Podcast
Questions and Answers
What initial feeling primarily motivates the narrator to remain on the train past his stop?
What initial feeling primarily motivates the narrator to remain on the train past his stop?
- A desire to avoid returning home. (correct)
- A sudden interest in exploring unfamiliar places.
- Intoxication-induced confusion about his location.
- Curiosity about the other passengers.
The immediate reaction of the other passengers to the 'homeless man' primarily highlights which aspect of their character?
The immediate reaction of the other passengers to the 'homeless man' primarily highlights which aspect of their character?
- Politeness and desire to maintain personal space in public.
- Courage and willingness to confront potentially threatening individuals.
- Prejudice and discomfort towards those perceived as different. (correct)
- Empathy and concern for the less fortunate.
The narrator's internal conflict upon seeing the 'homeless man' transform into a woman is best described as a struggle between:
The narrator's internal conflict upon seeing the 'homeless man' transform into a woman is best described as a struggle between:
- Fear and romantic attraction.
- Intrigue and moral judgment.
- Confusion and rational explanation. (correct)
- Disbelief and scientific curiosity.
The woman's description of the 'special language' they are using suggests that it is primarily based on:
The woman's description of the 'special language' they are using suggests that it is primarily based on:
When the woman asks, 'How long have you been down here in Tokyo?', the narrator finds it odd because of the phrase:
When the woman asks, 'How long have you been down here in Tokyo?', the narrator finds it odd because of the phrase:
The woman's analogy of trains as 'a straight line with no end' contrasts with the common perception of trains as:
The woman's analogy of trains as 'a straight line with no end' contrasts with the common perception of trains as:
The narrator's description of Atsuko's daily routines primarily serves to emphasize:
The narrator's description of Atsuko's daily routines primarily serves to emphasize:
The narrator's childhood memory of laughing with a friend in the winter, despite the cold, is used to illustrate:
The narrator's childhood memory of laughing with a friend in the winter, despite the cold, is used to illustrate:
The 'cluster of sharply delineated images' that float into the narrator's mind are triggered by:
The 'cluster of sharply delineated images' that float into the narrator's mind are triggered by:
The station scene imagined by the narrator, with its vivid details, primarily represents:
The station scene imagined by the narrator, with its vivid details, primarily represents:
The woman's statement 'You never have to go back to that station again, if you don't want to' suggests:
The woman's statement 'You never have to go back to that station again, if you don't want to' suggests:
The narrator's feeling of encountering 'something much larger than myself' refers to:
The narrator's feeling of encountering 'something much larger than myself' refers to:
Atsuko's actions at the station drugstore, particularly her hesitation over shampoo, are portrayed as:
Atsuko's actions at the station drugstore, particularly her hesitation over shampoo, are portrayed as:
The phrase 'ugly duckling dream' is used by the narrator to describe:
The phrase 'ugly duckling dream' is used by the narrator to describe:
The woman's statement, 'That's the way it is when you first get married,' in response to the narrator's description of Atsuko, implies:
The woman's statement, 'That's the way it is when you first get married,' in response to the narrator's description of Atsuko, implies:
The narrator's final thought, 'Incredible man, farewell,' upon the woman transforming back to the homeless man, indicates:
The narrator's final thought, 'Incredible man, farewell,' upon the woman transforming back to the homeless man, indicates:
The woman's eyes are described as reminding the narrator of 'the ceiling of the first planetarium I ever saw as a child' because they are:
The woman's eyes are described as reminding the narrator of 'the ceiling of the first planetarium I ever saw as a child' because they are:
The narrator's description of feeling 'immeasurably small and insignificant by comparison' after the transformation highlights:
The narrator's description of feeling 'immeasurably small and insignificant by comparison' after the transformation highlights:
The 'stench emanating from his body' before the transformation and the 'light, floral scent of perfume' afterwards serve as:
The 'stench emanating from his body' before the transformation and the 'light, floral scent of perfume' afterwards serve as:
The train journey in the story can be interpreted metaphorically as representing:
The train journey in the story can be interpreted metaphorically as representing:
Flashcards
Turning Ceremony Inside Out
Turning Ceremony Inside Out
A situation where a woman encountered in a bar turns ceremony inside out and bestows herself without small talk
Plot Summary of 'Newlywed'
Plot Summary of 'Newlywed'
The narrator is on a train after drinking with buddies and misses his stop, then a homeless man transforms into a woman who speaks in a unique language.
Narrator's Reluctance
Narrator's Reluctance
The narrator is reluctant to go home to his wife, Atsuko, feeling disconnected from her daily life and routines.
Unique Language
Unique Language
Signup and view all the flashcards
Atsuko's Character
Atsuko's Character
Signup and view all the flashcards
Narrator's Feelings Toward Atsuko
Narrator's Feelings Toward Atsuko
Signup and view all the flashcards
Study Notes
Banana Yoshimoto - Newlywed
- The narrator met an incredible person on the train once, years prior.
- At the time of the event, the narrator was 28 and had been married to Atsuko for about a month.
- After an evening of heavy drinking with friends, he boarded the train home but remained seated past his stop.
- Despite realizing his error, he felt an unknown reluctance to return home.
- A homeless man boarded the train, his appearance and odor causing other passengers to move away.
- The narrator remained, feeling a strange contempt for those who avoided him.
- The homeless man sat beside the narrator and spoke to him, commenting on his reluctance to go home.
- At first the narrator ignored the man, but he persisted
- The homeless man whispered in the narrator's ear, repeating his question.
- The man's voice and presence transmuted, transforming from the homeless man into a woman in a dress.
- The narrator opened his eyes to see her, and the man was gone.
- The woman questioned why he didn't want to go home.
- The woman was beautiful, well dressed, possibly foreign, and not familiar.
- She wore a corsage of flowers over her breasts.
- The narrator attempted to rationalize her as a drunk dream of sorts - beauty from an ugly bum.
- The narrator admitted he did not want to go home to the woman.
- Nobody else boarded, or seemed to notice the two.
- The woman called him "strange" and he responded by telling her not to "jump to conclusions".
- The woman gave him a searching look, and he admitted that he had been an old bum "a minute ago."
- She said that some are scary just to look at and asked about his wife.
- He describes his wife Atsuko as petite, slender with long hair and narrow eyes that may be interpreted as smiling, even when angry.
- He described Atsuko waiting for him with a smile, flowers, sweets, the TV on, fresh rice on the alter
- On Sundays she spends all her time performing chores for others, and she cries when she watches trashy shows.
- She talks to her stuffed animaIs and has fun on the phone
- The woman nodded, but the narrator was incredulous that she could have any understanding.
- The narrator had a flashback to childhood when he and a companion laughed at the cold weather knowing it wouldn't help.
- The woman asked him how long he had been in Tokyo.
- She asked him why he characterized being in Tokyo as being "down" there?
- The narrator questioned her: 'Hey, are you speaking Japanese? What language are you using?'
- She explained that she spoke in a language of empathy that was specific to him.
- She stated that the language changes as new people join or leave the conversation.
- She can tell that he's a transplant and she knows he's uncomfortable in the big city.
- She knew that real Tokyoities do not speak this language.
- The woman claimed she speaks with older woman in a solitudinous manner.
- To men that lust, she speaks in the language of lust.
- The narrator and the woman discussed language compatibility as a function with his experiences.
- He moved to Tokyo right after his mother died when he was 18 and he's been here ever since.
- When asked about his marriage, he stated that he and Atsuko live in different worlds and that she obsesses over the home.
- The vision evoked vivid memories of his childhood and lost loved ones.
- He felt connected to these lost souls and found solace in their proximity.
- Asked about the narrators destination he learned that the woman simply rides around and observes.
- She saw trains as being straight lines and others think of them as being small boxes.
- The narrator saw his train as a "safe box" that took him to the place he desired.
- The woman stated that taking a train is like life, or like thinking about a train ride.
- She asked him about what occupies his mind and she stated that hers contemplate the potential of the train.
- She felt that his attention was captured because he missed his station and because she desired to learn more.
- She was carried away from the narrator's home and through the darkness of night.
- The being felt familiar to the narrator, like a place before his birth.
- The narrator had to flee for his life.
- She stated that he may live in any town he chooses.
- The narrator tried to imagine what his town looks like once he gets home.
- She recalled specific details about his town and the people that go there and that may reside there.
- She imagined that Atsuko walks slowly towards the station, despite her bun looking dowdy.
- She described how he wants Atusko to hurry through choosing shampoo, so that he may get on with his life.
- Regardless of how the narrator feels, she chooses her shampoo with the utmost-care.
- The narrator stated that Atusko eventually becomes something beyond a mere mother or wife.
- The narrator is both terrified and captivated by Atusko, who spins a beautiful but polluted web.
- She reminded him that is just how marriage is to begin with!
- She gave pause at the "honeymoon stage" which worried him.
- He was still young, but couldn't dwell on it so he was still nervous.
- The narrator was going home for real this time, and he was ready to get off at the next station.
- She gave the nod of a good time.
- As the train sped forward, the narrator stated that he felt as if the two had been together "a very long time."
- Finally, "the dirty bum [was] sleeping peacefully by my side."
- "Incredible man, farewell."
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
