Prompt:
What do the gardens represent in The Peony Pavilion, Idle Talk under the Bean Arbor and
The Story of the Stone? Consider the following questions:
The Story of the Stone? Consider the following questions:
• What do gardens enable the characters to do in The Peony Pavilion, Idle Talk under the
Bean Arbor, and The Story of the Stone?
Bean Arbor, and The Story of the Stone?
• How does the family garden (pp. 30, 44-45) contrast with interior spaces such as the
schoolroom and Bridal’s boudoir in The Peony Pavilion?
schoolroom and Bridal’s boudoir in The Peony Pavilion?
• What is Bridal made to do in the schoolroom (pp.24-30)?
• Why does Spring Fragrance suggest that Bridal visit the family garden? (pp. 38-39)
• What is the immediate impact of Bridal’s visit to her family garden? (pp. 46-51)
• What activities occur under the bean arbor in Idle Talk?
• How does the new garden in The Story of the Stone enable the young cousins, particularly
Bao-yu’s female cousins, to showcase their literary talent? (Chapters 17-18)
Bao-yu’s female cousins, to showcase their literary talent? (Chapters 17-18)
Requirments:
• 8-10 pages
• double-spaced
• 12-point font
• 1-inch margins
• no spacing between paragraphs
Grading Criteria:
• Thesis (Do you have a clearly-stated and interesting point of view?)
• Title (does your paper have a working title?)
• Evidence (Do you provide enough evidence from the primary texts to support your
thesis? Is your interpretation based on an accurate reading of the “facts”?)
thesis? Is your interpretation based on an accurate reading of the “facts”?)
• Presentation (Is your argument structured in a logical and organized manner?)
• Style (Is your writing clear and carefully edited?)
• Overall effectiveness (Is your argument convincing
• Overall effectiveness (Is your argument convincing
**I’m attaching a paper I wrote that was on a similar topic so you have the chance to see what my writing style is like… the grade I received on it was an A-