English II (H) Donald Duk Test (Study Guide) – Flashcards
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Larry Louie says, "Gypsy caravan. Chinese outlaws. Same thing. Same theme. Robin Hood, Spanish Gypsies, Jessie James all the same." In what way might this be true
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All of these people, despite their race, are outlaws and all equal.
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What effect does the cadence of the writing style have on our interpretation of the text and our feelings about the main character?
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It makes Donald Duk appear unintelligent or like English is his second language
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How is Donald Duk like the Disney cartoon character? What does the author achieve by making this comparison?
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Donald Duk is angry/cranky like Donald Duck, and is also difficult to understand. Also take note that Donald Duck does not wear pants, making him seem immasculated and compare this to the scene where the Chinatown kids try to take Donald Duk's pants off.
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Who is Fred Astaire? why is he an interesting choice of American icons for Donald Duk to idolize?
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Fred Astaire is a famous tap dancer. He's an interesting choice because he isn't especially masculine or handsome.
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Why does Donald Duk hate being Chinese? Is there any validity to his reasoning?
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He hates being Chinese because not only is he bullied, but he also buys into the American-made stereotype of the Chinese. He also hates his name.
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What is important about King Duk's observations about Donald and the advice King Duk gave to his son in this chapter?
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King Duk observes and acts adversely to his son being timid (stereotype) and tells him not to show his fear and *act* tough. Later, he tells him to join in on the mocking and make fun of himself. This degrades Donald Duk's self esteem and doesn't support Donald Duk ever standing up for himself
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At the end of the chapter, does Donald Duk follow his father's advice? Analyze the altercation Donald Duk has with the Chinese gang as well as its resolution? What point does the author make?
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Yes, he does follow his father's advice. The author makes a point that he is forced to conform and give in in order to not be bullied, and that this is wrong.
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What important facts do we learn about King Duk?
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He was part of the security staff in the army, he owns a restaurant, can cook anything, and is building a model airplane
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What does the author gain by introducing a character like Arnold Azalea?
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He shows that Donald's perspective of Americans isn't always true.
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Describe the model airplanes King Duk is building. What do they represent?
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they have painted on each of them the faces of the 108 heroes of the Water margin.They represent Chinese Culture.
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What is significant about the model plane that Donald steals?
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It is connected to him because the share the name "Lee." When he burns it, it represents him burning his own culture and family. He must later rebuild it in order to reconnect himself with his Chinese heritage.
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Who confronts Donald on the roof of his apartment building? What is significant about the life of this Character?
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American Cong confronts him. This character shows assimilation into American culture results in inner instability and corruption.
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What does Uncle Donald Duk teach Donald about the heroes of the Water Margin?
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He compares them to Robin Hood, and explains the connection with Lee Kuey.
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What does Uncle Donald Duk teach Donald about the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?
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He tells him that they used Chinese labor yet didn't give them credit
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In Donald's dream state, what do we learn about the Chinese who work on the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?
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They lived in very harsh conditions and struggled while the whites were treated much better.
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What is gained by using cultural history in the narrative?
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It gives a better perspective on the way the Chinese were treated over time because it shows their point of view.
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What Chinese New year traditions are presented in Chapter 5?
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They get dressed in their best clothes, the fisherman pride themselves on fresh fish, they take the day off work, they do a close family banquet, and they give out lay-see
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Why does Frank Chin include characters like the Fong Fong sisters in his novel?
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The Fong Fong sisters are included to show King Duk's charitable side and to show the respect that is normal amongst the Chinese community
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What Chinese New year Traditions are presented in chapter 6?
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The Chinese don't eat read meat (any common/work animals), and they give up lay-see when they run out
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How does Uncle Donald Duk diffuse a common misconception about Chinese culture?
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He makes jokes about them eating pets.
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What are the Tong Wars?
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These are the ethnic Chinese enclaves that turned into gangs (American version of the Chinese triads)
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How does King Duk respond to the following statement: "[E]verybody's got to give up the old and become American. If all these Chinese were more American, I [Donald] wouldn't have all my problems"
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He laughs and says that "I think Donald Duk may be the very last American-born Chinese-American boy to believe you have to give up Chinese to be an American...Instead of giving everything up, they add on" (Chin 42). He supports multiculturalism
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What do we learn about King Duk's background in this chapter? Why is it significant?
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We learn that King Duk ran back to China from America. He ran from a family who was against Chinese culture. He essentially had the opposite opinion of Donald Duk though they were both Chinese-Americans
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Donald believes Larry Louis is a failure because he does not really want to be Fred Astaire. Does Frank Chin believe Larry Louie is a failure? Explain.
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Larry Louie is "adding on" rather than trying to transcend his culture. He is a part of multiculturalism, rather than assimilation, and therefore Chin does not think he's a failure
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What is important about the ritual of bai sun? why does Donald refuse to perform this ritual? What does it say about him?
