Chapter Chronology

Quiz for Listening to the Past: The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon

Select the best answer. Click Submit for each question to turn in your work.

Question

1. Which of these helps explain why late-tenth-century Japan produced so many great women writers?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct: The answer is d. As a consequence of their freedom to write in vernacular Japanese instead of more formal language, women had a better vehicle for exploring everyday life.
Incorrect: The answer is d. As a consequence of their freedom to write in vernacular Japanese instead of more formal language, women had a better vehicle for exploring everyday life.
1. Which of these helps explain why late-tenth-century Japan produced so many great women writers?

Question

2. What was the basis of marriage among the aristocracy in tenth-century Japan?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct: The answer is c. Marriages were made in order to advance political or dynastic interests.
Incorrect: The answer is c. Marriages were made in order to advance political or dynastic interests.
2. What was the basis of marriage among the aristocracy in tenth-century Japan?

Question

3. Which of the following seems to have been of particular interest to Sei Shonagon?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct: The answer is d. Sei Shonagon spent considerable time describing the clothes worn by the characters in her writing.
Incorrect: The answer is d. Sei Shonagon spent considerable time describing the clothes worn by the characters in her writing.
3. Which of the following seems to have been of particular interest to Sei Shonagon?

Question

4. Which of these best describes the dominant tone of The Pillow Book?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct: The answer is d. The Pillow Book treats sexual liaisons between married people as a source of gentle humor.
Incorrect: The answer is d. The Pillow Book treats sexual liaisons between married people as a source of gentle humor.
4. Which of these best describes the dominant tone of The Pillow Book?

Question

5. If accurate, The Pillow Book provides evidence suggesting which of the following?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct: The answer is d. The Pillow Book describes a world in which married people of both sexes go from lover to lover.
Incorrect: The answer is d. The Pillow Book describes a world in which married people of both sexes go from lover to lover.
5. If accurate, The Pillow Book provides evidence suggesting which of the following?