E11 Jade Peony Thought Questions

The Jade Peony Thought Questions

Part One: Jook Liang, Only Sister

Chapter One

1.    Draw a family tree showing the relationships in Jook Liang’s family.

2.    Describe Stepmother’s position in the family.

3.    What is the setting of the story?

4.    Why had the “ENEMIES OF FREE CHINA” game been imported to Canada?

5.    What was the “day of shame”?

6.    Why was father worried about Wong Bak’s visit?

7.    Wong Bak is called by several names.  What are they?

Chapter Two

1.    Describe the relationship between Jook-Liang and Poh-Poh.

2.    What do we learn about Poh-Poh’s childhood in China?

3.    Why does Poh-Poh pay so much attention to Sek-Lung?

4.    REWRITE What is some evidence of cultural conflict within Jook-LIang?

5.    Describe the relationship between Jook-Liang and Wong Bak.

Chapter Three

1.    What are Father and Wong Bak working on at the beginning of the chapter?  Why is there so much secrecy?

2.    Why is Wong Bak returning to China?

Part Two: Jung-Sum, Second Brother

Chapter Four

1.    Why is Jung-Sum so happy about his new pet?

2.    According to Poh-Poh, what do turtles represent in Chinese culture?

3.    Why does Jung-Sum call the turtle King George?

4.    Why does Dai Kew give Jung-Sum a dollar?

Chapter Five

1.    What chore is Jung-Sum given at the beginning of the chapter?

2.    What does Poh-Poh say about Jung-Sum that suggests he may be different from other boys?

3.    When Jung-Sum first meets Poh-Poh, who does he think she is?

4.    What has happened to Jung-Sum’s parents?  What was his live like with them?

5.    How does Jung-Sum feel about boxing?

6.    Describe the history of the coat, and its transformation.

7.    Describe Gee Sook.

8.    Why does Poh-Poh frequently say, “I die soon”?

Chapter Six

1.    What evidence is there of Old Yuen’s bad luck?

2.    Describe Frank.

3.    What does Jung-Sum learn about himself after the fight?

Chapter Seven

1.    How does Frank treat Jung-Sum?  How does Jung-Sum feel about this?

2.    What gift does Frank give Jung-Sum?

3.    According to Poh-Poh, what does the moon represent?

4.    How does Father react to Poh-Poh’s stories?  Why?

5.    Describe Poh-Poh’s jade peony.

Chapter Eight

1.    What frustration does Sek-Lung have about family names in Chinese?

2.    What conflict does Sek-Lung feel about being Chinese and being Canadian?

3.    Who is Chen Suling?

4.    What does Third Uncle say about the term “Stepmother”?

Chapter Nine

1.    What do we learn about Grandmama’s past?

2.    Why does Grandmama make her last windchime?  Why is the making of the windchime a source of conflict in the family?

3.    What do the colours pink and white represent in this chapter?

4.    What does Grandmama leave Sek-Lung?  What does this gift symbolize?

5.    What comment does this chapter make about love?

Chapter Ten

1.    Why couldn’t Sek-Lung go to school like his sister and brothers?

2.    Who teaches Sek-Lung?  How do they feel about this?

3.    Who does Sek-Lung believe will help him get to school?

4.    How does the family react to Sek-Lung’s belief that he has seen Grandmama’s ghost?

5.    Discuss the quotation, “The World of Chinatown was the world of what if.

Chapter Eleven

1.    What does Kiam think about ghosts?

2.    What does Sek-Lung think that Grandmama wants him to tell the rest of the family?

3.    How does the family try to finally free itself of Grandmama’s ghost?

4.    According to Sek-Lung, what has caused his health to finally improve?

Chapter Twelve

1.    What does the jade peony remind Sek-Lung of now?

2.    How does the childrens’ play echo what is taking place in the world?

3.    What is the attitude of many people in Vancouver to the Japanese and Japanese Canadians?

4.    Miss Doyle rules with “compassionate terror.”  Explain.

5.    What does Miss Doyle emphasize when talking to the class about the day’s battles?  Who is the hero of many of her stories?

6.    What is Sek-Lung referring to when he says, “We had glimpsed paradise.”

Chapter Thirteen

1.    What does the story of the fireflies indicate about the attitude of older Chinese to education?

2.    Describe Sek-Lung’s bombing run debacle.

3.    Describe Mrs. Lin.

4.    What does father worry about?

5.    Give example of how anti-Japanese sentiment is permeating the family and community.

Chapter Fourteen

1.    Where does Meiying take Mei-Lung?  Why is he surprised?

2.    Why is Meiying’s relationship doomed from the start?

Chapter Fifteen

1.    How does Sek-Lung feel about Kaz?

2.    What evidence shows Stepmother knows what is going on between Kaz and Meiying?

3.    How does Meiying win over Sek-Lung?

4.    What evidence shows all is not well with Meiying?

5.    What are some examples of increasing anti Japanese sentiment?

6.    What are some examples of tension within the family regarding this anti-Japanese sentiment?

7.    What does Stepmother reveal about her feelings about her position in the family?

8.    What happens to Meiying?

9.    What is the significance of the final scene in the novel?