Name: Nguyễn Thị Thanh Huyền

ID Troy: 1608120

Assignment 3 (ENG-2206). Literature of Early Modern East Asia

1. Matsuo Basho’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North

1.1. How long was Basho’s trip to the Northeast? In what year did it take place? Who was his
companion during the trip?
- Basho's trip to the Northeast took approximately five months. He began his journey in
the spring of 1689. He was accompanied by a companion, Sora, who is mentioned in
his travelog.

1.2. Write down the places Basho stopped by during his trip (from the excerpts in the
textbook) and the activities he did in each place.
- Kashima: Basho stopped at Kashima Shrine, where he observed the rituals and
festivities of a festival dedicated to the deity.
- Shirakawa: In Shirakawa, Basho visited Lord Mito's residence and experienced the
beauty of the cherry blossoms.
- Hiraizumi: Basho spent a significant amount of time in Hiraizumi, where he explored
the temples and gardens, including the famous Konjikido (Golden Hall). He also
learned about the history and culture of the area, including the story of the local
warrior Fujiwara no Kiyohira.
- Matsushima: Basho visited Matsushima, known for its picturesque bay filled with
islands, and wrote poems about the natural beauty of the area.
- Kisakata: In Kisakata, Basho described the local scenery and visited a monument
dedicated to the poet Saigyo.
- Yonezawa: He stopped in Yonezawa and observed the preparations for a falconry
event.
- Sakata: Basho visited a poet named Kyorai in Sakata and participated in a poetry
gathering.
- Kisagata: He noted the beauty of Kisagata Bay and its surrounding landscape.
- Ichinoseki: Basho admired the scenic beauty of Ichinoseki, which he described in his
travelog.

2. Cao Xueqin’s The Story of the Stone

General:
2.1. In what situation did Cao Xueqin write the novel The Story of the Stone?
- Cao Xueqin wrote "The Story of the Stone" during the Qing Dynasty in the 18th
century. He was in a situation of personal and financial turmoil, and this novel is
believed to reflect his own experiences and emotions.

2.2. What story about what characters is the core of the novel?
- The core of the novel revolves around the Jia family and, in particular, the tragic love
story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu, two central characters in the narrative. Their
love, along with the overarching themes of family, society, and the decline of the
aristocracy, is at the heart of the story.
Chapter 96:
2.3. In the excerpt from chapter 96, where is Jia Zheng about to do? How does his mother
respond to that event? What does she want to discuss with Jia Zheng? How old is she when
she talks to Jia Zheng?
- In Chapter 96, Jia Zheng is about to take the imperial examination. His mother, Lady
Dowager Jia (Grandmother Jia), responds with concern and asks him to discuss his
worries with her. She is around sixty years old when she talks to Jia Zheng.

2.4.What plan does Daiyu hear about from the maid named Simple? How does she respond to
her when she knows about that story? What does she do after that?
- Daiyu hears from her maid Simple about a plan to send her away to a distant place,
which upsets her greatly. After hearing this news, she cries and refuses to eat, deeply
distressed by the idea of being separated from Baoyu. She takes to her bed in sorrow.

Chapter 120:
2.5. In what situation does Jia Zheng meet up again with his son Baoyu? With whom does
Baoyu go when the meeting takes place? How does Jia Zheng understand and explain this
strange meeting?
- In Chapter 120, Jia Zheng meets up again with his son Baoyu when Baoyu is visiting
the Temple of the Iron Fence. Baoyu is accompanied by a Taoist priest, and they are
in the company of a group of young women who have disguised themselves as boys.
ia Zheng is initially puzzled by this strange meeting but eventually concludes that it is
a case of Baoyu being manipulated by supernatural forces or spirits. He doesn't fully
understand the true nature of the gathering and believes that supernatural influences
are at play, leading to Baoyu's unusual behavior.

3. The Song of a Soldier’s Wife (Chinh phụ ngâm)

3.1. Summarize the biography of the author and the translator of The Song of a Soldier’s Wife
in two short paragraphs (about 50 words each)
- "The Song of a Soldier's Wife" (Chinh phụ ngâm) is a Vietnamese poem written by
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Huyen, who was born in the 19th century. She was a talented poet
and the wife of a soldier. The poem has been translated into English by Huynh Sanh
Thong, a renowned Vietnamese-American scholar and translator who made
significant contributions to the study and translation of Vietnamese literature into
English.

3.2. In what situation is the Song composed? Who are the main characters of the story?
- The poem is composed during a time of war and separation. The main characters are
the soldier, who is away at war, and his wife, who remains at home. The poem vividly
conveys the emotions and longing of the wife as she awaits her husband's return.

3.3. How are the main characters and the landscape around them described when they have to
part?
- The main characters and the landscape are described with great emotional depth when
they have to part. The wife is depicted as devoted and sorrowful, and the soldier is
described as brave but distant due to his duty. The landscape around them, including
the river and the forest, is used to symbolize the separation, emphasizing the couple's
longing for each other as they part. The poem poignantly captures the feelings of love,
sacrifice, and the hardships faced by families during times of conflict.