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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Shimamura suddenly find himself enchanted by as he leaves to collect his money?

2. What reason does the old woman give for Komako having become a geisha?

3. What condition is Komako in when she visits Shimamura's room?

4. What is the weather like outside on the night of Komako's visit to Shimamura's room?

5. What does Komako write in her diary?

Short Essay Questions

1. What excuse does Shimamura use to leave his room with the geisha?

2. What effect does the weather have on Komako's visit Shimamura's room during his first visit to the resort town?

3. What secrets about herself does Komako reveal when she visits Shimamura's room at night during his second visit to the resort town?

4. What is Komako's condition when she shows up at Shimamura's room in the middle of the night on his first visit to the resort town?

5. Where is Shimamura headed at the beginning of the story, and who does he plan to meet?

6. Why has Komako started working as a geisha, according to the person Kamako meets on his way home from Komako's room?

7. While sitting on the train on his way to the resort town, what does Shimamura discreetly look at?

8. When Shimamura arrives for his second visit to the resort town, how many days does Komako say it has it been since she and Shimamura spent their night together, and how can she be sure of this?

9. Where does Shimamura go the day after his night with Komako, and why might he have left?

10. Why does Komako have to leave before daylight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of ambiguous scenes and characters in the novel. Discuss the author's use of ambiguity and why you think he so often leaves it to the reader to interpret.

Essay Topic 2

Kawabata makes numerous allusions to the Tanabata legend. Discuss the effectiveness of this comparison in the story and why Kawabata makes the comparison.

Essay Topic 3

The geisha is a prominent figure in the novel "Snow Country". Discuss the role of geisha in the novel.

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