AS 201 Tale of Genji: Prologue and Ch. 1

Prologue

In which Genji and Tamakazura talk about the nature of "monogatari" (物語) or prose fiction.

 

1. What does Genji seem to think about these narratives?

 

 

 

 

2. How does Tamakazura respond?

 

 

 

3. Does Genji alter his stance? How?

 

 

 

 

4. As it turns out, what are some things that prose fiction or "monogatari" can do for us?

 

 

 

 

Ch. 1 Kiritsubo - the Paulownia Pavilion

1. Someone at the Court enjoyed "exceptional favor." From whom?

 

How or why was this a problem?

 

 

 

It brings the story of another Princess to mind. Who is that?

 

What message does her story convey?

 

 

 

 

2. To complicate matters further this person receiving "exceptional favor" bears the emperor a son.

[The son will grow up to be Hikaru Genji, the main male character in the Tale.]

 

 

How does this complicate things?

 

 

 

 

 

3. Who is the Kokiden Consort?

 

She is the daughter of whom?

 

 

What is her role in all of this?

 

 

 

 

4. How was the favored young woman, Genji's mother, faring? What becomes of her?

 

 

 

 

 

5. The Emperor is no longer receiving any of his ladies after dark...What does the Kokiden Consort do and how is that perceived by the narrator?

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. As the young boy (Genji) grows, he is so handsome, charming and skilled. What is the emperor tempted to do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. A Korean visitor from Koguryô, a physiognomist, is visiting and after checking Genji out, what does he say about Genji's future? (10)

 

 

 

 

8. The Minister of the Right gets wind of this and what does he think? What would he be worried or concerned about?

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. What does the emperor decide to do?

 

 

 

 

10. He learns of another young woman, a possible replacement for his lost love, who is the 4th daughter of a former emperor, and younger sister of Prince Hyōbu, so she is highly eligble to enter Court service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. Her name is Princess Fujitsubo and she resembles the Kiritsubo Lady to an astonishing degree. What happens?

 

 

 

 

 

12. Next thing we know, it's Genji's 12th birthday, "Coming of Age" time. He gets a ceremony with new clothes and a new, ceremonial, adult haircut.

Apparently "he only looked more devestatingly handsome than ever." (14)

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. Who is Aoi? Who sponsors her at the court?

 

[We learn in the next chapter that Aoi's brother, Tō-no-chujō, was a Captain of the Guards, like Genji, a ceremonial appointment. He and Genji become best friends.]

 

 

 

 

 

14. Who was also interested in Lady Aoi? What do you think we have going here?

 

 

 

 

15. What happens to Genji that evening? How does Aoi react and why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. How does Genji spend his time from here on out?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: 5-6 days at the Palace "serving" his father

 

v.

 

2-3 days at his father-in-law's residence, i.e., Aoi's father, or the Minister of the Left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions