Answers to Magnolia Resignation Worksheet
Welcome to GETUTOR's special page on The Resignation of Mulan. We have provided a comprehensive range of answers to the Resignation of Mulan worksheets, as well as detailed translations, explanations of Chinese characters and vocabulary, analyses of the main ideas, and key points for the examination, to help you gain a deeper understanding of this classic piece of classical literature. Whether you're completing a course or preparing for an exam, here are resources to help you master the essence of Magnolia Words with ease.
Content of this page
- Worksheets Standard Answers - Complete Answers and Explanations
- Full Translation - Paragraph-by-Paragraph Translation and Comprehension
- Annotated Chinese Characters and Words - Detailed Explanation of Key Vocabularies
- Text Analysis - Main Idea, Paragraph Concepts and Writing Techniques
- Character Analysis - Character Traits of Mulan
- Exam Highlights - Question Analysis and Answering Techniques
- Practice Questions - Mock Exam Questions and Detailed Explanations
- Study Tips - Effective Learning Methods
Worksheets Standard Answers - Complete Answers and Explanations
The Magnolia Rescripts worksheets are an important exercise in classical literature for secondary school secondary subjects. Standard answers and detailed explanations are provided below to help you master this classic work.
Common Worksheet Question Types
- The question of interpretation:Translation of specified sentences or passages that require accurate understanding of the meaning of the literary text
- Explanation of words and phrases:Explaining the meanings, usage and generic characters of Chinese words and phrases
- Content Understanding:Analysing the main idea of the text, the general idea of the passage, and the characters
- Writing techniques:Identify and analyse rhetorical devices and expressive techniques.
- Literary Appreciation:Understanding the characteristics and literary value of Rakugo poetry
Typical Worksheet Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main idea of "The Magnolia Speech"?
Standard Answer:Through the story of Hua Mulan, who disguises herself as a man, takes her father's place in the army, fights bravely, and returns home triumphantly, the poem celebrates Mulan's filial piety, bravery, perseverance, and wisdom. The poem demonstrates Mulan's noble character of being loyal to her family without any attachment to fame and fortune, and conveys the spirit of loyalty and filial piety, and the spirit of being unrivalled in the world.
Explanation:This answer comprehensively summarises the core ideas of the Magnolia Poems, including the celebration of the character of the magnolia and the values embodied in the poems.
Question 2: Why did Mulan take her father's place in the army?
Standard Answer:Because "Grandpa has no eldest son and Mulan has no eldest brother", Mulan decided to join the army on behalf of her father out of filial piety as there were no adult men in the family who could be recruited due to her father's old age.
Explanation:This answer quotes directly from the original text, explaining the specific reasons why Mulan enlisted in the army on behalf of her father and demonstrating her filial character.
題目3：翻譯「唧唧復唧唧，木蘭當戶織」
Standard Answer:Sigh after sigh came out as Mulan knitted against the door of her room.
Explanation:"Kiki" refers to the sound of sighing, and "facing the door" refers to facing the door. The opening line of the poem highlights Mulan's sadness.
Question 4: What rhetorical device is used in the phrase "the male rabbit's feet are fluttering, the female rabbit's eyes are wandering"? What is the purpose of this rhetorical device?
Standard Answer:Simile is used. It is difficult to tell the difference between male and female rabbits when they run side by side, which is a metaphor for the reason why Mulan's disguise as a man was not discovered in the army.
Explanation:This metaphor is vivid and interesting, explaining why Mulan can conceal her identity and adding interest to the poem.
Full Translation - Paragraph-by-Paragraph Translation and Comprehension
Paragraph 1: Determined to take his father's place in the army
original
Kiki after Kiki, the magnolia weaves in the house. The loom is not heard, but the woman sighs. I ask the woman what she thinks about, and what she remembers. "She has nothing to think about, nor does she have any memories. Last night, I saw a military post, the Khan's army was at the point of order, and there were twelve volumes of military books, all of which had the name of Grandfather in them. Grandfather has no eldest son, and Mulan has no elder brother, so I am willing to be a saddle horse for him, and from now on I will fight on his behalf.
language translation
Sighs come out one after another as Mulan knits at the door of her room. I can't hear the sound of the loom weaving, but only Mulan's sighs. Ask Mulan what she is thinking about. Ask Mulan what she is thinking about. (Mulan replied) "I'm not thinking about anything, nor am I thinking about anything. Last night I saw the conscription papers and learnt that the monarch was recruiting on a large scale, and that there were so many volumes of conscription papers, and father's name was on every one of them. Father has no eldest son, and Mulan has no elder brother, and Mulan is willing to go to the bazaar to buy saddles and horses for this purpose, and to begin to go to war in father's place."
