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Analysis of the Japanese Culture

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Analysis of the Japanese Culture

2.
In the opening lines, Basho implies the purpose of his subsequent travel. He explains he
was "possessed by a spirit "that left him unable to stay still. Basho's main reason for undertaking
his journey is to become a pilgrim, but on the way, he changes his mind as his thoughts deepen
his enlightenment of the world. The kind of places that Basho finds to be shrines are the temple
of Kumano and the river Shiro. He describes Kumano as a more sacred place than any human
and river Yoshino as pure and clear. Through Basho's entire journey, he attains great insight into
the significance of life and the beauty that nature creates, as evident from his haiku poetry.
3.
The locations that Basho mentions where he leaves verses behind at his cottage are Ueno,
Shrine, Rokujō -no-miya, and the Sumida River. From the prefix, the literary style is like a
record of a journey that contains notes and reminiscences. He provides an account of himself and
where he lives in the first haiku. He explains that the science of the journey is the same locations
he visits as Bashu wanders and the individuals he meets. Moreover, he adds that the things he
hears, the poem he composes, and his communication with the people are evident in the journey
he explains.
4
The evidence that comes out from the statement “despite its air of spontaneity, the
Narrow Road to the Deep North is the product of contrivance and careful shaping” is that Basho
believes that poetry can, at its best, give one a chance to experience the sensation of merging
with the natural environment. One may advance through aspects such as language and become a
star that enlightens one. However, although many things seem not to be in place, Basho seeks
spiritual guidance as his enlightenment. He feels that the error of the shogun has taken away the
significance of value. Basho believes that when an individual does not belong on the voyage, she
no longer lives and hence cannot carry the cost of the individual that goes astray.
6
The poem uses the image of a warrior helmet, which symbolizes strength and endurance,
to bring out the concept of permanence juxtaposed with the transitory. The larger theme of
permanence and transitory in the narrative comes out effectively through the contrast between
the warrior helmet and the cricket's cry. The theme is evident from the characters' struggles to
know their position in the world as forces of history and culture shape the characters' lives as
they change as time moves and travel. The poem effectively highlights life's fragility and beauty
as a theme that develops throughout the entire narrative.
7
As the narrator of the "Narrow Road to the Deep North," Basho has created himself a
humble and reflective traveler. A person who searches for the deeper meaning of life in his
journeys. Basho is a person who is contemplative and reflective in terms of literary persona. He
takes much of his time meditating on nature and the exciting world around him. The instance
where Bashu acts like a priest and not a poet is his focus on spiritual and moral aspects. He
focuses more on how individuals can be enlightened and get an essence of inner peace, similar to
what people get from listening to the priest.
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Reference
Matsuo Bashō. The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches. Penguin, 2010