Black Boy
The Authors name of Black Boy
Richard Wright
Who is the girl who wouldn’t talk
young Chinese-American classmate who Kingston observes in a 6th grade classroom
What is The Way to Rainy Mountain about, and why does Momaday return to Rainy Mountain?
it’s about Momaday’s journey to understand his Kiowa roots. He returns to Rainy Mountain to honor his grandmother and reconnect with his culture.
White Jewish shop keeper that employs Richard.
Hoffman
How does Kingston contrast her own behavior with that of the silent girl, and what does this reveal about her personality and struggles?
active and questioning nature
How is the book structured, and what is the purpose of combining myth, history, and personal memory?
Each section has three parts: a Kiowa myth, historical facts, and Momaday’s personal memory. This shows how culture is passed down in different ways.
A form of government advocating class war leading to a society where all property is publicly owned.
Communism
What role does imagery or metaphor play in Kingston’s portrayal of silence and speech throughout the piece?
The girl who doesn’t talk seems trapped and invisible
How does Momaday explore the theme of identity through his connection to the Kiowa culture?
He learns who he is by learning about his people’s stories, history, and land. His identity is tied to his culture and family.
A white Irish Catholic worker at the optical shop in Memphis who proves to be a genuine friend.
Falk
In what ways does the silent girl function as a symbol within Kingston’s broader themes of identity, voice, and cultural expectation?
feel pressure to stay quiet and invisible
What role does the landscape, especially Rainy Mountain, play as a symbol in the book?
Rainy Mountain stands for home, heritage, and the deep connection between the Kiowa people and the land.
A white Southerner at Richard’s job at the optical shop in Memphis who pretends to be Richard’s friend.
Olin
How does The Girl Who Wouldn’t Talk reflect Kingston’s broader concerns about being an Asian American woman and writer?
The story shows Kingston’s struggle to speak as an Asian American woman in a culture that often tells her to stay silent
In what ways does The Way to Rainy Mountain challenge Western ideas of history and storytelling?
Western stories focus on facts and dates. Momaday mixes myths, memories, and history to show that stories can be true in different ways, not just factually