Shurjo Maitra
Block C
1.11.08
Answer Questions in complete sentences and in depth on another sheet of paper and include PAGE NUMBERS.
1. Who are the members of Ji-Li’s family? Describe her family home. What class status does her family belong to? What is the occupation of her father? Mother?
The members of Ji-Li's family are Ji-Yong as the younger brother (11years old), p14, Ji-Yun (10 year old), Song Po-Po (the nanny/housekeeper), p14-15, mom and dad, Grandmother, (who used to be the principal), p14, Aunt and cousin, (they live downstairs and the cousin is You-Mei, p15, a cat called "little White", p17. You-Mei's baby (Hua-Hua) pg.15.
Her family home is a big building in Shanghai, a French window and high ceiling, p15, and had only one room. The apartment was warm, and bright, p7. There was a private bathroom, as large as some people’s entire house, p15-16. They lived on an alley, p20. Mahogany table, p16.
Family occupation: Her dad is an actor and her mom used to be an actor, p13, (she now works at a sport store). Her Grandmother was vice-principal of her old school, p14.
Her families class status: Upper middle class, p16, (there family had a bigger place to live in and were more special). p15, her Grandmother had a modern education.
2. What is Ji-Li’s life at school like? What special honor is Ji-Li picked for at school? Describe Ji-Li’s parent’s reaction. What does Ji-Li do instead of entering the audition?
Ji-Li's life at school: Ji-Li was expected to succeed in everything; she was able to excel (pg.1). They were accusing her and her best friends for spreading the "four olds" (pg34-36). Ji-Li scored a perfect score on a math test(pg.3)
She had opportunities for dance training (pg.6)
What special honor is she chosen for?: The central liberation army arts academy choose Ji-Li for their dance troop (pg.6).
Her parents reaction: They said no. They said that they had political problems that were complicated (pg.10). Her mom said that the army would be strict (pg.8) her father was first shocked then angry then over protected and discouraging (pg8-10). Solemn (pg.8)
What does Ji-Li do instead? : She gives a note to the principal about how she cannot participate in the try-outs (pg.11).
3. What are the “Four Olds”? Provide specific examples of each and explain why they need to get destroyed. What does “prosperity” mean? What is considered an old thought?
The four olds are old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits. (pg.21) What the Mao followers thought if the shop’s names were a little bit old or not modernized that was considered Four Olds. (pg.21)
Another four old was that you could not wear too tight pants for example the that guy got his pants cut up to his knee. (pg.31)
Prosperity means being successful in something or have a lot of money. An old thought is considered something like respecting teachers. (pg.35)
4. What is a Xenophile? Why was it bad to be a Xenophile in revolutionary China?
Xenophile is a person likes and wears things from abroad or different counties other that their country. They are bad to revolutionary china because they always go with the ideas and culture of a country abroad that makes it harder to revolutionize their own countries when they like other countries better.(p.44)
5. What are da-zi-bao? What are being done with them? Who is Jiang Xi-wen? Why does Ji-Li hang a da-zi-bao on her house?
Da-zi-bao are criticizing the educational system that the schools were not bringing up good red socialists and communists and people are putting up red posters written with da-zi-bao and are being posted around everywhere. (p.38)
Jiang Xi-wen was an unpleasant woman who lived behind the schoolyard she was also Ji-Li’s dad’s sister but most of her classmates hated her because she was over stylish and used to wear American clothing. (p.44)
6. Why does Ji-Li stop going to school for a while? (She has been accused of what?)
Ji-Li stops going to school for a while because she has been accused of having relationships with teachers like Ke Cheng-Li (p.49) This appeared in a big da-zi-bao poster.(p.48)
7. What is a rightist? Use your own words to briefly explain the process of remolding one’s ideology
A rightist is a person who has exploited and oppressed people and has done lot of harm to other people like landlords and other people. Landlords were one of the five black categories and they wanted to be capitalists instead of leftists. (p.58)
The process of remolding one’s ideology means to change your self and completely star again and rethink your ideas.
8. What did Ji-Li’s grandfather do for a living? How does this affect Ji-Li’s life?
Ji-Li’s grandfather used to be a property owner and he owned property so he could earn money but hw did not do in labor job. This affects Ji-Li’s life because the Cultural Revolution had started and workers were in control and wealthy families were tortured and called rightists.(p.58)
9. Use your own words to summarize the events surrounding old lady Rong. (P.81-85)
I think the red guards are literarily robbing her prestige and respect and he stuff too by saying she is a capitalist even though she is not. Red guards and other people think just because her husband that died was a capitalist she is one too. She is being insulted with many D-zi-bao’s and being made into like an enemy for most of the people.
10. What does the drums and gongs mean in Ji-Li’s life?
In Ji-Li’s like drums and gongs mean that somebody is being checked if they have four olds at their house and the red guards are coming to check if the families are capitalists or rightist or are they classified one of the black categories or they are okay. Maybe in Ji-Li’s life drums and gongs could also mean that they will check her house, find four olds, and tell every body that Ji-Li’s family is a rightist family because her grandfather was a property owner.
11. Who is Song Po-Po? How does her leaving Ji-Li affect her life?
Song Po-Po is the housekeeper or Ji-Li’s house she does all the work like household jobs like cleaning. Song Po-Po leaving Ji-Li affects her in ways as she feels that she has lost a lot of luxury and a family member and somebody who used to care about her.
12. What is a dowry? What items does grandmother have left from her dowry? What does Ji-Li’s mother do with their ancestor Clothes? Why?
Dowry is the money or property given in some societies by a bride's family to her bridegroom or his family when she marries. Grandmother has some long gowns, robes and pearls. Ji-Li’s mother makes cover for pillows and mops out of the ancestor’s clothes. I think they do that because they do not want the red guards to see four olds in their house so they are hiding whatever old stuff they have left.
