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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. What is wrong with Hanji?

2. What does Jiro ask Mochida?

3. What happens to the snipe?

4. What does Jiro say to Yoshida?

5. About what has Yoshida just sent word?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jiro make mistakes and how does his mother react?

2. What do the authorities and merchant's guild offer?

3. How does Jiro practice puppeteering skills?

4. What does Jiro decide to do and why does he make this decision?

5. Where do Jiro and his father go and spend their money, and who do they talk to there?

6. How does Jiro being rude earn him an apprenticeship?

7. What does the Shogun do about Saburo?

8. What play does Okada finish and what do the apprentices worry about concerning the new play?

9. How do Jiro and the other boys feel about Jiro's assignment?

10. What does Jiro admire about one of Yoshida's apprentices?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by The Master Puppeteer. Questions that Peterson most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Peterson' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Peterson' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Peterson and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 2

Jiro's father wants Jiro to be able to help make puppets so they can earn a living, but he also wants Jiro to learn a skill that will help him in later life. Jiro tries his best and feels embarrassed and upset when he makes mistakes. He loves both his parents, but feels a little despairing of ever earning his mother's love. He thinks his mother resents the fact that he was even born, as his elder siblings died. He thinks that his mother would have preferred her other children to survive and Jiro to die. This makes him very sad, but also a little resentful of his mother.

1. Discuss the ways in which Jiro's father might be able to help him with his lack of skill. Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

2. Discuss the ways in which Jiro's mother responds to him that might be responsible for him believing she does not love him. Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

3. Discuss why Jiro would feel both sad and resentful about his mother. Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Master Puppeteer is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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