Week 4: Raise the Red Lantern Dr. Peih-ying Lu Mar. 25, 2010

Pre-reading Questions 1. What’s the times the film about? 2. How old was Lotus when she was married? Why did she get married? 3. What is the metaphor of the Master in this film?

Pre-reading Questions 4. What are the traditions that differentiate men from women in the times we can find out in this film? 5. Do “light the lanterns”, “cover the lanterns”, “foot massage”, and “order foods” imply anything?

In-class Discussion What details do you consider to be especially important? Why do you choose them? Describe the third mistress, Coral’s character. Describe the fourth mistress, Lotus’s character.

In-class Discussion 4. Describe the maid swallow’s character. 5. Describe the second mistress, Cloud’s character. 6. Why doesn’t the director mention spring this season in the film?

In-class Discussion 7. How is the relationship between the fourth mistress Lotus and her servant Swallow? 8. Why did Swallow curse Lotus? What, in your opinion, makes Swallow die?

In-class Discussion 9. Why did the servants tell the fifth mistress Bamboo that the fourth mistress Lotus was insane? 10. Was she really insane? What does her insanity mean to you?

In-class Discussion 11. What’s the relationship between those mistresses? 12. What do the second mistress’s daughter and the third mistress’s son imply?