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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 Komako do for a living?

2. How does Shimamura claim money has been sent to him?

3. What does Shimamura believe is the relationship between Yoko and Yukio?

4. What is the name of the mountain range that surrounds the resort town?

5. What does Shimamura note that he didn't do while he was away from the resort town?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who does Shimamura meet on his way home from Komako's room, and what impressed him about this person?

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

5. What hobby interest does Shimamura have?

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

7. Why does Komako bite her own arm?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Loneliness is a recurring theme of "Snow Country" and perhaps the reason Shimamura and Komako become involved. Discuss the theme of loneliness in the novel "Snow Country".

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 the meaning of the seasons and the changing of the seasons in the novel.

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