The Japanese Quince

Usually it is straightforward to identify how many characters—major and minor—are in a story. Why is this more difficult in “The Japanese Quince”?

Galsworthy described “The Japanese Quince” as “a satire on the profound dislike which most of us have of exhibiting the feelings which Nature produces in us, when those feelings are for one quite primitive and genuine” (Smit, p. 45). Does Galsworthy’s term “satire” sufficiently describes the literary strategies employed in this story? Read about satire and then argue whether you feel this is the best way to describe this story. Ground your answer in specific evidence drawn from the text.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, “aesthetics” (the nature of beauty) was a major concern of British writers and intellectuals. Some critics have argued that the appreciation of beauty is the central issue at stake in “The Japanese Quince.” Do you agree with this interpretation? What evidence would you use to defend this view?

The BBC filmed Galsworthy’s The Forsyte Saga in 1967. As a sprawling chronicle of a family, these novels were readily adapted to cinematic treatment. Would it be difficult to film “The Japanese Quince”? What challenges would you face and what techniques would you employ to express the story’s meaning?

The distinction between appearance and reality is a common theme in literature. How does “The Japanese Quince explore this theme”? Consider symbols, motifs, diction, and characterization.

Solitude is often viewed as a positive thing whereas isolation is generally considered undesirable. Considering how Galsworthy describes the “lives” of Nilson, the blackbird, and the tree, which of these words—solitude or isolation—are appropriate for each?

Fiction is often constructed out of strongly contrasting patterns, such as light and dark or life and death. In “The Japanese Quince,” however, the conflict is subdued, and the contrasts are less obvious. Reread the story and note as many contrasts as you can, such as between the square garden and the circular path. What patterns can you identify that contribute to the meaning of the story?

In what sense could “The Japanese Quince” be defined as a tragedy? Research the literary definition of tragedy and then consider which tragic elements are relevant to this story.