Paragraph analysis
This paragraph uses contrasting techniques to write about Mulan's sighs when she is weaving, and then reveals the cause of Mulan's sadness - her father's conscription - in the form of a question and answer. Mulan's determination to join the army on her father's behalf demonstrates her filial piety and bravery. The number "twelve rolls" is an imaginary number, indicating the large scale of the conscription.
Paragraph 2: Preparation of the expedition
original
In the east market, I bought a horse, in the west market, a saddle, in the south market, a hand-draught, and in the north market, a long whip. When I left my grandma, I stayed by the Yellow River in the evening. I didn't hear my grandma's voice calling for my daughter, but I heard the splashing of the Yellow River. When I left the Yellow River and went to the Black Mountain at night, I didn't hear my grandparents' calls, but I heard the chirping of the Hu riders in Yanshan Mountain.
language translation
In the eastern market he buys a good horse, in the western market he buys a pad under the saddle, in the southern market he buys a horse's reins, a bridle, and other artefacts for controlling the horse, and in the northern market he buys a long whip. The next morning she left her parents and stayed by the Yellow River at night. I could not hear the sound of my parents calling my daughter, but only the sound of the Yellow River running. The next morning, she left the Yellow River and travelled on the road, arriving at Heishan Tou in the evening. I still could not hear my parents' call, but only the hoofbeats of the Hu people's cavalry in Yanshan Mountain.
Paragraph analysis
This paragraph is divided into two parts: the first four lines describe Mulan's purchase of military goods, using the four directional words "east, west, north, south" to show her thorough preparation; the last eight lines describe Mulan's departure on her journey, using the technique of contrast ("I don't hear..."), but I hear...". The last eight lines are about Mulan's journey, and through the technique of contrast ("I don't hear...") In the last eight lines, Mulan embarks on her journey, and through the technique of contrast ("I don't hear ... but I hear ..."), she expresses Mulan's reluctance to leave her home and the severity of the war.
Paragraph 3: The Campaign Career
original
I have travelled thousands of miles to the battlefield, and the mountains of Guanshan are as if they were flying. The weather of the first day of the month is like a golden watchman's rattle, and the cold light shines on the iron clothes. The generals die in a hundred battles, the heroes return in ten years.
language translation
They travelled thousands of miles to the battlefield, and over the mountains as fast as they could fly. The sound of the night watch is heard in the cold northern air, and the moonlight reflects on the armour of the soldiers. The soldiers had fought hundreds of battles, some had sacrificed their lives for their country, and some had returned victorious from years of war.
Paragraph analysis
This paragraph summarises Mulan's career in the war. The first four lines describe the difficult environment of the battlefield, and the last two lines describe the cruelty of the war. The author outlines the whole picture of the war with simple ink, highlighting the difficulty of Mulan's campaign.
Paragraph 4: Retirement on completion of work
original
I returned to see the Son of Heaven, who was sitting in the Hall of Heaven. The Emperor was sitting in the Hall of Heaven. He gave twelve orders and hundreds of thousands of rewards. The Khan asked, "Mulan does not need a minister, I wish to lend my camel a thousand miles to send my son back to his homeland."
language translation
When he returned from his victory, he went to see the Son of Heaven, who was sitting in the hall. He rewarded Mulan with many honours, and he got more than a thousand gold. When the Emperor asked Mulan what he wanted, Mulan said that he did not want to be a minister, but wanted to ride a thousand miles back to his hometown.
Paragraph analysis
In this paragraph, Mulan is honoured by the Emperor after the war, but she is not greedy for fame and fortune, she only wants to return to her hometown. This reflects Mulan's character of being indifferent to fame and fortune and yearning for a peaceful life.
Segment 5: Back to Women's Clothing
original
When my grandfather and mother heard that my daughter was coming, they went out to support each other; when my sister heard that my sister was coming, she did her make-up in her house; when my little brother heard that my sister was coming, he sharpened his sword and turned it towards the pigs and sheep. I opened the door of the East Cabinet, sat on the bed of the West Cabinet, took off my war-time robe, and put on my old-time clothes. When I look in the window, my hair is coming out of my head, and when I look in the mirror, I see the yellow of my flowers. When I went out to see my companions, they were all surprised: "I have travelled with you for twelve years, but I didn't know that Mulan was a girl!
language translation
When the parents heard that their daughter had come back, they went to the city to greet her, and when the elder sister heard that her younger sister had come back, she put on her make-up at the door, and when the younger brother heard that his elder sister had come back, he was busy sharpening his knife and killing the pigs and slaughtering the sheep. They opened the door to every room and went in to look around, took off the robes they had worn in the war, put on the clothes they had worn as girls, arranged their beautiful hair in front of the window and in front of the mirror, and put decorations on their faces in front of the mirror. When he went out to see his mates who had fought with him, they were astonished: "After travelling together for so many years, I didn't know that Mulan was a girl!
Paragraph analysis
This paragraph describes the scene after Mulan's return home. The first half of the paragraph describes the welcome of her family, which embodies the warmth of the family; the second half describes Mulan's re-dressing as a woman and her companions' surprised reaction, which paves the way for the simile in the next paragraph.
Paragraph 6: Clever metaphors
original
The male rabbit's feet are fluttering, the female rabbit's eyes are confused; two rabbits walk along the ground, how can I tell if I am male or female?
language translation
(When the rabbit's ears are suspended in mid-air) the male rabbit's two front legs are always moving and the female rabbit's two eyes are always squinting, so it is easy to tell which is the male and which is the female. How can we tell which rabbit is the male and which is the female when they are running together close to the ground?
Paragraph analysis
This paragraph uses the analogy of male and female rabbits to cleverly explain why Mulan can disguise herself as a man without being discovered. This metaphor is vivid, interesting and philosophical, and is the highlight of the poem.
Annotated Chinese Characters and Words - Detailed Explanation of Key Vocabularies
Focus on Real Words
- (onom.) chirping of insects, sighing noise etc: a sigh, which can also refer to the sound of a textile machine
- household: to the door.
- a loom: Loom and shuttle
- army post (loanword): Recruitment instruments
- khan (loanword): Ancient name for the monarchs of the north-western region of China
- city: Buying
- saddle horse racing: Saddles and pads
- Drinking Heads: the reins of a harnessed horse.
Focus on Vocabulary
- recover: again and again
- onlyOnly, only
- howWhat?
- also:: Also
- Place: by... (used to form nominative constructions)
- butOnly, only
- as: as if, as if
- bring (a charge against sb): what, how
Chinese Characters and Ancient and Modern Anagrams
- writing → writing: Wear ("Wearing My Old Clothes")
- Post → Sticky: Paste ("Mirror Post Flower Yellow")
- grandfather: Anciently known as father, nowadays known as grandfather.
- die (euph.): Anciently known as running, nowadays known as walking.
- Resignation: Ancient meaning is to say goodbye; modern meaning is to say something.
- outer city wall: Ancient meaning of "outer city", modern meaning of "family name".
- king (chess piece): Anciently, an auxiliary; nowadays, the word "will".
Analysis of Important Literary Sentences
| sentence structure | Example sentences | parse |
| judgement | "A woman has nothing to think about, and a woman has nothing to remember." | To express judgement, "nil" is a judgement word, equivalent to "not". |
| elliptical sentence | "I'd like to be a horse for the city." | The subject "I" has been omitted, and "for" means "for the sake of". |
| passive sentence | "The Twelve Turns of the Order of the Lord." | Omitting the passive marker, it's actually "credited 12 times." |
| rhetorical question | "Can you tell if I'm a man or a woman?" | The use of rhetorical questions emphasises that "an" means "how". |
Text Analysis - Main Idea, Paragraph Concepts and Writing Techniques
Article gist
By narrating the story of Mulan who joined the army on her father's behalf, Mulan's Rites portrays a heroine who is loyal and filial, and who does not care about honour and glamour, and embodies the following core ideas:
- Filial character:Mulan takes the initiative to join the army on behalf of her father because of his old age, demonstrating her deep filial piety.
- Patriotism:Mulan fought bravely on the battlefield and built up her country's reputation.
- Tempering fame and fortune:After the war, he didn't want to be famous, he just wanted to go back to his hometown and be with his family.
- Female Wisdom:Mulan was able to disguise herself as a man and hide her identity in the army for 12 years.
- Peace to aspire to:Mulan finally chooses to return to her ordinary life and realises her desire for peace.
Analysis of Writing Techniques
Rhetoric
- Platitudes:"Buy a horse in the East Market, a saddle in the West Market, a hand-dragon in the South Market, and a whip in the North Market", to strengthen the language and show the thoroughness of the preparation.
- Comparison:"I don't hear my grandparents calling their daughters, but I hear the Yellow River sputtering," highlighting the emotional changes and environmental differences.
- Metaphor:"The two rabbits walk along the ground, how can they tell if I am male or female?" This is a vivid illustration of the truth and adds fun to the story.
- I would like to ask a question:"Can you tell if I'm a man or a woman?" to emphasise the point of view and to enhance the effect of expression
narrative
- Detailed Arrangements:Write in detail about the determination to join the army on behalf of his father, the preparation for the expedition, and the reunion at home; write briefly about the process of the war.
