A Single Shard - Chapter 1

Where was Tree-ear in the morning and what does he notice?

• In the village, noticing a broken pot, struggling with whether to tell about the broken pot or not.

• At the river, noticing a beautiful bird, struggling with whether to tell about the bird's location or not.

• In the pottery workshop, noticing a flaw in a pot, struggled with whether to tell about the flaw or not.

• He was doing a perusal of the village garbage heaps. He noticed a man with a backpack that had paused in the road to shift the weight.

What is the matter that Tree-ear struggles with whether to tell or not to tell?

• Deciding whether to reveal the location of the secret clay to Min.

• Whether to inform Crane-Man about the shortcut he found to the palace.

• Tree-ear has to struggle with telling the man about the trickle of rice that starts leading out of the hole in a straw box.

• Determining if he should keep the discovery of a new glazing technique to himself.

What does Tree-ear do? How does he help and how is he rewarded?

• Tree-ear spies on Min's pottery techniques, helps by breaking a piece, and is rewarded with a journey to Songdo.

• The man says he was too impatient in his travels. He asks for leaves to block the leak where he should have had more straw and then says, “The rice on the ground is yours if you can be troubled to gather it.” 

• Tree-ear steals pottery from Min, helps by selling it, and is not rewarded.

• Tree-ear observes pottery making, does not directly help, and receives no reward.

Crane-man said what made a man no better than a dog?

• No wealth

• Stealing and begging

• Absence acts of kindness

• Lack of loyalty

Where does Tree-ear's name come from?

• Mushrooms that grow on dead tree trunks

• A historical figure

• Mushrooms that grow on tree branches

• A plant that grows underground

How did Crane-man get his name? (Multiple correct answers)

• Named after cranes that stand on one leg and symbolize long life.

• had a twisted leg and foot and struggled to work.

• By his birthplace where crane birds were established.

• By a childhood nickname given to him by his younger brother.

Where do Crane-man and Tree-ear live? How did they come to live together?

• In a village under a bridge, they found each other when Tree-ear was orphaned.

• In a city, they are brothers who used to live with their now deceased uncle.

• In a monastery, they were both left there as babies and are now orphans.

• In a palace, they are prince and servant.

Tree-ear picked up rice from the dirt. What does this tell you about him?

• He was poor and needed the rice to sell.

• Tree-ear is lazy and unproductive.
• Tree-ear hard-working and does not mind doing dirty work.

• He must have been desperate for food.

Once he is done with his chores, where was Tree-ear set off to?

• To the river to wash up before dinner.

• To the pottery workshop at the forest and help Min at his shop.

• To the city market to observe Min (the potter) and ask for work.

• He goes to Min (the potter’s) house, to observe from a distance.

What has Tree-ear already noticed about Min's habits?

• Min works very early in the morning to make the clay

• Min never fails to reject his first attempt at every product

• Min is very meticulous with his work and takes long breaks

• Min often asks for Tree-ear's opinion