Summary
Setting the Stage
The story is set in China and revolves around Tao Ying, a working mother, and her young son, Xiao Ye. Tao Ying is a cook in a factory canteen and is portrayed as a woman striving to be the ideal mother while navigating the challenges of everyday life.
A Lesson in Integrity
Tao Ying occasionally avoids paying for her bus ticket when travelling alone, rationalising her actions. However, when her son is with her, she ensures they purchase tickets to set an example. This incident introduces the theme of parental responsibility and the moral dilemmas people face in mundane situations.
The Temple Visit
The central conflict arises during a visit to a temple. The temple exempts children under 110 centimetres from buying tickets. Xiao Ye, excited about the trip, insists he is tall enough for a ticket. Despite Tao Ying’s initial reluctance, she buys one to honour her promise to him. However, upon reaching the temple, a young guard claims Xiao Ye is taller than the limit, sparking a public dispute.
A Mother's Struggle
Caught in the confrontation, Tao Ying’s attempt to measure her son’s height causes unintended embarrassment, straining her relationship with him. Her actions highlight the societal pressure and emotional toll of trying to meet the expectations of both parenthood and public behaviour.
Seeking Justice
Determined to vindicate herself and regain her son’s trust, Tao Ying measures Xiao Ye at home, confirming that he was under the height limit. She writes a letter to the temple authorities to address the injustice. This act reflects her resilience and commitment to protecting her child’s perception of her integrity.
The Resolution
Temple officials visit Tao Ying to apologise and offer compensation. She refuses the money and tickets, instead asking them to explain the misunderstanding to Xiao Ye. This resolution underscores her dedication to teaching her son the importance of truth and fairness, even in the face of personal challenges.
Themes
1. Parental Love and Responsibility
The story highlights Tao Ying’s deep love and sense of duty towards her son, Xiao Ye. She strives to be a flawless mother, often sacrificing her comfort and preferences to set a positive example for him. Her actions underscore the weight of parental responsibility and the lengths parents go to protect and nurture their children.
2. Ethical Dilemmas and Integrity
Through Tao Ying’s behaviour, the narrative explores the everyday moral choices people face. From her selective purchase of bus tickets to her actions at the temple, the story examines how integrity is shaped by context and relationships. The conflict at the temple symbolises the challenges of upholding one’s values under societal scrutiny.
3. Childhood Innocence and Perception
Xiao Ye’s innocence and his straightforward view of the world contrast with the complexities faced by adults. His insistence on buying a ticket, his desire to measure his height, and his emotional reaction to the events at the temple highlight how children perceive fairness and trust.
4. Pride and Humility
Tao Ying’s struggle to maintain her dignity in front of her son and the public reflects the universal human desire to balance pride with humility. Her eventual choice to prioritise her son’s understanding over public vindication demonstrates her humility and emotional maturity.
5. Societal Norms and Expectations
The story critiques the rigidity of societal norms through the actions of the temple guard and the arbitrary height requirement. It showcases how rules, though designed for order, can sometimes lead to conflict and alienation.
Character Sketches
1. Tao Ying
Tao Ying is the protagonist of the story, depicted as a dedicated and loving mother. She works tirelessly as a cook in a factory canteen and is deeply committed to setting the right example for her son, Xiao Ye. Despite her modest background, she values ethics and strives to instil them in her child. Her actions, from buying a bus ticket to writing a letter to the temple authorities, reflect her moral struggles and her desire to uphold integrity. Tao Ying’s character embodies resilience, self-reflection, and the emotional complexities of motherhood.
Key Traits:
- Responsible and caring
- Ethical, yet pragmatic
- Emotionally resilient
2. Xiao Ye
Xiao Ye is Tao Ying’s young son, whose innocence and curiosity drive the narrative. He is portrayed as a bright and sensitive child who holds his mother to high moral standards. Xiao Ye’s insistence on fairness and his reaction to the events at the temple highlight his strong sense of justice and trust in his mother. The story captures his gradual understanding of the world’s complexities and his evolving relationship with his mother.
Key Traits:
- Innocent and curious
- Observant and principled
- Emotionally expressive
3. The Temple Guard
The young temple guard serves as a foil to Tao Ying’s character. He is portrayed as rigid and dismissive, adhering strictly to rules without empathy. His confrontational behaviour at the temple exemplifies the arbitrary enforcement of societal norms, causing unnecessary distress to Tao Ying and Xiao Ye.
Key Traits:
- Rigid and inflexible
- Confrontational
- Lacks emotional insight
4. The Temple Officials
The officials who visit Tao Ying’s home towards the end of the story represent institutional accountability. Their willingness to apologise and offer compensation contrasts with the guard’s behaviour, showcasing a more humane approach to resolving conflicts.
Key Traits:
- Polite and understanding
- Respectful
- Representative of authority
Extract-Based Questions
Extract 1
"‘Mama, tickets!’ Xiao Ye says. Children are often more conscious of rituals than adults. Without a ticket in his hand, the ride doesn’t count as a proper ride."
Questions:
- Why does Xiao Ye insist on getting tickets?
- How does this reflect the difference between a child’s and an adult’s perspective?
- Identify and explain the literary device used in the phrase "Children are often more conscious of rituals than adults."
Extract 2
"‘Xiao Ye, you are not quite tall enough, still one centimetre away,’ she tells him softly. Tao Ying does not come from a privileged background, and has not read very many books. But she likes to be gentle and gracious, to set an example for her son and make a good impression."
Questions:
- What does this extract reveal about Tao Ying’s character?
- How does the height measurement serve as a recurring motif in the story?
- Explain the significance of Tao Ying’s desire to be “gentle and gracious” for her son.
Extract 3
"‘Mama, why are you taking so long? I thought I had lost you!’ Xiao Ye shouts to her affectionately. He runs towards his mother, as if she was one of his favourite toys."
Questions:
- What does Xiao Ye’s reaction tell us about his relationship with his mother?
- Identify the simile in the extract and explain its effect on the imagery of the scene.
- How does the child’s behaviour contrast with the seriousness of the situation?
Extract 4
"‘Mama, give me money!’ Taking the money, Xiao Ye runs towards an old woman behind the stall and says to her: ‘Please measure me!’"
Questions:
- What motivates Xiao Ye to ask the old woman to measure him?
- How does this moment highlight Xiao Ye’s understanding of fairness and trust?
- What does this incident reveal about the influence of the earlier events on Xiao Ye?
Answers to Important Questions
Analytical Questions
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How does the title One Centimetre symbolise the central conflict of the story?
- The title represents the fine line between truth and perception, rules and reality. Xiao Ye’s height—just one centimetre short or above the limit—becomes a metaphor for the arbitrary nature of societal norms. It highlights how minor discrepancies can lead to significant conflicts, symbolising the struggles Tao Ying faces in upholding her integrity while navigating societal rules.
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Describe the ethical dilemmas Tao Ying faces in the story. How do they shape her character and actions?
- Tao Ying faces moral dilemmas in deciding when to buy tickets and how to respond to the accusations at the temple. While she initially avoids minor ethical responsibilities, her son’s presence forces her to uphold higher moral standards. These dilemmas shape her into a more conscientious individual, emphasising her role as a mother striving to be a positive influence on her child.
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Discuss the significance of the mother-son relationship in the narrative. How does it evolve throughout the story?
- The relationship is central to the story, showcasing Tao Ying’s efforts to model integrity and Xiao Ye’s growing awareness of fairness and trust. Initially, Tao Ying’s actions seem to shield Xiao Ye from the complexities of life. However, as conflicts arise, their bond is tested, leading to a deeper mutual understanding and growth by the end.
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How does Bi Shu-min use everyday incidents to explore deeper themes of morality and societal expectations?
- The story uses ordinary scenarios—bus rides, temple visits, and parenting moments—to delve into profound themes like ethical conduct, parental responsibility, and societal norms. By weaving these themes into relatable situations, Bi Shu-min reflects the moral complexities of everyday life and the universal challenges of maintaining integrity.
Discussion-Based Questions
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Tao Ying is determined to be a role model for her son. How do her efforts reflect the pressures of parenting?
- Tao Ying’s constant effort to set a moral example reflects the societal and self-imposed pressures parents face. Her actions, such as buying tickets or refusing to lie, demonstrate her belief that children learn by observing. These pressures, however, often lead to internal conflict, showing the challenges of living up to one’s ideals.
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The temple guard’s behaviour is a representation of rigid societal norms. How does the story critique this rigidity?
- The guard’s strict adherence to the height rule, without room for understanding or empathy, symbolises the inflexibility of societal systems. The story critiques this rigidity by showing how such rules can alienate individuals and create unnecessary conflict, especially when applied without considering human emotions and context.
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Do you think Tao Ying’s decision to decline the temple’s compensation was justified? Why or why not?
- Yes, Tao Ying’s decision was justified as it reflected her prioritisation of moral values over material gain. By refusing the compensation, she aimed to teach Xiao Ye a lesson about integrity and fairness, reaffirming her role as a mother dedicated to instilling strong ethical principles in her son.
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Explore how the story captures the contrasting perspectives of adults and children towards rules and fairness.
- Adults, like Tao Ying, often see rules as negotiable and guided by practicality. Children, represented by Xiao Ye, view rules as absolute, driven by a sense of fairness and trust. This contrast is evident in Xiao Ye’s insistence on tickets and his confusion over the temple incident, highlighting the innocence of childhood against the pragmatism of adulthood.
Theme-Oriented Questions
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What does the story reveal about the balance between personal pride and humility?
- The story shows how personal pride often conflicts with humility. Tao Ying’s struggle to maintain her dignity in front of her son and the public reflects her internal battle. Ultimately, her decision to prioritise her son’s understanding over public vindication illustrates the triumph of humility guided by love and responsibility.
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How does the story illustrate the gap between societal expectations and individual values?
- The story critiques societal expectations through Tao Ying’s encounters with rigid rules, such as the bus conductor’s indifference or the temple guard’s strict enforcement. These instances reveal the clash between institutional norms and personal ethics, highlighting the challenges individuals face in navigating these discrepancies.
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In what ways does the narrative reflect the challenges of living with integrity in a complex world?
- Tao Ying’s experiences underscore the difficulty of maintaining integrity in the face of societal pressures, financial constraints, and personal pride. Her journey—from small ethical compromises to a firm stand for her values—reflects the universal struggle to live honestly in a world where rules and fairness often seem arbitrary.
