Finish the book.
Bring in 6-7 essay questions, one or two per concept, related to literary concepts: Plot, Theme, Characters, Point of View or who's telling the story, Setting, Symbolism.
Bring the questions in electronically and print a set when you arrive and post them (smile).
We'll write a short essay in class, one individually as a freewrite and one as a group.
Lecture: Kimberly as super hero. Writing from a feminist perspective.
Notes: Immigration as a theme. Matt as antithesis or antihero or is he? How does choice effect Kim's life and its overall outcome? Is happiness or even a realistic goal? Is Kim's mother selfish?
6 comments:
Adetona Adewale
Professor Sabir
Eng 1B
28 September 2011
What is Kimberly’s true goal in life? Does Kimberly’s fear of dishonor and change affect her adversely in the novel or not? Does a girl from Hong Kong China need to forget all she ever knew to become completely American? Could Kimberly possibly be he own worst enemy with her constant calculation of her actions? Could Kimberly be too afraid and apprehensive to just live? Was Aunt Paula really the primary villain in the story? Did Annette represent Kimberly’s hero a lot. Is Kimberly the voice that you hear narrating throughout the novel or not? Was one of Kimberly’s family members really inadvertently speaking or narrating via Kimberly? Did the environment in the novel make it easy to assimilate into another culture? Did the poor verses rich scenario help to bridge the gap of the two societies? Was Kimberly’s obvious poverty and language barrier a sign of her forced resilience?
Nick Malecek
English 1B
T/Th 9:00-10:50am
Professor Sabir
27 September 2011
"Girl in Translation" Questions
Plot:
-How much of the story can be attributed to the author's real life and what portion is merely fantasy?
Themes:
-Jealousy is a major theme in "Girl in Translation". Was Aunt Paula just a terrible person or were there deeper issues at play?
Characters:
-How does Kimberly manage to find success despite her disadvantageous circumstances?
-What allusions can be made between the fate of the main characters in "Romeo and Juliette" and the relationship between Kimberly and Matt?
Perspective:
-In what ways may the narrative be predicated by Kimberly's perspective?
Setting:
-How does Kimberly and Ma's apartment shape the course of the story?
Symbolism:
-What could Matt's necklace represent in terms of Kimberly and Matt's relationship? (The necklace was gold, with a jade Kuan Yin figure as the pendant)
Melvin Arquero
English 1B
T/Th 9:00-10:50am
Professor Sabir
27 September 2011
1. Compare and contrast the characters of Kimberly and Aunt Paula.
2. "Mother and cub." Which of the two (Kimberly and Ma) were the mother or the cub?
3. The book sheds light on the issue of immigrant life and sweatshop labor. How has this reaffirmed/changed your view on each idea?
4. How did Kimberly's traditional strict chinese upbringing shape her? Did she become too "Americanzied" because of her new environment?
5. Language barrier played a key role in the novel. How would have things been if Kimberly's mother knew how to speak English? How would this have assuaged the tremendous hardships the two encountered?
6. The novel did not follow the traditional narrative structure (Introduction- Rising Action-Climax-Falling Action-Resolution). Does this affect the merit of the book?
7. Discuss the main themes in the novel and how it gave life to the storyline.
Adetona Adewale
Professor Sabir
Eng 1B
28 September 2011
What is Kimberly’s true goal in life?
Does Kimberly’s fear of dishonor and change affect her adversely in the novel or not?
Does a girl from Hong Kong China need to forget all she ever knew to become completely American?
Could Kimberly possibly be he own worst enemy with her constant calculation of her actions?
Could Kimberly be too afraid and apprehensive to just live? Was Aunt Paula really the primary villain in the story?
Did Annette represent Kimberly’s hero a lot.
Is Kimberly the voice that you hear narrating throughout the novel or not?
Was one of Kimberly’s family members really inadvertently speaking or narrating via Kimberly?
Did the environment in the novel make it easy to assimilate into another culture?
Did the poor verses rich scenario help to bridge the gap of the two societies?
Was Kimberly’s obvious poverty and language barrier a sign of her forced resilience?
I reposted your questions Ade to make them easier to read.
Tia Gangopadhyay
Professor Sabir
English 1B 9-10:50 AM
28 September 2011
Plot:
1) Why does the novel spend so much time narrating Kimberly’s early life and struggles, and only briefly touches upon her later life through an epilogue?
Theme:
1) How does choice effect Kimberly’s life?
2) How is Kimberly a flawed heroine?
3) What is the role of the reoccurring sense of disappointment?
Characters:
1) What is the purpose of the contradictory roles that Annette, Aunt Paula, and Matt play?
2) What is the difference between Matt and Curt?
3) What kind of person if Kimberly?
Point of View:
1) What is the difference in perspective of Aunt Paula and Ma?
2) What is the difference in perspective of Matt and Curt?
3) What is the difference in perspective of Annette and Kimberly?
4) What is the difference in perspective and goals for Matt and Kimberly?
Setting:
1) What is the difference in values between Hong Kong and America?
Symbolism:
1) What does the coat factory symbolize that parallels Kimberly and her life and the life of other immigrants?
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