Characters
Who is the narrator and main character of Red Scarf Girl.
Ji-li Jiang
What major political movement is taking place during Ji-li's childhood?
The Cultural Revolution
What does propaganda mean?
Information used to influence people's beliefs or opinions, often by presenting a one-sided message.
Who was the leader of China during the Cultural Revolution?
Mao ZeDong
What is one major theme of Red Scarf Girl?
Identity
Fear
Loyalty
Who is Ji-li's younger sister?
Ji- Yong
What does the phrase "Destroy the Four Olds" refer to?
The attempt to eliminate old ideas, old culture, customs, and habits.
What is a Red Guard?
A young person who participated in the Cultural Revolution and supported Chairman Mao's revolutionary movement.
What was the purpose of the Cultural Revolution according to Chairman Mao?
To change Chinese culture to eliminate ideas and people who were going against the revolution?
Why is family an important theme in the memoir?
Ji-li's experiences show how political events can affect family relationships, choices, saftey, and identity.
Who is Ji-li's younger brother?
Ji-yun
Why are students encouraged to criticize teachers and other adults?
The Cultural Revolution encourages young people to challenge those that do not support Chairman Mao.
What is a da-zi-bao?
A propaganda poster used to publicly criticize people or express political ideas.
What were the Four Olds?
Old ideas, Old Culture, Old Customs, and Old Habits.
How does Ji-li change throughout the memoir?
She becomes more aware of the conflict between her personal beliefs and society's expectations
Which member of Ji-li's family is especially concerned about protecting the family during the Cultural Revolution?
Why does Ji-li initially feel proud about being selected for an important opportunity at school.
She believes it shows that she is successful student and that she is being recgonized for her abilities.
What does the bourgeois mean in the context of the Cultural Revolution?
Why did many people publicly criticize friends, neighbors, teachers, and family members.
They feared being accused themselves and were pressured to demonstrate loyalty to Chairman Mao.
How does the memoir demonstrate the idea that fear an influence people's behavior?
People sometimes participate in criticism or remain silent because they are afraid of being targeted themselves.
Why does Ji-li's father become an important source of conflict for her during the Cultural Revolution?
His family background is viewed negatively, and he is afraid that this will hurt Ji-li.
She learns that talent and hard work are not always enough because political background and loyalty to the Communist Movement can affect how people are treated.
In the context of Red Scarf Girl, why could a person's family background be dangerous?
A person's family history could determine their political classification.
How did the Cultural Revolution affect relationships between people?
Fear and political pressure caused people to distrust one another, and even family members and friends.
What central conflict does Ji-li experience? How does this conflict affect her decisions?
Ji-li struggles between her desire to support the revolution and her loyalty to her family.
She must repeatedly decide whether to follow political expectations or protect her family and personal beliefs.