Lesson 20 | Waiting | 11th Grade English

Objective

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

Readings and Materials

Book: Waiting by Ha Jin pp. 176 – 189 — Part Two: Chapters 9 and 10

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Target Task

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

“Character is fate.” Lin and Manna have both very closely guarded their reputations and their characters. And yet, this horrific event happens to Manna. What else does Ha Jin seem to be saying factors into a person’s fate? Explain using evidence from the chapter.

Key Questions

Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding

Chapter 9:

How does the author build empathy for Manna in this scene?
What do we learn about Geng Yang?
What do we learn about Geng as Manna attempts to first dissuade him and then curse him on pp. 180–181?
“Why did he make friends with that wolf?” Why does she blame Lin on p. 183?
“She thought about reporting the rape to the leaders, but wondered if it was wise to do that.” Communist China values equality of the sexes, but what are we to infer here on p. 182? What other evidence do we see in this chapter that the sexes cannot, in fact, expect equal treatment?
Why would the author choose to have these events happen in his novel? What does he want us to learn/recall about Lin (as the foil for Geng)? What does he want us to think, feel, consider?
Why does he describe the rape in such intimate detail? What is his purpose? What is he evoking in the reader? What details most provoke that reaction in you?

Chapter 10:

How does Manna draw the conclusion that the rape was planned?
Why does she tell Haiyan? Do you think this was a good idea or not?
What does Haiyan’s advice reveal about the position of women in their society?
“Character is fate.” Does Ha Jin agree or disagree? What do you think based on these chapters? What other factors contribute to our “fate”? Do you even believe in such a thing as fate? OR is there only free will? What did Chekhov argue? (This question could be used as a discussion question for chapter 9 or 10.)

Notes

Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson

Chapter 9 includes a rape scene. Please set aside 5 minutes or so to thoughtfully discuss and preview this disturbing chapter. One possible preview is included here. Possible preview: “Character is fate.” Geng quotes an ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, in the previous chapter. How we act, the decisions we make, the moral code by which we live dictates our fates. Do you agree or disagree with him? Why? The author continues to explore this question in chapter 9, revealing a counterargument through a graphic and disturbing scene that he recalls in painstaking detail.
It is likely that students will need to read chapter 10 for homework.

Lesson 19

Lesson 21

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

Key Questions

Notes

Lesson Map

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