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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 does Kinshi say it is forbidden to go?

2. What does Okada ask Jiro to do?

3. What does Joman's wife do after he goes to prison?

4. What does Jiro discover when he sneaks into the storehouse?

5. Where is the crest Jiro sees?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in the theater when the play is over and how does the assistant magistrate react?

2. Describe the latest theft Saburo pulls off.

3. How does Jiro arrange the meeting with Okada?

4. How does Kinshi get out of his chores and what do the other boys do?

5. What does Okada tell Jiro and how does Jiro react?

6. Describe the conversation between Okada and Jiro.

7. What does the assistant magistrate first tell Yoshida and what does the assistant magistrate later say?

8. What does Yoshida ask Jiro and then tell Jiro to do?

9. What wakes Jiro in the night and what is the outcome?

10. What happens when the boys are sewing and practicing later that night and how does Yoshida react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes The Master Puppeteer interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Jiro. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Kinshi. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Saburo. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

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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