The Samurai’s Garden
Comprehension / Vocabulary
Name:
Date:
Humanities’ Teacher Name:
Directions: For each passage
listed: explain why it is important,
how it connects to other ideas or
characters (or even other novels).
How does it further move the theme
of our novel forward? Identify and
explain any symbolism, metaphor or
simile as well. Answer all questions,
if provided.
Pages 3-30
“The two women monitored my every move, as if I might wilt away right before their eyes. That’s
how they looked at me sometimes, as though I were already dead” (Tsukiyama 3). WHY?
“In some ways I can’t help thinking my time in Tarumi will be a quiet resembling death”
(Tsukiyama 3). What literary technique might this be? How does it connect to the previous passage?
“... my only solace in being exiled to Tarumi was that I would have more time for my painting”
(Tsukiyama 6). Why does Stephen use the word “exile”? For what exactly has he been exiled?
“... I had thought about being completely alone ... I could only breathe in both the fear and
attraction of facing the unknown” (Tsukiyama 7). Explain how he feels.
“He seems the type of man who’s more comfortable alone ... “ (Tsukiyama 9).
How does Matsu “match” Stephen’s mental and physical state?
Matsu’s garden - DRAW it!
“Stepping through the bamboo gate, I found myself in the garden. The sweet
perfumes were immediately intoxicating. A silk tree, still heavy with summer
blossoms, and two large black pine trees shaded the house. An oval-shaped pond, with
hints of movement that flashed orange and silver beneath its surface, dominated one side of
the garden. It was surrounded by pale green moss. A wooden bridge arched across its width,
and lines of odd-shaped, water worn stones created two paths, one leading through the
secluded garden right up to the front door, while the other disappeared around the back of
the house. White sand formed soft beds in the crevices” (Tsukiyama 9-10).
“It’s harder than I imagined to be alone. I suppose I might get used to it, like an empty canvas
you slowly begin to fill” (Tsukiyama 13). Of what is the canvas a symbol?
“Let’s just assume he has found some sort of peace here in Tarumi, and leave it at that” (Tsukiyama
22). How and why would Matsu find peace? Why don’t they know for sure?
“It looked as if they were all wearing monstrous masks that I kept waiting for them to remove”
(Tsukiyama 25). Explain the imagery of MASKS.
“While the left side of her face had been devastated, the unblemished right
side was the single most beautiful face I’d ever seen” (Tsukiyama 27). Why is
there such a contrast in one person? Explain.
“Yes, Tarumi can be a cure for some, and a refuge for others” (Tsukiyama 28).
Discuss the concept of REFUGE.
“ ‘Why did you take me with you to Yamaguchi?’
Matsu slowed, then turned to face me before he answered, ‘So you would know that you’re
not alone’” (Tsukiyama 30). HOW is Stephen not alone? How is he similar to those in Yamaguchi?
Vocabulary:
Using the vocabulary from its context, match the correct definition to each word.
bereft(4)
loitering (5)
solace(6)
disheveled
unkempt (12)
exuberant (26)
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bereft
loitering
solace
disheveled
unkempt
exuberant
“Then at the pier in Kowloon, my mother and Pie looked BEREFT, too as they waved
good-bye.”
“... but except for small groups of soldiers LOITERING in public places...”
“... my only SOLACE in being exiled to Tarumi was that I would have more time for my
painting.”
“I look down to see my DISHEVELED appearance: wavy UNKEMPT hair, dark
hollow eyes, the thin face with flushed cheeks ... “
“I’d never seen Matsu so EXUBERANT and was curious to see who lived there.”
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
comfort, consolation
messy, sloppy, slatternly
cheerful, buoyant, enthusiastic
messy, sloppy, slatternly (*same as B!)
dawdling, hanging around for no purpose
sad, destitute, deprived, lacking
Japanese Words:
Directions: Using the vocabulary from its context, match the correct definition to each word.
cheungsam (3)
sukiyaki (5)
-san (8)
genken (10)
tatami (10)
shoji (12)
tokonomas (12)
zabuton (12)
“... my mother stood in her green silk cheungsam ...”
“We will see that Michiyo makes her sukiyaki tonight”
“ ‘ Yes, and you’re Matsu-san ?’ “
“We proceeded through to the genken, the entrance room ...”
“... the delicacy of the tatami mats lining the floor inside.”
“... two rooms on each side, separated by thin shoji walls, whose paper
screens slide open to expose each room ...”
“There are two small recesses which I remember are called tokonomas, one
where a simple scroll painting hangs with a basket of dried flowers...”
“... sliding doors that hide the zabuton cushions which are taken out for
guests to sit on.”
udon (14)
“I quickly ate the bowl of cold udon noodles and fish cake he had left...”
konnichiwa (26) “ ‘This is Stephen-san ... ‘ ‘Konnichiwa,’ I said smiling and bowing... “
Domo arigato(28) ” ‘ You are always welcome’ ... I bowed, and said, ‘Domo arigato gozaimasu.’”
