From Nicole
1. Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or characters.
The author (Lois- Ann Yamanaka) – The author serves as the narrator of the book as it is told through her perspective stemming from her family memories.
Blu– The author’s sibling and the main focus of the first chapter.
Food—the presence of food plays a very important role in the recollection of the author’s family memories. The mayonnaise bread, the gum, the eggs and bacon, and the peanut butter and jelly sandwich symbolize and trigger a memory. The eggs and bacon remind Blu of their mother being alive, and the mayonnaise bread and the gum is a reminder that their mother is gone. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is used as a comparison to the rest of Blu’s classmates’ lunches and is also used as a reminder of the how certain aspects their lives, even the most simplest, have changed since the passing of their mother.
2. Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
The author begins by introducing her family and describes life without their mother. It is made clear that life has changed for the worse. Memories of a life that once included their mother cooking eggs and bacon for breakfast are long gone....and only exist now in their dreams. Now, life consists of the everyday routine of eating mayonnaise bread and listening to the sounds of their father playing “Moon River” on the piano. This new lifestyle becomes exposed to the classmates of the author’s sibling, Blu, when the class goes on a field trip. The appearance and packaging of Blu’s lunch, which, in an oversized brown bag, only consists of carrot sticks and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, is in contrast to the bountiful lunches of the classmates. This causes the author to make a wish to live under a grocery store where she can eat anything she wanted. This creates the idea, from the author’s point of view, that if there is much to eat, maybe life itself will become full again.
“You know what I would wish if I could have one wish in the whole wide world? I wish my house was underneath Kaunakakai Groceteria....Then I could choose anything I want to eat.... ”(pg. 9).
3. Formulate a question for discussion. The question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
Why is the presence of food significant in Chapter 1?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Woman Warrior - Chapter 1 by Maxine Hong Kingston
From Stephanie
1. Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or characters.
Ghosts/Spirits – Dead ancestors of the Chinese. Gifts of food and origami (artistically folded paper figures) are left for them as sacrifices. Only worthy spirits are left gifts. Spirits who were thought to be a disgrace to their community are left to fend for themselves amongst whatever gifts they can get, if any.
Chinese Confucianism – The family system is the foundation for society. Families make up the government, and the government makes up the nation. In these families, the father and the oldest brother earn the greatest respect.
Cautionary Tale – The narrator’s mother tells her this story, about the aunt who commits adultery, in order to make sure she doesn’t disgrace her family as well. The narrator’s beginning to menstruate is a key factor in the timing of this cautionary tale.
2. Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
The narrator has begun menstruating and her mother decides to tell her a story about her aunt, who is never to be spoken of. The men in the family had gone away to America and the aunt had gotten pregnant by another man from the village. The word spread as the pregnancy developed and the villagers began to show their anger and disappointment towards the aunt. In the middle of the night, they attacked her home and completely destroyed anything of any value to her and her family. The aunt was terribly distraught and ended up giving birth to her child that night. Out of fear of what the villagers would do to her family and her child as a result of her adulterous affair, she drowned herself and her child in the well outside her home.
“My aunt haunts me – her ghost drawn to me because now, after fifty years of neglect, I alone devote pages of paper to her, though not origamied into houses and clothes. I do not think she always means me well. I am telling on her, and she was a spite suicide, drowning herself n the drinking water. The Chinese are always very frightened of the drowned one, whose weeping ghost, wet hair hanging and skin bloated, waits silently by the water to pull down a substitute” (pg. 16).
3. Formulate a question for discussion. The question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
The Woman Warrior seems to tell a story through many other short stories. Why do you think Maxine Hong Kingston chose this story, about the disgraceful aunt, to begin the book? In what ways could this tale foreshadow the rest of the novel?
1. Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or characters.
Ghosts/Spirits – Dead ancestors of the Chinese. Gifts of food and origami (artistically folded paper figures) are left for them as sacrifices. Only worthy spirits are left gifts. Spirits who were thought to be a disgrace to their community are left to fend for themselves amongst whatever gifts they can get, if any.
Chinese Confucianism – The family system is the foundation for society. Families make up the government, and the government makes up the nation. In these families, the father and the oldest brother earn the greatest respect.
Cautionary Tale – The narrator’s mother tells her this story, about the aunt who commits adultery, in order to make sure she doesn’t disgrace her family as well. The narrator’s beginning to menstruate is a key factor in the timing of this cautionary tale.
2. Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
The narrator has begun menstruating and her mother decides to tell her a story about her aunt, who is never to be spoken of. The men in the family had gone away to America and the aunt had gotten pregnant by another man from the village. The word spread as the pregnancy developed and the villagers began to show their anger and disappointment towards the aunt. In the middle of the night, they attacked her home and completely destroyed anything of any value to her and her family. The aunt was terribly distraught and ended up giving birth to her child that night. Out of fear of what the villagers would do to her family and her child as a result of her adulterous affair, she drowned herself and her child in the well outside her home.
“My aunt haunts me – her ghost drawn to me because now, after fifty years of neglect, I alone devote pages of paper to her, though not origamied into houses and clothes. I do not think she always means me well. I am telling on her, and she was a spite suicide, drowning herself n the drinking water. The Chinese are always very frightened of the drowned one, whose weeping ghost, wet hair hanging and skin bloated, waits silently by the water to pull down a substitute” (pg. 16).
3. Formulate a question for discussion. The question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
The Woman Warrior seems to tell a story through many other short stories. Why do you think Maxine Hong Kingston chose this story, about the disgraceful aunt, to begin the book? In what ways could this tale foreshadow the rest of the novel?
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
No-No Boy, Chapters 5-8 by John Okada
From Zoe
1) Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or character's?
Ichiro in these chapters is trying to find a job. Ichiro goes to Mr. Carrick looking for one. Mr. Carrick has a factory of snow plows, but Ichiro in the end does not want this job. Mr. Carrick is important to Ichiro because after speaking to him, he realized that there was hope in him feeling better about not going to war. Mr. Kanno is Kenjei’s father. Kenjei is a friend of Ichiro’s. Kenjei passes away and Ichiro has to bring Kenjei’s car back to his home. Mr. Kanno is waiting at home and when Ichiro arrives he asks about the status of his son. Ichiro begins to lie and does not tell him that his son passed away. Mr. Kanno responds, “My son and I had no secrets and if death is the truth about which you wish not to speak to me, do not speak at all”(p182). Emi was a close friend of Kenjei. She is married to a man named Ralph. Ralph was in the war but never returned from Japan. Ralph does not return because he is ashamed of his brother’s actions. Emi becomes very close to Ichiro after Kenjei dies.
2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to Include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
“But you made so many mistakes. It was a mistake to have ever left Japan. It was a mistake to leave Japan and to come to America and to have two sons and it was a mistake to think that you could keep us completely Japanese in a country such as America”(p 186). This is how Ichiro became a No-No boy. His mother tried her hardest to keep her children in a Japanese state of mind, but lived in an American world. This caused a lot of confusion for Ichiro. “If anything, my hatred for you would have grown. You are dead and I feel a little peace and I want very much for you to know the happiness that you tried so hard to give me…”(p187). Ichiro now feels like a load has lifted off his shoulders. His mother cause him so much stress and this caused him to slowly hate her but still respect her.
3) Formulate a question for discussion. the question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
Now that his mother is no longer a burden on him, will Ichiro change his life?
1) Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or character's?
Ichiro in these chapters is trying to find a job. Ichiro goes to Mr. Carrick looking for one. Mr. Carrick has a factory of snow plows, but Ichiro in the end does not want this job. Mr. Carrick is important to Ichiro because after speaking to him, he realized that there was hope in him feeling better about not going to war. Mr. Kanno is Kenjei’s father. Kenjei is a friend of Ichiro’s. Kenjei passes away and Ichiro has to bring Kenjei’s car back to his home. Mr. Kanno is waiting at home and when Ichiro arrives he asks about the status of his son. Ichiro begins to lie and does not tell him that his son passed away. Mr. Kanno responds, “My son and I had no secrets and if death is the truth about which you wish not to speak to me, do not speak at all”(p182). Emi was a close friend of Kenjei. She is married to a man named Ralph. Ralph was in the war but never returned from Japan. Ralph does not return because he is ashamed of his brother’s actions. Emi becomes very close to Ichiro after Kenjei dies.
2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to Include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
“But you made so many mistakes. It was a mistake to have ever left Japan. It was a mistake to leave Japan and to come to America and to have two sons and it was a mistake to think that you could keep us completely Japanese in a country such as America”(p 186). This is how Ichiro became a No-No boy. His mother tried her hardest to keep her children in a Japanese state of mind, but lived in an American world. This caused a lot of confusion for Ichiro. “If anything, my hatred for you would have grown. You are dead and I feel a little peace and I want very much for you to know the happiness that you tried so hard to give me…”(p187). Ichiro now feels like a load has lifted off his shoulders. His mother cause him so much stress and this caused him to slowly hate her but still respect her.
3) Formulate a question for discussion. the question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
Now that his mother is no longer a burden on him, will Ichiro change his life?
Sunday, September 30, 2007
No-No Boy, Chapters 1-4 by John Okada
From Joanne
1) Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or character's?
The characters in the story No-No boy are: Ichiro, Mr & Mrs. Yamata, Taro, Mr and Mrs. Kumasakas, Kenjii. Ichiro is the main character in the novel. He has just returned from two years in camp and two years in prison. He returns finding his family and old friends believing that the war was still on going. Mr Mrs Yamata are Ichiros parennts and have hopes of returning to japan. Their original plan was to “come to make money, and go back and buy a piece of land and be comfortable”. Taro, Ichiro’s brother, plans on dropping out of school and joining the army. He doesn’t connect with anyone in his family because he is Americanized and his family is not. Mr. and Mrs. Kumasakas had a son in the army but was killed. Kenji is an old friend of Ichiros. That was a veteran of the army of America and had his leg amputated . He constantly speaks of “eleven inches” which refers to how much time he has to live.
2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to Include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
“He hated his brother and also his parents because they had created the thing with their eyes and hands and minds which had seen and felt thought as Japanese for thirty-five years in America which they rejected as thoroughly as if they had never been a day away from Japan. That was the reason and it was difficult to believe, but it was true because he was the emptiness between the one and the other and could see flashes of the truth that was true for his parents and the truth that was true for his brother” (pg 19). This explains the overall feeling of the novel. In the family, there’s a lot of anger because of Ichiro’s absence. After Ichiro came back, everyone would blame each other for the way everything has happened in their life. “Nobody’s going to Japan. The war is over. Japan lost. Do you hear? Japan lost.”(pg 13) This is when Ichiro tries to explain to his parents that the war has been over but they don’t believe so.
3) Formulate a question for discussion. the question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
What is No-No boy and how does it affect ones life?
1) Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or character's?
The characters in the story No-No boy are: Ichiro, Mr & Mrs. Yamata, Taro, Mr and Mrs. Kumasakas, Kenjii. Ichiro is the main character in the novel. He has just returned from two years in camp and two years in prison. He returns finding his family and old friends believing that the war was still on going. Mr Mrs Yamata are Ichiros parennts and have hopes of returning to japan. Their original plan was to “come to make money, and go back and buy a piece of land and be comfortable”. Taro, Ichiro’s brother, plans on dropping out of school and joining the army. He doesn’t connect with anyone in his family because he is Americanized and his family is not. Mr. and Mrs. Kumasakas had a son in the army but was killed. Kenji is an old friend of Ichiros. That was a veteran of the army of America and had his leg amputated . He constantly speaks of “eleven inches” which refers to how much time he has to live.
2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to Include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
“He hated his brother and also his parents because they had created the thing with their eyes and hands and minds which had seen and felt thought as Japanese for thirty-five years in America which they rejected as thoroughly as if they had never been a day away from Japan. That was the reason and it was difficult to believe, but it was true because he was the emptiness between the one and the other and could see flashes of the truth that was true for his parents and the truth that was true for his brother” (pg 19). This explains the overall feeling of the novel. In the family, there’s a lot of anger because of Ichiro’s absence. After Ichiro came back, everyone would blame each other for the way everything has happened in their life. “Nobody’s going to Japan. The war is over. Japan lost. Do you hear? Japan lost.”(pg 13) This is when Ichiro tries to explain to his parents that the war has been over but they don’t believe so.
3) Formulate a question for discussion. the question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
What is No-No boy and how does it affect ones life?
Sunday, September 23, 2007
A Wife's Story by Bharati Mukherjee
From: Shakila B.
1) Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or character's?
Patels = It is a last name for a large amount of Indians.
Saree = An outer garment worn chiefly by women of India and Pakistan, consisting of a length of lightweight cloth with one end wrapped about the waist to form a skirt and the other draped over the shoulder or covering the head. ( Dictionary.com)
Lorries = Hindu word for trucks and buses.
Mangalsutra = A marriage necklace. It is like the symbol of the wedding band and wedding ring which means you are married.
