APPROPRIATENESS OF THE TITLE

The title of the story **Living God** by Lafcadio Hearn is appropriate because it
reflects the main theme of the story, which is how a man named Hamaguchi Gohei
became revered as a living god by his people for saving them from a devastating
tsunami¹². The story is based on a historical event that took place in Japan in 1854¹⁵,
and it shows how Hamaguchi's wisdom, courage, and generosity earned him the
respect and gratitude of his community. The title also suggests the contrast between
the Shinto belief in kami, or sacred spirits that manifest in nature and humans¹², and
the Western concept of God as a transcendent and omnipotent being. The story
explores how Hamaguchi's actions embodied the spirit of Shintoism and how he
became a living example of a kami for his people. Therefore, the title “Living God” is
fitting for the story as it captures the essence of Hamaguchi's character and legacy.

THEMES OF THE STORY

Some of the themes of the story **Living God** by Lafcadio Hearn are:
- The power of nature and the fragility of human life: The story depicts the
devastating impact of a tsunami, a natural disaster that can strike without warning
and destroy entire communities. The story also shows how humans are vulnerable to
the forces of nature and how they can only survive by being alert and prepared¹² .
- The value of wisdom and leadership: The story portrays Hamaguchi as a wise
and respected leader who uses his knowledge and experience to save his people
from the tsunami. He observes the signs of nature, such as the unusual retreat of the
sea and the strange behaviour of the animals, and he acts quickly and decisively to
warn his people and guide them to safety¹². He also shows compassion and
generosity by helping the survivors rebuild their lives after the disaster¹².
- The influence of culture and religion: The story reflects the Japanese culture and
religion of Shintoism, which believes in the existence of kami, or sacred spirits, in
nature and humans¹². The story also explores how Hamaguchi's actions earned him
the reverence of his people as a living god, or a human embodiment of a kami¹². The
story also contrasts the Shinto worldview with the Western perspective of God as a
transcendent being.

CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE STORY

Some of the critical remarks on the story “Living God” by Lafcadio Hearn are:
- The story is a remarkable example of Hearn's ability to blend historical facts,
folklore, and personal observation into a vivid and engaging narrative that introduces
the Western reader to the Japanese culture and religion¹².
- The story is also a testimony of Hearn's admiration and respect for the Japanese
people, especially their resilience, courage, and generosity in the face of natural
disasters. Hearn portrays Hamaguchi as a hero who embodies the best qualities of
the Japanese spirit¹².
- The story is not without its flaws, however. Some critics have pointed out that
Hearn's depiction of Shintoism is oversimplified and romanticized, and that he
ignores the complex and diverse aspects of the Japanese religious tradition². Others
have argued that Hearn's portrayal of Hamaguchi as a living god is exaggerated and
sentimental, and that he fails to acknowledge the social and political context of
Hamaguchi's actions³⁴.

PLOT AND SETTINGS OF THE STORY

The plot and setting of the story **Living God** by Lafcadio Hearn are:
- The plot is based on a historical event that took place in Japan in 1854, when a
massive tsunami hit the coast of Hirogawa, Wakayama. The story focuses on the
heroism of Goryo Hamaguchi, a wealthy and respected farmer who saved his village
from the disaster by observing the signs of nature and lighting huge fires to signal his
people to flee to the hills. He also helped the survivors rebuild their homes and lives
after the catastrophe. He was revered as a living god by his people and by other
villagers who heard of his deeds¹²³.
- The setting is a rural village on the edge of a bay, surrounded by rice fields and
mountains. The story describes the natural beauty and tranquility of the place, as
well as the simple and harmonious life of the peasants. The story also depicts the
contrast between the calmness of nature before the tsunami and the violence and
destruction that followed¹²³. The setting also reflects the Japanese culture and
religion of Shintoism, which believes in the presence of sacred spirits in nature and
humans¹².