___
A. a soup with noodles, vegetables and meats
___
B. a small cushion
___
C. a sign of respect and honor
___
D. a long silk sheath dress, tunic
___
E. wheat noodles used in sukiyaki
___
F. thank you
___
G. paper doors or walls
___
H. a small cut out for religious objects
___
I. entryway to the house where one exchanges
outside shoes for inside slippers
___
J. straw mats that cover the floor
___
K. hello
Pages 30-61
“The garden is a world filled with secrets. Slowly, I see more each day” (Tsukiyama 31). What ARE the
secrets? What does he see each day? Of whom is this symbolic?
“I painted a little today, then stopped. The painting’s almost complete and part of me wants to save
it, savor the last few strokes like precious drops of water” (Tsukiyama 33). Why does he stop? What
is he “savoring”? Symbolism?
“Everything seemed in perfect focus. The air carried a sharp coolness to it,
awakening me” (Tsukiyama 34). What is in focus? To what is Stephen awakening?
Sachi’s Garden - Kare sansui - DRAW it!
“I followed Matsu as he walked down a stone path which led around the side of the house to the back. He
swung open a tall bamboo gate and stepped to the side, allowing me to enter first. In place of the greens,
browns, and flashes of color which punctuated Matsu’s garden, the spareness of Sachi’s garden stunned me.
There were no trees, flowers, or water, only a landscape made of sand, stones, rocks, and some pale green
moss which covered the shaded areas. I took a few minutes to take it all in. On the rugged, sloping earth,
Sachi had created mountains from arranged rocks, surrounded by gravel and elongated stones flowing down like
a rocky stream leading to a lake or the sea. The flat surface of water was formed by smooth round pebbles,
raked in straight and encircling lines to suggest whirlpools and waves ... a dry landscape ... kare sansui ...
Once again I was taken aback by the simplicity of her world -- elegant and uncluttered ... (Tsukiyama 40-41).
“ ‘ He showed me that life is not just from within, it extends all around you, whether you wish
it to or not. And so, this garden has become a part of my life’ ... Her garden was a mixture of
beauty and sadness, the rocks and stones an illusion of movement. What could she possibly
have done to deserve such a fate? “(Tsukiyama 43). How does life extend? Explain the illusion
of movement. SYMBOLISM?
“I completed the painting of the garden this morning. Finishing it was like saying good-bye to
my family again and being cast adrift on some endless sea; I felt that empty” (Tsukiyama 44).
Why DID he paint the garden? Why is a painting “family”? Why is he empty? Symbolism?
“ ‘At that time,’ Matsu paused in thought, ‘it was easier for Sachi to see someone she didn’t
care for’ “ (Tsukiyama 49). WHY would it be easier? (Matsu, Kenzo, Sachi, Tomoko) Link to Stephen?
“I wanted to cry. My mother was wrong. I didn’t feel old enough to understand any of it”
(Tsukiyama 51). What is happening to Stephen? Why? Why does his mother even ask this of him?
“The wind started to blow harder by late afternoon. I sat at my grandfather’s desk trying to
write a letter back to my mother when I heard the angry wind whistling through the house. It
rattled the shoji walls and shook the floor beneath me ... ‘A big storm is coming’ ... It began
raining and the wind had increased so we could barely walk straight. I couldn’t imagine Matsu
having to do this by himself ... I could hear the ocean rise up and crash against the road in front
of the house ... It seemed like the storm would last forever, as it steadily grew in strength. The
wind and rain continued, and the noise of the violent sea was deafening ... Just then the first
wave crashed over the fence, drenching us ... The next wave was even more powerful, and the one
after that roared over the bamboo gate so fast and strong that neither of us had the chance
to hang on ... I could hear Matsu yelling to me, but he sounded strangely far away, like we were
already lost, deep under the water” (Tsukiyama 52-53).
EXPLAIN the symbolism of this passage.* Use the underlined
phrases to aid you in this task.
EXPLAIN the symbolism of this passage.* Use the underlined
phrases
aid should
you in this
task. (Tsukiyama 59). What happens
“Perhaps Sachi is right, the door
to thetopast
be closed”
if one closes the door on the past? What has happened to our characters?
What is your favorite part of the novel so far? Why?
Vocabulary: Using the vocabulary from its context, match the correct definition to each word.
instill (31)
seductive (31)
daub (32)
lacquer (32)
inaudible (33)
inquisitive (35)
apparitions (36)
captivated (37)
savoring (39)
spareness (40)
intrigue (42)
brusquely (49)
tsunami (54)
infidelity (55)
noncommittal (57)
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___
___
___
instill
seductive
daub
lacquer
inaudible
inquisitive
apparitions
captivated
savoring
spareness
intrigue
brusquely
tsunami
infidelity
noncommittal
“... she had INSTILLed a sense of richness and mystery in Tarumi.“
“... there’s something very SEDUCTIVE about what Matsu has created.”
“... I squeezed out large DAUBs of blue and yellow onto a wooden tray ...”
“Under the LACQUER cover was a bowl of noodles sprinkled with green onions...”
“... then, mumble some INAUDIBLE words to the plant.”
“She eyed me with a shy, yet INQUISITIVE glance.”
“I was frightened by these APPARITIONS, though they always approached me...”
“ ‘Were you so CAPTIVATED by them?’ “
“ ‘It’s very good,’ I said, SAVORING its smoky taste.”
“... the SPARENESS of Sachi’s garden stunned me.”
“ ‘It’s wonderful,’ I said, even more INTRIGUED than the first time I’d seen it.”
