English Joy luck club test

(June)  Jing-mei

the daughter of Suyuan Woo. She is caught between her Chinese heritage and American identity. As a child, she struggled to meet her mother’s high expectations, particularly regarding her piano playing. After her mother’s death, she reflects on their relationship, her mother’s sacrifices, and the expectations that shaped her life. She later takes her mothers place at the Joy Luck Club

Suyuan Woo

Jing-Mei’s mother and the founder of the Joy Luck Club. Suyuan is a Chinese immigrant who fled China during wartime. She had high hopes for her daughter, Jing-Mei, and believed in the potential for success through hard work and discipline. She is also deeply influenced by her past experiences in China, especially the loss of her twin daughters during the war. Suyuan’s unfulfilled dreams for Jing-Mei form a key theme in the story.

Lindo Jong

she is a strong, independent women who has a complex relationship with her daughter, waverly. She is also one of the founding members of the Joy Luck Club

An-mei Hsu

An- Mei is another member of the club, known for her deeply moving story about her mother and the sacrifices she made for her family.

Ying-ying St. Clair

She has a mysterious and somewhat somber past. Her personal story focuses on themes of self realization and inner conflicts of being a Chinese immigrant.

Waverly Jong

Lindo’s daughter and a successful chess prodigy. She struggles with her relationship with her mother, who has very high expectations for her.

“She carried a swan that was once a duck.”

This line reflects the mother’s journey of transformation and hope. The swan symbolizes her aspirations for a better life and the legacy she hopes to pass on to her daughter.

“This bird, she said, was a creature that became more than what was hoped for.”

This emphasizes the mothers dreams for her child to achieve even more than she could envision for herself, tying into the theme of generational legacy.

“She waited patiently, year after year, for the day she could tell her daughter this in perfect American English.”

This line underscores the tension between the mothers cultural heritage and her desire for her daughter to succeed in the new cultural identity.

“For a long time now the women had wanted to give her daughter the single swan feather and tell her, This feather may look worthless, but it comes from afar and carries with it all my good intentions.”

The swan feather becomes a powerful symbol of the mother’s sacrifices, love, and hopes. It encapsulates the central theme of passing down values and identity despite the challenges of assimilation and communication.

What does the name "The Joy Luck Club" mean, and why did Suyuan Woo start it?

Symbolizes finding hope and happiness despite difficult circumstances. Started club to bring friends and families together.

How often did the members of the Joy Luck Club meet, and what did they do during these meetings?

They met once a week, during the meetings they shared different stories, ate food and played Mah Jong

Why did Jing-mei’s mother, Suyuan Woo, flee China, and what hardships did she face during her journey?

She had to leave because of the war, and it wasn’t safe. She didn’t have a lot of food and water, and she had to walk a lot with her twin daughters. She had to leave her twin daughters behind to ensure their survival.

What is Jing-mei’s initial reaction when asked to take her mother’s place in the Joy Luck Club?

She didn’t think that she would be able to replace her and live up to her mother, she was not prepared.

What game does the Joy Luck Club play during their meetings, and what role does it serve?

They play a game called mah jong. A way to connect them together.

What do the members of the Joy Luck Club expect Jing-mei to do after taking her mother’s place?

They want her to travel to China to meet her half-sisters and fulfill her mother’s dream of reuniting their family.

Where does the author use juxtaposition?

She juxtaposition (contrasting) the wealthy and the poor in order to tell about how all these people came together. To show the contrast and different people in the community.

Why do the members of the Joy Luck Club give Jing-mei money, and what do they want her to do with it?

They give her money so that she can travel to China so that she can meet her half sisters and tell them about her mother.

What does Jing-mei learn about her mother’s unfulfilled dream to reunite with her twin daughters?

She learns that her mother attempted to reunite them together.

How does Jing-mei plan to honor her mother’s memory by the end of the story?

To go to China and fullfill her mothers dream by re connecting with her half-sisters.

What specific details are revealed about Suyuan’s life in China before immigrating to the United States?

She was privileged

What is yuan, and why was it worthless?

It is a type of money, it is worthless because the war destroyed the economy.