Transcript Sign of the Chrysanthemum by Katherine Paterson Day 2 Discuss Chapters 1-3 Pre-reading Chapters 4-5 Question 1 Who is the main character and how old is he? Muna – 13 Question.

Sign of the
Chrysanthemum
by Katherine Paterson
Day 2
Discuss Chapters 1-3
Pre-reading Chapters 4-5
Question 1
Who is the main
character and how
old is he?
Muna – 13
Question 2
What is the main
character’s name?
What does it mean?
Who gave it to him?
Muna – No name
– Lord Yoshikuni
(daimyo of Awa)
Question 3
Where does the story
begin?
Territory of Awa
on the island of
Shikoku – where
Muna is a serf
Question 4
What is Muna’s greatest desire?
To find his father
and have a real
name
Question 5
How will Muna recognize his
father?
By a chrysanthemum tattoo
Question 6
Who is Takanobu?
A ronin who is travelling to
Heiankyo on the ship that
Muna is hiding in
Question 7
What is a ronin? Why does
Takanobu become a ronin?
Unemployed samurai – Takanobu
says it was his choice, captain
wonders whether he stole from his
lord.
Question 8
What was Takanobu’s job on the
daimyo’s boat?
To protect the
ship from pirates
Question 9
What does Takanobu do when he
finds Muna?
First he tricks Muna into thinking
that he, Takanobu is a pirate, then he
turns him into the captain as a
stowaway.
Question 10
Who are Kawaki and Akiko and
what do they do for Muna?
Kawaki is a sandalmaker who offers
Muna dinner and a place to sleep his
first night in Heiankyo. Akiko is his
daughter.
Question 11
How does Kawaki allow Muna to
keep his pride and not feel like
a beggar?
He tells Muna that he can tell
them the story of his journey
from Awa as payment.
Chapter 4-5 Vocabulary
topknot (4-31)
swordsmith (5-38)
pilgrimage (5-41)
scabbards (5-43)
unsheath (5-43)
despise (4-26)
Decorative arrangement of hair worn
on the top of the head
Craftsman who makes swords
Journey to a holy place taken for
religious reasons
Sheath hanging from a belt to hold a
sword
To remove from a sheath (or case for
a sword)
To look down on with contempt or
aversion
boisterous (4-27)
Noisily turbulent, rowdy
groom (4-29)
Person responsible for caring for
horses
Chapter 4-5
Plot Summary
• First event in chapter 4
• Muna witnesses a beggar fighting
for dropped food on the street
while waiting for Takanobu to
wake up
• Last event in chapter 5
• The swordsmith feeds Muna hot
soup on New Year’s Day