ENG IV. The book“Balzac and the little Chinese seamstress

ENG IV


Directions:


• Choose 3 of the 5 questions below to answer.

• Summarize the answer generally in your own words in a sentence or two.

• Support your answer using multiple direct quotes (words, short phrases, or full sentences) from the book.

• See the example below for a model of how to answer the questions to earn full points. You can incorporate your quotes directly into your answer as in the example, or you can bullet point quotes under your summary.

• There are 5 points possible for each question for a total of 15 assessment points.

Example:

• Question: What two groups are placed in contrast to each other in the opening scene? What does each group represent in the conflict?

• Answer: The village headman and peasants of the mountain village are in contrast with Luo and the narrator who have just arrived. The village headman and peasants represent the ideas of Mao: Communism and hard work. The headman has “the glint of the vigilant Communist” in his eyes. He also has “three blood spots in his left eye” and “calloused fingers” that represent his manual labor. He has never seen a violin before and calls it a “bourgeois toy.” This shows that he is not familiar with Western culture and it demonstrates his lack of intellect. The boys, on the other hand, represent everything Mao despised, especially education and Western culture. The boys are described as “city youths” who brought a violin with them which “exuded an air of foreignness, of civilisation.” They also know and play music by Mozart, a “Western composer [who] had been banned years ago.” These all demonstrate their higher level of education and knowledge of the Western world.

l. Describe the setting of the book including details about the mountain, the boys’ living quarters, and the weather. How does the setting mirror their circumstances?
2. Describe the boys’ working conditions. What two manual labor jobs were they required to do? How does the work affect the boys both physically and emotionally, especially Luo?

3. Name two different ways the boys are sometimes able to get out of work for part or all of a day. Which side does Sijie seem to be valuing in the conflict between Communism/labor vs. education/Western culture? Explain your answer.

4. Describe the Little Seamstress - physically, personality, and education. What aspects of her seem in keeping with what’s expected of her culturally? What aspects seem more modern?

5. What illness does Luo contract? What are the different curative methods discussed/used by the mineworkers? What are the curative methods used by the Little Seamstress? What does this say about medicine in Chinese culture?