SIGNIFICANCE OF FIRE IN THE STORY

The significance of fire in the story “Living God” by Lafcadio Hearn is:
- Fire is a symbol of warning and salvation in the story. Hamaguchi uses fire to alert
his people of the impending tsunami and to guide them to safety. He sets fire to his
rice stacks, sacrificing his wealth and livelihood for the sake of his community. The
fire becomes a beacon of hope and a sign of his heroism¹².
- Fire is also a symbol of purification and transformation in the story. Hamaguchi's act
of burning his rice is a form of offering to the gods, a way of expressing his gratitude
and devotion. The fire also transforms him from a mere mortal into a living god, a
human embodiment of a sacred spirit. His people worship him and honor him with
prayers and offerings¹².
- Fire is also a symbol of mystery and horror in the story. Hearn uses fire to create a
contrast between the brightness of the flames and the darkness of the night,
between the warmth of the fire and the coldness of the sea, between the joy of the
festival and the terror of the tsunami. He also uses fire to evoke a sense of awe and
dread, as when he describes the strange phenomenon of phosphorescence in the
water, which makes it look like \"the sea was on fire\"².

ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE STORY

The role of women in the story **Living God** by Lafcadio Hearn is:
- Women are portrayed as passive and dependent characters in the story. They
follow the orders of the men and rely on them for protection and guidance. They do
not have any significant influence or agency in the events of the story¹².
- Women are also portrayed as emotional and compassionate characters in the story.
They express their feelings of fear, sorrow, gratitude, and admiration more openly
than the men. They also show kindness and generosity to the survivors of the
tsunami and to Hamaguchi¹².
- Women are also portrayed as faithful and loyal characters in the story. They respect
and honor Hamaguchi as a living god and offer him prayers and gifts. They also
support and comfort their husbands and sons who work for Hamaguchi¹².

ROLE OF RICE IN JAPANESE CULTURE

The significance of rice in Japanese culture is:
- Rice is a symbol of life and prosperity in Japanese culture. Rice is considered as a
gift from the gods and a source of nourishment and happiness. Rice is also
associated with creation and fertility, as well as blessing and joy¹².
- Rice is a symbol of identity and tradition in Japanese culture. Rice is the staple food
of the Japanese diet and the basis of many dishes and products. Rice is also linked
to the history and mythology of Japan, as well as the Shinto religion and its rituals
and festivals¹²³.
- Rice is a symbol of respect and gratitude in Japanese culture. Rice is treated with
reverence and care, and not wasted or taken for granted. Rice is also offered to the
ancestors, the deities, and the spirits, as well as to guests and friends. Rice is also
used to express thanks and appreciation for the harvest, the work, and the life¹²³.

MODEL QUESTIONS AS PER ISC FORMAT

Some possible answers for each question for 5 marks are:
- Question: What is the title of the story and who is the author? Give a brief
introduction of the author and his works.
Answer: The title of the story is **Living God** and the author is **Lafcadio Hearn**,
also known by his Japanese name **Koizumi Yakumo**. He was a multilingual writer,
translator, and journalist who was born on the Greek island of Levkas in 1850. He
worked as a journalist in the United States and then moved to Japan in 1890, where
he became a professor of English literature and a Japanese citizen. He wrote many
books and articles about the Japanese culture, religion, and literature, such as
**Exotics and Retrospectives**, **In Ghostly Japan**, **Shadowings**, **A Japanese
Miscellany**, and **Kwaidan**. He died in Tokyo in 1904.

- Question: What historical event is the story based on? When and where did it take
place? How did Hamaguchi save his people from the disaster?
Answer: The story is based on a historical event that took place in Japan in 1854,
when a massive tsunami hit the coast of Hirogawa, Wakayama. The story focuses on
the heroism of Goryo Hamaguchi, a wealthy and respected farmer who saved his
village from the disaster by observing the signs of nature and lighting huge fires to
signal his people to flee to the hills. He also helped the survivors rebuild their homes
and lives after the catastrophe.

- Question: What are some of the themes of the story? How are they related to the
Japanese culture and religion?
Answer: Some of the themes of the story are:
- The power of nature and the fragility of human life: The story depicts the
devastating impact of a tsunami, a natural disaster that can strike without warning
and destroy entire communities. The story also shows how humans are vulnerable to
the forces of nature and how they can only survive by being alert and prepared.
- The value of wisdom and leadership: The story portrays Hamaguchi as a wise and
respected leader who uses his knowledge and experience to save his people from
the tsunami. He observes the signs of nature, such as the unusual retreat of the sea
and the strange behavior of the animals, and he acts quickly and decisively to warn
his people and guide them to safety. He also shows compassion and generosity by
helping the survivors rebuild their lives after the disaster.
- The influence of culture and religion: The story reflects the Japanese culture and
religion of Shintoism, which believes in the existence of kami, or sacred spirits, in
nature and humans. The story also explores how Hamaguchi's actions earned him
the reverence of his people as a living god, or a human embodiment of a kami.