“Matsu gestured BRUSQUELY for me to wait while he went to collect the mail.”
“ ‘ You were knocked out when you were thrown against the house by a wave.
It felt stronger than a TSUNAMI ..’ ”
“My vivid recollection of the storm quickly gave way to the letter from my mother, my
father’s INFIDELITY ... “
“I asked him to mail a short, NONCOMMITTAL letter I had written...”
A. curious, inquiring, probing, questioning
B. illusion, phantasm, ghost, specter
C. a huge tidal wave usually created by an underwater earthquake
D. not willing to make a choice or take a stand one way or the other
E. meager, scant, bare, sparse
F. abruptly , quickly , bluntly
G. enigma, confidence, secret
H. provocative , stimulating, appealing (sexy)
I. not faithful
J. highly polished, a high sheen
K. a blob of paint, a splotch
L. relishing, cherishing, tasting
M. ingrain, impart, inculcate
N. captured, caught
O. can’t be heard
Pages 60-92
Why is this section of the novel called “Autumn,” pages 3-70? Why do you suppose the other
sections labeled as they are: “Winter” pages 73-113, “Spring” pages 159, and “Summer” pages
163-211?
“I realized how good she must feel, to live a normal life and not have to hide among the
wounded” (Tsukiyama 62). Who is hiding among the wounded? Who all is wounded?
Sachi “provided a deep richness that made the garden almost hum...” (Tsukiyama 62). Why?
“It was only then that I realized they might enjoy not having me around”(Tsukiyama 62).
EXPLAIN.
Stephen to Keiko “I hope you didn’t have to rush ...” (Tsukiyama 63). What is he SAYING?
“ ‘It’s a reminder of the strength we all have within us.” (Tsukiyama 64) yin and yang?
“Kenzo said, ‘You really are a monster!’ ‘(Tsukiyama 67). WHO is a monster?
“ ‘He’s ashamed of his weakness ...’ “ (Tsukiyama 69). Matsu about Kenzo & Sachi
Why does weakness bring shame? Explain.
“The garden has once again become his refuge ... It’s there that Matsu
becomes the artist ...” (Tsukiyama 73). Why is Matsu an “artist”? LINK?
“Every time my lungs ached, it was a reminder that I was also hidden away ...” (Tsukiyama 74).
HOW is Stephen hidden away? What ELSE is hidden?
“... a matted white web, stretched from her chin to her eye. Part of her nose was eaten away
and there was a small depression near her mouth ... I could still see her youthful beauty ... I
had known from the moment I met her that she was very attractive” (Tsukiyama 76). EXPLAIN.
“... spare clarity of her garden ... The weight of the stones pulled against each stroke and left a
distinct feeling of strength and permanence” (Tsukiyama 77). EXPLAIN.
“Even Tomoko joked about his silence. ‘Matsu is like a mountain,’ she would say, ‘nothing will
ever move him’ “ (Tsukiyama 79). WHAT can “move” Matsu?
Sachi “ ‘I was never brave with my dreams’ “ (Tsukiyama 79). EXPLAIN.
Sachi “ ‘I believe that Matsu always had an inner strength, even as a young boy. Some are born
that way, perhaps’ “ (Tsukiyama 80). DISCUSS inner strength. Who has it?
Stephen’s father about Stephen’s mother “ ‘A Japanese woman would never do such a thing’ “
(Tsukiyama 83). Why does he say this? To what does it connect?
“I was old enough to understand everything he said, but as his mouth softly formed the words,
I knew the sense of integrity I had long admired in him had died, and that I was already grieving
for its loss” (Tsukiyama 85). How do kids usually see their parents? How does Stephen here?
Stephen’s father to Stephen “ ‘Nothing will change, Stephen. Nothing’ “ (Tsukiyama 85).
DISCUSS the “truth” of this statement.
“... I knew I’d failed both of my parents” (Tsukiyama 86). Why does Stephen feel this way? Is it
his fault?
“There’s still a lot you don’t know about me” (Tsukiyama 87). To what is Matsu alluding?
“... I felt embarrassed doing something so foreign” (Tsukiyama 90).
Explain FOREIGN. Why else might Stephen be feeling this way?
Have you ever felt uncomfortable doing something different?
“I thought it might be necessary for you to come here [Tama Shrine]” (Tsukiyama 90). Why?
“It was the anger speaking, not the man ... It is sad to think that sometimes one person’s happiness must come at the
expense of others” (Tsukiyama 91). List all the characters
whose happiness has come at the expense of others.
“Then we will have to leave it to the strength of our history together”(Tsukiyama 92).
Explain the quote and the history to which the novel refers. .
Vocabulary:
Using the vocabulary from its context, match the correct definition to each word.
vigorous (74)
“I’d done nothing more VIGOROUS than to help clean up Matsu’s garden”
pungent (74)
“There was a PUNGENT smell of boiling herbs ... “
clarity (77)
“... to the spare CLARITY of the garden.”
indiscretion (77)
“I had blocked out what my father’s INDISCRETION really meant to my mother.”
impeccably (82)
“... he sat IMPECCABLY dressed in a dark gray suit ...”
fedora (82)
“... with a matching FEDORA on the floor beside him.”
carnage (85)
“The CARNAGE of death and destruction left my father speechless.”
ravage (85)
“... Japan continued to RAVAGE our homeland.”
sulk (86)
“I couldn’t help but SULK. I ate solemnly ...”
