The Pillow Book

What is the topic of "When I Make Myself Imagine”?

• the places that Sei Shōnagon hopes to visit

• Sei Shōnagon’s hopes for a future career

• a comparison of the roles of women

• a comparison of early Japan and feudal Japan

What is true from this passage:

Yes, they see everyone face to face, not only ladies-in-waiting like themselves, but even Their Imperial Majesties (whose . . . names I hardly dare mention), High Court Nobles, senior courtiers, and other gentlemen of high rank.

• “Yes, they see everyone face to face.”

• “The women in the Palace are all equally brazen.”

• “No, everyone at Court is much the same in this respect.”

• “Women serving in the Palace are bound to be frivolous and wicked.”

Why is this Book credible?

• Sei Shōnagon wishes that all women could experience life within the palace.

• Sei Shōnagon lives in the imperial court and can describe life there.

• Sei Shōnagon can imagine what the imperial court is like.

• Sei Shōnagon can imagine the lives of women who live at home.

What should be considered about the roles of women in feudal Japan to understand the context of The Pillow Book?

• Women had the same rights as men.

• Women had limited opportunities to work.

• Women had the same educational opportunities as men.

• Women could only be married or live with their parents.

What inference can be made about the writer’s opinion?

• She thinks that women who live in the imperial palace serve their husbands.

• She thinks that women who live in the imperial palace are unhappy.

• She thinks that women who live at home have many opportunities.

• She thinks that women who live at home are unhappy.

What is the bias in this passage?

Even those who stay at home lose nothing by having served at Court. In fact they make very good wives. For example, if they are married to a provincial governor and their daughter is chosen to take part in the Gosechi dances, they do not have to disgrace themselves by acting like provincials and asking other people about procedure.

• Sei Shōnagon believes that women who served in the palace should never marry.

• Sei Shōnagon believes that all women should be proud of their different roles in society.

• Sei Shōnagon believes that women who served in the palace make better wives

• Sei Shōnagon believes that women who served in the palace should marry government officials.

What evidence best supports the conclusion that women who served in the palace were freer and happier than other women?

• “Women at Court . . . walk about, looking openly at people they chance to meet.”

• “Women who live at home . . . have not a single exciting prospect in life.”

• “Women in the Palace are all equally brazen.”

• “They themselves are well versed in the formalities.”