- Shunshi:A chronological account of events, from weaving, to the army, to the return, to the revelation of identity.
- Action Description:"Taking care of the sideburns in the window and posting flowers in the mirror", vividly demonstrates the character's image.
- Environmental Description:"The first day of the month brings a golden watchman's rattle, and the cold light shines on his iron clothes." It sets the mood.
| paragraph | Main content | Writing features |
| Paragraph 1 | Mulan sighs as she weaves, and when she learns that her father has been conscripted, she decides to join the army in his place. | Contrasts and questions highlight Mulan's filial piety and determination. |
| second paragraph | Purchase military supplies, say goodbye to your parents and set off on your journey. | Prologue and contrast to show the thoroughness of preparation and the reluctance to part. |
| third paragraph | An overview of Mulan's military life and combat experience | Generalised narrative and environmental descriptions to highlight the hardship of the war. |
| fourth paragraph | Mulan was honoured after the war, but she refused to take up an official post and asked to return to her hometown. | Dialogue to highlight Mulan's indifferent character. |
| Paragraph 5 | The family welcomes Mulan home, and Mulan dresses up as a woman again. | Detailed descriptions and contrasts show the warmth of the family and the change of identity. |
| Paragraph 6 | Using the analogy of a male and female rabbit to explain Mulan's concealment of her identity | Metaphors, rhetorical questions, eye-catching and philosophical |
Character Analysis - Character Traits of Mulan
Characterisation of Mulan
Mulan is a classic female figure in classical Chinese literature. She combines many virtues and is the embodiment of an ideal personality.
Magnolia's Character Traits
- Filial piety:Taking the initiative to join the army on his father's behalf to show his deep affection for his father.
- Brave:Dare to take responsibility and not to be afraid of the dangers of the battlefield.
- Wisdom:Able to disguise herself as a man and hide her identity in the army.
- Loyalty:To fight bravely on the battlefield and to serve our country.
- Temperance:Not greedy for fame and fortune, choosing to return to the ordinary.
- It's true:After the war, he dressed up as a woman and returned to his true nature.
The Literary Significance of the Image of Mulan
Literary Value
Mulan is a successful female figure in classical Chinese literature, breaking the traditional gender framework and demonstrating the multiple possibilities of women. Her story transcends the limits of time and has become an important symbol of Chinese culture.
Modern Revelation
The story of Mulan reminds us that we should be brave enough to shoulder responsibilities, maintain our true nature, and pursue inner peace and family warmth. Her image tells us that a true hero does not necessarily seek fame and fortune, but is able to be true to his own values and sense of responsibility.
| Character traits | Original source | Modern Significance |
| filial piety | "Grandfather has no eldest son, Mulan has no elder brother. I'm willing to saddle a horse and fight for him." | Respecting elders, caring for family members and willing to take responsibility for the family |
| courageous | "I've travelled thousands of miles to the battlefield, and the mountains are like flies." | Don't back down in the face of difficulties and accept challenges with courage |
| wisdom | "I've been travelling with you for 12 years, but I didn't know Magnolia was a girl." | Flexible and good at problem solving |
| living a simple life | "Mulan doesn't need a minister. I wish I could send my son back to his hometown with the help of my camel." | Not pursuing fame, but valuing inner peace and family warmth. |
Exam Highlights - Question Analysis and Answering Techniques
Common Exam Question Types
- The question of interpretation:Translate a given sentence or paragraph
- Explanation of words and phrases:Explanation of Chinese Characters and Unusual Characters
- Content Understanding:Analysing main idea, paragraph meaning, characterisation
- Writing techniques:Identify rhetorical and expressive techniques
- Literary Appreciation:Understanding the characteristics of Rakugo poetry
- Comparative Analysis:Comparison with Other Classical Literature
Question and Answer Techniques
Interpretation Skills
- Accurately understand the meanings of real and imaginary words in the Chinese language.
- Pay attention to generic characters and ancient and modern anagrams.
- Maintaining the narrative and emotional colour of the original text
- The translation should be fluent, complete and in line with modern Chinese language expression.
Tips for analysing questions
- Understanding the cultural significance of the image of Mulan
- Ability to accurately cite the original text as an argument
- Analysed in relation to the context of writing and literary features.
- Pay attention to the structure and details of the poem.
Exam Tips
- Familiarise yourself with the full text of "The Magnolia Speech" and be able to recite it accurately.
- Mastery of key Chinese characters and vocabularies, especially generic characters and ancient and modern anagrams.
