Atsumori

Naozane

• "The world's oldest extant professional theater" (Norton [earlier edition] 2263).
• "When you feel ten in your heart, express seven in your movements" (Norton [earlier edition] 2263).

• Portrayal of War
• Relationship between Gods and Humans
• Relationship between Chinese and Japanese
• Zen Buddhism
• yugen
• Chorus
• shite, waki, and tsure

• What does "noh" mean?

• Why does noh drama require such talent?
• What is the function of the chorus in a Noh play?
  

• Summarize the plot of this play.
• Who is Atsumori? Who is Rensho? 

• Explain the song of the reapers.

• Why does one normally not hear reapers play flutes?
• How does this chorus compare with the one in Oedipus Rex?

1499-1500:

• How does the description of the battle between the Taira and Genji clans compare to that found in the Mahabharata?

1500:

• How does the fight between Atusmori and Naozane compare with that between Achilles and Hector in the Iliad?

• What is the significance of the fact that the actors are all male?
• What is the "single and unvarying decoration for all Noh plays" (1494)?

• Why has Atsumori "returned"?

1502:

• What is the symbol of changing seasons used to describe?

1503:

• Explain the final five lines.  What change has taken place?