–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?
What is the connection between our narrator and Wei-fu? Why do you think so much of the story is spent on Wei-fu’s life, while the narrator shares very little about his own life experiences?
The beginning of the story we find the narrator feeling like a stranger in a town that he used to know so well. He expresses his want of isolation, until an old colleague shows up at the wine shop. This colleague, Wei-fu, rather reluctantly agrees to join the narrator at his table and then goes into two unique anecdotes that seem to sum up the feelings of both himself and the narrator.
Rather than reminiscing on his own stories, the narrator is joined by this second character that feels the same sort of longing for the past that the narrator feels and offers stories that reiterate these feelings. Wei-fu then goes on to tell the narrator of his experiences that hone in on the fact that the past is long gone, and now “I … am willing to let things slide and to compromise.”
This provides a more dramatic approach in explaining the origin of Wei-fu’s new state of mind and also helps the reader in understanding the attitude the narrator now finds himself in.
–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.
“Revisiting” makes narrator feels like a stranger. School changed and people left as time goes on. It shows how things change with modernize Chinese culture at 1911 republican revolution. It also expressed a feeling of homelessness. And it represent the plight of modern intellectuals in China between innovation and conservatism. Behind this is the desolation of Lu Xun’s heart.
–Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
Weifu went to town, wanted to rebury his brother’s body, find his coffin empty. There was not anything leftover in the grave. Not even a piece of hair. Honestly, he didn’t have to go through with his mother’s plan because there was not anything left to transfer his brother body,but he did not want to reject his mother wish. Though he said to his colleague about taking of temple images. He said that is of him now. The filial piety is in Chinese culture even after the revolution in china .
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 a recollection of a different time, mindset, and stage in life. The men were once full of ideas and headed toward a more open spirited and non conventional path, whereas now they have gradually lost that young spirit. Weifu tends to his mother’s needs and the narrator is visiting home, they’re not striving with ambition like they used to.
–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?
It shows that Weifu used to be a radical young man. I think the beard here also symbolizes the stubbornness and strength of the feudal forces, while he is a modernist.
Describe an instance of filial piety in the story. What is its significance?
An instance of filial piety ni the story would be Weifu meeting his mothers desires. WEifu’s mother requested that Weifu reburied his brother. Weifu upon arrival to the grave cite find nothing in his brothers grave. Yet, Weifu decides to bury an empty coffin to please his mother by completing her hearts desires.
Explain the significance of the story about reburying Weifu’s little brother?
It shows us how people care about tradition because what Wefu did to hie little brother is pointless. He would do that because his mother asked him to do it. He feels comfort when he finish this job that his mother gave him. As I see, it is meaningless for weifu to rebury his brother because his brother already died a long time ago. There definitely nothing left in the coffin. From Weifu’s behavior I can see traditional ideas have been deeply rooted in people’s hearts.