Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What does the headman mean when he describes the violin as 'a bourgeois toy'?

A silly, rich kid toy.

What effect does the music have on the peasants?

It calms and relaxes them.

What is the irony in their re-education?

They aren't actually learning; they are becoming less smart.

How do Luo and the narrator know each other, and why do they believe their re-education will be permanent?

<p>They went to middle school together and both had smart parents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Luo punch the narrator?

<p>Luo is angry and upset about his dad, and the narrator shows affection toward his father.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe the 'Phoenix of the Sky.'

<p>The mountain they live on; it has no large civilizations and is very large and tall.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What temporary job do the two boys obtain that is far better than carrying 'buckets of s**t'?

<p>Going to watch movies and then recite them to their leader.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What literary term is illustrated in the first paragraph of page 15?

<p>Author Intrusion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How would you characterize Luo at this point?

<p>Animated, clever.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How would you characterize the narrator?

<p>Shy, hopeless.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What details suggest that the Chinese Seamstress is different from other people on the mountain?

<p>They are wealthier and people paid attention to them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When the narrator asks Luo whether he has fallen in love with the Chinese Seamstress, what does Luo's response reveal about him?

<p>He feels she is not civilized enough for him.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the time the boys spent in the copper mines symbolic of their re-education?

<p>It is harsh and inconsistent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the narrator convinced that it is Luo crying in the tunnel?

<p>No one else would be down there, weeping.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Luo falls sick with malaria, how does the Little Seamstress help him?

<p>Gathers leaves.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe Four-Eyes.

<p>A village lowe on the mountain; his parents are writers/poets, and he is nerdy and cautious.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happened to all of the Western literature in China at the advent of the Cultural Revolution?

<p>They were burned and banned.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the breaking of Four-Eyes' glasses symbolic of his state of being on the mountain?

<p>It changes him into someone who is less intelligent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbolism of the glasses and the water buffalo?

<p>Glasses symbolize intelligence; the buffalo represents re-education and loss of intellect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of Ursula Mirouet?

<p>It excites the narrator and Luo and makes them happy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the narrator feel pangs of jealousy when Luo goes to tell the Little Seamstress the Balzac story?

<p>Because he has no one to tell the story to.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where does the narrator copy passages from Balzac's book?

<p>On a jacket made of sheepskin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurs at the end of the chapter between Luo and the Seamstress?

<p>They have sex under a tree.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In your own words, describe the effect of the story on the narrator.

<p>It changes their perspective of their situation and shows that there is a chance to escape it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Luo want to tell the Little Seamstress about Ursule Mirouet?

<p>To show his skills and chance of making it out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the narrator write passages from the story on his jacket?

<p>He wants to physically surround himself with the words.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Luo hope to accomplish by continuing to read to the Little Seamstress?

<p>To fall in love.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the intent of the metaphor, 'your coat was resting on the flat of her hands, the way a sacred object lies in the palms of the pious.'?

<p>She wants to take it in and enlighten herself.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the ironic outcome of Luo's and the narrator's story gathering trip?

<p>They didn't get good songs according to Four-Eyes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who does the narrator meet on the way back from the city?

<p>A mother, Four-Eyes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the Little Seamstress' suggestion at the end of page 89 reveal about her?

<p>She isn't concerned about getting into trouble.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the narrator alarmed by seeing Four-Eyes' mother in his dream?

<p>He was trying to steal the books in the dream.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the preparation of the stew reflect communist ideals?

Signup and view all the answers

How do the villagers get away with slaughtering the buffalo?

<p>By pretending it was an accident.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do Luo and the narrator feel when they open the suitcase?

Signup and view all the answers

Why do they see being uninvited to Four-Eyes' going away party as a positive turn of events?

<p>It gives them a chance to steal the suitcase of books.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do the boys intend to do with the stolen books?

<p>Read them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is ironic about Four-Eyes drinking the buffalo's blood?

Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the buffalo tail and the glasses?

<p>They symbolize the wrath of a buffalo and connect the two.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Jean-Christophe affect the narrator?

<p>Shows him that there can be individual action and inspires him to be independent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Luo represent the typical 'knight' of a fairytale?

<p>He is brave and weathers the storm.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the raven?

<p>It symbolizes death, danger, and ominous things.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what way does the narrator grow as both a storyteller and a reader during his retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo?

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What does the headman do when he overhears the boys telling the story of The Count of Monte Cristo?

Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Old Miller's Story.

Signup and view all the answers

Describe Luo's Story.

Signup and view all the answers

Describe The Little Seamstress' Story.

Signup and view all the answers

What is the reality of the Little Seamstress' situation?

<p>She is pregnant and has to deal with it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Consider the narrator's payment to the doctor who helps the Little Seamstress. What is the symbolic meaning of this payment?

Signup and view all the answers

What type of imagery is used about the burning books?

<p>Sound imagery to make the burning of the books more significant.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How has the Little Chinese Seamstress changed?

<p>She tries to be a city girl, changes wardrobe, is more educated, and more independent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the final line of the book mean?

<p>Pride in what she knows about her new self.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can this book be read as a coming-of-age novel?

<p>It shows how people grow and change with the world around them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Themes and Concepts

  • Bourgeois Toy: Violin symbolically represents wealth and frivolity, highlighting class distinctions.
  • Music's Influence: Provides emotional relief and tranquility, contrasting the harsh realities faced by the peasants.
  • Irony of Re-education: Intended educational reform leads to ignorance rather than knowledge, focusing on farming skills instead of broader subjects.
  • Friendship: Luo and the narrator's bond from middle school illustrates shared experiences and beliefs about permanence in education.

Character Development

  • Luo: Depicted as animated and clever, struggles with emotional turmoil resulting in violent outbursts.
  • Narrator: Characterized as shy and hopeless, contrasting Luo’s dynamic personality.
  • Four-Eyes: Nerdy and cautious individual from a literary background, symbolizing intellectual curiosity and caution.
  • Little Chinese Seamstress: Represents hope, love, and the complexities of personal growth influenced by literature and external expectations.

Symbolism

  • Phoenix of the Sky: The mountain symbolizes isolation yet also serves as a place for personal discovery.
  • Glasses and Water Buffalo: Glasses symbolize wisdom and vision; the buffalo represents a loss of intelligence through oppressive systems.
  • Buffalo Slaughter: Highlights tactics used by villagers to survive under oppressive regimes, reflecting universal themes of survival and deception.

Impact of Literature

  • Secret Western Literature: Represents forbidden knowledge that excites Luo and the narrator, adding layers of mystery and allure.
  • Extended Effects of Storytelling: Such as the impact of “Ursule Mirouet” on the narrator’s understanding of love and relationships, revealing emotional awakening through literary engagement.
  • Danger of Literature: Explores the double-edged nature of stories, which can inspire but also incite danger in contexts of societal constraints.

Emotional Growth and Realizations

  • Awakening Hope: Narrator’s actions, such as writing on his jacket, symbolize a yearning for change and connection to literature.
  • Coming of Age: Highlights transformative experiences that change the narrator and Luo, fostering maturation and self-identity.
  • Complex Relationships: The evolving dynamic with the Little Seamstress encapsulates themes of desire, societal expectations, and personal autonomy.

Final Insights

  • Reality of the Little Seamstress: Pregnancy underlines harsh realities that contrast the romanticized view of love and freedom.
  • Symbolic Payment to the Doctor: Reflects the sacrifices made for personal connections and highlights the value of literature in mitigating harsh realities.
  • Significance of the Ending: The final lines celebrate self-discovery and growth, embodying a blend of pride and awareness spurred by literature.

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Description

Test your understanding of the themes and characters in 'Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress' with this quiz. Explore the implications of music and education in the story and uncover the irony of the protagonists' experiences. Perfect for students and literature enthusiasts alike!

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