The Good Earth
Reading Journal – Reading through different lenses
A. Our 3 Chosen Lenses (with one alternate )
Spiritual – Reading a text for its spiritual and faith related issues. Questions to ask yourself. How do
the characters and the representation of their faiths compare to our spiritual view of the world? How
do the characters relate to a higher being or creator? What does the chapter say about faith? Grace?
Love? Forgiveness? Hope?
Gender – Reading a text for its gender related issues or attitudes towards gender. Questions to ask
yourself: What role does gender play in the text? How are gender stereotypes reinforced or
undermined? Does the text reflect or distort the place women or men have in society?
Historical - Reading a text for its contextual significance. This would include information about the
author and the time for which the text was written during and about. Questions to ask yourself: Why
did the author write this? What was going on during this time period? Does the author show bias?
What’s the author’s world view? Are the events in the chapter representative of some historical event?
Socio Economic (alternate) – Reading a text for socio-economic issues. Questions to ask: How are
different demographics represented in the chapter. What does it say about class structures? What are
the social effects of class, money, etc. on the characters in this chapter?
B. Which lenses for which chapters? I’m glad you asked!
Ch. 1 – Spiritual and Gender lenses
Chapter 2 – Skip – summarized
Ch. 3 - Gender and socioeconomic
Ch. 4 – skip – summarized
Ch. 5 – Spiritual lense
Ch. 6 – skip – summarized
Ch. 12 – historical & socioeconomic
Ch. 13 – historical & socioeconomic
(spiritual too)
Ch. 14 – historical & gender
Ch. 15 – skip – summarize
Ch. 16 – socioeconomic & gender
Ch. 17 – skip – summarize
Ch. 7 – skip – but review gender
Ch. 18 – gender and socioeconomic
Ch. 8 - Spiritual and socioeconomic
Ch. 9 – skip – gender review
Ch. 10 – ski p – summarize
Ch. 11 – historical & socioeconomic
Ch. 19 – skip – summarize
Ch. 20 – skip – review gender
Ch. 21 – skip – summarize
Ch. 22 – skip – summarize
C.
Ch. 23 – skip - summarize
Ch. 24 – skip – summarize
Ch. 25 – gender
Ch. 26 – gender and spiritual
Ch. 27 – skip (review historical)
Ch. 28 - historical, gender,
socioeconomic
Ch. 29 – skip – review
socioeconomical
Ch. 30 – Skip – summarize
Ch. 31- historical and gender
Ch. 32 – skip – summarize
Ch. 33 – skip – summarize
Ch. 34 – gender and socioeconomic
So we read with these lenses. Then what?
For each chapter that you read through specific lenses, you need to do a couple of things.
1.
2.
3.
As you read, use the lenses to find patterns and make observations.
Use these patterns to develop a new understanding of the text.
Gather text evidence to support the new understanding and patterns.
Want and need an example? Ok!! We’re going to do the first couple of chapters
together until you get the hang of it.
Lenses and Chapter – Chapter 1 – gender and spiritual
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
Gender Lense – Women in China were treated as property/slaves as O-lan was bought by Wang Lung. She was
treated like a slave and expected to do everything around the house with no rights. This is very different from
what we are used to. Olan was described as being big, ugly, stupid, slow, dull but not pockmarked – big feet,
too. Wang Lung’s father didn’t want her to be beautiful because if she was, she’d be useless. No compliments
for her or else that would make her lazy and show too much respect or attention.
Spiritual lense – Wedding ceremony and rituals were very different than today. Didn’t meet ahead of time,
arranged by employer. No witnesses. Lit incense at the temple. Olan made dinner but wouldn’t be seen by
men until marriage was consummated. Honor of Wang Lung’s father was apparent. Got up and made
breakfast and tea. Wouldn’t cut hair without approval. Wang Lung is secretly pleased with her.
A – ha’s (New understandings) and questions we’re dying to have answered !
1. We’ve come a long way in our appreciation and respectfulness of women.
2. Footbinding is a gross custom but there are lots of beauty rituals we do that are painful, too.
3. Are a lot of our wedding rituals unnecessary?
4. What does that mean if the husband is mean to his wife (abusive)? Is she stuck in the marriage?
5. The opinion of women couldn’t have been lower and this upsets me. The expectation was that women
are inherently lazy and take advantage of men.
6. Will Wang Lung be different than the other men in the story?
7. Why are women treated so badly?
Lenses and Chapter – 3 Gender and socioeconomic
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
Socioeconomic
O-lan wants to go back and show off and brag to the place where she was merely a slave.
The money is tied up closely with the land
Wang Lung doesn’t mind spending money on his family
Gender Wang Lung is kind of a wuss about childbirth
O-lan is a rock! She made dinner for them while in labor and did the labor all by herself.
They are all hoping for a boy
A – ha’s (New understandings) and questions we’re dying to have answered !
What the heck happened to O-lan in the house of Hwang?
Why is red a color of good luck?
I need to be more appreciative of the money in my hand (and Eddie’s). I need to realize where it’s coming
from, where it’s going.
Where does o-lan’s strength come from?
Lenses and Chapter
Chapter 5
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
Why isn’t it ok for them to eat “rich people” food? Where does the belief come from? Do we have any hidden
rules like that?
Why does it make Olan and Wang Lung happy that the house of Hwang is “feeling the pinch” this year?
Why does Wang Lung feel that land is more valuable than anything?
Why do Wang Lung and Olan lie to the heavens about their son?
Why is Wang Lung so stubborn about buying land from the house of Hwang rather than another parcel of land
closer?
How does the family celebrate the Chinese new year? How does it differ from our celebrations?
A – ha’s (New understandings)
There are hidden rules for classes even back in China in the early 1900’s.
The land is tied in with wealth a lot more than we thought.
I wonder what happened to the House of Hwang that they are feeling the pinch. What caused their downfall.
Pride is very important to this family.
Lenses and Chapter
Chapter 8 – spiritual and socioeconomic
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
Focus Questions:
Why did Wang Lung buy land when he got silver and not food?
What caused the decline of the house of Hwang?
What spiritual problems came because the gods were “mad” at him?
What, besides the gods, does Wang Lung worship? How does this help/hurt him?
A – ha’s (New understandings) and questions we’re dying to have answered.
Lenses and Chapter
Chapter 11 - Historical and Socioeconomic
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
How does Wang Lung feel about begging? Why?
Why do you think the people in the town were better off than in the country during the drought?
How does Olan thrive in this situation? How does she take charge? Why?
How does Pearl Buck mock foreigners in this chapter?
How and why does Wang Lung feel out of place?
Confucianism is alive and well for the father at the end of the chapter. Why?
A – ha’s (New understandings)
Lenses and Chapter
Chapter 12 - Historical and Socioeconomic
What did Wang Lung learn about the city by where he “drew” his customers?
How is WL a foreigner in the city?
What do we learn about foreigners in this chapter? Why was WL so scared of them? What do the foreigners
make him realize?
When WL says at the end “Beggars we may be, but thieves we are not” why is this such a turning point?
A – ha’s (New understandings)
Lenses and Chapter – Chapter 13 – historical and socioeconomic (spiritual too)
a. How is “revolution” in the air? What textual evidence gives that implication?
b. Why doesn’t Wang lung want to sell his daughter? Is this typical of a man in
China during this time?
c. What is meant by “there is a way when the rich are too rich?” Can you think of
an example from our own times that proves this?
A – ha’s (New understandings)
Lenses and Chapter – Chapter 14 – Historical and gender
How is WL more savvy with his money, but why is he mocked because of it?
Why did Pearl Buck include the part about the flyer with Jesus on the cross? What does that do to the reader to
see this description and WL’s reaction to it?
Why does Pearl Buck include the part about the flyer with the Chinese person and the capitalists on it. Why is
WL confused about it? How does this show how simple WL is?
Why doesn’t WL know about the war?
How is Wang Lung different than other men because he doesn’t want to sell his daughter?
