The Joy Luck Club Terms and Notes

Woo Family: “The Joy Luck Club” Terms Cerebral aneurysm: a deadly condition where a blood vessel burst Cerebral aneurysm: a deadly condition where a blood vessel burst Somber: quiet and serious Somber: quiet and serious Translucent: see through Translucent: see through Oblivious: unaware; without knowledge Oblivious: unaware; without knowledge Guise: an external form; a cover-up Guise: an external form; a cover-up Pretense: an attept to make something appear true Pretense: an attept to make something appear true

Woo Family: “The Joy Luck Club” Notes Mom’s death (19) Mom’s death (19) She died of an aneurysm 2 months prior She died of an aneurysm 2 months prior Husband says she was “killed by her own thoughts.” Husband says she was “killed by her own thoughts.” Mom’s U.S. history (20) Mom’s U.S. history (20) Arrive in 1949 in San Fran and w/her 2 nd husband (June’s father) Arrive in 1949 in San Fran and w/her 2 nd husband (June’s father) The 3 women in the club have “unspeakable tragedies.” The 3 women in the club have “unspeakable tragedies.” Kweilin story (21-25) Kweilin story (21-25) Suyan is a refugee with her husband and 2 twin girls Suyan is a refugee with her husband and 2 twin girls City is utopia that turns into a dystopia with all of the different refugees City is utopia that turns into a dystopia with all of the different refugees “…we had no heart or eyes for pain…” (24) “…we had no heart or eyes for pain…” (24) The Joy Luck Club was formed to escape from reality The Joy Luck Club was formed to escape from reality Instead of pessimism they focused on optimism Instead of pessimism they focused on optimism Abandons her children (26) Abandons her children (26) Suyan regrets leaving her children Suyan regrets leaving her children She refuses to speak about it…too emotional She refuses to speak about it…too emotional June’s adult life (31) – What element is June June’s adult life (31) – What element is June like? (Fire? Wood? Water?) like? (Fire? Wood? Water?) Why the East? (33) Why the East? (33) Hsu’s trip to China (35-36) Hsu’s trip to China (35-36) Mom’s lies (37) Mom’s lies (37) The plan for June (40-41) The plan for June (40-41)

Woo Family: “Two Kinds” Terms Prodigy: a young person endowed with a special talent Prodigy: a young person endowed with a special talent Lament: a passionate expression of sorrow Lament: a passionate expression of sorrow Sauciness: shamelessly bold Sauciness: shamelessly bold Reverie: a state of being pleasantly lost in one’s own thoughts Reverie: a state of being pleasantly lost in one’s own thoughts Nonchalant: the appearance of being causally calm Nonchalant: the appearance of being causally calm Fiasco: an event that is a complete failure in an embarrassing way Fiasco: an event that is a complete failure in an embarrassing way

Woo Family: “Two Kinds” Opening line (132) Opening line (132) Need for June to be a prodigy Need for June to be a prodigy June’s promise (134) June’s promise (134) Genius or personal best? (136) Genius or personal best? (136) Mom’s bragging (138) Mom’s bragging (138) The concert The concert A change in piano lessons A change in piano lessons Two kinds (142) Two kinds (142) Closing paragraph Closing paragraph

Woo Family: “Best Quality” Terms Ruse: An action intending to deceive someone Ruse: An action intending to deceive someone Feisty: describing a determined, lively person Feisty: describing a determined, lively person Humility: a modest view of one’s importance Humility: a modest view of one’s importance Grimace: an ugly, twisted expression on a face Grimace: an ugly, twisted expression on a face Chastise: to scold Chastise: to scold

Woo Family: “Best Quality” Notes Jade pendant – “life’s importance” Meaning?(197) Why not ask “family”? Jade pendant – “life’s importance” Meaning?(197) Why not ask “family”? Jade pendant – Meaning for bartender – “I’m still worth something.” (198) Jade pendant – Meaning for bartender – “I’m still worth something.” (198) Guest list (201) –These people are “family” You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family! Guest list (201) –These people are “family” You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family! Mom’s crab choice (202) Mom’s crab choice (202) Waverly (204) Waverly (204) Waverly’s crab choice (202) Waverly’s crab choice (202) June’s sophistication (207) June’s sophistication (207) June & mom’s discussion (208) June & mom’s discussion (208) Crab’s death (201) – How does this show Jing Mei’s difference? Crab’s death (201) – How does this show Jing Mei’s difference?

