Comprehension Questions for The Joy Luck Club
Part 1—Feathers from a Thousand Li Away
Jing-Mei Woo—The Joy Luck Club
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Who are the mother daughter pairs? List the characters.
Briefly retell the story on page 17. What is its purpose?
What are the three explanations for Suyuan’s death?
What is happening historically in China in 1949 that causes people to flee their homes?
What image of Kweilin did Suyuan have? What did it turn out to be?
Why didn’t June believe her mother’s Kweilin story was nothing more than a fairy tale?
What did her Suyuan give up? Why?
Describe Suyuan’s idea of the elements.
How does June’s mother respond to the school of thought that parents should encourage their
children?
Tell about Auntie An-mei’s greedy family. What was the effect on her?
How does Auntie Lin respond when June says she is not in college anymore?
Describe the relationship between Auntie Lin and June’s mother, Suyuan.
Describe the relationship between June and Waverly.
What do the women ask June to do? Go into detail.
How does June respond?
According to June, why might the mothers be afraid?
What is the thought that killed June’s mother? Why might the father feel it was a bad thought?
Why do the mothers think it is June’s responsibility to fulfill her mother’s wish? Do you think it’s
June’s responsibility? Explain.
An-Mei Hsu—The Scar
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Who is Popo?
Describe the relationship between Popo and An-Mei Hsu. Give specific examples.
Who is An-Mei’s father?
Where is An-Mei’s mother? What does she know of her mother?
Describe An-Mei’s mother.
Why did An-Mei’s mother return?
Define the word concubine.
Why was Popo ashamed of An-mei’s mother? How did she exercise her shame for her
daughter?
9. How did An-mei get hurt? What did she think it symbolized?
10. What cruel thing did Popo tell An-mei? Why?
11. Explain the extended metaphor of the physical wound and emotional wound of losing her
mother.
12. Was Popo right to feel ashamed of her daughter? In our opinion, did An-mei’s mother have a
responsibility to come back?
Lindo Jong—The Red Candle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
What is the tone of Lindo’s story as it begins?
Describe how Lindo became betrothed (promised to be married)?
Who is Huan Taitai? Describe her first encounter with Lindo.
To whom was Lindo betrothed? Describe him.
How did Tyan-yu get his name?
Describe the filial piety expectations of a Taiyuanese mother.
How did Lindo’s family treat her after she was promised to Tyan-yu?
Explain why she didn’t love her husband. Write a detailed answer.
What happened when Lindo was twelve? What was the effect on her life?
What piece of jewelry did Lindo’s mother give her?
What admonition did Lindo’s mother give her before she left for Tyan-yu’s house?
Describe the relationship between Huan Taitai and Lindo.
Explain the bad luck that happened on the wedding day.
What kind of marriage did Lindo have with Tyan-yu?
Fully explain how Lindo got out of the marriage to Tyan-yu.
At the end of her story, she says that she kept her promise. How did she?
What did she mean by, “I promised not to forget myself”? Use details from the text to answer
this question.
18. Did Lindo really keep her responsibility to her parents? Should she have stayed in the
relationship? Explain your answer.
Ying-Ying St. Clair—The Moon Lady
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
What character trait is apparent when Ying-Ying begins her story?
What is the result of Ying-Ying’s quiet nature?
How did Ying-Ying say she lost herself?
What did Ying-Ying think the bad smell was? Explain the Five Evils.
How did Amah respond to Ying-Ying’s questions? What warning did she give Ying-Ying?
Based on the reading, describe the kind of family Ying-Ying came from. Provide text support.
How does Amah describe a wish? What is a perfect wish?
What did Ying-Ying do with the rabbit moon cake?
How did Amah describe the difference between boys and girls?
What is Amah’s relationship to Ying-Ying? Describe what her duties are.
Describe how Ying-Ying thinks of Amah.
Why did Ying-Ying envy the boys?
What happened when Ying-Ying wandered to the back of the boat?
What was the consequence?
How did her half-sisters respond?
16. What happened when Ying-Ying turned to tell the Moon Lady her secret wish?
17. How does the Moon Lady’s tale at the end mirror the rest of Ying-Ying’s story?
18. What responsibility did Ying-Ying have to her Amah, mother, and family? How did he
disappoint? What was the lasting consequence on her life?