Zoë McCully
Ms. Peifer
Hour 5
May 28, 2012


Tu Fu Poems: Night Thoughts Afloat

The dominant of this poem is that people can be insignificant and seem out of place when compared to nature and the entire world. This theme is shown with setting, point of view, and symbolism.
The setting is described in two out of four paragraphs of this poem. Half the poem is describes Tu Fu’s location, showing that it is important. The location of the poem gives the reader a feeling of peace and serenity. “By bent grasses in a gentle wind under a straight mast...the stars hang above the broad plain but moon’s afloat in this Great River” (Night Thoughts Afloat, 1-7). This imagery also induces a feeling of loneliness, and clearly Tu Fu also feels this way in this place because he says “I alone tonight” (4), and proceeds to question his purpose in life. The setting gives the reader an image of openness, words like “the broad plain” (5) and “this Great River” show that Tu Fu is viewing a large expanse of nature, that makes him feel insignificant.
Tu Fu’s direct point of view is interesting, because he questions his audience, instead of simply narrating the events of the poem. “Oh, where’s my name among the poets? Official rank?” (8-10) Tu Fu’s questions he voices in his poem show his desire for understanding and his longing for a place in the world. The description “Retired for ill-health” (11) emphasises his state of aloneness, and gives a slight feeling of irony, as if this was not a title Tu Fu bestowed upon himself.
The symbol of the gull also emphasises Tu Fu’s aloneness and insignificance. Gulls are average birds that are seen commonly throughout the world. They are replaceable and not regarded as special. The repetition “Drifting, drifting” brings attention to the question he poses in the last paragraph. “What am I more than a single gull between sky and earth?” (13-15). The setting of “between sky and earth” (15) again emphasises the vastness and overwhelmingness of nature. The word “single” is a third example proving that Tu Fu is a very isolated poet, and that he identifies himself that way. The drifting single gull is a symbol of his uncertainty regarding his place in nature and in society.

This poem gives no answers about Tu Fu’s position among the poets, or his place in nature, and the frequent questions he asks regarding this show that he is trying to understand that himself.

Zoë McCully
Ms. Peifer
Hour 5 10 IB
May 27, 2012

Chinese Literature Assignment

Wang Wei Poems: Suffering from Heat
The dominant impression of this poem is very Buddhist idea that earthly life is full of suffering, and one can find peace once they accept this, because understanding leads to enlightenment. This theme is shown through imagery, repetition, and tone.

Wang Wei uses imagery in this poem to show the bitterness of life. The desolate and unforgiving landscape described supports this. “Grasses and trees are all parched and shriveled; Rivers and swamps, all utterly dried” (Suffering from Heat, 4-5). Even nature suffers on earth, in this poem it is in the form of drought. “In Light white silks I feel that my clothes are heavy; Under dense trees I grieve that the shade is thin. My mat of rushes cannot be approached; My clothes of linen are washed again and again” (6-10). Wang Wei describes his personal suffering in these lines. His clothes are light but feel heavy, showing the oppressive nature of earthly suffering. Wang Wei also says “My mat of rushes cannot be approached” (9) showing that he is unable to sleep because his distress is so great. He feels dirty because no amount of washing can cleanse him of the heaviness he feels from attachment to possessions, which is represented by his clothes. This imagery supports the buddhist idea that suffering comes from attachment to earthly pleasures.

Repetition is used to emphasise Wang Wei’s physical condition. “My clothes of linen are washed again and again” (10) The repetition shows Wang Wei’s unenlightened human condition. The repetition occurs right before the transition to the paragraph describing his desire for enlightenment and peace, forming a sort of climax to the poem.

The tone of this poem is very negative in the first paragraph, but changes to a positive tone in the second paragraph when Wei describes his desire to be cleansed from the troubles of the earth. When he speaks about the freedom of enlightenment he shows his understanding of the buddhist process of enlightenment. The contrasting tones of the two paragraphs show the difference between life on earth and enlightenment and life in Nirvana. The first paragraph describes in detail the features of a land suffering from drought and the second paragraph describes the healing power of water, and how water can restore a dying landscape, or a dying individual. “Rivers and seas would cleanse me of trouble and dirt” (15-16). The “trouble and dirt” he speaks of reference his inability to sleep and his dirty clothes described in the first paragraph. The description of overcrowded “Fiery clouds packed into hills and mountains” (2-3) contrast with the openness he longs for, “I long to escape beyond space and time; In vast emptiness, dwell and alone and apart” (11-12). Another contrast is shown with the heat described in the first paragraph which makes the reader think of Hell. The second paragraph doesn’t speak of heat and fire, but says “I would suddenly enter the Gate of Pleasant Dew and be at ease in the clear, cool joy” (20-21). The imagery of Dew, and the words clear and cool make the reader think of water. The Gate of Pleasant Dew could be interpreted as a gateway to heaven, since the idea heaven could be compared to the Buddhist idea of Nirvana. This supports the contrasting tones of the two paragraphs that emphasise the differences between earth and enlightenment. Wei shows his desire for enlightenment, giving the end of the poem a longing tone, “Then would I find that my body causes suffering; Then would I know that my mind is still unawake” (12-14). This quote is emphasised by the repetition of the words “Then would I” showing that Wang Wei truly desires to achieve enlightenment, and leave a world of drought for a life of peace and ease.

