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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 long does Uragami think the match will take?

2. According to the agreement governing the match, where would the players move to an inn?

3. What does the Master's odd bent position remind Uragami of?

4. What does the Master seem casual about delaying?

5. What does the newspaper offer the Master to play with Otake?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the Master described before his death?

2. Why does Uragami feel touched by seeing the Master in the outbuilding?

3. Why does the Master go into another room with his white stone?

4. What does Uragami associate with the Master and his death?

5. What is the controversy surrounding the match he had with Wu?

6. On the first day of play, what does Otake apologize for and why does he do this?

7. Why is Otake willing to forfeit the game?

8. How does the Master act during the game of go that is revealed in his breathing?

9. What are the events that happen immediately after the end of the match?

10. Why is the Master not a popular opponent?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In The Master of Go, Kawabata's Japanese society shows a conscious appreciation for game playing. What do you think of the game "go" that the Master excels at? Which aspects do you find more or less appealing? How is game playing also associated with power and rebellion?

Essay Topic 2

The Master and Otake are two of the most active characters in the game of go.

Part 1) What is their relationship? How do they co-exist and how do they interact? What is similar about them, and what is different?

Part 2) What are some events that Otake had a direct influence upon? What are some events that The Master had a direct influence upon?

Part 3) Which character offers support or sympathy to people that attempt to play the game of Go and win? Which one is stronger, and why?

Essay Topic 3

The Master of Go is written primarily in the first-person point of view of Uragami. Is this point of view more or less effective than telling the story from the third-persona and omniscient perspective?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 870 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample