Miyazawa Kenji, The Bears of Nametoko

1. How does the author use descriptive adjectives to set the scene and atmosphere of the story. How does he use these to anthropomorphize the natural landscape?

2. Describe Kojuro's relationship with the bears and nature.

3. Describe Kojuro's relationship with society and other people in the village.

4. Why does Kojuro hunt the bears? How does he feel about his job? What significance does this have for the story and its broader message?

5. Discuss the story's use of subjects, themes, metaphors, and symbolism.

6. What is the significance of the last scene (the bear's funeral for Kojuro)?

Kajii Motojiro 梶井基次郎 "Lemon" 檸檬

Warm-up questions:

1. Have you ever done something spontaneous?

2. Have you ever suffered from writer's block?

3. Do you like following popular trends 流行り or are you more interested in indie culture サブカル?

Reading Analysis Questions:

1. What is the "ominous mass 不吉な塊" that the narrator describes?

2. What things does the narrator find oppressive? What things bring him pleasure and satisfaction? Why do you think this? What does this tell us about the narrator?

3. What is the significance of the narrator placing a lemon atop books at Maruzen? Why does the do it and why is it liberating for the narrator?

4. Discuss the subjects of painting, art, and color in the story. What might they be symbols / metaphors for?

Akutagawa Ryūnosuke 芥川龍之介 "In a Grove" 藪の中

Warm-up questions:

1. Have you ever lied? 

2. What are some reasons that people might lie?

3. Can people generally be trusted?

Reading Analysis Questions

1. What do you think really happened? Is it possible to ascertain the truth of events from these accounts? Why or why not?

2. What kinds of contradictory evidence and statements do the characters give?

3. What reasons do you think the characters might have to HIDE the truth or to LIE in their testimonies?

4. Which account do you think is most believable and/or trustworthy?

5. How would you explain the last lines/scene in the story? Who comes up to the man and why do they pull the sword out of his chest?

6. What metaphors/symbols/subjects did you notice in the story?

7. Is objective truth possible? Is everything relative? Is Akutagawa perhaps just talking about fiction and believability?

Natsume Soseki 夏目漱石 "The Third Night" 第三夜

Warm-up questions:

1. Have you ever had a strange dream? Talk about it.

2. Do you think dreams have meanings? Why do we dream?

3. Are you superstitious?

Reading Analysis Questions:

1. Describe the plot of the story. What is the story's climactic secret that is eventually revealed at the end?

2. Describe the story's use of foreshadowing.

3. Describe the story's use of symbolism and metaphor.

4. Who is the child in the story, and what does he represent? Why does he call the narrator "father"? Why does he get heavier as the story goes on? What happens to him at the end of the story?

5. Why does the narrator want to get rid of the child on his back? Does the narrator know the truth of what happened (and who the child really is) before the end of the story?

6. When and where does this story take place?

7. What are some of the subjects and themes of the story?

Higuchi Ichiyo 樋口一葉 "Separate Ways" わかれ道

Warm-up questions:

1. Have you ever faced economic hardships?

2. What kind of issues do women in Japanese society face today?

3. Talk about racial, economic, and other forms of discrimination in Japanese society.

Reading Analysis Questions:

1. Discuss the notion of 出世 in the story. Does it have positive or negative connotations? How does it affect Kichizo and Okyo's actions and fate?

2. Discuss the roles of class, poverty, and gender in the story. How do these things influence the characters' actions and their relationship with each other?

3. Talk about the story and its themes, especially relating to the subject of poverty, in the historical context of the Meiji Era. (e.g. use of the word 非人). How do Meiji ideals conflict with reality for the characters?

4. Why do Kichizo and Okyo feel differently at the end? Who do you agree and/or identify with more? Who do you think is right in this case? Are the characters acting selfishly as Kichizo says of Okyo, or are they motivated by other concerns?

5. What would you have done if you were in Okyo's position? Does she actually have a choice in the matter? (Note that she says she doesn't, whereas Kichizo says that she does).

Mori Ogai 森鴎外 "Sansho the Steward" 山椒大夫

Warm-up questions:

1. Is the law and/or authority figures (police, etc.) sometimes wrong?

2. Are people generally good 性善説? Why or why not?

3. What should we do when we confront injustice?

Reading Analysis Questions:

1. How does the story portray social hierarchies and class relations? How does this influence the character's actions and the overall plot of the story?

2. Discuss some of the main subjects and themes of the story.

3. Discuss the subject of "fate" (or "destiny" 運命) in the text. How do the characters respond to "fate"? How does this influence their actions? Why do you think they behave this way?

4. What is the significance of religion and religious objects or symbolism such as the jizo amulet? How do the characters view religion? Why do you think the text portrays religion in this way?

5. Talk about Anju's "transformation" after the dream scene. (E.g. "Anju's whole being seemed altogether changed" (16)). Why does she change? What does her transformation mean and/or what is it supposed to symbolize?

6. Talk about the ending of the story. What happens to Anju? To Zushio? What do you think about this?

7. Discuss Zushio's transformation into Masamichi. What actions does he take in his new role? Why do you think he does this?

8. Mori Ōgai rewrote this story based on a much older setsuwa tale. However, he changed some parts. How might Ōgai have changed this story and updated it to fit his current situation in Meiji?

Hirabayashi Taiko, "Blind Chinese Soldiers" 平林たい子「盲中国兵」

Warm-up questions:

1. Why are people sometimes indifferent to the suffering of others?

2. Talk about class in Japan. What is its structure and how does it manifest itself?

3. What can literature tell us about war?

4. Are we responsible for past (war) crimes?

Reading analysis questions:

1. What is the historical significance of the story taking place on March 9, 1945? What meaning do you think this has for the story?

2. What is the meaning of the train station attendant drawing white lines on the platform?

3. Consider the organization of the train. How is it arranged? Who is that the front, middle, and back? What might the train be a metaphor for?

4. Who are the blind Chinese soldiers? How does the text describe them? Why do you think they are depicted in this way?

5. Describe the reactions of the Japanese passengers to the blind Chinese soldiers. What is the significance and/or meaning(s) of these reactions?

6. The Japanese in the story seem unclear about the details of the Chinese soldiers. What is the meaning of their conversation on the middle of p.185 in the text. How does the narrator evaluate this? What is the significance/meaning of this?

7. Describe the last scene on p.186. What is the meaning/significance of this? What symbolism is used in this passage?