The Joy Luck ClubThe Twenty-Six Malignant Gates

American TranslationRules of the Game

“I once sacrificed my life to keep my parents’ promise. This means nothing to you, Waverly, because to you promises mean nothing. A daughter can promise to come to dinner, but if she has a headache, if she is in a traffic jam, if she wants to watch a favorite movie on TV, she no longer has a promise.” p 19

The Red Candle

Symbol = sign

Hidden (secret) message

Uses a thing or an action to show a deeper meaning

Symbol

1. Can you find the symbol?

“To Chinese people, fourteen carats isn’t real gold. Feel my bracelets. They must be twenty-four carats, pure inside and out.”p. 19(3)

2. What is the symbol compared to?

Symbol

1. Can you find the symbol?

“The only nice room was a sitting room on the first floor, which was used for receiving guests. It contained many precious things that gave the impression of wealth and ancient tradition. The rest of the house was plain and uncomfortable and noisy with the complaints of twenty or more relations.”p 21 (1)

2. What is the symbol compared to?

Symbol

Look down = to show/give NO respect “I realized they had a much better position than my family, which is why they looked down on us.” p 20 (5)

Lose face = lose respect “But I was also determined to respect my parents’ words, so that Huang Taitai could never accuse my mother of losing face.”p 21 (2)

Look down / Lose face

Chinese Calendar (zodiac)

Embarrass = uncomfortable, shame““Embarrass you be my daughter?” Her voice was cracking with anger.”” p. 38 (5)

show off = boast“Why do you have to use me to show off?”p. 38 (8)

deeply wounded = became very sad““How can you criticize a gift!” I protested. I was deeply wounded.” p. 41 (8)

Phrases

to complain, to object

protest

defense, guard, safety

protection

sign, warning

omen

can’t see

invisible

to fight with words to argue

argument

apartment

flat

game

chess

to respect, wonder, like

admire(r)

shy, doesn’t boast, conservative

modest(y)

angry, mad

bitter(ly)

job

duty

no honor, hide

shame

to complain, say annoying things, critical

criticize

courage, “I can do it”

confidence

to say or do something nice

praise

to be not nice, impolite, bad manner

rude