59 pages • 1 hour read
Haruki MurakamiNorwegian Wood
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1987A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
In Norwegian Wood, characters frequently communicate by letter. What purpose do letters serve in the narrative? How does the distance that letters imply influences the characters’ relationships?
How does Reiko’s character and her experience with her piano student contribute to the theme of Sex, Love, and Silence?
Analyze the use of the song “Norwegian Wood” in the novel. When and why does it appear in the story? What effect does it have on each character? How can you relate the song’s lyrics to the novel?
Apart from Watanabe, all of the major characters in the novel are women. Does Watanabe find it easier to open up to women? How might the story be different if Watanabe developed a close male friendship?
Watanabe is a student of drama and an avid reader of English literature. Several novels are mentioned repeatedly in Norwegian Wood, including two of Watanabe’s favorite books, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. Why did Murakami choose these particular texts? What connection do they have to Norwegian Wood?
Why does Midori give Watanabe so many chances? Is her forgiving nature evidence of her confidence or her insecurity? Do you think they stay together?
Why do relationships frequently occur in trios in Norwegian Wood? How are these trios portrayed?
Watanabe’s life follows a tightly controlled schedule, but he “doesn’t wind [his] spring” on Sundays (197). What is the significance of his routine, and how does Watanabe’s relationship with Sundays change throughout the novel?
How is mental illness represented throughout the novel? Are there certain stigmas you can identify? How has the way we talk about mental health changed since the novel was written in 1987?
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By Haruki Murakami