Shinto (87)
“ ‘It’s a SHINTO shrine ...’ “
lintel (88)
“Each one was simply made of two upright wooden posts, with a LINTEL across the top
which extended past the upright posts and was carved into the slight curve of a smile.”
deity (89)
“It housed what Matsu told me was the fox DEITY; the kami, Inari.”
conspirator (91)
“I grew angry at the thought that he might even be a CONSPIRATOR in what my father had
been doing.”
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___
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___
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vigorous
pungent
clarity
indiscretion
impeccably
fedora
carnage
ravage
sulk
Shinto
lintel
deity
conspirator
A. mistake, blunder, folly (sexual in this case)
B. a man’s dress hat with a brim
C. pout, brood, mope, scowl
D. a religion that honors nature and our part in it
E. strong smell, spicy
F. loot, pillage, destroy, demolish
G. a wooden cross piece above a doorway or archway
H. god, divinity, idol
I. accomplice, accessory, partner
J. robust, strong, feisty, lively
K. massacre, slaughter, holocaust, genocide, bloodbath
L. faultless, immaculate, exquisite, perfect
M. lucidity, clearness, purity, plainness
Pages 92-130
“I began to feel somehow even the air we breathed was different” (Tsukiyama 93). What does
Stephen mean? How can the air be different?
“He wouldn’t let anyone else touch his friend” (Tsukiyama 99). Why? What parallel is there to
Things Fall Apart. Who is Obierika?
“It is futile for the Chinese to resist any longer. They should simply surrender to the kindness
of the Japanese army and all will be well. For some reason, Matsu made no attempt to turn
the radio down ...” (Tsukiyama 101). Why DOESN’T he turn the radio down here when he has in
the past?
“... Tomoko spread the rumor that it was Kenzo who had saved Sachi, even though he had been
carrying the shrine all the time ... It’s sometimes easier to believe what everyone else believes”
(Tsukiyama 104). WHY?!
“... could never leave the memory of her. I was honored to be his friend and hold his secrets. I
never meant to betray him ... In the end, it was he and I who were so much alike: faithful to the
same woman for all these years” (Tsukiyama 104). What do you think of Kenzo? What IS
love? Friendship?
“... it was with a look so full of hate I simply bowed my head and walked quickly away ... if I were
Japanese, would I still be feeling such hostility from him?” (Tsukiyama 110-111). Why DOES
Keiko’s father hate
TheStephen?
Rape of Why doesn’t he “get” it?
Nanking/Nanjing
“Mah-mee is afraid of all these poor and starving refugees pouring into Hong Kong from China,
and prefers that we stay at a safe distance” (Tsukiyama 117). Define Mah-mee? Pie? Stephen?
“ ‘Bravery is when you step in to help when you have nothing to lose.” Sachi
‘We had more to lose than you could know’ ” Matsu (Tsukiyama 123). EXPLAIN.
“Sometimes you can’t let go of the past without facing it again” (Tsukiyama 130). Is this
TRUE? What has happened because the people involved DID NOT face their pasts?
Vocabulary: Using the vocabulary from its context, match the correct definition to each word.
melancholy (93) “I put down the letter and immediately felt MELANCHOLY for the life I once knew in
Honglarge
Kong.”
“There, between two
rocks, grew a neat cluster of blooming
prosperity
(96)
“
‘Each
tree
of blue-purple
PROSPERITY,
purity,
LONGEVITY,
and loyalty.’ “
flowers, startlingly beautiful,isasymbolic
splash of
rising
out
of a
longevity
(96)of leaves,
“ ‘Each
tree is symbolic
of among
PROSPERITY,
purity,
LONGEVITY,
green patch
somehow
thriving
the muted,
gray
stones” and loyalty.’ “
(Tsukiyama 127). What is the METAPHOR here? What
relinquished
(107) “Keiko
hesitated,
other connections
can you
make? then RELINQUISHED the basket and bowed...”
exasperate (108) “ ‘What are you afraid of? I just want to help you carry the basket home,’ I said
EXASPERATED.
implore (110)
“... I again saw those same dark eyes IMPLORING me to let her go...”
submissively (110) “I could see her mother nodding SUBMISSIVELY.”
devoid (124)
“It was clean and spare, DEVOID of even the simplest luxuries ...”
___
melancholy
A. annoy, aggravate, vex, pique
___
prosperity
B. empty
___
longevity
C. mournful, moody, gloomy, sad
___
relinquished
___
exasperate
E. living a long time
___
implore
F. gave up, let go
___
submissively
G. entreat, beseech, beg, plead
___
devoid
H. wealth, affluence, fortune
D. obediently, compliantly
Pages 131 - 159
Sachi “ ‘Ko ... it was an obligation, the supreme duty of a child to adhere to one’s parents’ “
(Tsukiyama 131). Discuss the cultural differences/similarities here.
“ ‘Chrysanthemums,’ he finally mumbled” (Tsukiyama 131). EXPLAIN imagery.
