Background Knowledge
The Story
 The excerpt is written from the perspective of Lulu, an American
woman who will eventually own and operate a courtesan house
in China, made up of Chinese and Western courtesans.
 Lulu Minturn is born with six fingers on each hand, which
initially causes her to feel like an outsider among her peers. As a
child, Lulu is self-conscious about her unusual physical trait and
worries that it will make her undesirable to others. However,
Lulu's perspective on her six fingers shifts over time as she
grows older and becomes more confident in herself. She comes
to see her extra digit as a unique and special part of herself,
rather than a flaw.
About the Author
 Amy Tan is a Chinese-American writer known for her novels,
essays, and short stories that explore the complexities of the
Chinese-American experience. She was born on February 19,
1952, in Oakland, California, to Chinese immigrant parents.
Throughout her career, Tan has been recognized for her
contributions to literature and her advocacy for Asian-American
and women's rights. She has received numerous awards,
including the National Book Award and the National Endowment
for the Arts Fellowship, and has been a vocal advocate for issues
such as immigration and the preservation of the Chinese
language and culture.
Characters of the Story
 Lulu Minturn – the protagonist of the story, who is determined
to be true to herself and protect her unique attributes which she
calls "My Pure Self-Being."
 Her grandmother - advises the removal of the extra fingers at
birth to avoid being perceived as having a familial tendency
towards giving birth to octopuses.
 Her parents - freethinkers who are logical and base their
opinions on reason and their own views. Initially, they decide not
to remove the protagonist's extra fingers, but later agree to
amputate them at the behest of Mr. Maubert.
 Mr. Maubert - an old family friend of the father who is also her
piano teacher. He convinces the parents to amputate her extra
fingers to facilitate her musical training.
Unfamiliar Words
 Manifesto - a written statement declaring publicly the intentions,
motives, or views of its issuer
 Mindless blob - not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas
readily
 Lest - for fear that (denotes fear)
 Siege - a military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or
building
 Surplus - more than what is needed or used; excess.
 Amputated - cut off (a limb) by surgical operation.
 Tambourine - a percussion instrument resembling a shallow drum
with small metal disks in slots around the edge, played by
being shaken or hit with the hand.
 Animosity - strong hostility.
 Aversion - a strong dislike or disinclination.
Short Summary of the Story
In the excerpt of the novel “The Valley of Amazement,” author Amy
Tan presents a character who, at the age of eight, was determined to be
true to herself. Lulu Minturn was born with an extra finger in each of her
hands. Mr. Maubert, her father’s friend and her piano teacher, was a former
concert pianist, who has lost his right arm during the Prussians’ siege of
Paris. Influenced by him, the parents of Lulu decided to let Lulu undergo
the operation to completely remove her extra fingers so as to help her in
her musical training. Lulu felt the shock and the fear at the same time
because parts of her had to be completely removed and changed even
without her permission. This made her think and decide the attributes that
she had to protect–everything about her pure self-being.
Guide Questions
1. What was Lulu’s reaction when she found out about the operation? Do
you think her reaction is normal? Why or why not?
2. Do you think the parents made a mistake in operating on Lulu’s fingers?
Why or why not?
3. What is the narrator’s fear?
4. Why did the narrator dislike the way her mother described reproduction?
5. What do you think is its effect on the narrator?
6. What does it mean, that the narrator wanted to be true to herself?
7. Have you ever felt the same way? Why or why not?
8. Do you think the narrator is selfish? Why or why not?
9. Is the narrator expressing an inherently Asian or American value?
10. Do childhood revelations have lasting impact on one’s life?