美国华裔文学(英语).ppt

 In “At the Western Palace” the narrator’s mother Brave Orchid implores her sister Moon Orchid to reclaim her husband, who is married to an American woman. Moon Orchid, just arrived from Hong Kong, does not want to do this. Brave Orchid forces a meeting, which results in Moon Orchid’s being crazy.  The last chapter, “A Song for a Barbarian Reed Pipe” , the narrator addresses her early inability to speak. In elementary school she confronts and attacks a Chinese girl who won’t speak. It is clear that the girl is really a double for herself.  The book ends with a talk story, begun by the narrator’s mother and ended by the narrator. Of course the beginning of the story is in China and the end is among the “barbarians,” where the barbarians finally understand the song of the great poetess Ts’ai Yung. Questions for Discussion: What is more important in the Chinese culture Kingston describes, the individual or the community? Why might this question be particularly interesting to a woman who grew up in the United States? Why does Kingston say that she has participated in her aunts punishment?  How does the warrior woman change after she gives birth? Why? Why does Kingston say, My American life has been such a disappointment? Analyze the description of Kingstons mothers life in China * * 外国文学史 华裔美国文学 Maxine?Hong?Kingston? The Historical Background The decade of the 1960s had a huge influence on the direction of Chinese American Literature The civil rights movement ?New immigration laws Resistance to the Vietnam War Rise of feminism Ethnic literary activism Civil Rights Movement Civil rights movement: The focus was to improved conditions for black Americans Apply the same standards to whites and blacks ???? The March to Washington Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Movement - Rapid change in ethnic consciousness of non-white Americans - Beginning of change of attitude of white Ame