SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING

=An Evening Walk in the Village=:—­Imagine yourself taking a walk through the village at nightfall.  Tell of the time of day, the season, and the weather.  Make your reader feel the approach of darkness, and the heat, or the coolness, or the chill of the air.  What signs do you see about you, of the close of day?  Can you make the reader feel the contrast of the lights and the surrounding darkness?  As you walk along, what sounds do you hear?  What activities are going on?  Can you catch any glimpses, through the windows, of the family life inside the houses?  Do you see people eating or drinking?  Do you see any children?  Are the scenes about you quiet and restful, or are they confused and irritating?  Make use of any incidents that you can to complete your description of the village as you see it in your walk.  Perhaps you will wish to close your theme with your entering a house, or your advance into the dark open country beyond the village.

=My Idea of Japan=:—­Suppose that you were suddenly transported to a small town in Japan:  What would be your first impression?  Tell what you would expect to see.  Speak of the houses, the gardens, and the temples.  Tell about the shops, and booths, and the wares that are for sale.  Describe the dress and appearance of the Japanese men; of the women; the children.  Speak of the coolies, or working-people; the foreigners.  Perhaps you can imagine yourself taking a ride in a jinrikisha.  Tell of the amusing or extraordinary things that you see, and make use of incidents and conversation.  Bring out the contrasts between Japan and your own country.

=A Dance or Drill=:—­Think of some drill or dance or complicated game that you have seen, which lends itself to the kind of description in the selection.  In your work, try to emphasize the contrast between the background and the moving figures; the effects of light and darkness; the sound of music and voices; the sway and rhythm of the action.  Re-read parts of The Dance of the Bon-odori, to see what devices the author has used in order to bring out effects of sound and rhythm.

COLLATERAL READINGS

Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan Lafcadio Hearn
Out of the East " "
Kokoro " "
Kwaidan " "
A Japanese Miscellany " "
Two Years in the French West Indies " "
Japanese Life in Town and Country G.W.  Knox
Our Neighbors the Japanese J.K.  Goodrich
When I Was Young Yoshio Markino
Miss John Bull " "