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| Plot Summary of Shogun |
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" In James Clavell's shogun we see a up close description of Japanese life in the 1600s. Clavell's work is very close to a masterpiece.
John Blackthorne is a captain on a search for the enchanting far off place called Japan. In Shogun we see a variety of themes and plots. From romance to the common everyday literature we all love.
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Jessica, Resident Scholar
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"An English ship pilot, John Blackthorne, exploring Asian seas in the 1600s, is shipwrecked on the coast of Japan. The popular movie "The Last Samurai" borrowed liberally from this theme. Much like Tom Cruise's character, Blackthorne awakens in an alien world, and must endure a crash-course in Japenese culture. These lessons encompass everything from dining etiquitte, social manners, the proper way to clothe yourself, to the rigid expectations of the caste system--each man to his own way of life, appropriate to his rank.
Blackthorne attempts to learn as much as he can in an effort to save his ship and crew. Like Tom Cruise's character in "The Last Samurai," Blackthorne is ordered to live in the home of a local villager, and is given tokens of respect, like clothes and baths, because he is a high-ranking foreigner. A translator, Mariko, is ordered to accompany Blackthorne daily, and to help him learn as much as possible of the Japanese, including their language, so that they, in turn, can learn from him. Prejudice against foreigners runs rampant among the Japanese, but luckily for Blackthorne, the feudal lord Toranaga values his knowledge of seamanship, and grants him the honorable rank of samurai. With his new rank, Blackthorne is free to pursue his own ends, including love (Mariko) and revenge (the Spanish Catholics warring against his native England). Lord Toranaga has his own plans for Blackthorne though.
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JoshuaLJenkins, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Shogun |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story
- 17th century
Romance/Romance Problems
Yes
Inside culture (main char)
- Christian
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society)
- Japanese
If story of urban/rural...
- Small town life
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Lover is
- of a different social class
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- navy soldier
- explorer
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Eastern European
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- bulging muscles
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
- dictator
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- bulging muscles
Setting
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Japan
Island?
Yes
Island:
- Pacific Islands
Misc setting
- prison
Style
Person
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references
- descript of kissing
- touching of anatomy
- impregnation/reproduction
Lot of foul language?
Yes
Unusual Style:
- a lot of play on words
- No single main character?
Amount of dialog
- mostly dialog
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Click here for more information about this book
James Clavell Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 JoshuaLJenkins
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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