Reading & Questions for Soseki, Botchan, Chapters 6-11

Since the book is relatively short and reads quickly, try to finish it for next week's class. If you don't quite finish, no worries, since you can finish it later (you'll want to for the next paper assignment). I won't post a blog response so you can just focus on reading, reading, reading! But honestly, it goes very quickly--I finished the last chapters in just over one sitting. 

Answer 2 of the following:

Q1: The German term "bildungsroman" means "a novel (roman) that concerns itself with the spiritual/moral growth of an individual over the course of the story." Certainly, Botchan can be seen as one, since we see him grow up, take his first job, and struggle with growing up and becoming a teacher. But it's also expected that a protagonist change over the course of the novel and learn valuable truths about being human. Does Botchan do this? Does he grow up? Or only preserve his 'Tokyo' identity?

Q2: Several times throughout the novel, Botchan's colleagues burst out laughing when he says anything, particularly in a department meeting (as on page 72, when he explains "I had assumed in all innocence that such things [leaving night duty] were allowed"). Why does he strike them as so funny, when Botchan thinks he's a very serious and intimidating person? Are we more often laughing at him, or sympathizing with his plight?

Q3: Botchan is very critical of people who are 'sissies' or too cultured, as when he writes, "Haiku is either for masters like Basho, or for guys like hair stylists. What business does a math teacher have fooling around with little poems about morning glories and the bucket at the well?" (94). Why does he find this ridiculous and offensive? Does it reminds you of Lady Gertrude's phrase in Hamlet, "methinks he doth protest too much"? 

Q4: Why does Botchan never write Kiyo a return letter after she begs him to write more about his daily life? What excuse does he give the reader, since he obviously feels somewhat guilty about it? Might this be one of his most unreliable acts of narration yet?

Q5: The book ends very abruptly with Botchan thrashing Redshirt and The Hanger, then leaving the school forever with Porcupine. We then get a single paragraph summarizing his later life and the death of Kiyo. Why do you think Soseki ends his novel with this surprising epilogue? Does he want us to view this as Botchan's success or failure in life?