Story Synopsis

Set in a remote fishing village in Japan, The Sound of Waves is a timeless story of first love. A young fisherman is entranced at the sight of the beautiful daughter of the wealthiest man in the village. They fall in love, but must then endure the calumny and gossip of the villagers.

Focus Question for Unit:

• How does an understanding of literature and language help us to better understand the culture?

In this unit, we will read and analyze a major modern Japanese novel, providing you with multiple perspectives from which to view Japanese culture. Some of the questions that we will explore through our interactive oral activities and supervised writing are as follows:

• Who are the Japanese?
• How has the geography of Japan influenced the economic choices and livelihood of the Japanese?
• How does the geography of Japan influence Japanese social customs and personal psychology?
• How has the Japanese reliance on the environment determined the nature of their religion?
• In what way has the geographical isolation of the Japanese affected their world view?
• How does the climate of Japan influence the outcome of events in the novel?
• How does the Sound of Waves reflect key aspects of Japanese culture?

Vocabulary words to be used throughout the study of this novel

One of your first tasks in your reading journal is to define each of the following words:

plummet
scrutiny
extinguish
implacable
parapet
apprehend
prey 
promontory
bestow
crestfallen

forte
filch
dapple
taciturn
hinder
consummate
crimson
ashen
serene
reverberation

incantation
uncanny
deity
intervene
intoxication
perfunctory
topography
taboo
opulence
squalid

Yukio Mishima Interview (click "cc" for English subtitles)

1985 Full Movie about Yukio Mishima