1. Jiang Kui’s View on Parting: Regret and Anticipation Jiang Kui’s view of the occasion is indeed a blend of regret and anticipation. The sense of regret is clear from his acknowledgment of the sorrow that comes with parting: "I always regret that partings are many and meetings few." His words suggest that farewells have become a familiar source of pain, perhaps due to frequent separations from loved ones. The imagery of tears and hands wet with pearls of tears underscores this emotional weight. Yet, alongside regret, there is also anticipation. In the final lines, Jiang Kui looks forward to a future reunion, symbolized by "What day will I return, with plum flowers in profusion on a spring night?" The imagery of plum blossoms in spring suggests renewal and hope, as plum flowers often bloom at the end of winter, symbolizing resilience and a fresh start. Thus, while there is sorrow in the present moment of departure, Jiang Kui is also eagerly awaiting a joyful return, creating a balance between melancholy and hope. 2. Connection Between the Two Strophic Units: Role of Imagery The two strophes are connected through the transition of imagery that blends the external landscape with the internal emotional landscape of the speaker. In the first strophe, the imagery of withered grasses, mournful mists, and chaotic ravens sets a somber, melancholic tone. The withered grass and ravens evoke decay and death, while the mists and sand suggest confusion and transience, reflecting the uncertainty and sorrow of the speaker’s emotions. In the second strophe, the imagery shifts to more dynamic and personal experiences: "brushing the snow with a metal whip, cheating the cold in a soft hat," and "racing horses along Zhang Terrace Road." These images bring movement and energy, contrasting with the stillness of the first strophe. The action of "racing horses" suggests a past vitality and freedom, while "cheating the cold" implies resilience against the harshness of the environment,

1. This is a parting poem, But what is Jiang Kui’s view of this occasion? regret? anticipation? explore the series of stances toward farewell that he sets out in the ci. His view of this occasion is mixed with regret and anticipation. Because he mentioned “I always regret that partings are many and meetings few; about to again visits “west of the bamboo,” pearls of Tears feel my hands.” but he wrote “What day will I return, with Plum flowers in profusion on a spring night?” at the end, Which shows that his eagerness to return. 2. The first two-strophes form single sentences. What are the connections between these two strophic units? What is the role of imagery in connecting the two strophes? amid withered grasses and mournful Mists, chaotic Ravens see off the sun: wind-blown sand whirls across the level plain. brushing the snow with a metal whip, cheating the cold in a soft hat: I still recall racing horses along Zhang Terrace Road. the first strophic unit brings out the second strophic through describing the time (dusk) and place (a waste land) and it’s a cold weather, which is the reason of the poet’s clothing or accessories. The same scene makes the poet recall the past.