How might we interpret Tripitaka’s and the Pig Zhu Bajie’s pregnancies in Chapter 23 as allegories? How do they become pregnant and how are the pregnancies terminated? What clues does the text provide for interpreting this episode allegorically, and how is sex used metaphorically throughout the Women’s Kingdom episodes? Perform a close reading of the introductory poems in chapters 23-26 to support your answer. The book name is The Monkey and the Monk. The best answers should be
o Directly address the question they’re answering.
o Focus on the form, content, and meaning of the text (not opinions). o Offer evidence (quotes) to support what they say.
o Are brief but thorough (about 3–7 sentences).