- Understanding Mulan's characterisation and personality traits
- Analysing the rhetorical and expressive techniques of poetry
- Grasping the Literary Characteristics of Lefu Poetry
Practice Questions - Mock Exam Questions and Detailed Explanations
Practice test questions
Question 1: "The twelve ranks of the Lord's favourites, the hundred thousand strong".
Refer to the answer:Mulan was rewarded for her meritorious deeds many times, and she received more than a thousand pieces of gold as rewards.
Analysis:The term "策勛" refers to a record of merit; "十二轉" refers to the highest rank of honours, which is an imaginary number indicating a number of times; "百千強" refers to a large number of times with a surplus.
Question 2: Which lines in "The Magnolias" embody the filial character of Mulan?
Refer to the answer:
- "Grandfather has no eldest son, Mulan has no elder brother, so I am willing to saddle a horse and fight for him from now on." - Mulan volunteered to join the army on behalf of her father because he was old and had no children.
- "Mulan does not need to be a scholar, I wish to borrow a bright camel and send my son back to his hometown" - Mulan does not want to be a scholar, she only wants to go back to her hometown to reunite with her parents.
Analysis:These lines are a direct expression of Mulan's filial piety to her father and her attachment to her family, and are a concrete manifestation of her filial character.
Question 3: Analyse the characteristics of the arrangement of details and omissions in the Magnolia Speech and its functions.
Refer to the answer:
There are the following features in the detailed arrangement of the Magnolia Speech:
- Details: the determination to be a soldier on behalf of his father, the preparation for the war, and the reunion with his family
- write cursorily: The course of the war is briefly described in six sentences.
effectThis arrangement highlights Mulan's filial piety and her attachment to her family rather than the war scenes, which reflects the characteristic of music poetry that focuses on the character of the characters. At the same time, this arrangement is also in line with the simplicity of the poem, which uses the most concise language to express the richest content.
Question 4: "The male rabbit's feet are fluttering, the female rabbit's eyes are confused; the two rabbits are walking along the ground, how can they tell if I am a male or a female?" What is the purpose of this analogy?
Refer to the answer:
This metaphor serves the following purposes:
- Explain why Mulan was able to conceal her identity as a woman in the military - gender identity is not easily recognisable in the same environment and action
- To express Mulan's pride in her success in dressing as a man.
- Pointing out that gender should not be a limitation of ability, which breaks through the traditional concept of gender.
- As the highlight of the poem, it adds to the philosophical and interesting nature of the poem
Analysis:This vivid metaphor explains why Mulan is able to conceal her identity and expresses a breakthrough in the traditional concept of gender, which is the highlight of the poem.
Need more help with Magnolia Worksheet Answers?
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Find a Chinese tutor nowStudy Tips - Effective Learning Methods
Effective Learning Methods
- Familiarise yourself with the original text: Read aloud the original text over and over again to understand the rhythm and rhyme of the poem. It is recommended to read aloud 5-10 times a day until you are able to recite the whole text fluently.
- Mastery of WordsThe students will be able to learn the meaning of the words and phrases in the Chinese language, and will be able to make cards for regular revision. The students should pay special attention to the different meanings of ancient and modern words.
- Understanding characters: To gain an in-depth understanding of Mulan's character and character traits, and to analyse the deeper meanings of the various episodes. Character analysis charts can be produced.
- Practice Answers: Do a lot of practice questions to familiarise yourself with the techniques of answering various types of questions. In particular, you should practice translation and analysis questions to improve your presentation skills.
- Contact Reality: Consider the modern significance of the Mulan story and link it to the contemporary concept of values. We can think about the embodiment of loyalty and filial piety in modern society.
memory skills
story-combing method
Organise the story of Mulan in chronological order to understand the narrative structure and character development. Create a story flow chart to connect the main events and help remember the whole story.
Comparative Analysis
Compile the contrasting sentences in the text and analyse the function and effect of the contrasts to deepen your understanding of the expressive techniques. For example, "I don't hear...". But I heard...". The contrasting structure of "I don't hear ... but I hear ...".
Keyword Memory
Identify key words for each paragraph, e.g. "weaving", "going on a journey", "battlefield", "returning home", "reunion", "rabbits", and link up the whole text through the key words.
Exam Review Checklist
- Recite the full text of "The Magnolia Speech
- Mastery of key Chinese characters and sentence patterns
- Understanding Mulan's characterisation and personality traits
- Analysing the rhetorical and expressive techniques of poetry
- Tips for Practising Common Question Types
- Reviewing the Literary Characteristics of Rakufu Poetry
Master the essence of the Magnolia Rhetoric and enhance your Chinese language skills!
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