Question

What did Kingsolver have to learn how to do in the Japanese language?

A) Write kanji characters
B) Speak fluently
C) Bow correctly
D) Read classical literature

Answer 1

Kingsolver had to learn how to read classical literature (option D)in Japanese, which required understanding of Classical Chinese, essential for intellectual pursuits in East Asia.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kingsolver needed to learn how to read classical literature in the Japanese language, specifically meriting familiarity with Classical Chinese. This knowledge was essential for intellectual activities, including cultural and governmental endeavors in East Asia.

Engagement with a variety of texts, including Confucian and Buddhist works, comprised part of the necessary literacy for educated individuals. In historical context, women of the court were known for their script-writing and documentation of court life, often in forms like hiragana and kanji.

Particularly in Japan, the development of hiragana offered a way to represent Japanese pronunciation, which differed from Chinese, while kanji characters were used for both visual arts and literary purposes.

Answer 2

Barbara Kingsolver had to learn to A. write kanji characters in the Japanese language.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Japanese language, Barbara Kingsolver had to learn how to write kanji characters. Kanji are characters adapted from Chinese writing that are used in Japanese. They are a key component of written Japanese and are used in various contexts, including literature and everyday communication.

Given the context provided that focuses on historical literature and script development, we can infer that the learning could involve either the complex process of writing in kanji characters, which includes calligraphy, or the in-depth study of classical literature written in Classical Chinese, which was the language used for the most formal writings like government, history, and literary texts in the region.