Characters and Roles
This girl is the author and narrator of Red Scarf Girl.
Who is Ji-li Jiang
The scarf worn by Young Pioneers was this color
What is Red?
Ji-li gave up this dream because of her family’s political status
What is becoming a Liberation Army dancer?
The Cultural Revolution began in this year
What is 1966?
The red scarf Ji-li wore symbolized this.
What is loyalty to Mao and the Communist Party?
Ji-li’s best friend who remains loyal during tough times
Who is An Yi?
The small book of Mao’s sayings carried by millions.
What is the Little Red Book?
Ji-li was pressured to do this to show loyalty, even if it meant betraying her family
What is denounce her father?
The campaign aimed at erasing ties to China’s feudal past.
What is Destroy the Four Olds?
This theme appears when Ji-li questions whether to turn against her father.
What is family vs. ideology?
Ji-li’s father’s occupation before the Revolution targeted intellectuals.
What is a stage actor
The campaign to destroy old customs, culture, habits, and ideas.
What is Destroy the Four Olds?
Ji-li’s family feared having these items in their home
What are Four Olds?
Posters that publicly shamed “enemies of the revolution” were called this.
What are da-zi-bao or big-character posters?
Destroying Four Olds symbolized this cultural goal.
What is breaking from the past?
This relative is labeled as a landlord and causes Ji-li’s family problems
Who is Ji-li’s grandfather?
Young activists who enforced Mao’s policies during the Cultural Revolution
Who are the Red Guards?
Ji-li faced this choice between family love and political loyalty.
What is loyalty to family vs. loyalty to Mao?
These inspections often led to homes being ransacked.
What are Red Guard raids?
Ji-li’s early excitement about Mao’s policies reflects this theme.
What is blind obedience to authority?
This leader inspired Ji-li’s loyalty at the beginning of the memoir.
Who is Chairman Mao?
This term described families with negative class status, like landlords.
What is “black” class status?
Ji-li had to consider leaving this family member behind to keep her reputation.
Who is Grandma?
Schools organized these to promote Maoist ideology and criticize teachers.
What are struggle meetings?
The family’s hidden trunks symbolize this.
What is the weight of the past or family heritage?