American Born Chinese review – Flashcards
Flashcard maker : Rosa Sloan
How does the Monkey King change over the course of Chapter 1? What psychological transformations does he experience?
He starts out feeling happy as the leader. He gets courageous and wants to join the diner party in heaven. He then becomes embarrassed that he is not welcome. He become enraged and experiences self-loathing-doesn’t want to be a monkey
What is the message of the parable?
It is about a boy who wants to be a part of society and wants to blend in
What is the significance of the conversation with the herbalist? What literary device is used here?
The Herbalist is a wise(sage). Her words could be a foreshadowing of later actions such as a boy who tries to change and meets bad fortune
What do we learn about Jin’s new life, in comparison to his life in San Francisco’s Chinatown
People don’t accept his culture, so he is very lonely and isolated. students and teacher judge him for being different.
The child who call Jin “Bucktooth” is drawn with buck teeth himself. To what kind of “literary” device is this artistic choice similar
Irony
Why do you think Jin feels like to beating up Wei-Chen? What is the author’s purpose?
It reminds Jin that he is Chinese and he is embarrassed.
What is the significance of Wei-Chin’s toy robot? How does it serve to tie together the story so far?
He is a transformer monkey. Monkey King
What does the use of the clap clap clap clap and the hah ha ha mean to you? Why does the author do this?
These chapters are like a sit-com with forced laughter
What stereotypes are exploited in this section? Try to list them. Be sure to note stereotypes associated with both Chin-Kee and Danny.
American Teens are more interested in dating then studying. Clueless mother doesn’t get how chien-kee interferes. Old fashioned Chinese outfit, food carton luggage and how he speaks and looks.
Notice the way in which the Monkey King is illustrated. In what ways does his transformed appearance reflect his transformed character
Taller-face and body, looks more like a man than a monkey. Sage-wise person, knower
The Monkey King flies through the boundaries of reality itself. How does the author show this? Is it effective, and, if so, why?
The background changes and then disappears. The boxes around the pictures disappear representing him breaking out of reality.
What happens to the monkey king each time he is laughed at by another god. In what ways does his transformed appearance reflect his transformed character?
Attacks all the gods using his newly acquired skill to prove he is not a monkey.
Again consider the Monkey King’s psychological journey and his transformations. Look at his face in the middle of page 81. Where have you seen this expression before? What is he experiencing here?
He is confused to angry. His confused face is like Jin’s face when he visits the herbalist
Look at the Melanie in the Chin-Kee chapters and Amelia Harris in Jin’s chapters – they are nearly identical. What other connections can you trace between these two story lines?
Melanie and Amanda both like “American Girls”. Both Boys want very badly to fit in
What differences are there between Jin and Wei Chen in how they are represented? What psychological information can we infer about Wei Chen when he dates Suzy Nakamura? What lesson might Wei Chen be teaching Jin?
Wei chin looks more Asian than Jin, and he wears big glasses which shows he is smart. Wei chin and Suzy have shared interests. Wei Chin blends Chinese culture and American Culture.
Why are there dashed lines around the speech balloons? What other kinds of lines are around the speech balloons throughout the story? What information is the line meant to convey?
Whispering-Obnoxious side conversations
hat additional stereotypes do you notice in this chapter? Be sure to look at all the characters.
Teachers, Typical American students and what Chinese people eat
What clues can you find to explain why Chin-Kee comes to visit? Why, in your opinion, does Chin-Kee come to visit?
Chin-Kee comes to visit to see what America is like
Why does Danny Say, “so I can pee in it?” What impulse (feeling) might make him say that?
Danny can’t stand people assuming he is like chin-kee. He expresses anger to his friend
What does Lai-Tsao mean when he talks to the Monkey King in panel #4?
Lai-Tsao is selfless and devotes his life to others
Why does the Monkey King choose to release himself and follow Lai-Tsao?
The Monkey King see Lai-Tsao sacrifice himself for the Monkey King
Why does Suzy say she feels embarrassed all of the time? Why do you think Jin kisses Suzy?
She was called a racial slur and she feels humiliated all the time. Both Jin and Suzy were feeling down and Jin was emotionally confused
How does the author emphasize Jin’s emotions? What other examples have you noticed from throughout the book?
Jin is surprised, shocked and confused. He is processing what he cannot believe on page 29, he also shows confusion
Why does Jin reject Wei-Chen? What might be going on with Jin, from a psychological point of view?
Jin repeats the hurt-He puts Wei-Chien down like others have put him down. Jin is trying to separate himself from the Chinese culture
What is the significance of the dream? Make sure you look at all the illustrations carefully and study them for subtle meaning.
Jin Transforms into what he wants to be-a typical american white boy
What has happened here? What was your own emotional/psychological reaction to this moment?
The clap track enters into the Jin story line “Happy Ending!” Jin Turns into Danny
Who is Danny? Who is Chin-Kee? What does this mean? What are their true forms?
Chin-Kee is the monkey king. Danny is Jin
As it turned out, the star was the star of Bethlehem and the three boxes were the three gifts from the three wise men. What significance does this hold for the story American Born Chinese?
ABC brings together Christianity and an Eastern Myth
What does the Monkey King mean by a sign post to your soul?
The Monkey King is teaching Jin to be himself and to accept his past culture as a part of who he is
Jin reveals that he can’t read Chinese. What do you think is significant about that?
Jin has become american and cannot read Mandarin chinese
Jin doesn’t know why he’s going to the bakery but he goes night after night, why?
He hopes to see Wei-Chin and connect to something Chinese
This book ends with a conversation about milk tea. Wei-Chen is speaking Chinese. Why does the book end like this? What can we infer about these two characters? What predictions do you make about each of them?
(Chinese) you can merge your past with your present. Friendship supersedes over language barriers
How might panel # 4 apply to Jin
Jin wants to see forgiveness from Wei-Chin
What does Lai-Taso mean when he speaks to the monkey king in panel # 4(“returning to your true form is not an exercise of Kung Fu,but a release of it”)
Lao Taso suggets that the Monkey King siply return to his true real identity
“Be yourself”
“Be yourself”
Why is Lai-Taso found favor with Tze-yo-tzuh and chosen him for his misson
Lai-Tsao is selfless and devotes his life to others
How are the two voices represented on the page? To whom do they belong- and how do they relate to each other?
The voices are Jin’s parents-Jin is retelling a story from his mom
In panel #4, the author shows kids laughing while Wei-Chin is talking to Amelia. what does Juxtaposition of this panel with the other panels on this page do for the readers?
The two panels show that Wei-Chen is constantly made fun of by his classmates
Why does Danny distance himself from Chin-Kee? How does he do it?
Danny tell Melanie he doesn’t know how he is related to Chin-Kee because he is embarrassed
What other ways does the author use the visual language of the comic reflect the content of the story(notice pages 78-79). How does this demonstrate that “form follows function?” in this book?
Black background-big picture delivers big picture delivers “big message”.”Little picture is used to reinforce surprise
