The Joy Luck Club Response Journals
This unit will focus on the following literary concepts:
 Theme
 Characterization
 Point of View
 Symbol
 Conflict
Response Journal Purpose: The journals will serve as a springboard for many of our classroom
discussions as well as material for some writing assignments.
Response Journal Directions: For the specific reading assignments, reflect on the novel and
respond to the following specific topics. You will have three journal entries for each section of
reading on the topics listed below.
Use the format below for your journal responses (which may be typed or written legibly):
Topic
Passage (with page
Commentary
number)
Quote from the book
Why is this passage important? What does
(correctly punctuated and cited)
it reveal?
Note: Journal entries are due at the beginning of the period on announced dates for each section of the novel.
Part One:
Feathers from a Thousand Li Away, pages 5-83
 Cultural conflict: Note the potential conflict between the Chinese mothers and the American
daughters that is introduced in “The Joy Luck Club” chapter
 Symbol: Note an important symbol in the first four chapters
 Point of view: Note at least one instance where the narrator recalls misunderstanding or
misinterpreting an event in her childhood (child’s-eye perspective)
Part Two:
Twenty-Six Malignant Gates, pages 89-155
 Cultural conflict: Continue your analysis of the conflict between the Chinese mothers and the
American daughters
 Symbol: Chess OR Theme: Competition impacts relationships, language barriers can inhibit
clear communication
 Character: Choose one of the daughters and detail how Tan develops her character (physical
description, personality/values, actions/words)
Part Three:
American Translation, pages 161-236
 Cultural conflict: Continue your analysis of the conflict between the Chinese mothers and the
American daughters
 Symbol: What role does food play in this novel?
 Theme: What thematic message about marriage does the author convey?
Part Four:
Queen Mother of the Western Skies, pages 241-332
 Cultural conflict: Continue your analysis of the conflict between the Chinese mothers and the
American daughters
 Point of view: How does the multiple first-person narrative voice impact this novel?
 Theme: What thematic message about hope, perseverance, and courage does the author
communicate?