Woo Family: “Pair of Tickets” Terms Genetics: the study of genes Genetics: the study of genes Insidiously: harmful Insidiously: harmful Revered: feeling of deep respect or admiration Revered: feeling of deep respect or admiration Amok: behaving uncontrollably/disruptively Amok: behaving uncontrollably/disruptively Forlorn: pitifully sad and abandoned Forlorn: pitifully sad and abandoned

Woo Family: “A Pair of Tickets” Notes What is June becoming? What is June becoming? What does June imagine about the twins? What does June imagine about the twins? The letter (269) The letter (269) Imagining telling the twins (271) Imagining telling the twins (271) June’s arrival June’s arrival Unanswered questions (278) Unanswered questions (278) Their names (280) Their names (280) New Kweilin story (281) New Kweilin story (281) Goodbyes (286) Goodbyes (286) The meeting (288) The meeting (288)

Hsu Family: “Scar” Terms Insolent: Showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect Insolent: Showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect

Hsu Family: “Scar” Notes An-Mei’s mother – Tai Tai An-Mei’s mother – Tai Tai An-Mei’s grandmother – Popo An-Mei’s grandmother – Popo Wu Tsing, wife and concubines Wu Tsing, wife and concubines An-Mei’s view of her mother BEFORE she remembers the scar (44) An-Mei’s view of her mother BEFORE she remembers the scar (44) An-Mei’s mother arrival – What is her reaction? An-Mei’s mother arrival – What is her reaction? Soup accident (46) – Who’s fault? Soup accident (46) – Who’s fault? How does Popo keep An-Mei from dying? (47) How does Popo keep An-Mei from dying? (47) “…That is the way it is with a wound…” True? (47) “…That is the way it is with a wound…” True? (47) An-Mei’s true understanding of her mother? (48) An-Mei’s true understanding of her mother? (48) How did she come to love her mother? (48) How did she come to love her mother? (48) Closing paragraph (48) Closing paragraph (48)

Hsu Family: “Magpies” Impertinent: Not showing proper respect; rude Impertinent: Not showing proper respect; rude Docile: Submissive, ready to accept control Docile: Submissive, ready to accept control

Hsu family: “Magpies” Notes An-Mei (mother) disappointed in Rose (daughter) – Why? An-Mei (mother) disappointed in Rose (daughter) – Why? Turtle and Magpies’ story; what’s the moral? Tears/Happiness Turtle and Magpies’ story; what’s the moral? Tears/Happiness An-Mei leaves with her mother; the change in her mother (220) An-Mei leaves with her mother; the change in her mother (220) Wu-Tsing and his home (223) Wu-Tsing and his home (223) Describe Wu-Tsing’s 5 wives – Who do we like? Who do we hate? Why? Describe Wu-Tsing’s 5 wives – Who do we like? Who do we hate? Why? 4th wife/Superstition – 4 (zi can be pronounced like die) Who’s the 4 th wife? What literary element is used here? 4th wife/Superstition – 4 (zi can be pronounced like die) Who’s the 4 th wife? What literary element is used here? Big Mother’s gift of the pearl necklace ( ) Big Mother’s gift of the pearl necklace ( ) Big Mother/Second wife’s story; How does she get what she wants? (234) Big Mother/Second wife’s story; How does she get what she wants? (234) Taitai’s story (236) Taitai’s story (236) Does Taitai have a choice? (238) Does Taitai have a choice? (238) Taitai’s suicide (239) – Why the lunar new year? (240) Taitai’s suicide (239) – Why the lunar new year? (240) The Magpies in the paper; the moral? (241) The Magpies in the paper; the moral? (241)

