My Old Home
By : Lu Xun
1. Introduction:
This story is an account of the narrator's returning back to his country side after more than twenty years.
As he reached closer and closer to his place, he had a feeling of sadness and depression finding the landscape around there. He was shocked at the sight. The towns and villages all looked dull and drab and desolate. They all looked lifeless. There were no signs of progress there.
This was completely in contrast to the sweet memories of his old place that were in his mind. The image of his place in his mind was far more lovely than the present sight of the place.
2. Major Themes of the Story:
3. Major Characters of the Story:
4. Summary:
The narrator had left his place more than twenty years ago to earn his living in a far distant place. Now he was returning to say a final good bye to his old home.
Although he had sold it before, now his purpose was to settle the final accounts, completing remaining transactions, to sell or give away the old furniture and other things, and to take his mother and nephew Honger with him to his working place.
After a long journey, when he finally reached home, he was welcomed and greeted by his old mother and and young nephew (Honger).The mother was sad at the thought of leaving her old home and to live a rented house.
However, she asked her son to meet their relatives, and particularly Runtu, before leaving the place for ever. Runtu's reference took the narrator back to his childhood days, and his mind was occupied by the sweet memories of his childhood days.
Runtu was his childhood friend. Runtu's father used to work as a servant in the narrator's family. The narrator and Runtu were of the same age. Runtu was twelve and the narrator was of ten when they first met. They both enjoyed enjoyed each other's company.
Runtu had different skills. He could catch bird, hunt little animals. The narrator remembers how they used to go to the beach and collect shells and be used with different games.
One day the two friends were very sad when Runtu had to return back to his place. And since then they didn't meet each other.
During the next few days of the narrator's visit to his place, their relatives and acquaintances living nearby around to meet him.
Finally one day Runtu came to meet him. The narrator was surprised to see him. There was a vast difference between his friend the childhood days and in the present time.
He had grown quite tall. There deep wrinkles on his face and his hands had been rough and clumsy. There was a mixture of happiness and melancholy (a feeling of sadness which lasts for a long time). He wanted to speak, but not a single word came out of his mouth. Finally Runtu addressed the narrator as "Master" with a very respectful manner.
This was surprising for the narrator. He realized that a thick wall of class (master-servant) or wealth had come between the two. Runtu had brought his fifth son Suisheng with him, and had brought a handful of dried peas with him as a gift.
The narrator and his mother were sad about Runtu's economic condition. He was struggling against poverty.
His economic condition had been too poor. He had taken debt from many people. Every time he used to have poor harvest. He never had had enough to eat. He was in a very pitiable condition.
The narrator and his mother felt sad for him. They told him to take whatever he wanted from their house. Runtu selected a few things with him that very evening.
After nine days the moment of their departure came. The narrator was leaving his place for ever. Several people of the village had come to see them off.
This time Runtu had come with his five years old daughter.
Finally they left their home town. The narrator have any regret in leaving his place. He had only a feeling of melancholy (sadness), particularly for his childhood friend Runtu.
5.Pointwise Breakdown of the story :
a. Introduction
This short story is written by Lu Xun. The story is written in first person narrative, so we can assume that the writer is the narrator of the story.
b. Purpose of Visiting the Old Home:
The story describes the narrator's return to his old home after more than twenty years. He was coming back to his home town to sell his old home, and to take his mother and nephew to the place where he used to work.
c. Drab, Dull, Lifeless v/s Lovely Landscape:
The focal points of this story are the changes that he found in the place where he had passed his childhood and in his childhood friend.
As he reached nearer and nearer to the place where he was born, he found it dull, desolate and lifeless. It was just in contrast to the beautiful images of his place in his memory. He did not find any progress there. He remembered that the area was far more lovely at that time.
But again he thought perhaps the landscape looked changed only because his attitude towards the place had changed.
d. Changes in Runtu:
After reaching home when he met his friend (Runtu), he noticed several changes in him -- in his physique (from, size, body, figure of a person's body).
About twenty years ago, when he first met Runtu, they both were children then. Runtu was twelve years old then and the narrator was --.
At that time they both were close friends. It was a natural, innocent friendship, without any formality between the two. But now Runtu had physically much grown, and there had come a thick wall of formalityand status between the two.
e. The Narrator Reached Home :
The next morning he reached the gate of his family compound. His mother and nephew (the little boy Hong'er) received him. The mother was sad at the point of leaving their old place; however she was ready to sell everything and to go with her son. She had even made some preparations (packaging) before her son's arrival.
