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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 does Okada admit to Jiro?

2. How does Jiro respond to Yashida's questioning?

3. What does a fishmonger arrive to tell those at the theater?

4. What does Jiro realize about the puppeteer?

5. How does Yoshida praise the assistant magistrate?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Yoshida react when his play is shut down and what does he decide to do?

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

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

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

5. What does Kinshi say to Jiro the next morning?

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

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

8. How does Joman avoid being executed?

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

10. What does Jiro find when he goes into the storeroom and what happens as he trying to decide what to do?

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

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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