A Single Shard: Chap. 5&6

When winter arrives, Tree-ear and Crane-man move:

• to the monastery up the mountain

• to a dug out vegetable pit on an abandoned farm

• to a shelter in town

• instead of moving, they prepare their bridge home for winter

We learn in Chapter 5 that Min was a father and had lost his son to:

• fever

• fire

• flood

• an accident

The village learns that an emissary from the palace will be visiting in search of:

• art work to bring back to the palace

• new foods to bring back to the palace

• skilled potters who could work for the palace

• orphans in need of a home

Tree-ear is troubled because:

• He has learned through spying that Kang has a new and beautiful pottery technique.

• He knows that Kang is a more skilled potter than Min.

• He has been getting secret lessons from Kang and Min does not know.

• Min's wife treats Tree-ear very disrespectfully.

When one of the boys in the village hails (calls) Tree-ear, Tree-ear is surprised because:

• As Min's apprentice, they are not to talk to him.

• Orphans were considered bad luck and children avoided him.

• Min forbid him from talking to other children.

• He called to him during a quiet ceremony and it was considered highly disrespectful.

Why did Min want his display stall set up with it's back to the sea?

• So the emissary would be reminded of his soon trip home.

• So that Min could arrive by sea with everyone seeing his arrival.

• To highlight the blues, greens and grays of the sea that are in the colors of Min's displayed works.

• Because Min had bad memories of the sea and did not want to have to look at it.

What secret did Tree-ear have about one piece of pottery of Min's that was in the display?

• He had made it entirely himself!

• He had cracked one piece and had to repair it.

• He had made one of the flower petals that was now on the finished piece.

• He had done the glaze work and design himself.

Was Min selected by the emissary?

• The emissary has shown Min favor, but will come back before making a selection.

• YES! Min is the new potter for the palace!

• NO! The emissary chose Kang over Min because of his new technique.

• The emissary decided not to choose anyone from their village.