Then, after some family chatting, the mother told the narrator to meet their relatives, friends and particularly Runtu.
f. : Who was Runtu ? :
Runtu's reference sent the narrator to flashback. Runtu's father used to be a servant in the narrator's family. The narrator and Runtu were childhood friends. Runtu was twelve and the narrator was ten when they first met. It was almost thirty years ago.
That particular year the narrator's family had to perform a certain sacrificial ritual, The offerings used for the occasion used to be lavish (luxurious/rich) and the sacrificial utensils were elegant (classic/ artistic), and naturally they were costly too.
As many people were to attend the ritual celebration, it was necessary to save them (the sacrificial utensils) from being stolen. So it was fixed that Runtu would be brought into to keep an eye on them.
g. : The Two Friends Met First Time : The Flashback :
Runtu arrived on the new year. He had a purplish (slightly purple in colour)face and he wore a little felt hat, and a large silver ring.
Although the boy was shy with elders but he and the narrator became very good friends before the day ended. They talked, and talked, and talked continuously the whole day. Runtu said that this was the first time he had ever been in a town.
He was a wonderful, jolly boy. He had different skills. He could hunt little animals, like zha. He had different techniques of catching birds. He could do many more wonderful things. The more the two friends talked and moved together, the more the narrator became impressed by Runtu. They became very good friends.
Gradually one month passed, and Runtu had to return back to his place. Both were very sad. Both the friends wept together, and they also little gifts. Finally Runtu went back to his village.
h. : Runtu came to meet the narrator : The Difference:
Many people were coming to meet the narrator. One of them was 'Sister Yang'. She claimed she used to hold him (the narrator) in her hands when he was a child. She wanted things (those which they were not carrying with them) from the narrator's family.
One afternoon Runtu came to meet him. The narrator was stunned (greatly shocked) to see his old friend. He was standing there with his fifth child Runtu had also brought a humble gift of a handful of peas.
He had completely changed in comparison to the past. He had been twice taller than he used to be in the past. His face had turned pale and grey, and was full of wrinkles. He looked shabby (in a poor condition). Economically his position had been extremely poor.
Lu Xun (the narrator) became excited to see his childhood friend, and called him "Brother Runtu !". There was an expression of melancholy (being sad, sorrowful) on Runtu's face. He spoke to the narrator very respectfully, calling him "Master".
The narrator was shocked at it. formerly they used to call each other brother. He realized that that in the past longer years there had come a thick wall of 'Master-Servant' feeling between the two. The old sweet relationship between the two had come between the two.
The narrator and his mother felt sad at Runtu's situation. They asked Runtu to take away whatever thing he wanted to from there.
i. : The Narrator's Departure :
After a nine days' stay there, the narrator was finally leaving his old home for ever. Runtu had come early in the morning to help him. The narrator left his homeland by that afternoon. His mind was occupied Runtu along with several philosophical thoughts.
6. Questions and Answers :
Understanding the text:
Answer the following questions :
a. How does the narrator describe his feelings at the arrival of his old home ?
Answer : He has expressed a mixed feeling at the arrival of his old home. He found towns and villages to be dull, desolate and lifeless which was just in contrast to the beautiful images of his place in his memory. He does not find any progress there.
But later on, he thinks it might that only his attitude has been changed, the place itself has not changed.
b. What were the three kinds of servants in China then ?
Answer : There used to be three kinds of servants at that time. They were called 'Year Longs', 'Short Timers', and 'Busy Monthers'.
This difference indicates that in the then Chinese society there used to be a big gap between Masters and Servants. Also, the economic distribution was much unequal at that time.
c. What makes the writer nostalgic? What did he do with Runtu in the teenage?
Answer : The writer became nostalgic when his mother mentioned Runtu saying that he wanted to see him (the writer).
The two friends used to do lots of fun like catching birds, trying to hunt little animals etc. on the sandy grounds.
d. How did Runtu hunt a Zha in his young age?
Answer : He used to hunt a Zha by locating and approaching approaching to him with a pitchfork in his hand. Then he used to stab the animal with that instrument.
e. How does the narrator make a humorous picture of Mrs. Yang?
Answer : He has made a humorous picture of the lady by her name (Beancurd Beauty), by describing her physical traits like her protruding chin, her make up, and the way she was speaking.
f. According to the narrator, what were the different factors that made Runtu a poor man through out his life?
Answer : Runtu had been going through the most difficult period of his life. He had been extremely poor. He had too many children . His crops were either destroyed by famine, or he had to pay high taxes.
Besides, soldiers, government officials, gentry folk (high-social-class group)etc. all played equal role to make his life more and more tough and made him a poor man throughout his life.
g. How does the narrator help Runtu before leaving the old home?
Answer : The narrator helps him by giving him many things which they were not taking with them.
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