“ ‘... how far she could go with her beauty. ‘ ” (Tsukiyama 133) Sachi about Tomoko
“ ‘Matsu never seemed to be afraid of the disease, nor any of us here in Yamaguchi’ ”
(Tsukiyama 135). Can beauty take one far? Why is Matsu not afraid? What does he value?
“... a look both of fear and betrayal” (Tsukiyama 136). How is he betrayed? Why afraid?
“ ‘In the end, he did stay with me in his own way, the only way he knew how’ ”(Tsukiyama 136).
EXPLAIN.
“ ‘I ran away from Tarumi, as if it were the one diseased’ ” (Tsukiyama 137). Why would she
think this? - seppuku at the beach
“ ‘ It takes greater courage to live’ ”(Tsukiyama 139). HOW SO?
“ ‘I know now that there are rare people who will help you carry your
burdens through this life’ “ (Tsukiyama 139). EXPLAIN.
DESCRIBE the first nights in Yamaguchi and Michiko’s story (Tsukiyama 141)
Sumiko / pearl diver / Kuniko (Tsukiyama 145) What is the significance of this story?
“ ‘I learned that there were greater losses than mine’ “ (Tsukiyama 148).
Sachi working on house with Matsu “ ‘ ... beauty exists where you least expect to find it’ “
(Tsukiyama 149). DEFINE beauty.
“ ‘It will be a garden created from your
imagination’ “(Tsukiyama 150). WHY imagination?
“ ‘I knew its beauty would appear if we worked hard enough’ “ (Tsukiyama 150). PARALLELS
here?
“ ‘ ... father’s fishing knife ... spinning grindstone ... It was my father’s fishing knife...’ “
(Tsukiyama 155,158). What is the symbolism?
Vocabulary: Using the vocabulary from its context, match the correct definition to each word.
sullen (132)
accomplice (133)
incubating (136)
penance (139)
humility (148)
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___
___
___
___
“... would tease her for being so SULLEN”
“... and I was always willing to be her ACCOMPLICE”
“It must have been INCUBATING for years before it showed its face ...”
“... telling me it was because these people were doing PENANCE for a wrong
they had one in a past life.”
“If I hadn’t learned HUMILITY before then, from that day on I knew what
the word meant.”
sullen
accomplice
incubating
penance
humility
B.
C.
D.
E.
A. modesty, “lack of pride” or shyness
maintained at proper conditions in order to thrive
conspirator, accessory, partner
brooding, surly, morose, glum
atonement, reconciliation, remorse
Pages 163 - 191
Stephen meets Keiko at the Tama Shrine / falls asleep - EXPLAIN.
Hiro dies (Tsukiyama 164) How does this further the story line?
“I knew I’d never be able to step back into my comfortable past” (Tsukiyama 165). Why? Who
else hasn’t been able to step back into a comfortable past?
“ ... small cracks in his armor, grief in the curve of his back and shoulders” (Tsukiyama 167). How
is this possible if Matsu is a “samurai”? What is different between Matsu and Stephen’s parents?
“... death had subtracted another person from his life” (Tsukiyama 168). Why mathematical?
Father’s visit - “Everything was dignified and logical than I thought. There was a distinct
finality to it that caught me off balance” (Tsukiyama 169). EXPLAIN.
Plum Rains or “Baiu” (Tsukiyama 170) Explore the metaphor.
Why is this section, p. 163-170, called “Summer”?
Compare the relationship between Stephen and Pie (brother and sister) to Matsu and Fumiko (brother
and sister)
What is the symbolism of the O-bon Festival ? The IRONIES?
Why could (or why did) Matsu keep Sachi a “secret”?
Compare the gravestones in Japan to those in China. Why is there such a difference?
“ ‘ They usually only bloom one week in the spring. It is a sign of good luck to see blossoms
this late in the year’ ‘” (Tsukiyama 185). EXPLAIN the metaphor, connections.
The haiku on the dedication page:
No one spoke,
The host, the guest,
The white chrysanthemums.
-- Ryota
Why does Stephen feel like a “spectator”? “The worst part of being sick was the fatigue, a
weakness that set me apart from the rest, which left me nothing more than a spectator” (Tsukiyama
186) .
What is the importance of Keiko’s brother dying in May in Hsuchowfu? (Tsukiyama 188)
SCARS ... who and what kind? “The madness of war destroyed much more than just the soldiers
fighting in it. It picked apart everything in its way, so that no one escaped its clutches. Not
even someone as decent and humane as Keiko would be left without scars” (Tsukiyama 188).
WHY does Stephen think of Keiko and remember COLORS? “For me, I can still see the colors of Keiko;
the black of her hair against creamy pale skin, her dark blue kimono with white circles, the deep orange
persimmons falling from the brown basket she carried. The ache in my heart grows larger every time I think
of these colors, and how as each day passes they continue to fade from my eyes” (Tsukiyama 189).
“At that moment I saw him [Matsu] for what he was: the master of the house”(Tsukiyama 190).
What does Stephen realize for the first time here? What do YOU see?
Explain Ching’s story “... because, without us, she might have simply
drifted away with nothing to hold her down ... “ (Tsukiyama 191).
Pages 192 - 211 (end)
“... how sometimes you must cut away something in order to make it grow back
stronger” (Tsukiyama 193). Explain what this means. To whom does it apply and why?
