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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. The day after Shimamura and Komako sleep together, where does Shimamura depart for?

2. What is the temperature in snow country?

3. How much snow is expected when Shimamura arrives in snow country?

4. What does Komako have to drink after barging into Shimamura's room for the second time?

5. Why does Komako question Shimamura's sexual advances?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What has Komako cataloged since she was a teenager?

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

4. Why doesn't the young geisha sent to Shimamura interest him?

5. How does Komako express her liking of Shimamura when she visits his room at the inn on his second visit to the resort town?

6. Who does Shimamura observe on the train on his way to the resort town?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss the relationship of Shimamura and Komako. In your opinion, what is the true nature of their relationship? Do they love each other? What problems have they faced?

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 667 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample