JOY LUCK CLUB THEMES/SYMBOLS
4. Why is An-mei’s mother considered a “ghost”?
She became a concubine after being disgraced, so her family erased her existence. She was spoken of as if she did not exist.
What does “without wood” mean in Rose’s story?
It means lacking inner strength and the ability to make decisions, especially after Bing’s death.
What is dramatic irony?
When the audience knows something the characters do not.
Where does the play take place?
Athens and the nearby forest.
What does Bottom’s name symbolize?
Bottom's name symbolizes his literal transformation into a donkey.
What does the chess game symbolize for Waverly?
It represents strategy, power, and her mother’s concept of “invisible strength.”
What is the Joy Luck Club and why was it created?
The Joy Luck Club is a group of Chinese immigrant women who meet to play mahjong and share food and stories. It was created by Suyuan Woo as a way to maintain hope, friendship, and joy during hardship.
What is a sonnet?
A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme, usually ending in a rhyming couplet that presents a conclusion.
Why does Helena follow Demetrius into the forest?
She believes his cruelty proves he loves her and hopes to win him back.
What does the love potion symbolize?
The irrational and temporary nature of attraction.
What does the jade pendant symbolize for Jing-mei?
It symbolizes her mother’s unconditional love, Chinese heritage, and Jing-mei’s growing understanding of her identity.
Why does Waverly quit chess?
Because her mother’s constant bragging made Waverly feel controlled and overshadowed.
What is the difference between tone and mood?
Tone is the author’s attitude; mood is how the reader feels.
What is the flower used for the love potion called?
Love-in-idleness.
How is dramatic irony used with Titania and Bottom?
The audience knows Titania’s love is magical, but she believes it is real.
What does Ying-ying mean when she says she lost her “tiger spirit”?
She lost her courage and strength after trauma and became passive and silent.
How does the novel end?
Jing-mei meets her half-sisters in China, bringing closure to her mother’s life and completing the generational cycle.
How do the poems connect to A Midsummer Night’s Dream?
They explore love’s instability, illusion, and endurance—major themes of the play.
What does the name “Titania” suggest?
Strength, power, and connection to nature.
What does the forest symbolize in the play?
A place of chaos, freedom, and transformation where social rules do not apply.
How does Jing-mei act as a bridge between generations?
Jing-mei connects the immigrant mothers’ Chinese past with the American-born daughters’ present by learning her mother’s stories and traveling to China to meet her sisters.
What lesson does An-mei learn from her mother’s sacrifices?
That true love is shown through actions, and women must use strength and sacrifice to protect themselves and their children.
What is love according to Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116?
Love is constant, unchanging, and endures time and hardship.
Why does Theseus overrule Egeus at the end of the play?
Because Demetrius now loves Helena, and Theseus believes love should determine marriage, not strict law.
What lesson does the play suggest about love?
Love is irrational, changeable, and often confusing.