Ying Ying St Clair
Where was Ying Ying born?
China
Where was Clifford born?
America
Who is Harold?
He is Lena St. Clair’s husband in the chapter “Rice Husband.”
What is the role Amah plays in Ying Ying's childhood?
What is her nanny or caretaker?
Who is Harold?
Harold is Lena's husband and in their relationship imbalance in power, with her husband focusing more on his career than their relationship.
What caused Ying Ying to lose her sense of self?
being abandoned by her first husband and losing her child.
was Clifford Ying Ying's first husband?
What is keeping finances separate?
Harold makes Lena split all their bills, despite earning more money.
How does Amah help Ying Ying?
Amah watches over Ying Ying during the moon festival.
What is emotional repression?
This issue in Lena’s life stems from her inability to confront difficult emotions, largely caused by her mother, Ying-Ying.
what birth year (ex. lion, pig, boar) was Ying Ying born in
The Year of the Tiger
no, Clifford brought her to America.
What is lack of communication?
Lena never tells Harold how she really feels about the marriage, leading to problems.
Amah loses track of Ying Ying at the celebration
What is Chinese tradition?
Lena is frequently reminded of her cultural heritage, particularly this practice, which she struggles to fully embrace due to her American heritage.
what did Ying Ying mean when she said she had "lost her tiger spirit"
What is his quiet patience?
Clifford’s kindness is shown when he repeatedly asks his wife to talk to him about her feelings, though he often does not push her to open up.
What is fairness?
Harold’s habit of controlling money and making Lena pay her share shows that he lacks fairness in the relationship.
Amah symbolizes the older generation’s attempt to preserve Chinese customs and beliefs.
What is her mother's advice to "take control" of her life?
Her mother's advice is to take charge of her own destiny and to speak up instead of suppressing her emotions.
How does Ying Ying try to help her daughter.
Ying Ying tries to inspire her to speak up about her marriage
What is his passive nature?
This trait of Clifford’s character is shown through his calm demeanor, contrasting with Ying-Ying’s strong emotions.
What is empathy?
Harold doesn’t notice that Lena is unhappy, which shows he lacks this important emotional skill.
How does Ying Ying’s perception of Amah change throughout the story
Ying Ying’s view of Amah evolves from appreciating her as a caretaker to feeling betrayed that's she did not come to save her from the water.
What is Lena’s struggle with self-worth?
Lena struggles with feelings of inadequacy, especially in her marriage, where she feels invisible when compared to her husband’s success.