Zoë McCully
Ms. Peifer
10 IB Hour 5
May 26, 2012

Red Cliff Critical Analysis

John Woo’s Red Cliff was a very interesting, action-filled tale of China’s history. The story describes the war that lead to the end of the Han dynasty, between the tyrant prime minister Cao Cao, and the Warlords of the south. When Cao Cao attacks the southlands under the permission for the easily manipulated emperor, the armies of the south for an alliance and find the strength to defeat Cao Cao.
The plot of Red Cliff transferred between moving at a very rapid speed and hardly moving at all giving the film a slightly uneven feel. The scenes flashed from fast paced battles to the art preparing and drinking tea. This change of scenes balanced out the violent scenes with peaceful and beautiful images which and gave the movie lots of variety. The film had many moods that were shown, relating to the social customs and the wars fought. There was a very unique portrayal of the warriors and warlords as larger-than-life incredibly good fighters. While it wasn’t an accurate portrayal, it was very cool to all incredible tricks they could do, and how talented and strong they were. For example, there were many times that a warlord would launch himself through the air and seemingly land light as a feather or defeat dozens of enemies with the swipe of one sword or throw of one spear.

Some things that distracted from the movie and the story were the blood and the lack of introductions for all the characters. The blood used during the battle scenes often seemed like it belonged in a 3D movie, since there seemed to always be drops of a bright red substance flying out from wounded soldiers. The main warlords were not introduced in a way that allowed the viewer to fully understand who they were. There were many different warlords, generals, viceroys, and strategists, and it was very hard to understand who was who, even though they were all very unique characters. The main characters were Sun Quan: a strong southern warlord; Zhou Yu: Sun Quan's advisor and Viceroy of East Wu; Zhuge Liang: Liu Bei's military strategist, who is a very peaceful reserved person; Gan Xing: a General in Sun Quan's army; Zhao Yun: a general in Liu Bei's army; Zhang Fei: a very loud and strong warlord; Cao Cao: the tyrannical Prime Minister of the Han Empire; Sun Shangxiang: Sun Quan’s sister; and Xiao Qiao: Lui Be’s Wife who is said to be the most beautiful woman in China. All the Southerners were very brave and strong warriors, and also very noble and educated. Cao Cao seemed like a good person at first, but it became clear that he was a rude, cruel and overconfident tyrant. At first it was difficult to distinguish who was bad and who was good, but this became clear as the film progressed. Once all the characters appeared it was understandable that the Southerners were forming an alliance against Cao Cao who was a cruel and tyrannical Prime Minister of China.

There were many things that contributed to the beauty of the film, and made it enjoyable to watch. Many Daoist beliefs relating to nature and respect for the environment were expressed in this film. The southern warlords utilized nature's power, and respected the environment which gave them an advantage against Cao Cao. They studied the skies and the wind and this helped them win a battle with fire. Another time they utilized a fog to steal arrows from the generals of Cao Cao’s army. They pulled a very clever trick by covering all their boats with hay, and as their enemies fired at will they acquired an enormous amount of arrows. They also used their educations to defeat Cao Cao. One of the warlords Lui Be, was very skilled at replicating handwriting, and he sent a false note with an enemy spy that caused Cao Cao to murder the generals of his navy, so he no longer had anyone to control his fleet. Lui Be also respected music, and this was shown when he asked a boy from Red Cliff for his flute when his army was doing drills. It seemed as if he was going to break the flute, but he used a knife to carve the holes bigger, so that it made a purer more beautiful sound. There were many scenes where the warlords would sit together and drink tea and play oriental instruments, and celebrate their accomplishments. Many good messages related to friendship and respect were shown through the alliance and the tactics the southerners used. Many told the southerners that they would become enemies once the war was over, but they all respected one another and this was not the case. Friendship was also shown through Sun Shangxiang who was Sun Quan’s sister, when she infiltrated Cao Cao’s camp as a spy and befriended one of Cao Cao’s soldiers called Pit. They were able to have a very sweet friendship, even though they were in the middle of a war and fighting for different sides. The southerners showed humanity when Cao Cao sent over boatloads of dead soldiers killed by typhoid. Instead of destroying and mutilating their enemies bodies, they respectfully cremated all of them. Instead of rejoicing in the death of some of Cao Cao’s army, they solemnly mourned the loss of life. This showed that they were truly good people, while Cao Cao fought in a way that was dirty, and disrespectful, the southern warlords regarded war as an art. This was shown when they based one of their strategies off of the way a turtle’s shell looks, it was simple but very effective. Sun Quan, and Zhang Fei, two of the main warlords lead their soldiers to victory by observing nature and using wisdom and cleverness despite Cao Cao’s larger armies. The southerners also respect women more than Cao Cao does. Cao Cao started the war so that he could have Lui Be’s Wife, Xiao Qiao and she eventually tricks him and causes his downfall.
Overall Red Cliff was a very good film. The war scenes and violent battles could have been much shorter, but were exciting and interesting. It was incredible to see the advanced technology used in the battles, but there were also some things that clearly just for entertainment, and were not accurate. The imagery in this movie was extremely scenic and beautiful, and Red Cliff gave me glimpse into how incredible the history of China is.