Lesson 14 | Waiting | 11th Grade English

Objective

Analyze how the author develops the theme of waiting in this chapter.

Readings and Materials

Book: Waiting by Ha Jin pp. 97 – 102 — Part One: Chapter 12

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Target Task

Tasks that represents the peak thinking of the lesson - mastery will indicate whether or not objective was achieved

Multiple Choice

The main purpose of the first paragraph is to

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The narrator’s use of the word “impracticability” on p. 99 mainly serves to

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Writing Prompt

Describe how the author’s use of dramatic irony develops the theme of waiting in this chapter.

Key Questions

Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding

As you read this chapter, track who is waiting and why. What impact does this waiting have on the character? Trace both positive and negative impacts.
What advice does Haiyan give Manna on p. 97? What do you think of this advice?
How does waiting for Lin to talk with her impact Manna on pp. 97–99? How does she react? What do you think of her reaction? How does Lin’s point of view change after seeing Manna’s reaction to his suggestion?
What is the impact of the author’s use of the word “impracticability” on p. 99? What does it suggest about Lin’s motivation?
What does Manna agree to do on p. 99?
Trace the dramatic irony on pp. 100–101. How do you, as the reader, react to Manna’s hopes and her purchase of the quilt covers on p. 100? Why? How are your feelings different than hers?
How does Manna react to Lin’s news when he returns?
On p. 102, what do we learn that the entire hospital has been waiting for? What has been the impact, most likely, on all of the doctors and nurses as they waited? Why did they have to wait?
By waiting to pursue Lin’s divorce, what does the couple gain according to the narrator on p. 102? But what do they lose? Is it worth the price? (These questions could serve as discussion questions.)

Notes

Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson

Ha Jin chose to call his novel Waiting. The word “waiting” appears throughout the novel, including in this chapter. Additionally, the major characters (Manna, Shuyu, Lin) are all, at various times, waiting for things. Pay particular attention to this idea of waiting, and the impact it has on the characters, as you read today.
The chapter is short, so leaving time for discussion and writing is recommended.

Lesson 13

Lesson 15

Lesson Map

“The Lady with the Pet Dog” — Sections 1 and 2

Analyze how Chekhov develops the themes of love and fate in his short story.

“The Lady with the Pet Dog” — Section 3

Analyze how the author further develops the themes of fate and free will.

Waiting pp. 3 – 9 — “Peculiar History of Footbinding”

Identify and infer information about the characters, themes, and conflict of the novel.

Waiting pp. 9 – 17 — Prologue

Evaluate the merits of Lin’s request for a divorce.

Analyze the author’s development of the characters and conflict.

Waiting pp. 21 – 30 — Part One: Chapter 1

Analyze the author’s characterization of Manna Wu.

Identify the ways in which government impacts individuals’ lives and choices in China in 1963.

Waiting pp. 31 – 36 — Part One: Chapter 2
“The Cultural Revolution in China”

Analyze the impact of the setting on the plot of the novel.

Continue to identify the author’s characterization of Manna and Lin.

Waiting pp. 37 – 43 — Part One: Chapter 3
“The Long March”

Analyze how the march impacts the plot, character, and theme development of the novel.

Waiting pp. 45 – 54 — Part One: Chapters 4 and 5

Identify techniques used by the author to develop conflict and theme.

Waiting pp. 55 – 61 — Part One: Chapter 6

Describe the Cultural Revolution and how the choice of setting impacts the plot.

Analyze how the opinion of other members of their community impact Manna and Lin and their developing relationship.

Waiting pp. 62 – 70 — Part One: Chapter 7

Analyze the role that societal expectations and fear play in the development of Manna and Lin’s relationship.

Waiting pp. 71 – 80 — Part One: Chapters 8 and 9

Analyze the author’s characterization of Lin in chapters 8 and 9.

Waiting pp. 81 – 85 — Part One: Chapter 10

Analyze and describe how the author continues to develop Lin’s internal conflict.

Waiting pp. 86 – 96 — Part One: Chapter 11

Analyze the author’s development of Lin’s character and the central conflict of the novel.

Waiting pp. 97 – 102 — Part One: Chapter 12

Analyze how the author develops the theme of waiting in this chapter.

Waiting pp. 105 – 119 — Part Two: Chapters 1 and 2

Analyze the impact of the setting on the plot of the novel.

Describe how the nature motifs add to the theme and plot development.

Waiting pp. 120 – 133 — Part Two: Chapter 3
“Confucian Teaching: Reciprocity and the Five Human Relationships”
“The Analects of Confucius”

Analyze how the author develops the idea of conflict between old and new (urban and rural) in China.

Waiting pp. 134 – 150 — Part Two: Chapters 4 and 5
“Decision of the Central Committee...”

Analyze Manna and Lin’s relationship at this point in the novel.

Waiting pp. 151 – 159 — Part Two: Chapter 6
“Song of Myself”

Analyze and explain how the allusions to Leaves of Grass help develop character and theme.

Waiting pp. 160 – 175 — Part Two: Chapters 7 and 8

Analyze the author’s characterization of Geng Yang and explain the impact of the author’s choice to present Geng as a foil to Lin.

Analyze the author’s development of the theme of fate in this chapter.

Waiting pp. 176 – 189 — Part Two: Chapters 9 and 10

Analyze how the violence of chapter 9 develops the plot and themes of the novel.

Waiting pp. 190 – 199 — Part Two: Chapters 11 and 12

Analyze the development of Lin and Manna’s relationship.

Analyze the author’s development of thematic topics.

Waiting pp. 203 – 220 — Part Three: Chapters 1 and 2

Identify and analyze the author’s tone and the impact of this tone on the events of these chapters.

Waiting pp. 221 – 235 — Part Three: Chapter 3

Define true love.

Waiting pp. 236 – 249 — Part Three: Chapters 4 and 5

Describe the author’s tone and explain how the author uses tone and juxtaposition to reveal theme.

Waiting pp. 250 – 265 — Part Three: Chapters 6 and 7

Describe how the author develops Lin’s character in chapters 6 and 7.

Analyze how the characterization of Lin develops the themes of love and waiting.

Waiting pp. 266 – 282 — Part Three: Chapters 8 and 9

Evaluate the impact of lack of true love and of waiting on Lin and Manna’s relationship.

Waiting pp. 283 – 298 — Part Three: Chapters 10 and 11

Analyze the author’s use of Geng Yang to develop his message.

Describe how Lin’s internal dialogue further characterizes him.

Waiting pp. 299 – 308 — Part Three: Chapter 12

Analyze the author’s messages about love and about China.

Evaluate Lin as a character.

Review

Discuss and debate the essential questions using evidence from the novel.

Assessment

Waiting

Objective

Readings and Materials

Target Task

Multiple Choice

Writing Prompt

Key Questions

Notes

Lesson Map

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