The characters in the story are: Panna, Imre, Charity Chin, and Panna's Husband. Panna an Indian women who got a Small scholarship came to NYC and left behind her home, husband, to get a Ph.D. in special ed. As she is in NYC she meets Imre who she finds attractive. Imre is her friend, he's a refugee from Budapest. Charity Chin is her roommate and also the one she observes on love, lust and many different sex partners. Panna's husband lives in Bombay and is the vice president of Lakshmi Cotton Mills. Later on in the story he comes to visit her in NYC.
2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to Include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
The main idea in "A Wife's Story" is that it was difficult for panna to leave her house, husband, and country for education in New York. As she lived in New York she experiences things that she never even once dreamt about. She learned and became knowledgeable. According to Bharati Mukherjee, "If I hadn't left home, I'd never have heard of the Wuchang Uprising. I've broadened my horizons." Panna is married and when her husband comes to visit her in NYC they go out and explore and enjoy their time together. They also enjoy the privacy, since panna's roommate went upstate, it left the apartment all to panna and her husband. "This is more privacy than we ever had in India. No parent's, no servants, to keep us modest.' As they are enjoying themselves Panna's husband mentions to her how all the guys look at her when they are out and he does not like it at all. he also mentions that he wants to take her back home. She says she cant and he gets upset.
3) Formulate a question for discussion. the question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
The question I would like to formulate for discussion is: Why doesn't Panna's husband move to NYC since he misses her so much? Also is Panna having an affair with Imre? If she is Why doesn't she just file for divorce and get with Imre and the American way of life?
1) Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, or character's?
Patels = It is a last name for a large amount of Indians.
Saree = An outer garment worn chiefly by women of India and Pakistan, consisting of a length of lightweight cloth with one end wrapped about the waist to form a skirt and the other draped over the shoulder or covering the head. ( Dictionary.com)
Lorries = Hindu word for trucks and buses.
Mangalsutra = A marriage necklace. It is like the symbol of the wedding band and wedding ring which means you are married.
The characters in the story are: Panna, Imre, Charity Chin, and Panna's Husband. Panna an Indian women who got a Small scholarship came to NYC and left behind her home, husband, to get a Ph.D. in special ed. As she is in NYC she meets Imre who she finds attractive. Imre is her friend, he's a refugee from Budapest. Charity Chin is her roommate and also the one she observes on love, lust and many different sex partners. Panna's husband lives in Bombay and is the vice president of Lakshmi Cotton Mills. Later on in the story he comes to visit her in NYC.
2) Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or event of the reading. Be sure to Include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
The main idea in "A Wife's Story" is that it was difficult for panna to leave her house, husband, and country for education in New York. As she lived in New York she experiences things that she never even once dreamt about. She learned and became knowledgeable. According to Bharati Mukherjee, "If I hadn't left home, I'd never have heard of the Wuchang Uprising. I've broadened my horizons." Panna is married and when her husband comes to visit her in NYC they go out and explore and enjoy their time together. They also enjoy the privacy, since panna's roommate went upstate, it left the apartment all to panna and her husband. "This is more privacy than we ever had in India. No parent's, no servants, to keep us modest.' As they are enjoying themselves Panna's husband mentions to her how all the guys look at her when they are out and he does not like it at all. he also mentions that he wants to take her back home. She says she cant and he gets upset.
3) Formulate a question for discussion. the question should be relatively substantial, based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion.
The question I would like to formulate for discussion is: Why doesn't Panna's husband move to NYC since he misses her so much? Also is Panna having an affair with Imre? If she is Why doesn't she just file for divorce and get with Imre and the American way of life?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Eat a Bowl of Tea by Louis Chu
From Jacqueline E.
1. Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, of characters.
Characters:
Chong Loo which he is a rent collector of the club house in Chinatown in New York. He is not an old man and people often think of him as a student. He use words like hobbled.
Wang Wah Gay has the title of a person that greets that guest as they come in to the club. Wang is the uncle of Chong Loo. Wang uses words like “you many-mouthed bird. He is a person that lays back and his friends think he is a couch potato.
Ah Song his in or around his forty. The son of Lee Gong.?
Lee Gong worked at a launder mat and work hard to always send money to his family in china. He has a daughter named Mei Oi. Lee Gong also believe in the girls keeping it real until they find a men in there life’s. Because the China girls are having kids before getting married.
2. Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or even of the reading. Be sure to include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
The main idea of Eat a Bowl of Tea is that you have many families and the idea of keeping the china values in there culture with the women and men. In the reading you have this one boy that is named Ah Song, he was married a long time ago and had moved to Canada where a widow was rich and he married her. He lived a very good life to others, he ate good was dressing the right way and he did not work for a living. Which had people think about how he got money? And Lee Gong told the friends a story about him that he was married before. Then there was a roomer that he was seen with Lao Woo’s wife at one time. At the end of this all the men got tighter for a little game of dices and it looks like Ah Song is the winner of that game.
