Show:
Plot
Mood
Character
Dialogue
Mix
100
True or False: The exposition mentions the internal and external conflicts.
TRUE
100
Rinko's mother is ______ when Aunta Waka comes to visit them in California. A)angry B)sad C)ecstatic D)curious
C) Ecstatic
100
Give me 3 physical characteristics of Rinko.
She has straight, dark hair. She is skinny. She is 11 years-old.
100
Who says this in the story, "…money is just hard to come by"?
Papa
100
What does Rinko mean when she says"I'm getting pretty good at getting Joji's goat"?
She can easily get her brother angry or annoyed.
200
True or False: When Rinko and her family receive a threat letter is considered part of the falling action.
False; It is the rising action.
200
Does the author portray Japanese families in America as very hard working, careful and hopeful?
Yes
200
What is Rinko's motivation? (2)
She wants to become a teacher and more importantly, she wants to become accepted.
200
Who says this, "I began to feel this terrific curiosity to see what my Aunt Waka would be like"?
Rinko
200
What is one example of external conflict?
Tsujimuras vs. Wilbur Starr
300
True or False: When Papa and Uncle Kanda confront Wilbur Star is the climax of the story.
False; It is part of the falling action.
300
True or False: Each family member supports mama’s business idea of opening a home laundry business in different ways. Papa fixes the old wringer washing machine they get from Mrs. Sugarman. Cal strings up clothes lines both outside and in the basement. Mama & Rinko clean out the basement. Papa makes counters and a chute for the basement as well as puts a sign on his car. The family says positive things about mama’s idea and then pitches in to help make her idea a reality.
True
300
Why is Wilbur Star considered the antagonist?
Wilbur does not accept the Tsujimuras and he is stealing their customers.
300
Who says, "you be a good watchdog now"?
Joji
300
From whose point of view is the story told?
Rinko
400
"Rinko puts on her kimono to show Aunt Waka." Is this resolution or falling action?
Falling Action
400
Why is Rinko disappointed with her gift from Aunt Waka?
Rinko is disappointed with her kimono gift, because she wanted something useful like her brother Joji had gotten, water colors. Rinko feels that the kimono belongs in her mother’s trunk along with the other Japanese items. Rinko wants desperately to be herself and to fit in. She hasn’t told anyone how she feels about school, dislikes her skinny straight haired small eyed self and gets embarrassed when her friend stands up for them. Just like her mother put away all her Japanese things, Rinko feels she doesn’t belong to that culture. She doesn’t even work very hard in Japanese school and was happy when she was told to get stronger before she came back.
400
Why would Aunt Waka and Uncle Kanda be a good match?
Aunt Waka and Uncle Kanda would be a good match, because both of them had been through much hardship. Aunt Waka lost both her husband and child to disease while Uncle Kanda lost his bride after she jumped out a window two days before they would be married. Aunt Waka was born with a deformed foot and Uncle Kanda has a thyroid problem. Additionally, they are both thrifty. They both save money, since the aunt must have had to save to afford the trip to American while the uncle lived modestly above his business. Lastly, they aren’t related. They only call Uncle Kanda their uncle, because he is a good friend of their father’s
400
Who said, "Aren't we all free in this country to purse a livelihood?"
Uncle Kanda
400
"...but they talk over and around and right through me (Rinko) like I was a pane of glass" is an example of a simile. What is being compared? What does this reveal about Rinko's feelings?
Rinko is being compared to glass. Rinko feels like she is invisible.
500
What is the climax in the story?
When Maxie dies.
500
Explain the saying that "Papa loved America even though it didn’t love him back."
The saying, ‘‘Papa loved America even though it didn’t love him back’, means that Papa believed in the American dream. He thought that he would find opportunities and prosperity in America. He believed that if you worked hard, you could get ahead and build a better life for your children. Instead, he found discrimination in America. Laws were passed so that he couldn’t even become a citizen. He couldn’t borrow money from a bank nor use the same facilities that white’s could. He was called names. Even if his children got good educations, they were limited to where & for whom they could work for. Papa worked hard for his family and still couldn’t get ahead.
500
Contrast Cal’s idea of education to his parents ideas about him finishing his education.
Cal’s ideas contrast with his parents ideas about his education. Cal feels that no one will hire him anyways, so why work to become an engineer. He knows his parents are struggling financially and he wants to help out. He is also older now, has a girlfriend and may want to get started with his own life. Conversely, Cal’s parents insist that he continue his education, because it will give him the life his parents could never have. Papa tells Cal that his dream can’t wait. Even Aunt Waka says, “You must never give up on your dream without even trying.” Papa may have hope that things will change in the future. They argue back & forth about it, but it is Cal’s decision.
500
Who says this, "You must never give up on your dream without even trying."?
Aunt Waka
500
Compare Rinko's character at the beginning of the story to the end of the story.
At the beginning of the story, Rinko did not accept her culture. She was shy and timid at school. She was embarrassed being Japanese. At the end of the story, she became confident and accepted her culture.