–The story’s narrator is revisiting a place he once lived. Explain the significance that this “revisiting” has in relation to the themes of the story.
–What is the connection between our narrator and Weifu? Why do you think so much of the story is spent on Weifu’s life, while the narrator shares very little about his own life experiences?
–Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
–Weifu recalls when he and the narrator used to pull the beards off religious statues in the Temple when they were younger. What is the significance of this memory?
–Describe an instance of filial piety in the story. What is its significance?
–What aspects of this short story seem to you to be particularly modernist?
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother.
Weifu went to town to rebury his brother only to find his coffin empty. There was not a single trace of his little brother left, no corpse, clothes and not even a piece of hair which was supposed to be the hardest substance to rot. Honestly, he didn’t have to go through with his mother’s plan because there was no reason to rebury someone that’s not there. His mother would never know yet he still did it anyways to fulfill his filial obligation. It showed how strong filial piety is in Chinese culture.
–Weifu recalls when he and the narrator used to pull the beards off religious statues in the Temple when they were younger. What is the significance of this memory?
The significance of this memory is to show how different their dreams and desires were in their youth as opposed to now. Before they were willing to rebel and go against traditions and the suffocating structures of the old. Now Weifu in particular is a conformist. That desire to be a factor that influences change in the world is gone. It has been replaced with a conformist attitude of letting things slide and accepting the emptiness brought about by his actions or more specifically the lack thereof.
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
The significance of the reburying of Weifu’s little brother, is the idea that the coffin is empty and how Weifu responds. As he discovers the empty coffin, Weifu still continues to go through the motions of reburying him but with no emotional connection. This is a theme throughout the story as Weifu continues to go through his life and the motions of life with no actual connections or emotions.
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
When Weifu’s is told that he has to bury his brother again it plays a big role. Partially because he didn’t know his brother and also because his mother asked him to do it. With Weifu not knowing his brother and longing for something to find in the coffin shows the connection you’ll always have with family. When the coffin is empty and he continues to rebury his brother next to his father it continues the connection. Cause instead of returning the box he fulfilled his mothers wishes ,to ensure her happiness.
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
The significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother is fulfilling his mother’s request. He does not know his brother and his bones turn to dust, he still carries on his duty. Weifu does all of this so his mother could be happy and her heart would be at ease.
–Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
The significance of the reburying Weifu’s little brother even if this is an empty coffin is of tradition and respect to his mother. He wants to give his mom a peace of mind and make sure tradition is kept. That’s what they did when his brother first had left to give his mother some peace, is something he’s willing to do for the same reason. He only wishes to see his mother happy.
–What is the connection between our narrator and Weifu? Why do you think so much of the story is spent on Weifu’s life, while the narrator shares very little about his own life experiences?
Well in the beginning of the story the narrator seemed to be in a bad mood and feeling good but when he sees Weifu and Weifu speaks of his experiences , it doesn’t compare to the narrator’s life. It’s almost to show a lesson to the reader that hey your life isn’t that bad there’s people going through worst.
The story’s narrator is revisiting a place he once lived. Explain the significance that this “revisiting” has in relation to the themes of the story.
The reason why he wanted to revisit a place he once lived was to bring back the nostalgic feeling you once enjoyed, what he found out about his visit id that its painful to revisit a place you might of once loved. Nostalgia could bring pain. He was expecting to be happy when he went to visit but found out it was a mistake. This relates to the theme because after he goes to get artificial flowers, returning to the cemetery would be pointless since flowers already grew there. Theme = Don’t always return to the past, you’ll be disappointed or it might have moved on without you.
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
The significance of the story is about reburying Weifu’s little brother coffin from one place to another place. Weifu’s come here to do what his mother asked him to do.Thus when Weifu open the coffin he does not sees his brother body but as a filial piety, respecting that his mother want. Weifu rebury his little brother coffin for his mother satisfactions.
What is the connection between our narrator and Weifu? Why do you think so much of the story is spent on Weifu’s life, while the narrator shares very little about his own life experiences?
The narrator and Weifu came from similar background and happened to be friends. However, in spite of being in a better position our narrator didn’t see happy and wasn’t quite okay with the change. But as Weifu describes his lifestyles and certain events, it comes quite clear how bad shape Weifu is. He is more life of living on social obligation which is very pathetic. I think the whole thing was a lesson for our narrator and us so that we can be happy with things we have. Besides, it didn’t seem like the narrator had much to complain about.
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
Given the context of the story, the significance of this story lies with the idea of filial piety versus that which deviates from such traditional concepts to embrace logic and questioning. In this instance, we can see that Weifu has chosen to stop questioning and stay on a more traditional course. Even though he didn’t find any remains of his brother in the coffin, he reburied it for his mother had asked him to and he wished to remain respectful of her wants.
What is the connection between our narrator and Weifu? Why do you think so much of the story is spent on Waifu’s life, while the narrator shares very little about his own life experiences?
It looks like both the narrator and waifu suffers in their life and they share some memories from te past. However, after the narrator went over what happened in waifu’s life he shocked and felt that waifu suffered more than him and he deserves the big share of the story to show people a very important aspect of life which is that always will be somebody suffers more than you.
What aspects of this short story seem to you to be particularly modernist?
At the last part of the passage, Weifu says “In future? I don’t know. Just think: Has any single thing turned out as we hoped of all we planned in the past? I’m not sure of anything now, not even of what I will do tomorrow, nor even of the next minute. . . .” It obviously shows reality of time and life thus clearly shows modernism because it breaks down the beliefs of god which often tells people what to do in the future.
The story’s narrator is revisiting a place he once lived. Explain the significance that this “revisiting” has in relation to the themes of the story.
The narrator is chasing a feeling or an ideal. Back when he and weifu could draw a line in the sand and stand by it.
Weifu doesn’t actually seek to truely honor the wishes of his mother. He just needs some principles to attach himself to. He debated selling the casket back to the shop and he gave the flowers to the sister and told his mom that the girl was still alive.
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
He does this to fulfill his mother’s requests. Even if it is an empty coffin, it is something that his mother wanted so he did it to make her happy.
Describe an instance of filial piety in the story. What is its significance?
Weifu is revisiting the place with the only purpose of fulfill and honor the wish of his mother. The devotion he feels for his mother is very important to him as it is in all the oriental cultures. Although Weifu considers futile the ritual of the reburying of his little brother, he does it all the same for the traditional respect toward the wishes of the parents.