Activity

1. What kind of literature was the earliest to be written, of which very few works remain?
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2. What happened once the Japanese learned about Chinese literature? What happened to
their own language?
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3. If reading was a very popular pastime, what kind of reading did these people practice
back then?
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4. What was the importance of women in early Japanese literature?
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5. What are the two oldest works in the Japanese language?
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6. Do you think the Japanese were very concerned about history? Why do you say so?
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7. How important are plays to the Japanese?
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8. How was poetry an expression of intellectualism and love?

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9. What was the most common topics for poems? How does this reflect the priorities of
the Japanese?
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10. How is Western influence manifested in Japanese literature? Is this a healthy
influence? Defend your answer.
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