Story
Why is Musashi unconscious at the beginning of the story?
He was in a battle.
Who is the main Character?
Musashi
What is Musashis main goal in life?
To become a great samurai.
What is the main plot of the first chapters?
Musashi helping to free Okos village from gangs/bandits?
1
1. Musashi wakes up from battle where he his then nursed to health and helps a village gain freedom from a bandit gang. He returns home to his village.
What happens to the Yoshioka School?
It burns down.
Who is Musashis best friend?
Matahachi
How does Musashi show leadership in Okos village?
He defeats the gangs leader.
What is the main conflict of the story?
Musashi wanting to become great.
2
His home village don't want him back so they kidnap his sister to lure him out of hiding. He is tied up and imprisoned. He gets out and changes his name to Musashi Miyamoto.
Who kidnaps Musashis sister?
Who remedies Musashi back to health?
Akemi and/or Oko
Why is Seijuro the leader of the Yoshioka School?
He is a disciplined fighter.
How does the omniscient point of view add suspense to the story?
We know that Musashi is about to meet people from his old life, and their motives, while Musashi himself does not know.
3
Musashi travels to Kyoto where he challenges the leader of a samurai school. He stalemates the leader and the school burns down.
Who is waiting in a temple in Kyoto for Musashi?
Matahachi
What is Musashis real name?
Takezo
Was Agon a good leader of the Hozoin temple?
No, because he could not protect or train them to protect themselves.
What is ironic about Matahachis life in Kyoto compared to Musashis?
They both started off in the same place, with similar goals, yet Musashi is much better off.
4
Musashi takes Jotaro on as a pupil and they travel to the Hozoin temple in Nara. He challenges a senior swordsman and slays him.
Why does Musashi wish to go to Nara?
To meet the "“the famous lance fighters at Hozoin.”
Who is the leader of the Yoshioka school?
Seijuro
How does Musashi lead Jotaro?
He takes him under his wing and trains him.
What about the setting of Okos village makes you think something strange is happening?
The streets are empty.
5
Musashi heads for Yagyu valley. (This is as far as I read).