American Born Chinese:
The Monkey King
Investigating the True Meaning of the Monkey King
Your Monkey King Story
Take a minute to think about these
questions. Be prepared to discuss your
answers with the class.
 When did you first hear the story of the
Monkey King?
 What is the story about?
 Who told you this story?
 Why do you think they told you?
American Born Chinese Version:
Characters
American Born Chinese Version:
Plot (a summary of the story)
The
Monkey
Kingpunished
made
allthe
of the
the dinner
monkeys
wear
shoes
So the
creator
He wanted
to go
to
Monkey
King
party,
by
trapping
so
they
would
be
more
like
the
other
Next,
HeThen
he
found
the
became
to
Gods
the
Creator
and
powerful
ofbecause
the
them
than
Universe
the
his
other
and
new
insulted
powers.
Gods. him.
butwent
he
him
was
under
notMonkey
amore
aloud
pile
of
to
rocks
forwith
he500
was
years.
aGods.
monkey.
He
beat
up
The
all
of
thebullied
Gods
King
became
because
King.
he
was
angry.
American Born Chinese Version:
Plot (a summary of the story)
Of
Escaping
The
To
the
Monkey
Emissaries
free
four
just
the
legendary
was
inMonkey
selected
time,
now inthe
monks,
King
debt
him
Monkey
from
to
to
Wong
journey
the
his
King
Lai-Tsao
old
prison,
helped
to
man,
the
he
so
was
the
West
said
hethe
old
helped
to
with
man
least
three packages,
become
impressive,
defeat
the man
histhe
but
true
onbut
monsters
first
his
self
had
journey
heand
the
had
that
he
greatest
to
towould
chased
the
findWest.
escape.
the
heart.
him.
a monkey.
American Born Chinese Version:
Themes
American Born Chinese Version:
Themes
Compare / Contrast
 How does your story of the Monkey King
compare to the story written in ABC?
 What are the similarities?
 What are the differences?
 Did the purpose of the story change
between the two stories or is it the same?
 If it did, how did it change?
Have you ever felt like the
Monkey King?
One important part of understanding a story is to be
able to make connections between what you are
reading and what you already know.
In this way, you are to write a short essay that
addresses this prompt:
 Describe a situation where you have felt like the
Monkey King.
 How did it make you feel?
 How did you respond to that situation?
 What would you tell someone else who feels that
way?