Advanced Literary Excerpts Flashcards

In classical Chinese poetry, the technique of using natural imagery to evoke human emotions is called 借景抒情 (jiè jǐng shū qíng). Which of the following best describes this literary device?

Answer: Borrowing scenery to express inner feelings

借景抒情 literally means 'borrowing scenery to express emotion,' a cornerstone technique in classical Chinese literature.

Lu Xun's short story 'A Madman's Diary' (狂人日記) is significant in modern Chinese literature primarily because it:

Answer: Was the first modern Chinese story written entirely in vernacular Chinese (白話)

Published in 1918, 'A Madman's Diary' was groundbreaking as the first modern Chinese short story written in vernacular Chinese, departing from classical literary Chinese.

When reading a TOCFL-level excerpt that uses the phrase 物是人非 (wù shì rén fēi), which emotional theme is most likely being conveyed?

Answer: Nostalgia and melancholy at finding familiar places but changed relationships

物是人非 means 'things remain but people have changed,' expressing the bittersweet feeling of time's passage and loss.

In Chinese literary criticism, 起承轉合 (qǐ chéng zhuǎn hé) refers to a four-part essay structure. What does the third element 轉 (zhuǎn) specifically represent?

Answer: The turn or pivot that introduces a new perspective or contrast

轉 means 'turn' and represents the crucial pivot in the structure where the argument shifts or introduces an unexpected angle.

Advanced TOCFL reading passages from Tang Dynasty poetry often feature 對仗 (duì zhàng). This refers to:

Answer: Parallel couplets where corresponding words mirror each other in grammar and meaning

對仗 is the parallel couplet structure in regulated verse where each word in one line corresponds grammatically and semantically to the word in the same position in the paired line.

Which of the following best captures the concept of 意境 (yì jìng) as used in advanced Chinese literary analysis?

Answer: The aesthetic realm or artistic conception created by imagery and emotion combined

意境 is a key aesthetic concept referring to the artistic realm created when imagery (境) and emotional intent (意) fuse to transport the reader.

In a TOCFL reading passage, you encounter an excerpt where a poet describes chrysanthemums blooming while lamenting political exile. The chrysanthemum (菊花) in classical Chinese literature most commonly symbolizes:

Answer: Resilience, integrity, and refusal to compromise under pressure

The chrysanthemum, which blooms in cold autumn when other flowers have wilted, symbolizes integrity and perseverance in the face of hardship in classical Chinese literature.