A Certain Night
A Certain Night Questions
Knowledge and Understanding 1. As it is quite obvious in the story, the narrator does not think that these men and women deserve to die. This is abundant when in the very last line of the story the narrator states, “when will it be light?” 2. Throughout the story, the narrator describes the communists as young, brave and handsome, although they are powerless martyrs. The narrator makes the nationalist seem “murderous looking,” and “cunning, malicious and smug.” The chief executioner has a “revolting moustache,” and an “evil voice”, as well as an “ugly and vicious face, which seemed to symbolize the cruelty of all the rulers to the oppressed.” This made it easy enough to distinguish between the communists and the nationalists. 3. The nationalists regard to the commended prisoners with no respect at all. It was because they didn’t care for them, because they were communists, and the nationalist police were just there to execute them. They were very rough towards them as they “pushed them clumsily and hard, hitting them with rifle butts and putting ropes round their chest to tie them…” As well, they would refer to them as “criminals”, as they would count them one by one making them seem no more important than counting the hairs on your chin. The nationalist’s regards towards these prisoners were cruel and very careless. 4. Near the beginning of the story, the young poet becomes overthrown by anger and pain that he actually passes out. Once he saw a familiar face, he began to calm down and gather a sense of encouragement. This familiar face started to make him feel more brave and resolute. Near the end, the mood is totally flipped around when they remembered their government was being formed. Their attitudes were now positive as they died, proudly singing for their country. 5. Ting Ling wrote this store to raise awareness of the disapproving murders the nationalist party committed. I think she honored her husband
Knowledge and Understanding 1. As it is quite obvious in the story, the narrator does not think that these men and women deserve to die. This is abundant when in the very last line of the story the narrator states, “when will it be light?” 2. Throughout the story, the narrator describes the communists as young, brave and handsome, although they are powerless martyrs. The narrator makes the nationalist seem “murderous looking,” and “cunning, malicious and smug.” The chief executioner has a “revolting moustache,” and an “evil voice”, as well as an “ugly and vicious face, which seemed to symbolize the cruelty of all the rulers to the oppressed.” This made it easy enough to distinguish between the communists and the nationalists. 3. The nationalists regard to the commended prisoners with no respect at all. It was because they didn’t care for them, because they were communists, and the nationalist police were just there to execute them. They were very rough towards them as they “pushed them clumsily and hard, hitting them with rifle butts and putting ropes round their chest to tie them…” As well, they would refer to them as “criminals”, as they would count them one by one making them seem no more important than counting the hairs on your chin. The nationalist’s regards towards these prisoners were cruel and very careless. 4. Near the beginning of the story, the young poet becomes overthrown by anger and pain that he actually passes out. Once he saw a familiar face, he began to calm down and gather a sense of encouragement. This familiar face started to make him feel more brave and resolute. Near the end, the mood is totally flipped around when they remembered their government was being formed. Their attitudes were now positive as they died, proudly singing for their country. 5. Ting Ling wrote this store to raise awareness of the disapproving murders the nationalist party committed. I think she honored her husband