A – ha’s (New understandings)
CHAPTER 15 - Wang Lung purchases some seed and an ox and returns home. There, he discovers that his house has been ransacked. Ching
informs Wang Lung that some bandits, rumored to be affiliated with Wang Lung’s uncle, lived in Wang Lung’s house during the winter. Ching’s
wife has died, and he gave his daughter to a soldier rather than see her starve. Wang Lung gives Ching some seed to plant his land and offers to plow
it for him. He wants to repay Ching for the handful of beans Ching gave him months before. Wang Lung learns that his uncle sold all of his
daughters.Wang Lung is not disheartened about the dilapidated state of his house; it will be easily mended, and his land is still the same. Excited
about their renewed prosperity, but worried about bad luck, Wang Lung and O-lan buy incense sticks to burn for the gods.
Lenses and Chapter
Chapter 16 - Socioeconomic and gender
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
1. Why can’t they keep O’lan’s treasure? What ingrained belief do they have that won’t let them keep it?
2. Why does O’lan want to keep the jewels? What does that say about her?
3. How have the tables turned for the House of Hwang?
4. Why is the woman slave doing the negotiating? How does this bother Wang Lung and why?
A – ha’s (New understandings)
Lenses and Chapter
Chapter 18 - Socioeconomic and gender
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
1. Why does it bother WL so much to be idle?
2. Why does WL’s father have such trouble adjusting to being wealthy? Why isn’t WL having trouble
adjusting?
3. Why is WL so mean to Olan? What does this say about him?
4. How does Olan respond to his criticism? What does this say about her?
5. How is WL still a country bumpkin?
6. So WL can spend his money on women and gambling. Is this smart? Why or why not?
A – ha’s (New understandings)
Lenses and Chapter
Chapter 25 - gender
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
1. Why is O-lan binding the young daughter’s feet? Why does WL feel remorse for this revelation?
2. How does WL make Olan worse with her sickness? Why does he feel the need to justify it?
3. Why does the doctor change the price to cure Olan?
4. What does that mean for Olan? Why does this upset Wang Lung so much?
A – ha’s (New understandings)
Lenses and Chapter – Chapter 26 – Gender and Socioeconomic
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
1. What does it say about WL as a person/husband that he took care of Olan during her last months?
2. Why does Olan make the arrangements for her death and marriage of her son? Why is it so important
to her as woman, mother, ex-slave?
3. What does O-lan have going for her, even as she’s dying? What does she need done before she dies?
4. How is O-lan and WL son’s wedding different than their own wedding day? What about the funerals
for her and the old man?
A – ha’s (New understandings) and questions we’re dying to have answered !
Lenses and Chapter – Chapter 28 – historical gender and socioeconomic
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
1. How is WL’s family becoming more and more like the House of Hwang? How might that be
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
dangerous?
How is WL still very much a farmer?
How are women treated in the house of WL? Is there any change to how they are treated since the
story began?
How does the elder son and his wife differ from how WL and Olan were when they were married?
How does the 2nd son’s marriage arrangement differ from that of WL and Olan’s marriage arrangement?
What problems do you foresee with the buying of the new house?
A – ha’s (New understandings) and questions we’re dying to have answered !
Lenses and Chapter – Chapter 31 – historical and gender
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
1. In this chapter, the war is in reference to the wars that occurred in the 1st 30 years of the 20th century.
Tell me which war or conflict it’s in reference to and why it is this one?
2. Why is the uncle’s son allowed to be so rude to the women in the family in this chapter?
3. Would Olan have talked to the uncle’s son like Lotus in this chapter? Why or why not?
A – ha’s (New understandings) and questions we’re dying to have answered !
Lenses and Chapter – Chapter 34 – gender and socioeconomic
Patterns and observations (text evidence)
1.Why and how does WL guarantee the poor fool’s life after he is gone? Would he ask someone to do the same
to his sons? Why or why not?
2. How is WL brought back to his roots? How has his life become more simplified?
3.How has the family of WL become more and more like the Hwang family?
4. How will the disattachment from the land be the downfall of the WL family?
A – ha’s (New understandings) and questions we’re dying to have answered !