Rich in sensitivity, quality and variety, Japanese literature ranks as one of the great literatures of the world. While some of its works are over 1,300 years old, they still capture us with their sensitivity to nature. Their writing is artfully worded and structured, and it has always been characterized by its lyrical beauty. In this essay, we will look at how Japanese literature has evolved over the years, beginning at the first complete works, and …showed first 75 words of 1615 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1615 total…poetic structures, such as tanka and haiku.) Keene, Donald. Japanese Literature: An Introduction For Western Readers. New York: Grove Press Inc., 1955. (Mr. Keene's introduction was informational in showing the various types of Japanese literature in an understandable, easy-to-read styles) Keene, Donald. The Pleasures of Japanese Literature. New York: Columbia University Press, 1988. (This book gave me specific details on the various types of novels, and formats of poetry and theatre that could be found within Japan)