PLOT
Who flees China for better opportunities in America?
The mother
Describe the attributes of Jing.
The protagonist, who feels very annoyed at her mother’s expectations of brilliance from her. As such, she is rebellious and doesn’t try.
Who popularized Historical Critique?
Richard Simon
What is the author's name?
Amy Tan
What events could have led Mr. Chong to suffer from deafness and partial blindness
The World Wars
What does Jing's mother compare her to?
Celebrities on TV & in Magazines
Describe the attributes of Jing's mother.
The antagonist. An immigrant woman with high expectations for her daughter. Her past in China makes her force her child to be her best.
Who is Richard Simon?
Richard Simon (1678-1712) was a French Priest who applied the critique to the Bible.
Using the critique, he tried to find out who wrote certain passages, as well as the views that were being warned against
Where was the author born?
Oakland, California
What event caused Jing's mother to leave China?
The Chinese Civil War
What does Jing's mother do to receive piano lessons, and who does she receive them from?
Completing chores for Mr. Chong in exchange for piano lessons.
Describe the attributes of Mr. Chong.
Mi Kan’s Piano Teacher. He is dedicated to making Mi Kan better at playing the piano, but his deafness makes him an ineffective teacher.
What is Historical Critique?
The understanding behind a work in relation to its historical background.
Brain tumors
What did the US culture influence Jing's mother to do?
Compare her daughter to the successful celebrities seen on TV, enrolling her into the world of Piano, without her consent.
During Jing's recital, why did Jing's mom have such high expectations?
She was unaware of what really went on during Jing's lessons, as she never really improved very much.
Describe the attributes of Auntie Lind.
The mother of Waverly, and the friend of the protagonist’s mother. She is the main “rival” for the Mother, although she herself does not know it.
To understand a historical background, what are some questions you should ask (List 3).
Where did the author graduate highschool?
Switzerland
Women sought higher education and equal working rights in the 1950s, this might've led ____ to ____?
Jing's mother to push Jing to be a child prodigy.
What did it take for Jing to come to terms with her lack of effort?
The death of her Mother.
Describe the attributes of Waverly.
The daughter of Auntie Lind, and a chess genius. Being the same age as Mi Kan, Mi Kan’s Mother is constantly comparing her to Waverly.
What is New Historicism?
New Historicism places more emphasis on the history of the Author.
How many children did the author's mother abandon?
What event began 2 years before the time Jing's mother fled to the United States (1949)?
The Cold War (1947)