The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/the-tale-of-the-bamboo-cutter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the literary genre?Monogatari (Japanese prose narrative)
2. What is the period of origin?Late Heian period (late 9th or early 10th century)
3. What is the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter about?It is a Japanese story about a baby found inside a bamboo stalk, a princess from the Moon, and the brave suitors who try to win her love by doing impossible tasks.
4. Who is Kaguya-hime?Kaguya-hime is the moon princess who lives with a bamboo cutter and his wife on Earth, and later she returns to the Moon to fulfill her celestial duty.

Monogatari: A classical Japanese literary form, typically a fictional prose narrative blending historical and legendary elements.
Heian Period: A formative era in Japanese history (794-1185) marked by significant cultural and artistic development, particularly within the imperial court.
Celestial: Relating to the sky or outer space; heavenly or divine.