<🟢 1. Describe the narrator's return to his old home and explain why the visit fills him with sadness.
Answer
After more than twenty years, the narrator returns to his ancestral home during late winter. As he approaches the village, he sees deserted houses, barren fields, and a gloomy landscape. The place that had lived beautifully in his childhood memories now appears lonely and lifeless. He has come only to bid farewell because the ancestral house has been sold, and his family is preparing to move to another town where he works. Although his mother welcomes him warmly, she cannot hide her sadness about leaving the old home. The narrator realises that both time and circumstances have changed the place forever, making his visit deeply emotional and nostalgic.>
<🟢 2. Describe the childhood friendship between the narrator and Jun-tu.
Answer
The narrator remembers meeting Jun-tu during an ancestral festival when both were about the same age. Jun-tu was the son of a part-time labourer employed by the narrator's family. Though they belonged to different social classes, they quickly became close friends. Jun-tu introduced the narrator to the fascinating world of nature by describing bird-catching, collecting colourful seashells, guarding watermelon fields, and hunting the mysterious zha. The narrator admired Jun-tu's courage, knowledge, and cheerful nature. Their friendship was filled with innocence, curiosity, and happiness. After spending a month together, Jun-tu returned home. Though they exchanged gifts later, they never met again for many years.>
<🟢 3. How have time and social differences changed Jun-tu and his relationship with the narrator?
Answer
When Jun-tu visits the narrator after twenty years, he is no longer the lively and energetic boy of the narrator's childhood memories. Poverty, hardship, and years of struggle have changed him into a tired, aged, and worn-out farmer. His face is wrinkled, his hands are rough, and his clothes are shabby. Instead of addressing the narrator as "Brother Hsun," he respectfully calls him "Master." This single word shocks the narrator because it reveals that social class has created a barrier between them. The warmth and equality of their childhood friendship have disappeared, replaced by distance and formality. The narrator realises that society has built an invisible wall separating them.>
<🟢 4. Describe the characters of Mrs. Yang and Jun-tu. What do they reveal about society?
Answer
Mrs. Yang and Jun-tu represent two different effects of poverty and social conditions. Mrs. Yang, once known as "Beancurd Beauty," has become greedy, quarrelsome, and selfish. She pretends to be friendly but demands the narrator's furniture and even secretly steals his mother's gloves. Her behaviour reflects moral decline caused by hardship. Jun-tu, on the other hand, remains honest, humble, and hardworking despite his suffering. He speaks about poor harvests, heavy taxes, famine, and the struggle to support his large family. He politely accepts some old household items but never loses his dignity. Through these two characters, Lu Hsun presents the harsh realities of society and the different ways people respond to poverty.>
<🟢 5. Explain the message of hope conveyed in My Old Home.
Answer
As the narrator leaves his old home by boat, he reflects on the changes that have taken place in his life and society. He feels saddened by the social barrier that now separates him from Jun-tu. However, he hopes that the next generation, represented by his nephew Hung-er and Jun-tu's son Shui-sheng, will grow up without such divisions. He dreams of a society where children can live as equals and enjoy a better future. The story ends with the famous idea that hope is like a road across the earth. A road does not exist until many people walk on it. Similarly, hope becomes reality only when people work together to build a better world. This optimistic ending gives the story its lasting significance.>
[ Summary Paragraph Questions Essays BACK TO XII LITERATURE RESOURCE PAGE ]