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Bai sun shows respect, and therefore Donald's rejection of it shows that he disrespects his culture in trying to be 100% "American"
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Explain the ritual of preparing to play the role of Kwan Kung in the Chinese opera. What can be learned through this process of preparation? Why does King Duk explain the process to Donald?
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It essentially forbids all indulgences. It shows commitment and shows that one must take their culture seriously and show control. King Duk explains this to him so that he can show how far off Donald Duk is, and show him what he should be modeling his life after.
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At the end of the chapter, Donald hears a news story on television about the American Cong. Why is this information important to Donald?
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American Cong, standing for the Americanized Chinese man, has completely fallen apart, or at least appears to.
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Explain the significance of the Ten Feet of Steel?
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Ten Feet of Steel is the only female hero of the water margin, and therefore shows that women can be strong just like men. Donald Duk's mom makes this airplane. She charges into battle with her horses reigns between her teeth and one of her swords in each hand.
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How has Arnold become a member of Donald's extended family? Why is this important?
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Daisy Duk has Arnold call her daisy, and King Duk has him call him Uncle King. It shows that they can make connections with people across racial lines, and that the Chinese shouldn't be discriminatory
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What is significant about the gift that Donald receives from the Frog Twins?
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They give him "Chuck Guillow's model airplane kit" of the P-26A Peashooter. This is significant because it gets the Fong Twins, representing the Chinese community, involved in his rebuilding of the culture
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What should we understand about Donald's interaction with the American Cong at the end of this chapter?
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American Cong appears completely insane (he's hallucinating about a corn field) and is also very poor, judging by his living circumstances. This implies that he is very weak, and therefore that he is not on the right path.
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In what historic event does Donald participate in this chapter?
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They are preparing to lay 10 miles of track against the Union Pacific Railroad, which is Irish
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Who are the Central Pacific Big Four? Who controls the Union Pacific?
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Charles Crocker, Collis P. Huntington, Leland Stanford and Mark Hopkins.
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Examine the lengthy argument between Crocker and Kwan the foreman. Identify the different points of conflict.
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1) It begins when Crocker claims that he made the record 2) Kwan calls that they are fired after Crocker threatens to fire them. 3) Kwan demands that Crocker get off his horse if he wants to speak to him. He then says that he wants to ride Crocker's horse and shoot Crocker's gun 4) Kwan then has Donald come up onto the horse, and rides away 5) Donald falls of the horse 6) Kwan Kung says that if they break the record, Crocker's horse is theirs to eat
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What specifically does Kwan the foreman want Donald to hear?
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He wants him to hear him say: "They say it is impossible to lay ten miles of track in one day. We begin work at dawn. By sunset we will look back on more than ten miles of track. Do that and Crocker's horse is ours to eat" (pg 77)
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What is significant about Donald falling off Crocker's horse?
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It shows the struggle for Donald to fully accept the Chinese culture--he isn't quite there yet, and isn't equal with Kwan Kung
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Describe the statue of Kwan Kung on the mantle in Donald's house.
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It is "robed on his left side like a scholar. His right side shows exposed general's armor. His left hands hold an open book of Confucius. His right hand lifts his two-foot-long beard off his belly. He has the eyes of Kwan the foreman" (Chin 78)
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What gift does Uncle Donald give the students and Donald's school?
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He gives everybody minop jackets
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Who is the god of blighters, fighters, and writers?
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Kwan Kung
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How does the white man looking for Chinese firecrackers treat Donald?
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He treats him like he is stupid and illiterate
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What is Donald's response to Arnold's question about the track-laying contest from Donald's dream?
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He says that "Even if it was real, the Chinese lost. They didn't do a thing but stand there and get soaked" (Chin 83)
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What do Donald and Arnold accidentally do to a police car? What is the outcome? Who does King Duk blame? Why?
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They hit it with firecrackers. They end up being chased by cops and taken back to the police station. He blames Donald because he doubts Donald's responsibility and maturity.
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Why is King Duk planning to take Donald to an herbalist?
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He says that Donald is "Acting strange...He's jumpy and jittery, tapping his toes and clicking his heels all the time like someone with a palsy...he steals from [King] and lies, and treats Chinese like dirt...[he thinks he] may have accidentally taken home a white boy from the hospital and raised him as [his] own son" (Chin 88)
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King Duk says, "Family-style tonight means that the family lets me cook the stuff that no Chinese, no one on this earth has seen in a Chinese dinner before. And yet, like Confucius himself, I will restore ways that have become abandoned and recover knowledge that has been lost." What is significant about this statement?
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It's significant because King Duk is exhibiting multiculturalism. He is combining the different cultural foods without sacrificing any one culture.
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What job does Kwan the foreman give to Donald? Why is this job important?
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Donald is assigned to dance the lion. This is important because it shows Donald connecting with his culture both physically and mentally, rather than just doing manual labor
