Passage One pp. 11 — 14
“The anteroom was cluttered … Chikako hastened to inform Kikuji’s mother.” Interpretive Questions Why does Kikuji continue to allow Chikako to involve herself in his life? Why does Chikako feel the need to trick Kikuji? Why does Chikako
want Kikuji to marry the Inamura girl? Despite the fact that Chikako had an affair with Kikuji’s father, why does his mother takes a liking to her?
Claims Kikuji is unable to relinquish his connection with Chikako because he is not capable of genuinely confronting the lies that had been part of his life [specify which lies to explain the connection to relinquishing Chikako] When the tea ceremony community changes, Kikuji still notices the aesthetic moments and craves the beauty of the tradition because … Chikako sets up the miai as a show of power, of control, and of presence in the Mitani family because…
Passage Two pp. 35-38 “Some two weeks later … She is too much the reverse of bad.” Interpretive Questions Why does Fumiko ask Kikuji for forgiveness? What does Kikuji mean by, “She is too much the reverse of bad”?
Why does Mrs Ota make Kikuji feel secure? (Despite her affair with his father, etc.)
What is the relationship between Mrs Ota and her daughter? [More general / more difficult] Why does Kikuji have an affair with Mrs Ota?
Claims Fumiko is trying (and failing) to preserve the dignity of her family [mother’s] name just as she and Kikuji try (and fail) to preserve the dignity of the tea ceremony.
