ASSIGNMENT 11 Directions: After reading this week’s lesson, supplemental files, and textbook readings (“Japan’s Classical Age,” “Muraskaki Shikibu,” and The Tale of Genji (Chapters 1 and 2), answer th

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ASSIGNMENT 11

Directions: After reading this week’s lesson, supplemental files, and textbook readings (“Japan’s Classical Age,” “Muraskaki Shikibu,” and The Tale of Genji (Chapters 1 and 2), answer the questions below. Remember to use complete sentences.  For this assignment, you don’t need to respond to your classmates, though you may do so if you wish (and if you remain polite).  Also note, for question 1, I am giving you options; however, if more than 4-5 of your classmates have already posted on one of the options, it would be better if you chose a different prompt so that the discussion ends up covering all of the possible prompts.

Prompts:

  1. Define/Explain/Show significance of, etc., in a brief paragraph one of the following terms:
    1. Japanese
    2. Nara Court
    3. Heian Court
    4. Waka/Tanka Poetry
    5. Kana (syllabary or system)
  2. After reading chapters 1 and 2 of The Tale of Genji, as well as looking over the class lecture notes and supplemental material, what is your view of Genji: Is he a hero? Or, is Genji and anti-hero? Alternatively, just what type of character has Murasaki Shikibu constructed in this novel?