“Like a Dream” (Ru Meng Ling) by Li Qingzhao

1. Topic
   Wrestling with Emotions in Lyrics (Owen, 559-590)
   Scholars have identified the lyric (ci) form as one devoted to expressing emotions or feelings (qing). Choose one to three lyrics and discuss what different techniques they use to portray emotions. How would you describe the emotions being expressed? What sort of emotional resolution or conclusion is reached by the end of the lyrics?
2. Primary Text (from Owen textbook)
   “Song for the River Tune” (Shui Diao Ge Tou) by Su Shi (Owen, pg577)
   “Like a Dream” (Ru Meng Ling) by Li Qingzhao (Owen, pg580)
   “West River Moon” (Xi Jiang Yue) by Xin Qiji (Owen, pg584)
3. Thesis
   Compare and analysis three lyrics, discuss how these three poets use different way to express their feelings in these three lyrics.
4. Outline
5. Analysis “Song for the River Tune”, discuss what Su Shi wanted to express in this lyrics, how his emotions being expressed, and what sort of emotional is reached by the end of lyrics.
6. Analysis “Like a Dream”, discuss what Li QingZhao wanted to express in this lyrics, how his emotions being expressed, and what sort of emotional is reached by the end of lyrics.
7. Analysis “West River Moon”, discuss what Xin Qiji wanted to express in this lyrics, how his emotions being expressed, and what sort of emotional is reached by the end of lyrics.
8. Two other sources
   Egan, Ronald. The Burden of Female Talent—The Poet Li Qingzhao and Her History in China. (Book) This book gives background information for Li Qingzhao’s lyrics.
   Chu, Jeff. Chinese Scholars Xin Qiji: A Poet with unfulfilled ambitions.(Article) This article gives background information of Xin Qiji.

Sample Solution