Hsu/Jordan Family: Half and Half Terms Chagrinned: upset, irritated, disappointed Chagrinned: upset, irritated, disappointed Chasm: deep fissure in the earth Chasm: deep fissure in the earth Benevolent: kind Benevolent: kind Despicable: deserving contempt Despicable: deserving contempt Forlorn: sad and lonely Forlorn: sad and lonely

Hsu/Jordan Family: Half and Half Notes An-Mei’s faith  what is ironic about it? Does she have faith? (116) An-Mei’s faith  what is ironic about it? Does she have faith? (116) Rose & Ted’s story (117) – What does she love about Ted at the beginning? Rose & Ted’s story (117) – What does she love about Ted at the beginning? Ted’s racist mother  what is ironic about her statements? (118) Ted’s racist mother  what is ironic about her statements? (118) Rose & Ted’s roles as husband & wife...”I was victim to his hero…” ( ) Rose & Ted’s roles as husband & wife...”I was victim to his hero…” ( ) Ted’s lawsuit  how does it change the gender roles? ( ) Ted’s lawsuit  how does it change the gender roles? ( ) Fight and divorce (120) Fight and divorce (120) “Ningkan” (121) – What is it? Who has it? Is it like faith? or fate? “Ningkan” (121) – What is it? Who has it? Is it like faith? or fate? The Book of the Malignant Gates (122) What is it? The Book of the Malignant Gates (122) What is it? The beach day (Rose is 14 years old, Bing is 4 years old) ( ) The beach day (Rose is 14 years old, Bing is 4 years old) ( ) Rose’s thoughts before Bing falls into the ocean (125) Rose’s thoughts before Bing falls into the ocean (125) How does Rose react to Bing’s fall? (126) How does Rose react to Bing’s fall? (126) Rose’s punishment (127) Rose’s punishment (127) Mom’s prayer and ring ceremony ( ) Mom’s prayer and ring ceremony ( ) During Rose and An-Mei’s trip to the beach; how does An-Mei believe in a false hope? During Rose and An-Mei’s trip to the beach; how does An-Mei believe in a false hope? Bing’s name in the Bible written in erasable pencil – Ultimate faith or foolish hope? Bing’s name in the Bible written in erasable pencil – Ultimate faith or foolish hope?

Hsu/Jordan Family: Terms Divinity: the state of being divine (of God) Divinity: the state of being divine (of God) Wakefulness: being conscious, awake and alert Wakefulness: being conscious, awake and alert Hulihudu/Heimongmong: closest translation for "hulihudu" would be "confused", and "heimongmong" might be best described as "dark fog“ Hulihudu/Heimongmong: closest translation for "hulihudu" would be "confused", and "heimongmong" might be best described as "dark fog“ Inventoried: make a complete list of Inventoried: make a complete list of Perennials: a type of plant that lives for more than 2 years Perennials: a type of plant that lives for more than 2 years

Hsu/Jordan Family: “Without Wood What is “wood” in this chapter? One of the elements...symbolically? What is “wood” in this chapter? One of the elements...symbolically? “...a mirror could only see my face, but she could see me inside and out even when I was not in the room” (185) “...a mirror could only see my face, but she could see me inside and out even when I was not in the room” (185) Old Mr. Chou – Who is he? (186) Old Mr. Chou – Who is he? (186) Talks to everyone, but Ted, about Ted…different versions ( ) Talks to everyone, but Ted, about Ted…different versions ( ) The note…what’s the deal with the pen? (190) The note…what’s the deal with the pen? (190) Without Wood (191) Without Wood (191) Chinese opinions vs. American opinions. What is the flaw? (191) Do you agree? Chinese opinions vs. American opinions. What is the flaw? (191) Do you agree? Fortune cookie advice: “When a husband stops paying attention to the garden, he’s thinking of pulling up roots.” (192) – True? What’s the garden? Fortune cookie advice: “When a husband stops paying attention to the garden, he’s thinking of pulling up roots.” (192) – True? What’s the garden? Real reason for the divorce? (194) Real reason for the divorce? (194) Rose’s response (196) Rose’s response (196) Dream; why weeds? (196) Dream; why weeds? (196)