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SEMINAR IV |
WAKANA JO
Why does the emperor Suzaku want to abdicate? What does he want to do?
How does Suzaku explain his predicament to Genji, and who is first to hear the news?
How does Murasaki react to news of San no miya? What is she thinking?
Who presides at Genji's 40th birthday celebration?
How does the word 'wakana' or 'new herb' figure in the poems Tamakazura exchanges with Genji?
Describe Murasaki's feelings as well as Genji's after the third night of nuptials to Sannomiya?
Murasaki appears in Genji's dreams? Why?
In the tenth month Murasaki gives a party. Akikonomu does the same in the twelfth month. How are these banquets treated? What is their significance? Mere decoration?
The third generation enters the scene. What is the occasion? What happens as a result to the new child and his mother?
Who is Kashiwagi? What is the significance of the 'kemari' soccer match at the Rokujo palace?
What is the meaning of the cat?
WAKANA GE
How is a meeting arranged between Kashiwagi and Sannomiya?
Four years pass suddenly in the narrative. Reizei has been on the throne for 18 years. He wants to abdicate. What effect will this have on the government and on Genji's power?
Murasaki wants to become a nun? Why? Why is this refused?
Why do all the women in the Rokujo palace suddenly want Genji to teach them how to play the koto?(Sannomiya, the Akashi Princess, and Murasaki)
Genji arranges for a New Year's entertainment as a 'women's festival'? Why? Who is involved?
Yugiri and Genji have a debate about music? What is the result of this discussion?
Genji begins to ruminate on the course of his life? What does he think?
Murasaki falls ill. How is this handled?
How is Kashiwagi finally able to meet Sannomiya? What is the result?
Rokujo's spirit, now a spirit of the dead (as a shiryoo死霊 as opposed to ikiryoo 生き霊)appears to Murasaki in her illness? What does the spirit do and say? Why?
How does Genji find out about Sannomiya's affair with Kashiwagi?
Another first generation character, Oborozukiyo, becomes a nun. How does Genji react?
At the end of this year, rehearsals for a party to be held at Rokujo in honour of Suzaku's50th birthday are arranged. Kashiwagi is invited. What is his reaction?
KASHIWAGI
A son, Kaoru, is born to Sannomiya.The father is Kashiwagi. Sannomiya wants to become a nun. Does Genji agree? How does it finally happen?
Rokujo's spirit appears yet another time. When? Why? What does it say?
Who is with Kashiwagi when he dies?
Yugiri approaches Kashiwagi's wife Ochiba. What are his intentions? Why?
YOKOBUE
One years passes after Kashiwagi's death. What is Genji keeping a secret? What is his son Yugiri keepng a secret?
What transpires between Yugiri and Ochiba when he is given the flute? What does it represent? What does Kashiwagi relate to Yugiri through his dream?
Genji receives the flute from Yugiri? Why does Yugiri give it to him?
SUZUMUSHI
More second generation people leave the scene: Sannomiya in her chapel, Reizei in his retirement. Akikonomu also wishes to leave the world. Genji visits them all. How does he handle this?
What does Buddhism signify in this chapter? Salvation? Freedom? or the breakdown of Genji's unassailable control?
YUGIRI
Yugiri reveals his secrets to Ochiba at Ono? Why can't he do this with his own father?
How is the secret revealed through Ochiba's mother, Suzaku's wife ?
Kumoi no kari discovers a letter to her husband from Ochiba's mother. What does she do?
Ochiba's mother dies. Is this related to the letter? How does Ochiba react?
Somehow the rift between Yugiri and Kumoi no kari is healed? How?
Ochiba moves from her retreat in Ono to a house in Ichijo prepared for her by Yugiri.
The maid Kojiju continues to make a bad situation even worse. Why do you think she does this?
Yugiri sleeps with Ochiba. What does Kumoi no kari do?
Why do you think Yugiri need to undergo a minor spiritual and mental breakdown?
Are the pieces of his life put back together successfully?
MINORI
How does Murasaki no ue make her final farewells? From where?
What is in her last will and testament?
Who is Niou and how does he matter to Murasaki no ue?
MABOROSHI
A New Year begins, Genji's last. How do each of the passing seasons reflect Genji's worldview?
Murasaki no ue dies in an instant, like the extinguishing of a candlelight. How does this compare with how Genji chooses to take his leave?
Explain the imagery of the sakura,the cherry blossoms, now at the end, and how they figured at the beginning of his realtionshi;p with Muraski no ue?
Genji's visit on Sannomiya prompts thoughts of Murasaki no ue? What sort of thoughts?
Who has Genji met in the course of this last full year?
How is the final snow related to Genji's life force?
INTERREGNUM
LOVERS WITHOUT LOVE - THE YEARS ATUJI TOG CHAPTERS 42-44
NIOU MIYA
What brings Kaoru to have doubts about his birth? How does he express this?
Kaoru's body emanates a fragrance. What are its characteristics?
KOBAI
Who is Kobai? What is his role?
Do you find an element of homoeroticism in this chapter?
TAKEKAWA
How many children does Tamakazura have?
What is Tamakazura's status in life at this point?
How does Kaoru fare with Kumoi no Kari's son Kurodo no Shosho?