85 pages • 2 hours read
Wu Cheng'en, Transl. Anthony C. YuThe Journey to the West: Volume I
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1592A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
Wukong is made from Yin and Yang. Discuss his duality, and provide examples of each side. What do these examples tell you of Daoist or Chinese values at the time the text was originally written? Do you think one should still uphold those values? Why or why not?
If you were Patriarch, would you have trained Wukong in the Way? Why or why not? Support your argument with evidence from the text.
What role, if any, does fate or destiny play in the novel? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Why do you think Xuanzang returns to the temple after avenging his parents?
The stone monkey has many names that all have different meanings. Using examples from the text, discuss how these names reflect his spiritual journey.
Tripitaka’s first two disciples for his journey are a monkey and a dragon-horse. Why does Guanyin ensure these characters are his companions? How do they impact Tripitaka’s physical journey? How do they, as symbols, impact the spiritual journey?
By the end of Chapter 25, is Wukong on the path of righteousness? Support your answer with examples from the text.
Eight Rules tells Pilgrim that the trouble he caused in Heaven 500 years ago caused trouble for many beings on Earth. How did Pilgrim’s actions in Heaven affect those on Earth? Why does Eight Rules reveal this to Pilgrim?
Eight Rules makes some of the same errors of judgment that a younger Wukong makes. Compare and contrast their spiritual paths, and use examples from the text to support your analysis.
Is Wukong a metaphor for humanity? Why or why not?
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