Welcome to 《故乡》 (Hometown) Study Guide!
Hello! Welcome to your ultimate revision guide for Lu Xun’s masterpiece 《故乡》 (Hometown), tailored specifically for the Pearson Edexcel A Level Chinese (9CN0) Paper 2 examination. Whether you are aiming for top marks or finding Chinese literary analysis a bit daunting, this guide breaks down every character, theme, literary device, and exam pitfall into clear, manageable steps.
Exam Essentials at a Glance:
• Paper Code: 9CN0/02 (Paper 2: Written response to works and translation)
• Section: Section B (Literary Texts)
• Task: Answer one essay question (Option a or Option b) on Hometown
• Essay Length: Recommended 250–350 Chinese characters
• Exam Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes (for the whole Paper 2 paper)
Key Takeaway: You do not need to write a massive novel! A concise, structured essay of 250–350 characters with sharp analysis and accurate literary terms will score the highest marks.
1. Context and Plot Summary
About the Work
• Author: Lu Xun (鲁迅), the pen name of Zhou Shuren (周树人).
• Publication Date: Published in 1921, later collected in his famous anthology Call to Arms (《呐喊》).
• Genre: Short story / Literary text (小说).
Plot Overview
The story is narrated in the first person by "I" (我 / Xun-ge'er 迅哥儿), an educated intellectual. After being away for over twenty years, he returns to his rural hometown in the depths of winter with one sole purpose: to sell his family’s ancestral home and relocate his mother and nephew permanently to the city.
Instead of the warm, idyllic paradise of his childhood memories, he finds a bleak, decaying village. During his brief stay, he encounters two figures from his past: his beloved childhood friend Runtu (闰土), who has become a beaten-down, superstitious peasant, and his former neighbor Madame Yang (杨二嫂), once known as the "Bean-curd Beauty", who has turned into a shrill, petty scavenger. Disillusioned, the narrator leaves his hometown forever on a boat, contemplating the nature of change, society, and hope (希望) for the future generation.
Did you know?
Even though the story reflects Lu Xun’s own life experiences, it is a work of fiction. Never call the narrator "Lu Xun" in your essay—always refer to him as "the narrator" (叙述者 / 我) or "Xun-ge'er" (迅哥儿)!
2. Character Analysis & Key Comparisons
The Narrator (我 / 迅哥儿)
• Identity: A progressive, urban intellectual who belongs to the educated class.
• Conflict: He feels deep nostalgia for his childhood memories but experiences alienation (疏离感) and sorrow upon seeing the harsh reality of his hometown.
• Role: He acts as the observer and critical lens through which we witness the stagnation and social hierarchy of rural China.
Runtu (闰土) – The Golden Past vs. The Sallow Present
Runtu is the most critical character in the text. Lu Xun uses sharp contrast (对比) to highlight the tragedy of his transformation:
1. Childhood Runtu (少年闰土):
• Appearance: Round, purplish face (紫色的圆脸), wearing a small felt hat and a silver neck-ring (银项圈), showing he was healthy, loved, and protected.
• Personality: Lively, brave, full of countryside wisdom (trapping birds, guarding watermelons, knowing sea-shells and the mythical creature Zha 猹).
• Relationship: Treated the narrator as an equal and called him "Brother Xun" (迅哥儿), completely ignoring social class differences.
2. Middle-aged Runtu (中年闰土):
• Appearance: His face has turned sallow and deeply wrinkled; his eyes are rimmed with red; his hands are rough, cracked, and coarse like pine bark (松树皮).
• Personality: Numb, exhausted by heavy taxes, poverty, multiple children, bandits, and social oppression; deeply superstitious.
• Relationship: The moment he sees the narrator, he bows and calls him "Master" (老爷). This polite, subservient address forms an invisible "thick wall" (厚障壁) between them, destroying their childhood brotherhood.