These themes are related to the Japanese culture and religion because they show
how rice cultivation, natural disasters, Shinto rituals, and ancestral worship are
integral parts of the Japanese way of life.
- Question: What are some of the symbols used in the story? Explain their
significance and how they enhance the meaning of the story.
Answer: Some of the symbols used in the story are:
- Rice: Rice is a symbol of life and prosperity in Japanese culture. It is considered
as a gift from the gods and a source of nourishment and happiness. Rice is also
associated with creation and fertility, as well as blessing and joy. Hamaguchi's act of
burning his rice is a symbol of warning and salvation, as well as purification and
transformation.
- Fire: Fire is a symbol of warning and salvation, as well as purification and
transformation in the story. Hamaguchi uses fire to alert his people of
the impending tsunami and to guide them to safety. He sets fire to his rice stacks,
sacrificing his wealth and livelihood for the sake of his community. The fire becomes
a beacon of hope and a sign of his heroism. The fire also transforms him from a
mere mortal into a living god, a human embodiment of a sacred spirit. His people
worship him and honour him with prayers and offerings.
- Sea: Sea is a symbol of mystery and horror in the story. Hearn uses sea to create
a contrast between the calmness and violence of nature, between
the warmth of fire and coldness of water, between joyous festival celebration
and terror-stricken disaster. He also uses sea to evoke awe
and dread when he describes phosphorescence phenomenon that makes it look like
"the sea was on fire".
These symbols enhance meaning by adding layers of interpretation to events and
characters in the story. They also help create mood and atmosphere and convey
themes and messages.
- Question: How does Hearn portray Hamaguchi as a living god? What are some of
the qualities and actions that earn him the respect and reverence of his people?
Answer: Hearn portrays Hamaguchi as a living god by showing his wisdom, courage,
generosity, and compassion. Some of the qualities and actions that earn him the
respect and reverence of his people are:

- His wisdom: He is able to read the signs of nature and predict the coming of the
tsunami. He also knows how to use fire as a means of warning and salvation. He is a
respected leader and adviser who helps his people with their interests and disputes.
- His courage: He is not afraid to face the danger and risk his life for the sake of his
people. He acts quickly and decisively to save his village from the disaster. He also
confronts the authorities who try to take away his land and rights.
- His generosity: He sacrifices his wealth and livelihood by burning his rice stacks.
He also spends his own money to build a protective wall and to help the survivors
rebuild their homes and lives. He does not seek any reward or recognition for his
deeds.
- His compassion: He shows kindness and sympathy to the victims of the tsunami.
He also cares for his family, especially his grandson, who is his heir and companion.

- Question: How does Hearn create a contrast between the calmness and violence of
nature in the story? How does he use descriptive language and imagery to depict the
setting and the mood of the story?
Answer: Hearn creates a contrast between the calmness and violence of nature in
the story by using descriptive language and imagery that appeal to the senses. He
uses words and phrases such as "tranquil", "peaceful", "beautiful", "harmonious",
"green", "bright", "warm", "merry" to describe the setting and mood before the
tsunami. He also uses words and phrases such as "terrible", "awful", "horrible",
"fearful", "dark", "cold", "violent", "destructive" to describe the setting and mood after
the tsunami. He also uses similes, metaphors, personification, and hyperbole to
create vivid images of nature's calmness and violence. For example, he compares
the sea to a mirror, a monster, a dragon, a wall, etc. He also gives human qualities to
nature, such as smiling, roaring, leaping, etc. He also exaggerates some aspects of
nature, such as saying that the sea was on fire, or that the wave was higher than a
mountain.

- Question: What is your opinion of the story? Do you find it interesting and
engaging? Why or why not?
Answer: My opinion of the story is that it is interesting and engaging because it tells
a true story of heroism and survival in the face of a natural disaster. It also introduces
me to the Japanese culture and religion, which I find fascinating and informative. I
like how Hearn uses symbols, themes, and language to convey his message and
create an impact on the reader. I also admire Hamaguchi's character and actions,
which inspire me to be more wise, courageous, generous, and compassionate.
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