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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. Where are Hanji and Isako?

2. What does Isako not let Jiro do?

3. What does Jiro ask Mochida?

4. What is Teiji's problem?

5. What does Kinshi admire?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the basic plot of the play?

3. What does Jiro offer to about the new play and what is the outcome?

4. What does Jiro hope about his father and what is the outcome?

5. How does Jiro help his father and how does this help his family?

6. Who does Jiro find at the house when he gets home and what does Jiro learn from him?

7. Where does Jiro and his father sell their puppets?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of The Master Puppeteer and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why The Master Puppeteer is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Jiro and Kinshi. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Saburo and Kinshi. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in The Master Puppeteer help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

The Master Puppeteer belongs to the youth historical fiction genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the youth historical fiction genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a youth historical fiction and a historical novel mystery?

(see the answer keys)

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