Designed to be a guide to Seminar Presentations
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GENERAL BACKGROUND |
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KIRITSUBO
Two foreign influences affect the potential progress of the main story. What are they?
Three events mark the rites of passage of Genji from childhood to manhood. What are they?
Genji's relations with mother, step-mother, and wife have what in common? How different?
HAHAKIGI
How does Genji participate in the discussion of how to rank a female?
What are the three types of women? Are they idealized or real?
What is a directional taboo, a katatagae? How does it function in the narrative?
How is the homoerotic relationship between the boy Kogimi and Genji handled?
UTSUSEMI
Why does Genji pursue the wife ofa provincial governor?
Why is substitution so comical inthis liaison?
YUGAO
Through whose eyes does the reader experience Yugao?
Who is the apparition who possesses Yugao?
How is the trauma Genji experiences here different from his earlier psychic wounds?
How is this chapter 'romantic'?
WAKA MURASAKI
Give one instance of foreshadowing of the future.
How is peeking or peering through fences important to the narrative?
What attracts Genji to the young girl Murasaki? How different is she from Aoi?
SUETSUMUHANA
Why is Genji drawn to this lady?
What is the Safflower Lady's season, her color, her looks, her skill?