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Part Three

Chapter 1 Chapter 7
Chapter 2 Chapter 8
Chapter 3 Chapter 9
Chapter 4 Chapter 10
Chapter 5 Chapter 11
Chapter 6 Chapter 12

Part 3 Chapter 1

1.Why did Shuyu visit the doctor? What were her symptoms? What was the treatment?

 

2. Why were the nurses surprised to learn what Shuyu was eating in the city?

 

3. What is a Golden Lotus? Why were girls encouraged to bind their feet? Why do you think the communists outlawed the practice?

4. How do the people at the hospital treat Shuyu? What do they think of her? Provide as much description as you can.

 

5. Why do the men try to spy on Lin and Shuyu? What do they find out?

DISCUSSION

  1. Write a one paragraph summary of the important events in this chapter.
  2. Reread this chapter, paying attention to Shuyu’s reaction to life in the city. What do you think this shows about Shuyu? Is she mentally retarded? A country bumpkin? Give reasons for your choice.

Part 3 Chapter 2

1. How does Lin describe ‘fate’?

 

2.It is rather ironic that the court that they go to is in an old church. Why?

3. Why was the divorce application turned down for the couple that Lin saw outside the courthouse? Do you agree with the reason the judge gave?

4. Describe the judge’s decision and the process of the divorce.

5. Why was Lin concerned about Hua? Why did he write her the letter and what reasons did he give her?

DISCUSSION

1. "People say marriage is the death of love." What does this quote mean according to Lin.

2. "Building a happy nest on the ex-wife’s miseries." What does this quote mean and how does it apply to the characters in this book?

3. How does Lin feel about the women in his life at this point in his life?

4. What reasons are there for his feelings? What predictions can you make about the future based on his feelings?

Part 3 Chapter 3

1. What happened to Bensheng’s donkey? Why did he want to sell only cooked meat?

2. Did Hua’s boyfriend agree that she should go to the city? What did Lin suspect about the boyfriend?

3. Why did Lin not accept any of the first offers on the house? How much was he eventually paid?

4. How was Second Donkey’s son educated? Why did his level of education surprise Lin?

5. Why did Lin take out the seven damaged 10 yuan notes?

6. Why did Hua not want Lin to give Bensheng any extra money?

7. Why did Bensheng come to Lin’s house at night?

DISCUSSION

  1. What are Lin’s hopes and dreams for his daughter? How does he feel when he returns and sends time with her? Are these the true feelings of a father?
  2. What are Bensheng’s hopes for Hua? Are they also the true feelings of a father?
  3. Who is a better father to Hua: Lin or Bensheng?

Part 3 Chapter 4 

1. What did Manna and Lin give the women at the marriage registration office? Why?

2. What is wrong with Manna at the wedding ceremony?

3. Why did Manna start crying?

4. Why did Lin hope that Haiyan and Honggan would leave him and Manna alone?

5. What news did Honggan give to Lin? Why was this inappropriate?

DISCUSSION

  1.  Discuss how the wedding ceremony was unusual.
  2. "I just want to say it’s unfair that son of a bitch is doing so well." Use examples from the story to prove this statement true.

Part 3 Chapter 5

1. How was Lin and Manna’s love life after the wedding?

2. Why was Lin worried about the rape before the wedding?

3. "An old maid must be a wolf as well as a tiger, so only a young lion should engage her in battle." What does this quote mean and how does it relate to Lin and Manna?

4. Why do they agree to stop having sex so often?

DISCUSSION

1.         For her I have grown bony and pale,

Yet I do not regret my robe

Is turning baggier day by day.

What does this poem mean and how does it relate to Lin? 

2. "Something’s eating me inside, as if I won’t live for long and have to seize every hour." What does this mean and how does it foreshadow the end of the story? List other things that foreshadow the end.

 Part 3 Chapter 6

1. Why is Lin bothered about Manna’s box? What does he find inside it?

2. What is the significance of the buttons? Why does this upset Lin?

3. What bothers Lin about Mai Dong’s letters?

4. What were the typical symptoms of pregnancy that Manna suffered? Was her pregnancy really ‘severe’?

5. How was Manna similar to other women?

6. Why did Lin describe his life as "so tedious, so chaotic, and so exhausting"?

DISCUSSION

  1. "Shuyu was very pleased to hear aout Manna’s pregnancy, because this meant their family would be larger." What does this quote mean?
  2. Imagine what Manna and Lin’s home would have been like if they had gotten married 15 years earlier. Would anything have been different?
  3. Lin is dissatisfied with his married life. Is it really any different to his marriage to Shuyu? If so, how?