King, Stephen’s friend “ ‘ ... do you remember Vivian Hong? The pretty girl from primary
school? She was killed last week when a bomb hit the apartment building she was in. It makes you
realize just how fragile we all are’ “(Tsukiyama 196). Why is it important that Stephen can’t picture
her?
Tokyo / Imperial Palace / soldiers (Tsukiyama 199) What happens here? Why is it important?
“The night before, I had dreamt about Sachi. She was wrapped in bandages, sick, and all alone.
and though she cried out for help, no one came. I wanted to know where Matsu was. But I could
only feel afraid for her, without any voice that could be heard in a dream” (Tsukiyama 203). What
does Stephen’s DREAM mean?
“Sachi came down from Yamaguchi to be with us this afternoon ... she had
come down for Matsu” (Tsukiyama 207). WHY?
“I don’t think anyone else could have done a better job of taking care of me ... [Stephen]
‘ I sometimes think it has been the other way around’ ” [Matsu] (Tsukiyama 208).
Explain the symbolism of the daruma doll. (Tsukiyama 209)
“The road was empty, but this time Keiko had really been there. Attached to the gate was a
single pressed white blossom” (Tsukiyama 210). SYMBOLISM?
“But instead of bowing back, I waited for Matsu to stand straight again before I put my arms
around him in a hug. For a moment, he simply stood there frozen, but I didn’t back away until
I felt him lift his arms around me” (Tsukiyama 211). WHY is this such a strange activity? WHY
does Stephen do this?
Matsu’s gift, the journal - why? Why a self-reflective, introspective novel? (Tsukiyama 211)
Do you like the ending? Why or why not? How else could it have ended?
Vocabulary: Using
thehave
vocabulary
its context,
match
theyears
correct
definition
to each word.
“ ‘You
been thefrom
musuko
we lost so
many
ago’
“ (Tsukiyama
205). What is a musuko and why is it important?
irrevocably (153) “... had been IRREVOCABLY set apart by the suffering she had endured...”
sovereignty (157) “... don’t forget that we in Hong Kong are under British SOVEREIGNTY.”
jasmine (165)
“... mixed with Keiko’s JASMINE scent.”
convalescing (186) “While CONVALESCING at home, I was always a room away from
laughter.”
profusely (189) “... I was sweating PROFUSELY, my futon and pillow damp...”
morbid (194)
“I tried not to think of anything MORBID as I made my way down the path...”
amulets(201)
“making senninbari, AMULETS made from embroidered material...”
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
irrevocably
sovereignty
jasmine
convalescing
profusely
morbid
amulets
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
extravagantly, copiously, extremely
recuperating, recovering, improving
irreparable, unalterable, permanent
macabre, funereal, dismal, gruesome
talisman, fetish, charm
power, dominion, regime, government
yellow lemon colored flower - very pungent
Daruma doll
The Samurai’s Garden
Final TEST
Name:
Date:
__ out of 100 points
Humanities
I. Characters. Match each character with his/her description. (15 points)
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
1. Stephen
2. Matsu
3. Sachi
4. Keiko
5. Pie
6. Kenzo
7. Ba-ba
8. King
9. Hiro
10. Mah-mee
11. Tomoko
12. Michiko
13. Ching
14. Fumiko
15. Mika
A. Matsu’s older sister
B. sister of the narrator’s “girlfriend”
C. narrator’s mother
D. narrator’s university friend
E. narrator’s father
F. first inhabitant of Yamaguchi
G. narrator’s “girlfriend”
H. narrator’s housekeeper in China
I. victim of leprosy who is still exceptionally beautiful
J. a pearl diver who lost her daughter because of her leprosy
K. narrator of the novel
L. Tarumi beach house caretaker
M. Matsu’s younger sister
N. narrator’s younger sister
O. hangs himself
II. Symbols. Match each symbol with its significance. (10 points)
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
1. chrysanthemums
2. painting
3. silence
4. monster
5. fishing knife
6. kare sansui
7. Matsu’s garden
8. Tomoko’s stones
9. radio
10. pruning
A. the encroaching outside world; reality in China
B. guilt for seppuku; couldn’t reach his sister
C. clarity and simplicity shown as inner beauty
D. Stephen’s outlet, a way to understand the world
E. when “hurt,” one can grow back stronger
F. a gift from the past
G. someone who does not truly understand the depth of beauty
H. isolation and loneliness that transforms into acceptance
I. artistry in plants, a palette of nature
J. friendship, innocence, fragile relationships
III. Places. Match each location with its description. (5 points)
___ 1. Hong Kong
___ 2. Tarumi
___ 3. Kobe
A. site of massacre of Chinese by the Japanese at beginning of WWII
B. refuge in the mountains for lepers
C. where Stephen is sent to recuperate
___ 4. Yamaguchi
___ 5. Nanking
D. under British sovereignty; Stephen’s hometown
E. Japanese town where Stephen’s father has his business
IV. Japanese Vocabulary. Match each word with its English translation. (10 points)
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
1. genken
2. tatami
3. shoji
4. konnichiwa
5. musuko
6. sayonara
7. -san
8. domo arigato
9. furoshiki
10. tsunami
A. hello
B. a wrapping to carry a food “box”
C. an honorific, sign of respect added to someone’s name
D. a huge tidal wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake
E. straw mats that line a typical Japanese home
F. child
G. rice paper door panels
H. entrance to a Japanese home where shoes are exchanged for slippers
I. thank you
J. good-bye
V. Vocabulary. Match each word with its definition. (15 points)
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
1. solace
2. noncommittal
3. morbid
4. unkempt
5. bereft
6. sullen
7. lacquer
8. sovereignty
9. brusquely
10. penance
11. apparitions
12. infidelity
13. deity
14. amulet
15. pungent
A. brooding, surly, morose, glum
B. strong, robust, feisty
C. power, dominion, regime, government
D. abruptly, quickly, bluntly
E. illusions, phantasms, ghosts, specters
F. god, divinity, idol
G. not willing to make a choice or take a stand one way or the other
H. not faithful
I. talisman, fetish, charm
J. comfort, consolation
K. sad, destitute, deprived, lacking
L. highly polished, a high sheen
M. macabre, funereal, dismal, gruesome
N. messy, disheveled
O. atonement, reconciliation, remorse
VI. Multiple Choice. Write the letter of the BEST answer in the blank. (45 points)
___ 1. This novel takes place during what year?
A.
B.
C.
D.
1890-1891
1956-1957
1825-1826
1937-1938
___ 2. With what illness is Stephen afflicted?
A.
B.
C.
D.
tuberculosis
leprosy
influenza
heart murmur
___ 3. What nationality is Stephen?
A.
B.
C.
D.
American
Korean
Chinese
Japanese
___ 4. How old is Stephen?
A.
B.
C.
D.
14
34
20
60
___ 5. What is Pie’s real name?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Pearl
Patricia
Pammy
Penelope
___ 6. What is Stephen’s family name? (his last name)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Chan
Yakasuri
Lingnan
Wu
___ 7. When Stephen first arrives in Tarumi he feels all of the following EXCEPT
ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
exiled
alone
pitied
isolated
___ 8. How old is Stephen’s Mah-mee ?
A.
B.
C.
D.
31
55
68
40
___ 9. Pie eventually shows her own inner beauty by
A.
B.
C.
D.
helping roll bandages for the Red Cross
selling her clothing and toys to aid the refugees
standing up to an invading Japanese general
arguing against her mother’s selfishness
___ 10. Who was the first to contract leprosy in Tarumi?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Matsu
Sachi
Tomoko
Hiro
___ 11. Who was the first to arrive at Yamaguchi from Hokkaido?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Matsu
Sachi
Tomoko
Hiro
___ 12. Who, almost singlehandedly, built Yamaguchi?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Matsu
Sachi
Stephen
Hiro
___ 13. What is the source of conflict or tension between Stephen’s parents and
him?
A. his illness
B. his wish to date a Japanese girl
C. his father’s Japanese mistress
D. his painting in is grandfather’s study
___ 14. The reason that not many young men are around in Tarumi is because
A.
B.
C.
D.
they are away on shrimping boats
they have joined the Japanese Army
they are working in Yamaguchi
they are attending university in Tokyo
___ 15. Tomoko reacts to her disease in this way
A.
B.
C.
D.
she kills herself
she runs away to Tokyo
she lives in Yamaguchi
she travels nonstop
___ 16. Stephen suffers a relapse in all of the following instances EXCEPT ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
after the tsunami
after Kenzo’s death
after his father’s first visit
after the fire in Yamaguchi
___ 17. The cause of the fire in Yamaguchi is most probably
A.
B.
C.
D.
earthquake and ruptured gas mains
lightning strikes
the shaky way in which the houses were built
old magazines
___ 18. “Ko” is a Japanese obligation to
A.
B.
C.
D.
obey one’s parents
honor the dead
be strong willed
study hard and move ahead
___ 19. Kenzo’s sense of betrayal causes him to
A.
B.
C.
D.
tell the entire village about Sachi
sell his teahouse and move to Tokyo
hang himself
run into the sea
___ 20. We learn, at the end of the novel, that Matsu and Sachi were most likely
A.
B.
C.
D.
brother and sister
cousins
“man and wife”
just good friends
___ 21. All of the following are themes of the novel EXCEPT ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
bilungsroman, or the path to maturity and understanding
there are many ways in which we may feel isolated and alone
what really matters is what is inside - true beauty comes from within
Asian people are generally very humble and inward looking
___ 22. Leitmotifs, or recurring images, in the novel are all of the following
EXCEPT ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
music
chrysanthemums
weather
painting
food
___ 23. The extended metaphor of the GARDEN includes all
of the following EXCEPT ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
hard work creates calm and beauty
the never-ending toil in a garden relates to life’s unending trials
it is a duty of all Japanese to plant and to tend to a garden area
imagination and creativity are inherent in a good garden
___ 24. In their youth, Tomoko and Sachi were always very conscious of
A.
B.
C.
D.
Matsu
the war effort
a chance for a good education
their outer beauty
___ 25. At fifteen, Sachi was betrothed (engaged) to
A.
B.
C.
D.
Matsu
Hiro
Stephen
Kenzo
___ 26. Michiko tells this story in order to calm Sachi on a difficult night in
Yamaguchi
A.
B.
C.
