View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is Kinshi the next morning?

2. What does Jiro want his mother to do when he sees her in the audience?

3. Why is Kinshi worried about his part in the next performance?

4. What does Jiro worry about concerning his mother?

5. What does Jiro reply to Okada's question?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jiro manage to get Kinshi his role back in the play?

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

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

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

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

6. What does Jiro conclude after seeing the Samurai sword?

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

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

9. How does Joman avoid being executed?

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

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

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 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)

This section contains 1,113 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample