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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 say left him at the sight of the young geisha?

2. After they sleep together, what does Komako believe Shimamura is laughing at?

3. Who is Komako engaged to, according to the old woman?

4. How does Komako feel reading some of the things she has written in her diary?

5. What is the temperature in snow country?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Komako find upsetting in her diary?

3. What hobby interest does Shimamura have?

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

5. What symbolism does Shimamura see in the reflection of Yoko's face in the window?

6. What kind of relationship does Shimamura apparently want with Komako?

7. Describe Komako's situation at the time of her first meeting with Shimamura.

8. Why does Komako have to leave before daylight?

9. What distracts Shimamura after leaving his inn and the young geisha, and what does he do?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the ending of the book. What is your interpretation of the ending scene? What significance does it have in regards to the novel as a whole? Is the ending satisfactory?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss common themes of Japanese literature. How does the novel "Snow Country" represent Japanese literature and Japanese culture as a whole?

Essay Topic 3

Shimamura, the protagonist of the novel, is a complicated and distant character. Although the reader follows the story from Shimamura's point of view, his inner-thoughts are largely left a mystery. Discuss the characterization of the protagonist, Shimamura.

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