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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 apparently stop trying to do when staying at Shimamura's?

2. How long does Komako say it has been since Shimamura last visited the resort town when he returns at the beginning of Part Two?

3. What does Komako say she will not do with Shimamura again?

4. After working for a year, how much of her geisha-service contract does Komako say she has already paid off?

5. What does Shimamura's wife say he should take care of in her warning about the season?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Shimamura make his third trip to the resort town?

2. At the time of Shimamura's return in Part 2, what is Komako's financial situation like?

3. What discussion does Shimamura overhear in the hallway?

4. Who has Komako signed a geisha contract with and where does she live?

5. What occupation did Yoko once consider, and why did she give it up?

6. What is the bird chasing festival?

7. What do Shimamura and Komako do the night before he is to leave for Tokyo?

8. Why does Komako not want to visit Yukio's grave?

9. After Yukio's death, what does Komako inform Shimamura about Yoko in Part Two of the novel?

10. What does Komako tell Shimamura of the geisha Kikuyu?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel is set in Japan during the 1930's. Discuss Japan in the 1930's and how this setting affects the narrative.

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

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.

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