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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. Who wanted Shonagon to teach her the terminology that Shonagon and Tadanobu used to talk in secret?

2. What did the women do as they ran to see the dancers' special performance at the Shrine that caused people to laugh at them?

3. What time of day did the Shigei Sha arrive at the Palace to see the Empress?

4. What terminology did Shonagon and Tadanobu use to discuss men and women when they didn't want anyone else to know what they were talking about?

5. How many times a day did the woman Shonagon saw coming does the hill to the Upper Shrine say she was making the pilgrimage?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the Empress think Shonagon was lying when she insisted she was fond of the Empress during her early days as a courtier?

2. Why was Shonagon moved to tears upon witnessing the Emperor paying his respects to the Empress Dowager?

3. Why was Shonagon so impressed with Michinaga's obeisance to the Chancellor?

4. Why was Shonagon uncertain of how to reply to Yukinari's gift of square cakes?

5. Why was Shonagon concerned about having to write the opening lines to a few lines of poetry she received when Kinto was present?

6. Why did Shonagon say a man who had been promoted from Subordinate Officer to Chamberlain seemed like he had been reborn?

7. Why did the Empress keep the note Yukinari sent with the square cakes?

8. Why did the priest tell the women to keep talking all night after overhearing their conversation about where the wood for the Chamberlains' batons come from and talking about the names of clothing?

9. Why did Shonagon want to change places with the woman she met on her way up the hill to the Upper Shrine?

10. Why was Shonagon impressed when the Empress guessed that the cherry blossoms had been ruined by the rain?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Midway through the book we see a shift in Shonagon's writing style to a more developed style of prose. Describe the shift. What changes in her writing style? What does it reveal about Shonagon?

Essay Topic 2

How did Shonagon feel about aesthetics? How do you know this? Discuss some sections in which Shonagon specifically talked about how things should look. What do these sections reveal about Shonagon?

Essay Topic 3

What factual information is known about Sei Shonagon? When did she live? What was her position in life?

(see the answer keys)

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