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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 Keiko tell Stephen when they meet at the beach in September of 1938?

2. How does Keiko say her father has brought shame to the family?

3. Who does Sachi say was Matsu's opposite?

4. Who cared for Sachi when she first arrived in Yamaguchi?

5. What is part of the reason that Stephen says that time has slowed to a crawl?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Stephen discover Matsu doing with his father's fishing knife and why is it important?

2. Where is the Kerria plant found and what does it mean?

3. Who is Sumiko?

4. Why is the fishing knife of great importance to Matsu?

5. How does Keiko let Stephen know she is interested in him despite her father?

6. Describe Matsu's behavior at Sachi's house.

7. Discuss Hiro.

8. How does Sachi incorporate flowers in her garden?

9. What does Stephen describe as his memories of Keiko?

10. How does Sachi change after Michiko's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Stephen's budding relationship with Keiko is both exciting and frustrating for him. As their relationship progresses, and Stephen matures, his reaction to Keiko's responses also change. Document the progression of this relationship and explain how Stephen's personal growth and maturity is reflected in his actions and feelings.

Essay Topic 2

Honor is a theme explored in many circumstances and relationships in the Samurai's Garden. In regards to Stephen's parents, their marriage and the way both dealt with the revelation of his father's affair, discuss what it means to be honorable. Give specific examples and explain why you believe that his parents did or did not act honorably in each one. What do you feel they should have, if anything, done differently? What information that you do not have would change your perceptions of them and their actions?

Essay Topic 3

One technique used frequently in this story is to go back in time to fill in the gaps of a character's life or an event. Unlike a flashback where a character recalls an event, characters in this book must tell Stephen their story, or even retell someone else's story.

1) Explain how the story of Michiko might change as Sachi retells it to Stephen.

2) Compare and contrast an event told first hand from Stephen with one told through a retelling.

3) Argue the benefits and drawbacks of the author's decision to use this method of storytelling.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 810 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample