Lesson 19 | Waiting | 11th Grade English

Objective

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.

Readings and Materials

Book: Waiting by Ha Jin pp. 160 – 175 — Part Two: Chapters 7 and 8

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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 author uses the phrase, “it shits and pisses without stopping” to present Geng Yang as

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As compared with Geng Yang, Lin is portrayed as being less

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Writing Prompt

Geng Yang tells Lin that “character is fate” and that to change his fate Lin must first change himself. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

Key Questions

Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding

Why is Lin in the hospital and what character reappears during Lin’s hospital stay?
What do we learn about Lin’s roommate from his nickname?
How do Manna’s thoughts about Yang’s hands at the bottom of the page help to convey her feelings about Yang’s character? Track the other ways in which the author further characterizes Yang in this chapter. Pay particular attention to Geng Yang’s words and actions.
What does Yang mean when he says on p. 164, “How can one horse pull two carts”? Connect this to both Manna and Lin and Chekhov’s short story. Can one person lead two lives and be happy?
What kind of man is Geng? How do you know?
How does the author use Geng’s comments about women and sex to convey information about his character?
How does Lin feel about Geng Yang? Why does he continue to befriend him?
Which attributes of Lin’s character does the juxtaposition against Geng Yang highlight?
The dialogue on p. 167 is one of the most pivotal moments of the book. What is Geng Yang telling Lin about himself? Which of his examples do you find most compelling? Most problematic? Why is it ironic that it is Geng, of all the characters in the novel, who can clearly communicate Lin’s real issue to Lin on p. 167? How does Ha Jin use humor to convey this irony? (Misattributed quote)

Chapter 8:

Why is the setting outside the hospital grounds unusual for Manna and Lin? What is the occasion that permits it?
Food and the characters’ interactions with food have symbolic significance in the novel. The characters order a set of standard Chinese dishes, but their interactions with the food are revealing. What can we infer about the characters from the scene on pp. 170–172?
What advice does Geng give Lin and Manna? What does his advice reveal about the corruption within the Communist Party?
Why does Lin feel ashamed at the end of the chapter? (He can’t live up to what he feels are his obligations/expectations. He’s worried about what others will think.)

Lesson 18

Lesson 20

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

Lesson Map

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