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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who said they had left the grass in the garden outside the palace to grow long so they could admire the dew?

2. Which of these was included in the list of things that had lost their power?

3. A promotion to what rank changed a man who was previously a Subordinate Official so much that he seemed to have been reborn?

4. What did the guests pour wine into at the rehearsal for the Special Festivals?

5. Who did Shonagon say was especially likely to be confronted with shameful things if he was a light sleeper?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the Empress say that she could understand why Shonagon would be particularly impressed by Tadanobu's finding the perfect lines to say at a gathering following a service for the late Chancellor?

2. Why did Tadanobu tell Nobukata about the secret code he and Shonagon spoke in?

3. Why did Shonagon say a man who had been promoted from Subordinate Officer to Chamberlain seemed like he had been reborn?

4. Why did the Empress keep the note Yukinari sent with the square cakes?

5. Why did Shonagon think it was important to keep ones inkstone and writing utensil in good condition?

6. Why was Shonagon concerned about having to write the opening lines to a few lines of poetry she received when Kinto was present?

7. Why was Shonagon uncertain of how to reply to Yukinari's gift of square cakes?

8. Why was Shonagon happy to receive a note from a man that read "the rain that swells the water?"

9. How did people respond to Masahiro being dressed more elegantly than most men and why did they respond that way?

10. Why did the priest tell the women to keep talking all night after overhearing their conversation about where the wood for the Chamberlains' batons come from and talking about the names of clothing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was life in the women's apartments like for Shonagon? What was the building like? How did the people interact? What role did the apartments have in Shonagon's social life?

Essay Topic 2

What is Shonagon's writing style? What kinds of words did she use? How did she express her opinions?

Essay Topic 3

Midway through the book we see a shift in Shonagon's writing style to a more developed style of prose. Describe the shift. What changes in her writing style? What does it reveal about Shonagon?

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