1. Write a short paragraph in which you analyze the factors that determine your own sense of cultural identity. What do you know about your own ancestry and to what extent does that shape your sense of identity? Do you feel that your sense of identity is based more on parenting and your cultural environment growing up or on your biological ancestry?
2. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Share in a short paragraph any experiences that would either confirm or deny the truth of this saying after reading the excerpt from American Born Chinese. Use textual evidence from the book to support your answer.
3. Elie Wiesel suggested in his speech that we should not forget our memories, no matter how painful they are. Do Gene Yang's actions indicate that Wiesel is correct, or do we continue to forget the memories? Compose a short paragraph that explains your choice. Use textual evidence from the book to support your answer.
4. Look at the following theme from American Born Chinese.
Themes:
- Identity- Monkey King, the main character in a Chinese fable, has a problem with his own identity, which parallels Yang's problem.
- Coming of Age-Yang matures through this process of trying to fit in with the dominant culture. Monkey King tries to fit in with the other deities who are not monkeys.
- Odors-Yang associates Chinatown and his home with peculiar scents. When he moves to his new home, he is offended by the scent in his clothes and on his body. The Monkey King, too, is offended by scents. When he arrives home, after being rejected by the other deities, he is nauseated by the odor of monkey hair in his house.
Explain in a short paragraph how we can be comforted yet offended, at times, by our own culture. Use textual evidence from the book and your own experiences to support your answer.