D.
the pearl diver who gives up her daughter
Hiro-san’s first hope for the village
a samurai who saves innocent young women
how a garden’s smells and sights can intoxicate
___ 27. Why won’t Kenzo ever leave Tarumi?
A.
B.
C.
D.
he is tied to Sachi
his teahouse is doing well
he has obligations to the lepers
his mother and father are ill
___ 28. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, there are two characters who “parallel”
two of the characters in The Samurai’s Garden. Which two characters
demonstrate these two sets of characteristics respectively: calm, strong,
reflective AND sensitive yet brash and controlled by society’s dictates?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Enzima and Chielo
Obierika and Okonkwo
Ekewfi and Nwoye
Smith and Brown
___ 29. The irony of the Obon Festival honoring the dead is the fact that
A.
B.
C.
D.
Stephen could die from his disease as can the lepers
Matsu and Fumiko will not speak about Tomoko or Sachi
the dead cannot eat the food nor drink the wine they bring
the Japanese are simultaneously slaughtering the Chinese
___ 30. Stephen is an outsider in all of the following ways EXCEPT ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
he is Chinese
he is sick
he is in love
he is without his family
___ 31. Matsu is a “samurai” for all of the following reasons EXCEPT ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Respect everyone.
Even little things must be attended to.
Never break a promise.
Don't be afraid of anything.
Only listen to a true Japanese.
Always follow through on commitments.
___ 32. All of the following religions are mentioned in the novel EXCEPT ONE
A. Shintoism
B. Taoism
C. Buddhism
D. Catholicism
___ 33. The Japanese massacre of the Chinese at the outset of WWII is called ...
A.
B.
C.
D.
The Rape of Nanking
The Battle of Midway
The Bataan Death March
Ethnic Cleansing
___ 34. Sachi is grateful for Stephen’s presence in her life because
A.
B.
C.
D.
he is young and strong and helps to rebuild Yamaguchi after the fire
he is respectful and loving despite her disfigurement
he is the child that she and Matsu lost
he is thoughtful and introspective as Matsu is
___ 35. While Stephen is in Tarumi, what happens to Vivian Kong, a student friend?
A.
B.
C.
D.
she witnessed Stephen’s father’s affair with Yoshiko
she, too, has contracted a case of tuberculosis
she becomes engaged to King, Stephen’s best friend
she is killed when a bomb hits her building
___ 36. All of the following are forms of emotional or actual REFUGE in the novel
EXCEPT ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
the gardens
painting
Tokyo
Tarumi
Hong Kong
___ 37. Where does Matsu first discover Sachi after she runs
from those who commit seppuku at the ocean?
A.
B.
C.
D.
in his garden
in the woods
on the mountain, near Yamaguchi
on a train to Tokyo
___ 38. Food is such an important LITERARY element in our story because
A.
B.
C.
D.
it comforts
it is a way to show love
it provides nutrition
it is culturally connected
___ 39. Stephen’s Ba-ba seems disloyal to Stephen for all of the following reasons
EXCEPT ONE
A.
B.
C.
D.
he appears more Japanese in his mannerisms than Chinese
he is hesitant to return to China even though the war has greatly escalated
he cannot seem to relax and unwind even on the beach in Tarumi
he has had a Japanese woman, Yoshiko, for more than twelve years
___ 40. Matsu doesn’t speak much because
A.
B.
C.
D.
he is uneducated and feels ignorant
his religion is one of quiet and solitude
he has endured so much pain and suffering
actions speak louder than words
___ 41. The novel is sectioned by seasons, beginning with Autumn and ending with
Autumn, because
A.
B.
C.
D.
it demonstrates a life cycle in a concise manner
weather is very important in Japanese society
each character has his or her own season
Stephen will have the chance to begin anew in the Spring
___ 42. Gail Tsukiyama, the author, is
A.
B.
C.
D.
Korean
a Japanese -Chinese American
Chinese
Vietnamese
___ 43. Matsu never speaks to anyone about Sachi because
A.
B.
C.
D.
he is honoring his friend, Kenzo, and Sachi
according to the village, Sachi is “dead”
no one would understand his attraction to a leprosy victim
the villagers are afraid of the lepers of Yamaguchi
___ 44. There have been many attempts at genocide in our world’s history, which of
the following would NOT be an example of one?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
Pol Pot’s Killing Fields in Cambodia
the Battle of the Bulge and Normandy Beach
Hitler’s Final Solution, the Holocaust
Stalin’s Regime in the Soviet Union
Native Americans: Small Pox and Indian Wars
Milosevic’s Ethnic Cleansing in Bosnia
the Hutus and Tootsies in Rwanda
___ 45. Do you LOVE this book?
A. Yes
B. Hai
C. Dway-a
D. Ya
E. Sure, You Betcha!
F. iSi
G. Oui
VII. Extra Credit
1. Who was the Emperor of Japan during WWII?
2. What does “imoto” mean?
3. What does “haji” mean?
4. For what animal is the Tama Shrine named?
The Samurai’s Garden
Name:
Date:
Humanities
Final TEST
__ out of 100 points
I. Characters
II. Symbols
III. Places
IV. Japanese
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
V. Vocab
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
VI. Multiple Choice
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Vocab continued ...
___
___
___
___
___
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
VII. Extra Credit
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
___
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
1.
2.
3.
4.