The stories of Ryunosuke Akutagawa are often adopted as Japanese language teaching resourses in high school and, among them, "Rashomon" is one of Akutagawa's most frequently used works. In this paper I have selected "Rashomon" as the focus of my research on teaching materials.
While confirming major critical theories of the work to date, I first supply a critical reading which focuses on shifts in the psychology of the main character, "The servant."
Next, from the point of view of expression, I look at the frequent similies employed in the work, and tracing their individual effects, I clarify their organic relationship to the work as a whole.
I also turn my attention to the methodology of the narrative and considering as a starting point the question "What is a story?" I enquire into the significance of this work as a teaching text.