47 Ronin: A Samurai Story

5 + 13 They planned to attack Lord Kira and kill

him, but it was two years before they
from Japan could attack.
6 + 15 Lord Kira was afraid of an attack by
Asano’s ronin, so he put many Uesugi
Before Reading

ACTIVITY ANSWERS
guards around his mansion.
7 + 11 On the night of the attack Oishi and his
1 1 No men looked for Lord Kira everywhere in
2 Yes the mansion, and at last they found him
3 No in the wood store.
4 Yes 8 + 17 Lord Kira did not want to commit
5 Yes seppuku, so Oishi cut off his head with
6 Yes a sword.
2 1 b 9 + 16 The ronin carried Kira’s head on a spear
2 a to Sengaku-ji, and placed the head in
3 b front of Lord Asano’s grave.
4 c 2 3 Hara: ‘Why is Oishi spending all his time
in the town with all kinds of bad
While Reading men?’
8 Kataoka: ‘Because he’s clever.’
Chapters 1 to 3 5 Hara: ‘Clever? What do you mean, ‘clever’?
1 Lord Kira was the teacher of ceremony at the How is that clever, Kataoka?’
palace. 4 Kataoka: ‘It’s clever because it’s hiding
2 It was a crime to draw a sword in the Shogun’s something. Think about it, Hara.
palace. What do we ronin all want?’
3 It was the samurai way to take revenge for a 9 Hara: ‘We want revenge on Lord Kira, of
lord’s death. course. We’re going to attack his
4 The ronin were loyal to their lord in life and in mansion, find him, and kill him.’
death. 12 Kataoka: ‘Yes, we are. And Lord Kira knows
5 The cook in Oishi’s house was a spy for Lord that. So he’s watching Oishi, our
Kira. captain. And what does Kira see?’
Chapters 4 and 5 1 Hara: ‘He sees a samurai without honour.’
1 Because the ronin did not want the servants to 10 Kataoka: ‘Right, Hara! And who is afraid of a
the Uesugi house and call for help. samurai without honour?’
2 It meant that Lord Kira was in the bed only a 7 Hara: ‘Nobody. Ah! I begin to understand!
few minutes ago, so he was probably not far So what happens next, Kataoka?’
away. 2 Kataoka: ‘This happens – when Kira is no
3 He wanted Lord Kira to commit seppuku, to longer afraid of us ronin, what’s he
die bravely, with honour. going to do?’
13 Hara: ‘He’s going to send the Uesugi
guards home.’
After Reading 6 Kataoka: ‘Right again! And then, when
there’s only a small number of
1 1 + 14 Lord Asano was angry with Lord Kira guards round his mansion, we
because Kira called him ‘stupid’ and
can …’
‘slow’.
11 Hara: ‘. . . attack! You’re right, Kataoka –
2 + 18 He drew a sword and attacked Kira, but it
it is clever!’
was a crime to draw a sword inside the
palace.
3 + 12 The punishment for this crime was death,
so Lord Asano committed seppuku.
4 + 10 Lord Asano’s samurai were now ronin,
and they wanted revenge for their lord’s
death.

OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY STAGE 1 1 © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

 3
1
c a p t a i n
2
s a m u r a i

ACTIVITY ANSWERS
3
r e v e n g e
4
w a r r i o r
5
s w o r d
6
h o n o u r
7
c e r e m o n i a l
8
m a s t e r
9
m a n s i o n
10
c a s t l e

4 The hidden word is punishment.

5 Open answers.
6 Open answers.

OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY STAGE 1 2 © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS