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TheJoyLuckClub:StudyGuide

JoyLuckClub
1.WhywasJingmeitakingpartintheJoyLuckClub?
JingmeismothertookpartintheJoyLuckClub.Whenhermotherdied,shewasaskedtotake
hermothersspotatthetable.

2.HowmanyJoyLuckClubshavetherebeen?
Two.Itwasestablishedtwice,onceinChina,andonceinAmerica.

3.WhydidJingmeismotherformtheJoyLuckClubinKweilin?
Toforgetabouthertroublesduringthewar.

4.WhydidthewomenintheclubcallitJoyLuck?
Itwasachancetobehappyandluckyinabadsituation.

5.WhatsurprisinginformationdidJingmeifinallylearnfromhermothersstoryaboutleaving
Kweilin?
ThathermotherhadaharshjourneytoescapeKweilinandthatshehadtwochildrenthatshe
hadtoabandon.

6.HowdothepeopleattheSanFranciscoJoyLuckClubeat?
Theyateasiftheywerestarving.

7.WhydidtheauntiesgiveJingmei$1200inanenvelope?
TogofindherlonglostsistersinChina.

8.WhatdotheauntieswantJingmeitotellhersistersinChina?
TheywantJingmeitotellhersistersabouthermother.

9.WhatsurprisingthingdoesJingmeitellherauntiesaboutherownmother?
Shetellsherauntiesthatshedidnttrulyknowherownmother.

10.WhatdoesJingmeipromisetheauntiesattheendofthestory?
Shepromisestheauntiesthatshewillgofindhersistersandtellthemallabouttheirshared
mother.

Scar
1.WhatdidAnmeismotherdotobecomeaghost?

Sheabandonedherfamilyforamanwithmanywives/concubines,andbroughtshameuponthe
family.

2.WhatdiditmeaninAnmeisfamilytobecomeaghost?
Tobeforgottenandneverspokenof.

3.WhydidAnmeisgrandmothersaybadthingsaboutherowngrandchildren?
Shedidntwantthemtoenduplikehermotherandwantedtokeeptheghostaway.

4.WhathappenedtothegreedygirlinAnmeisgrandmothersstory?
Amelongrewinherstomach.Sheresortedtosuicideandwhenshewasdeadthemonkscut
heropenandfoundthemelon.

5.InAnmeisgrandmothersstory,whathappenedtothelittlegirlwhorefusedtolistentoher
elders?
Herbrainsturnedintoaclearfluidandspilledoutofherears.

6.WhywasAnmeitoldnevertosayhermothersname?
Inordertoavoidsummoningtheghost.

7.InScar,whatisthedefinitionofshou?
Disrespecttowardsonesfamily.

8.WhatisAnmeisknownothingface?
Thefaceshemakeswhenshedoesnotwanttoshowemotion.

9.WhatdoesAnmeirememberabouthermotherfromwhenAnmeiwasfour?
Sheremembersthathermothertriedtocometakeherback,butthefamilywasagainstit.Apot
ofsoupisaccidentallyspilledonAnmeiandshegainsascaronherneck.

10.AfterAnmeiwasburned,whatdidhergrandmothertellherthatmadehergetbetterfast?
Shetellsherthatshewillbeadisappointmentandwillnotberememberedshedoesnotget
well.

11.WhatdoesAnmeismotherdotoshowherloveandrespectforherownmother?
Shecutsoffsomeofherownflesh.

12.Inthestory,whatdoesAnmeilearnfromherownmother?
Torespecthereldersandtosacrificethingsforherfamily.

TheRedCandle

1.HowdidLindoJongbecomeengagedtoherfuturehusband,Tyanyu?

Thematchmakermatchedthemwhenshewastwoyearsold.

2.HowdidLindofirstbecomeamemberoftheHuanghousehold?
HerfamilyshousewasfloodedandshemovedintotheHuanghousehold.

3.WhatgiftdidLindosmothergivetoLindoasthefamilymovedaway?
Lindosmothergaveheraredjadenecklace.

4.HowdidTyanyumakeLindocrythefirstnightshelivedinhishouse?
Heinsultedhercooking,herlooks,andtreatedherlikeaservant.

5.WhatdidLindosmotherinlawinstructtheservantstoteachLindo?
Cook,clean,sew,andbeagoodwife/servantingeneral.

6.WhatpromisedidLindomaketoherselfonherweddingday?
Shewouldgetoutofthemarriagewithoutbreakinghermotherspromiseandthatshewould
rememberherfamily.

7.WhywasLindounafraidwhileshewasleddownapathonherweddingday?
Sheknewwhoshewasandknewthatshewasntgoingtochange.

8.Whatwastheredcandlessignificanceandwhatwassupposedtohappentoit?
Thecandlesignifiedthemarriagebondanditwassupposedtoburnallnightwithouttheflames
goingout.

9.Whatliedidthematchmakersservanttell?
Thatthecandleburnedthroughthenight.

10.WhatmarkonTyanyudidLindousetoprovehermarriagewasrotting?
Ablackspotonhisback.

11.HowdidLindoescapefromthemarriagetoTyanyu?
SheclaimedshehadavisionwithherancestorsandconvincedtheHuangfamilythatshe
shouldleave.

12.WhatisthesignificanceinthestoryoftheFestivalofPureBrightness?
Itsthedayshegotmarriedandthedayshefoundherself.

TheMoonLadytoldbyYingyingSt.Clair
1.WhatdoesYingyingsayherearliestrecollectionis?
Tellingthemoonladyhersecretwish.

2.WhydoestheAmahtellYingyingthatshemustkeepherwishessecret?

Becauseonceyoutellsomeoneyourwish,thenitbecomesaselfishdesire.

3.HowdidYingyingwindupinthewater?
Somefirecrackersexplodedandshejumpedinsurprise.Shefellin.

7.WhatwishdidYingyingaskforfromtheMoonLady?
Shewishedtobefound.

RulesoftheGametoldbyWaverlyJong
3.HowdidWaverlylearntoplayexpertchess?
ShemetamanintheparknamedLauPoandhetaughtherhowtoplay.

5.WhydidWaverlyrunaway?
Sheaskedhermothertostopshowingoff(tellingeveryonethatshewasherdaughter),and
theygotintoafight.

6.HowdidWaverlysmothertreatherwhenshereturnedhomeafterrunningaway?
Sheignoredherandtoldtherestofthefamilytodothesame.

8.Attheendofthestory,whoisWaverlysimaginarychessopponent?
Hermother

TheVoicefromtheWalltoldbyLenaSt.Clair

1.Whatdoesthedeadbeggarsaywhenhereturns?
Astheswordwascuttingmedown,IthoughtthiswastheworstIwouldeverhavetoendure.
ButIwaswrong.Theworstisontheotherside.

2.HowdidtheAmericanimmigrationauthoritiescategorizeLenasmother?
Asadisplacedperson.

4.WhydidLenastarttellinglies?
Shestartedlyingbecausehermotherdidnotspeakenglish.Bypretendingtotranslatethings
shecouldchangesomethingsandgetwhatshewanted.

5.WhatwasLenasgreathopewhenthefamilymovedoutofOakland?
Shehopedthatshecouldleavebehindallofheroldfears.

6.WhatdidLenahearthroughthewallofthenewapartment?
Sheheardthenextdoorneighboursfighting.

HalfandHalftoldbyRoseHsuJordan
1.WhatdidRosesmotherusedtocarrytochurchservicesattheFirstChineseBaptistChurch?

Asmallleatherettebible.

4.WhatdidRosefindoutfaithwas?
Shediscoveredthatfaithwasbasicallythesamethingasfate.

5.WhatwasthenameofRosesmotherslittleChinesebookandwhatwasinit?
Thetwentysixmalignantgates.Ittoldofallofthemisfortunesthatcanbefallchildren
dependingontheirbirthdays.

6.WhatdidRoseandhermotherdoearlyonthemorningafterRosesbrotherdrowned?
TheywentbacktothebeachtotrytofindBing.

9.WhenRosetooktheBibleoutfromunderthetableleg,whatdidshefindwritteninit?
Bingsname

TwoKindstoldbyJingmeiWoo
1.WhatmadeJingmeismotherthinkthatJingmeicouldbeaprodigy?
HermotherbelievedthatyoucouldbeanythingyouwantedtobewhenyouwereinAmerica.

2.WhatdidJingmeismotherloseinChina?
Hermother,herfather,herfamilyhome,herfirsthusband,andhertwindaughters.

3.HowdidJingmeifirstenvisionherselfasaprodigy?
SheenvisionedherselfasaChineseShirleyTemple.

7.WhatwaswrongwithJingmeispianoteacherandhowdidhisdefectaffectherplaying?
Hewasdeaf,sohecouldnthearifshemadeanymistakes.Itaffectedherplayingbecause
manymistakescouldgounnoticed.

8.WhatpiecedidJingmeiselectforthetalentshowinthechurchhall?
PleadingChild.

9.WhowastheonlypersoninthechurchhallwhothoughtJingmeisperformancewasgood?
OldChong,herdeafpianoteacher.

RiceHusbandtoldbyLenaSt.Clair
1.Whatdoesthesaying,Ifthelipsaregone,theteethwillbecold,mean?
Onethingisalwaystheresultofanother.

2.WhatdoesLenasmothersee?
Lenasmothercanseethingsbeforetheyhappen.


3.WhatarethethreethingsthatLenasmotherpredictedthatcametrue?
Herbabydyingbeforebirth,embezzlementatthebank,andherhusbanddying.

6.WhatfooddoesHaroldnotrealizethatLenadoesnteat?
Icecream

9.Whydoesthemarbleendtablecollapse?
Hermothertriedtosetherpurseonit.

FourDirectionstoldbyWaverlyJong
1.WhatdidWaverlywanttotellhermotheratlunch?
Thatshewasengagedtohernewfianc.

3.WhydidWaverlyfirststopplayingchessasachild?
Hermotherkepttakingcreditandbotheringherwhileshewaspracticing.

5.WhatmistakedidRichmakeaboutthewineatthedinnerwithWaverlysfamily?
Notonlydidhebringanicewinetothedinner,buthealsodrankmostofithimself.

7.InwhatwaywasWaverlyconfusedaboutwherehermothercamefrom?
ShethoughtthathermotherwasfromTaiwanbecauseitwaspronouncedsimilarlytoTaiyuan.

WithoutWoodtoldbyRoseHsuJordan
1.WhenRosewaslittle,whatdidshebelieve?
Shethoughtthathermothercouldseethroughher.

4.WheredidRosetellTedshewasgoingtolive?
Inthehouse.(Shewantedtokeepthehouseafterthedivorce).

5.WhenRosesaysthatTedishulihudu,whatdoesshemean?
Tedisconfused.

BestQualitybyJingmeiWoo
3.WhydidJingmeileavetheroomwhilethecrabswerebeingsteamed?
Shedidntwanttoseethecrabsbeingboiled.

5.HowdidWaverlyinsultJingmeiprofessionally?
Shesaid,infrontoftheirfamilies,thatJingmeisworkwasnotformalenoughforherfirm.

6.Whogotthecrabwiththemissingleg?
Themother.

MagpiestoldbyAnmeiHsu
3.HowdidAnmeismotherdishonorherwidowhood?
ShebecameWuTsings3rdconcubine.(4thwife)

5.Whathappenedtotheeggsthatpouredoutoftheturtlesbeak?
Theyhatchedintobirds.

7.WhatdidthestoryoftheturtlesandthemagpiesteachAnmeismothertodo?
Ittaughthertostaystrongandnevershowsignsofweakness.

9.WhydidAnmeismothersendAnmeioutoftheirbedroomatnight?
BecauseWuTsingwantedtosleepwithherthatnight.

10.WhydidAnmeismotherbecomeWuTsingsconcubine?
ShewastrickedintostayingatthehouseforanightandWuTsingrapedher.

11.HowdidAnmeismotherdie?
Shecommittedsuicide.(Atatimethatwouldbenefitherchildrenbecauseoftheholiday).

13.WhatdoesAnmeisaythatherdaughterspsychiatristis?
Amagpiedrinkingfromhermisery.

WaitingBetweentheTreestoldbyYingyingSt.Clair
1.HowhasLenaSt.Clairunknowinglyinsultedhermotherbygivinghertheguestbedroomin
herhome?
YingYing,asthemother,shouldvereceivedthebiggestroominthehouse,buttheguestroom
wassmall.

3.WhenYingyingwasayounggirlinWushi,shewaslihai.Whatdoesthatmean?
Lihaimeansfierceandtigerlike.

5.WhatsignhappenedtoconvinceYingyingthatshewouldmarrythemanwhowasaguestat
herhouse?
Hewouldcontinuallystareather.Hisnamewasalsorepeatedtohermanytimes.

7.WhatisthedifferencebetweenwhatLenaseesinhermotherandwhathermotherreallyis?
Sheseeshermotherasafeebleoldwoman,buthermotherisactuallyfierceandtigerlike.

9.WhydoesYingyingabortherfirstchild?
Herhusbandleftherforayoungoperasingersoshekillsthechildoutofspite.

11.WhatdidYingyinggiveupwhenshemarriedSt.Clair?
Herfightingspirit.


DoubleFacetoldbyLindoJong
1.WhydoesWaverlyJongwanttogotoChina?
Shewantstogoforher2ndhoneymoon.

3.WhycouldLindoschildrennothaveAmericancircumstancesandChinesecharacter?
AmericancircumstancesandChinesecharacterdonotmix.

5.WhatkindofjobdidLindogetinthecookiefactory?
Shefoldedthedoughintothefortunecookieshape.

7.WhydoesWaverlylikethefactthatsheandhermotherhavecrookednoses?
Itmakesthemlooktwofaced.

APairofTicketstoldbyJingmeiWoo
3.Howdidthehalfsisterslearnthattheirmotherwasdead?
AuntieLindowrotethemaletter

5.WhydidJingmeismotheractuallyleavethebabies?
Shethoughtshewasgoingtodiesoshetriedtogivethechildrenthebestopportunity.

6.Whofoundthebabies?
Acouplelivinginsideofacave.

7.WhatarethetwodifferentChinesemeaningsofSuyuan,Jingmeismothersname?
LongheldgrudgeandLongcherishedwish.