Madame Yang (杨二嫂) – The "Bean-curd Beauty" (豆腐西施)
• Past: Known as the attractive woman who sat in her bean-curd shop, bringing prosperity to her business.
• Present: A skinny, sharp-tongued woman whom the narrator compares to a drafting tool: a "compass" (圆规) with spindly legs. She is selfish, gossipy, and eager to snatch household items from the narrator's home before they leave.
• Symbolic Meaning: While Runtu represents the tragic, silent suffering of the peasantry, Madame Yang represents the moral degradation and petty greed born out of poverty and social stagnation.
Hong’er (宏儿) and Shuisheng (水生) – The Next Generation
• Hong’er: The narrator’s young nephew.
• Shuisheng: Runtu’s young son, who looks remarkably like the childhood Runtu.
• Significance: The two boys quickly become friends and promise to play together again, mirroring the childhood bond between the narrator and Runtu. They embody the narrator’s wish that the future generation will not suffer the same class divisions and misery.
Key Takeaway: The characters in Hometown are not just individuals—they are symbols of different social strata and the devastating impact of poverty and feudal hierarchy (封建等级制度).
3. Major Themes
1. The Invisible Feudal Wall & Class Divide (等级观念与阶级隔阂)
When Runtu addresses the narrator as "老爷" (Master), it symbolizes the insurmountable barrier created by traditional feudal hierarchy. Despite the narrator's longing for equality, centuries of ingrained servitude and social division prevent genuine human connection across classes.
2. Contrast between Memory and Reality (理想回忆与残酷现实的对比)
The entire text pivots on the gap between what the narrator remembers and what he actually encounters. Memory is vibrant, lively, and magical; reality is impoverished, silent, and spiritually dead.
3. The Meaning of Hope (对新生活的希望)
At the end of the story, as the narrator sails away, he reflects on the future. He hopes that Hong'er and Shuisheng will live a "new life" (新的生活) that his generation could not experience. The story ends with one of the most famous metaphors in Chinese literature:
"希望是本无所谓有，无所谓无的。这正如地上的路；其实地上本没有路，走的人多了，也便成了路。"
(Hope cannot be said to exist, nor can it be said not to exist. It is just like paths across the earth: originally there were no paths, but when many people walk on it, a path is made.)
Key Takeaway: Hope is not a passive wish—it requires action, collective effort, and persistence.
4. Key Literary Devices & Color Imagery
To achieve top bands in Paper 2, you must demonstrate your understanding of Lu Xun’s literary techniques. Use these exact Chinese terms in your essay:
1. Contrast (对比 - Duìbǐ)
Lu Xun uses contrast on multiple levels:
• Runtu's past vs. present: Vibrant, healthy boy vs. broken, numb peasant.
• The setting's past vs. present: Lush watermelon field vs. bleak, wintry village.
• Characters: The quiet, submissive suffering of Runtu vs. the shrill, aggressive greed of Madame Yang.
2. Color Imagery (色彩意象 - Sècǎi Yìxiàng)
Lu Xun’s use of color is deliberate and emotionally powerful:
• Colors of the Past (Idyllic / Romantic): Deep blue sky (深蓝的天空), emerald green watermelon patch (碧绿的西瓜), golden yellow moon (金黄的圆月). These bright, saturated colors represent childhood vitality, innocence, and freedom.
• Colors of the Present (Bleak / Oppressive): Sallow/pale yellow sky (苍黄的天), a gloomy, desolate landscape, and Runtu's weathered, sallow skin. These dull colors signify decay, poverty, and hopelessness.
3. Metaphor & Simile (比喻 - Bǐyù)
• The Compass (圆规): Describes Madame Yang's physical posture (narrow waist, spindly legs) and emphasizes her unnatural, sharp, and comical demeanor.
• The Thick Wall (厚障壁): An invisible psychological barrier of class and feudal mindset separating the narrator and Runtu.
• The Road/Path (地上的路): Symbolizes hope and the creation of a new society through practical action.