3. Formulate a question for discussion. The question should be relatively substantial based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion
The discussion I would like to have is: Why do the Chinese men think that If you are not married you shouldn’t have kids. I do understanding that it’s a culture think. But because if you are not married you should not have kids why is that?
1. Identify and briefly define important words, terms, concepts, of characters.
Characters:
Chong Loo which he is a rent collector of the club house in Chinatown in New York. He is not an old man and people often think of him as a student. He use words like hobbled.
Wang Wah Gay has the title of a person that greets that guest as they come in to the club. Wang is the uncle of Chong Loo. Wang uses words like “you many-mouthed bird. He is a person that lays back and his friends think he is a couch potato.
Ah Song his in or around his forty. The son of Lee Gong.?
Lee Gong worked at a launder mat and work hard to always send money to his family in china. He has a daughter named Mei Oi. Lee Gong also believe in the girls keeping it real until they find a men in there life’s. Because the China girls are having kids before getting married.
2. Summarize the main idea, theme, action, or even of the reading. Be sure to include quotation that best captures the overall feeling or mood of the reading.
The main idea of Eat a Bowl of Tea is that you have many families and the idea of keeping the china values in there culture with the women and men. In the reading you have this one boy that is named Ah Song, he was married a long time ago and had moved to Canada where a widow was rich and he married her. He lived a very good life to others, he ate good was dressing the right way and he did not work for a living. Which had people think about how he got money? And Lee Gong told the friends a story about him that he was married before. Then there was a roomer that he was seen with Lao Woo’s wife at one time. At the end of this all the men got tighter for a little game of dices and it looks like Ah Song is the winner of that game.
3. Formulate a question for discussion. The question should be relatively substantial based upon a specified passage or scene from the text, and capable of sustaining a thoughtful discussion
The discussion I would like to have is: Why do the Chinese men think that If you are not married you shouldn’t have kids. I do understanding that it’s a culture think. But because if you are not married you should not have kids why is that?
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Detroit-Blues by Helen Zia
From Stephen S.
1.)The main character in the reading would have to be Vincent Chin, who was twenty seven, had been killed by two white men, who were obviously envious of him. They saw him in the strip club with his friends and he and his friends had all the attention of the strippers because they had the most money because Chin's friends took him out for his bachelor party. The white men beat him with a bat and he was pronounced dead a few days later.
This touching case led Asian Americans, particularly his guardian, because he was adopted, Mrs. Chin with the assistance of other Asian Americans to create the ACJ. The ACJ stands for American Citizens for Justice, seeking for Asian American justice.
2.)The reading was very emotional and touching. It made me feel as if I was experiencing it myself. The reading was very detailed, as well. Vincent Chin will be and is a very important figure in the Asian Americans possibility of finally fitting in the American culture. The main idea was that this organization was mainly created because of Vincent Chin.
The most important quote in the reading would have to be the Asian man who had "trained white boys straight out of college and now they are his boss...", yet he trained them ironically. He believed he didn't get promoted simply because the fact that he was Asian.
3.)If this organization called the ACJ was not formed, would many more Asian Americans have died today, and would it be worse without it?
1.)The main character in the reading would have to be Vincent Chin, who was twenty seven, had been killed by two white men, who were obviously envious of him. They saw him in the strip club with his friends and he and his friends had all the attention of the strippers because they had the most money because Chin's friends took him out for his bachelor party. The white men beat him with a bat and he was pronounced dead a few days later.
This touching case led Asian Americans, particularly his guardian, because he was adopted, Mrs. Chin with the assistance of other Asian Americans to create the ACJ. The ACJ stands for American Citizens for Justice, seeking for Asian American justice.
2.)The reading was very emotional and touching. It made me feel as if I was experiencing it myself. The reading was very detailed, as well. Vincent Chin will be and is a very important figure in the Asian Americans possibility of finally fitting in the American culture. The main idea was that this organization was mainly created because of Vincent Chin.
The most important quote in the reading would have to be the Asian man who had "trained white boys straight out of college and now they are his boss...", yet he trained them ironically. He believed he didn't get promoted simply because the fact that he was Asian.
3.)If this organization called the ACJ was not formed, would many more Asian Americans have died today, and would it be worse without it?
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