Rules of the Game

Tan employs sensory language to immerse readers in the setting and to cement Waverly in the role of observer, describing in detail what she sees. Select two to three scenes or examples that use sensory language and describe how these sensations affect Waverly’s interpretation of her observations.

Food and culture are intertwined throughout the narrative. What do the descriptions of food add to the story’s symbolism, theme, or overall message?

What is the importance of this story being set in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 1950s? How might the story differ if set in a different time or place?

Waverly often struggles with using her voice. What is the purpose of this struggle and how does Waverly handle it? Does she overcome her struggle? Cite examples from the text to support your argument.

In what ways do American and Chinese cultures overlap both in the setting and within Waverly? How does she deal (or not deal) with this overlap?

How would you characterize the relationship between Waverly and her mother? Use examples to track the evolution of their relationship.

What is the impact of the frequent advice that Waverly’s mother offers? Select two to three examples of advice and analyze what they mean and how they affect Waverly in her journey.

Gender roles have a subtle but constant influence within the story. Cite examples from the text to examine how the characters are shaped by gender roles and shape them in turn.