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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 refuse to close one day when she is staying at the inn with Shimamura?

2. What does Shimamura actually look at during his trip to the resort town?

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

4. What is the temperature in snow country?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What hobby interest does Shimamura have?

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

5. Why were there no geisha available when Shimamura requested one?

6. What does Shimamura notice about Yoko's care of her sick companion?

7. Why does Komako have to leave before daylight?

8. What opinions does Shimamura express about Komako's catalog?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the female leads of the novel: Komako and Yoko. Compare and contrast the following:

a) Komako's and Yoko's personality traits.

b) Komako's and Yoko's role in the story.

c) Komako's and Yoko's relationship with Shimamura.

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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