Part 3 Chapter 7

  1. What did Lin do that bothered Manna?

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  2. Manna assumed that Lin’s irritation with her was due either to her refusal against the abortion or their abstaining from sex. Is this true? If not, what was the real reason for Lin’s irritation?

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  3. Who is "Snow Goose"? Why did Manna specially hate her?

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  4. What is the significance of this statement to Lin and Manna : ". . . a woman couldn’t live long without attention and love."? Do you agree with it?

Discussion

  1. Was Manna too jealous and too possessive?
  2. "Even if I were a millstone on Lin’s back, I wouldn’t let him drop me so easily. He’s all I have; without him there would no longer be this home." Should a woman try to keep her uncaring husband for the sake of maintaining a home? Do most Thai women think so?
  3. "No decent husband would do such a thing to his wife." Is Manna right to blame Lin? If yes, what is Lin supposed to do?

Part 3 Chapter 8

1. While delivering her baby, Manna yelled at Lin, calling him ‘Miser’, ‘Coward’, ‘Rice bag’, and ‘Chicken Heart’. Why did she call him these things? What do these words imply about Manna’s hidden attitude towards Lin and their relationship?

 

2. Summarize Lin’s thoughts about the connection between money and his relationship with Manna before their marriage (p.270-271) What does this tell you about Lin?

 

3.Why did Lin feel pity for himself?

 

4.How did Lin feel when he first saw his twin sons? Does this surprise you?

 Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think Lin was not happy with his pregnant wife and his twin babies? Was it because he no longer loved Manna?
  2. At the end of the chapter, while carrying the babies, Lin wished to be carried away and have a different life. What kind of life do you think Lin would prefer to lead? Describe it.

Part 3 Chapter 9

  1. Why was Lin seen as extraordinarily fortunate? Did he himself feel so? Why /Why not?

 

  1. How was the babies’ illness significant to Lin?

 

  1. What are Shuyu’s and Hua’s roles in the curing of the babies?

 Discussion Questions

  1. What do you think a good father and mother should be like? Are Lin and Manna good parents?
  2. Shuyu said that Manna’s sons will ‘make our family bigger’. Should Shuyu and Hua counted as members of Lin’s family? What do you think makes up a family?

Part 3 Chapter 10

  1. "Life’s always like this, ridiculous - a monster thrives for a thousand years, while the good suffer and die before their time." What happened that made Lin say this to Manna?

 

  1. How did Lin’s role as a husband help Manna in this chapter?

 Discussion Questions

  1. Is what happened to Geng Yang similar to your prediction about him in Part 2?
  2. Does Manna’s dream convey any significant meaning? Can you find explanations for her questions : "Why didn’t Lin come up to our rescue? Where was he? Is he really too timid to fight to protect as? Why was Mai Dong as mean as that bastard Geng Yang?"

Part 3 Chapter 11

1. What happened to Manna? How did she react to this?

 

2. How did Manna’s fate affect Lin’s daily life?

 

3. Manna, more and more, became friendly to Hua and even wished she could have had a daughter like Hua. What is special about Hua? Give examples to support your answer.

 Summarize Lin’s reflections about his ‘love life’ and his waiting. (p 293-296)

Discussion

  1. Find statements in the scene in which Lin is thinking about his love and his waiting that you strongly agree and/or disagree with. Give reasons why you feel so.
  2. Lin’s reflection ended with the question : "What are you going to do?" Give Lin your suggestion.

Part 3 Chapter 12

  1. Was Shuyu happy living without Lin? Give examples to support your answer.

 

 

  1. Why did Lin not dare to enter Shuyu’s and Hua’s house?

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  2. " . . . We were so glad you came home. You should see Mom - she’s a different person today. . ." What made Shuyu become different?

 

Discussion

  1. Do you think Lin really meant what he said to Shuyu, when he paid her a visit? If not, why did he say so?
  2. Lin called himself "a superfluous man". Why? Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer.