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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. How is the play doing as Spring rolls around?

2. What is going to be the entrance fee for a special showing of "The Thief of the Tokaido"?

3. Who is shouting for Yoshida at the gate?

4. What does Yoshida tell the boys to get?

5. Where is the crest Jiro sees?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the latest theft Saburo pulls off.

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

4. Describe the conversation between Okada and Jiro.

5. What is the story that the puppeteer tells Jiro?

6. What does Jiro think about concerning arranging a meeting with Saburo?

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

8. What does Okada tell Tozo after Jiro leaves Okada?

9. How does Jiro discover a Samurai sword?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in The Master Puppeteer. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in The Master Puppeteer. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of class in The Master Puppeteer. Consider the following questions: How does class affect the characters in the story? How is class demonstrated? How rigid is the class system in feudal Japan? What types of struggles are evident because of class?

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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