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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. When the Master's opponent leaves, who is the only person with him at the inn?

2. What drive does the Master possess despite his reserved nature at times?

3. How many hours does the Master require to play the game of go?

4. What does Uragami believe goes along with the Master?

5. What polite practice does the Master fail to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Uragami describe himself?

2. How does Kawabata frame the novel through Chapters 2 and 4?

3. Why do Uragami and the Master's wife take the Master to the sea in between sessions?

4. How does the Master seem to have trouble understanding the new rules?

5. Why does Uragami think the Master plays with Otake?

6. What are some concessions made for the game that seem very difficult to follow?

7. How are the two players described in the beginning of the book?

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

9. After the judges and reporters and Otake leave the inn, what does Uragami reflect upon?

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

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

What was the importance of avoiding conflict, according to Otake? How was he supportive? How was he distant? How did Otake find himself alone, often? How did his competitiveness affect this? What were his feelings about this? Did this change over time? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Kawabata uses more than one iteration on the motif of socialism. Identify at least two motifs about socialism and workers' rights in the book. Then, cite an example to support each answer.

(see the answer keys)

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