission fails or the samurai is prevented from doing his or her work, the honorable way out is seppuku. Conclude with the extent you think loyalty is important in your life today.

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This section contains 691 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample