CMLT 275 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Overseas Chinese, Eileen Chang, Literal And Figurative Language

• School: University of Maryland
• Department: Comparative Literature Program
• Course: CMLT 275
• Professor: Tung-An Wei

Document Summary

Discuss zhenbao"s conceptualizations of women and whether (and how) those ideas change when he is abroad and when he is back in china. Also, compare zhenbao"s idea of overseas chinese and his behavior as an overseas chinese (or at least in the narrator"s eye as an overseas chinese): discuss the characterization of zhenbao. Pay attention to who gives us the information (that is, through whose eyes do we learn about those things?). How does her characterization change: discuss the title, the beginning of the novella and the possible critique/opinion the narrator may have toward the idea stated in the beginning of the novella. The novella red rose, white rose by eileen chang gave a very interesting take on adultery in my opinion. I found that the contrast between the docile wife and the vibrant mistress to be a compelling theme through the story, as well as an apt explanation of the story"s title.