Reference no: EM133581157

Symbolism questions for "The Jade Peony" by Wayson Choy

Plot Summary:

In "The Jade Peony" by Wayson Choy a young boy helps his dying grandmother create wind chime that will be used to mark her death.

Theme:

Most stories contain multiple themes, but in this story we will focus on the theme of death and more specifically, how a person stays with us long after they are dead.

Setting:

The story takes place for the most part in the family home, but also in the surrounding neighbourhood where Sek-Lung accompanies Grandmama to scavenge for trinkets to be used in making her wind chime. This scavenging in the neighbourhood garbage contributes to conflict in the family (the other family members are ashamed of this action).

Conflict:

Certainly in "The Jade Peony" there is much to do with the conflict between the traditional Chinese way (Eastern) whereby mysticism and beauty are more highly valued, and that of modern Canada which is described in the story as "scientific and logical" (39). The main character, Sek-Lung, is conflicted as he discovers the "treasures" associated with his grandmother's more traditional values, all the while trying to come to terms with her impending death.

Symbolism

Below is a set of questions to aid in an exploration of how symbolism sheds light on our understanding of the various elements in "The Jade Peony".

Trace the jade peony's journey through the story. Where did it come from and what happens to it?
Grandmama says, " that was not a cat . . . It was all white and had pink eyes like a sacred fire" (42) What is the family's reaction to this statement? What does that tell you about what this description could symbolize? Find another use of this description.
The wind chime itself symbolizes the clashing of values between members of the family. Provide an example from the story using quotations.
The wind chime also represents a coming together of the family by a single action. What is that action?
Choose one of the following writing prompts and write 4 sentences about it:
Write about an object that is meaningful to you because of what it represents and why you treasure it. For example, the jade peony is important to Grandmama because it represents her long dead love, while for Sek-Lung the jade peony represents the memory of Grandmama.
OR

Write about a symbol commonly utilized in your culture. Why is it valued? What does it represent?
Write about an object society has come to value because it symbolizes an idea or an emotion. What are the properties of that object that make it an ideal way to represent or stand in for something else?