5. Essential Essay Vocabulary Bank
Memorize these high-yield terms and phrases to elevate the sophistication of your writing:
• 叙述者 (Xùshù zhě): Narrator
• 对比手法 (Duìbǐ shǒufǎ): Technique of contrast
• 封建思想 (Fēngjiàn sīxiǎng): Feudal ideology / mentality
• 等级森严 (Děngjí sēnyán): Strict social hierarchy
• 隔阂 / 障壁 (Géhé / Zhàngbì): Barrier / Estrangement
• 麻木 (Mámù): Numb / Apathetic
• 衰败 (Shuāibài): Decay / Decline
• 萧条 (Xiāotiáo): Desolate / Bleak
• 象征 (Xiàngzhēng): Symbol / Symbolize
• 意象 (Yìxiàng): Imagery
• 寄托希望 (Jìtuō xīwàng): To place / invest hope in
6. Common Exam Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
Principal Examiner reports highlight the following common mistakes made by students on Paper 2:
Mistake 1: Confusing Lu Xun with the Narrator
• Incorrect: "鲁迅回到了他的故乡，看到了闰土……" (Lu Xun returned to his hometown and saw Runtu...)
• Correct: "小说中的叙述者‘我’（迅哥儿）回到了故乡……" (The narrator 'I' / Xun-ge'er in the novel returned to the hometown...)
Mistake 2: Writing a History Essay instead of a Literary Analysis
• Do not spend half your essay discussing the New Culture Movement or 1920s Chinese history. Keep your focus directly on textual evidence, characterization, and literary techniques in Hometown.
Mistake 3: Describing Runtu Only as "Poor"
• Runtu's tragedy is not just physical poverty; it is his spiritual numbness (精神麻木) and submission to feudal hierarchy (calling the narrator "老爷"). Make sure to analyze the psychological shift.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the Present Setting
• Many students only remember the beautiful watermelon memory. Don't forget to analyze the descriptions of the cold, bleak, and decaying winter village (苍黄的天底下，远近横着几个萧条的荒村) upon the narrator's return.
7. Essay Structure Template (250–350 Characters)
Follow this 4-step blueprint to construct a well-balanced Paper 2 response:
1. Introduction (引言 - Approx. 40–50 characters):
State the author, title, and your direct answer to the prompt. Mention the key technique or theme you will analyze (e.g. 对比手法 / 阶级隔阂).
Example starter: 在鲁迅的小说《故乡》中，作者主要通过对比手法，展现了……
2. Body Paragraph 1 (正文第一段 - Approx. 100–120 characters):
Analyze the first key point (e.g., Runtu’s transformation or Madame Yang’s decay). Use specific quotes, imagery, or textual details.
Focus: 过去与现在的外貌、言行对比，以及色彩意象（深蓝、碧绿 vs 苍黄）。
3. Body Paragraph 2 (正文第二段 - Approx. 100–120 characters):
Analyze the deeper social significance or relationship dynamics (e.g., the invisible feudal wall, the address "老爷", or the contrast between the older and younger generation).
Focus: 封建等级观念造成的隔阂，以及宏儿和水生带来的希望。
4. Conclusion (结语 - Approx. 40–50 characters):
Summarize your main points and link back to the overarching message of the story (e.g., social critique and the road of hope).
Example starter: 总之，小说不仅批判了封建社会的残酷，更表达了对新生活和新道路的希望。
Quick Review: Chapter Checklist
Before stepping into the exam room, ensure you can confidently answer:
• 1. Why does the narrator return to his hometown, and how does the reality differ from his memory?
• 2. What are three specific differences between young Runtu and middle-aged Runtu?
• 3. What does Madame Yang (the "compass") represent in the story?
• 4. How does Lu Xun use color imagery (深蓝/碧绿/金黄 vs 苍黄) to establish mood and theme?
• 5. How do Hong'er, Shuisheng, and the final metaphor of "the path" (路) convey the theme of hope?