The Joy Luck Club
What was going on in China when Suyuan (Jing-Mei's Mother) still lived there?
China was being invaded by the Japanese.
What does Jing-Mei’s mother want her to become?
She wants her to become a child prodigy.
How is Lindo treated when she goes to live with Tyuan-yu's family?
She is treated like a servant and forced to become the perfect housewife.
What game does Waverly Jong learn to play? How does she first learn to play it?
She learns to play chess by playing with the chess set her brother got in Christmas.
What is the difference between an internal and external conflict?
Internal conflcits are obstacles from within (emotions). External conflicts are obstacles from the outside world (Other characters or outside situations).
What is the Joy Luck Club? Why was it created?
A gathering of women to play games, exchanging stories, and eating food. It was created by Suyuan to bring herself, and others joy during war times.
What specific talent does Jing-Mei’s mother try to develop in her during this chapter?
She tries to develop a talent for the piano.
What does Lindo's mother-in-law want more than anything in this chapter?
She wants grandkids.
What happens when Waverly's brothers get tired of chess? Who does she play with?
She goes to the park and plays chess with an old man, Lao Po.
What is the main conflict in "The Red Candle"?
External, Lindo is put into an arranged marriage she does not want.
Who is Jing-Mei (June) Woo, and why is she invited to join the club?
She is the daughter of Suyuan Woo, the creator of the Joy Luck Club. She is invited to take her mother's place after her death.
What does Jing-Mei’s mother give her years later when she is an adult?
She gives her the piano she used to practice on.
She was put into an arranged marriage and her family treated her like she belonged to another family.
How good does Waverly become at chess?
She goes on to win several tournaments and be known a chess prodigy.
What is the main conflict in "Two Kinds"?
External, Jing-Mei struggles with being forced to become a prodigy by her mother Suyuan.
How does Jing-Mei feel about taking her mother’s place in the Joy Luck Club?
She feels insecure about the task. She does not know how to be her mother at Joy Luck.
How does Jing-Mei feel about her mother’s plans for her?
She likes it at first but grows to hate it over time when she fails to become any kind of prodigy.
How does Lindo eventually get out of her marriage?
She uses the family's superstitions to convince them that she had a dream in which her husbands ancestors were against the marriage and that Tyan-yu should marry a servant girl.
Why does Waverly get upset with her mother?
Waverly is embarrassed when her mother treats her like a trophy to show off to everyone they meet.
What is the main conflict in "Rules of the Game"? Is it Internal or External?
External, Lindo embarasses Waverly by constantly bragging about her skill in chess.
What decision did Suyuan have to make during the war in China?
What happens at Jing-Mei’s piano recital? How does Jing-Mei's mother react?
She gets embarrased when she performs terribly in front of everyone because she cannot play the piano. Suyuan does not say anything to her, but is silently disappointed.
What is the significance of the red candle in Lindo’s wedding ceremony?
It is meant to symbolize the eternal marriage between Lindo and Tyuan-yu. They can not re-marry if the other dies.
What happens at the end of the chapter when Waverly runs away from her mother?
She ends up coming back home to face the consequences of her actions.
What is the main conflict in "The Joy Luck Club" chapter? Is it internal or external?
Internal, Jing-Mei feels like she never really knew her mother, so she can't take her place in the club.