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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 Taro doing when Jiro talks with him?

2. How is Minoru described?

3. How does Jiro feel about himself in regards to his family?

4. What does Kinshi admire?

5. What is offered for Saburo's capture?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How do some of the attendees feel about the resemblance of Joman to Saburo?

4. What does Jiro discover when he goes to steal the script for the next play?

5. What does the Shogun do about Saburo?

6. What does Yoshida tell Jiro when Jiro presents himself to the man and how does Kinshi reassure Jiro?

7. What do Saburo and his gang do one evening?

8. What do Jiro and Kinshi think of Yoshida's performance?

9. How does Okada respond to Jiro's question?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The samurai were military nobility who followed a strict code of honor called Bushido. This meant that they dedicated their fighting skills to their master and were supposed to serve him honorably, even to the extent of giving their life for his.

1. Do you think having such a strict code of honor could actually make a samurai act dishonorably? Why or why not? Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

2. Discuss, in depth, how fighting and dying for one master might affect a person's character and life. Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

3. After research, explain what is meant by code of honor in feudal Japan. What are some of the rules of the Japanese feudal code of honor? Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

4. How do you think American soldiers might feel about a code of honor based on the Japanese samurai code? Use examples from The Master Puppeteer to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in The Master Puppeteer. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Peterson chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Peterson chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Peterson's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Peterson use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Katherine Peterson.

2. What in Peterson's background may have helped him in writing The Master Puppeteer? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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