Homesick Geese and Old Memories | Generated by AI
Question: Which line from “Sheng Sheng Man · Autumn Feelings” expresses the poet’s longing for her homeland?
Answer:
The correct answer is A, not C. Here is a clear, exam-focused explanation.
1. Why Option A Is Correct
A. 雁过也,正伤心,却是旧时相识
This line expresses homesickness (故乡之思) through imagery and association:
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“雁” (wild geese)
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In classical Chinese poetry, geese are a fixed symbol of:
- Messages from afar
- Travel, separation, and homeland
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They are often linked to border-crossing and long-distance movement
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“旧时相识” (old acquaintances)
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The geese remind the poet of:
- Past life
- Former homeland
- Earlier, happier times before exile and national collapse
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Emotional mechanism:
- Seeing migrating geese → recalling the north → thinking of home
- This is a classic indirect expression of homesickness
✅ Therefore, this line clearly conveys longing for one’s homeland.
2. Why Option C Is Wrong
C. 守着窗儿,独自怎生得黑
This line describes:
- Loneliness
- Long, painful waiting
- Emotional emptiness and despair
However:
- ❌ No homeland imagery
- ❌ No spatial displacement
- ❌ No symbolic object related to home or travel
It reflects solitude, not homesickness.
3. Why the Other Options Are Also Incorrect
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B. 满地黄花堆积,憔悴损,如今有谁堪摘
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Symbolizes:
- The poet’s own withered state
- Emotional decline and aging
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Focuses on self, not homeland
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D. 梧桐更兼细雨,到黄昏、点点滴滴
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Expresses:
- Sorrow
- Endless melancholy
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Pure atmosphere rendering, not homeland memory
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4. Key Exam Technique (Very Important)
When identifying 故乡之思, look for:
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Migratory imagery:
- 雁、月、关山、长亭、客路
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Spatial contrast:
- “旧时 / 如今”
- “北 / 南”
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Implied displacement, not just sadness
👉 Sad ≠ homesick 👉 Homesickness must involve space + memory
Final Conclusion
- ✅ Correct answer: A
- ❌ Option C expresses loneliness, not homesickness
- 📌 “雁” = high-frequency exam symbol for故乡之思
If you want, I can:
- Summarize Li Qingzhao imagery–emotion mapping
- Give a symbol cheat sheet for Song ci exams
- Compare this poem with her early vs late works
Just tell me.