essay questions chinese cinderella

Chinese Cinderella

Adeline Yen Mah is outlining her experiences of growing up in Hong Kong. She describes a moment when her father became proud of her and she made a life-changing decision to move to the UK.

1950s Hong Kong life was relatively new and difficult. In 1945, the British resumed their rulership of Hong Kong. There were a large number of refugees from the mainland and the population grew significantly.

author’spurpose

Adeline Yen Mah grew up in Hong Kong. She was brought up in a wealthy family and she describes the house within this extract. It is interesting how she is reflecting on a childhood event but she is doing this as an adult. It could be that a memory is different from the reality.

Emotive Language

Emotive Language is any language and vocabulary that creates an emotion. It is an umbrella term that encompasses many different devices:

‘My heart gave a giant lurch as it dawned on me that he was agreeing to let me go. How marvellous it was simply to be alive! Study? I thought. Going to England is like entering heaven. Does it matter what you do after you get to heaven?’

Within this quote, there is usage of descriptive adjectives. However, most significantly is the use of different sentence types to create the emotion.

There are exclamatory sentences. These are sentences that end in an exclamation mark. These reflect the excitement of the child at the time.

There are rhetorical questions. These are questions that do not require an answer. She asks herself several questions. These reflect her excitement.

There is much dialogue within the extract:

‘‘Adeline!’ Ma-mien Valentino was calling.

‘You can’t go now,’ Mary protested. ‘For once I’m winning. One, two, three, four. Good! You’ve landed on my property. Thirty-five dollars, please. Oh, good afternoon, Mother Valentino!’ ‘

It almost appears as though this is a story. This conversation and time was obviously extremely important to the writer, as she remembers each word that was mentioned.

It is interesting how we do not meet the family until part way through the extract. The focus suddenly becomes on her father. The conversation is clearly remembered. It impacted upon her greatly. She wants to see him but it is unusual for her to enter into his room. She then goes through a range of emotions when meeting her father. It is him who controls her actions, as represented by the ending:

‘Agree? Of course I agreed. Apparently, he had it all planned out. As long as he let me go to university in England, I would study anything he wished. How did that line go in Wordsworth’s poem? Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive.’

‘Father, I shall go to medical school in England and become a doctor. Thank you very, very much.’

It appears as though this conversation affected the rest of her life.

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Chinese Cinderella

Adeline yen mah, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Chinese Cinderella is the true memoir of Adeline Yen Mah’s childhood, describing her life up until she is fourteen years old. Adeline is born to a wealthy family in Tianjin, China, as their fifth child. Her mother dies due to birth complications and her family thus views Adeline as “bad luck” and a curse upon them. One year later, Adeline’s Father marries a half-Chinese, half-French woman whom the family calls Niang . Niang despises the five children from her husband’s first marriage and heavily favors her own two biological children, Fourth Brother and Little Sister . Denied love from her parents as well as most of her siblings, Adeline relies on the affections of her Aunt Baba , Grandfather Ye Ye, and Grandmother Nai Nai , all of whom live with the family. Beginning in her first week of kindergarten, Adeline proves herself to be a talented scholar, earning the honor of top student nearly every week.

Most of China is occupied by Japan, including Tianjin. Father, a businessman, faces increased pressure from the Japanese rulers to make them his business partners, something he does not wish to do. One day, Father disappears, having fled to Shanghai. Niang and her son, Fourth Brother, follow suit some months later, also disappearing without explanation. The stepchildren and Niang’s infant daughter live under the care of their grandparents and thrive in the absence of Niang. However, Nai Nai dies of a stroke some months later. Six weeks after her death, Father arrives secretly in Tianjin (still fearing the Japanese) to take his children back to Shanghai with him, though Third Brother and Little Sister will remain for a few months in Tianjin with Ye Ye and Aunt Baba. When the children arrive in Shanghai and reach Father’s new house, they are shocked by its luxurious, expensive decorations. Immediately, Niang explains the new rules of the household to them: All of the stepchildren will share rooms on the third floor while Father and Niang, as well as Niang’s favored children, will have their own luxurious rooms on the second floor; the stepchildren are not allowed to have friends over to their house nor go to friends’ houses; the stepchildren must only use the backdoor by the servants’ quarters. The stepchildren are embittered by this as they realize Niang has made them into second-class citizens in their own home.

On Adeline’s first day at her new school, the family forgets to arrange for someone to bring her there. Fortunately, the cook takes pity on her and brings her on his bicycle. After school, no one in the family arrives to pick her up or even notices she has not come home. After waiting for hours, six-year-old Adeline wanders through the streets of Shanghai alone until dark, when she finally finds a phone to call Father. When this happens, Adeline realizes that, without Aunt Baba, no one in the family is looking out for her.

When Ye Ye, Aunt Baba, Third Brother, and Little Sister arrive some months later, Little Sister, now a toddler, does not recognize Niang as her own mother or want to be near her. Niang is enraged and beats her daughter. When none of the adults intervene, Adeline finally speaks up and tells Niang to stop hitting Little Sister, since she is still just a baby. This infuriates Niang and earns Adeline Niang’s eternal wrath. Father and Niang find myriad ways to make the stepchildren suffer, such as refusing the stepchildren basic amenities, including fare to take the tram to and from school, and demanding that they walk several miles each direction unless they come begging to Niang.

The stepchildren are further humiliated during Chinese New Year when they are given outdated, shabby traditional outfits and Niang’s own children are given high-quality, expensive, modern clothing to wear, becoming exceptionally conceited about their privilege. This prompts the stepchildren to attempt to organize a resistance to Niang, though she quickly discovers this and sabotages them by buying the loyalty of Big Sister , who was the group’s leader. Big Sister becomes as conceited as Niang’s children and spies on her own siblings for Niang, causing even more enmity and resentment in the family.

Despite her horrid life at home, Adeline excels in school and has many good friends there, the best of whom is Wu Chun-mei . Chun-mei loans Adeline books and walks with her to school when she realizes that Adeline will not accept rides from her chauffer. After the Allies defeat Japan in World War II, Father, Niang, Big Sister, Fourth Brother, and Little Sister all leave Shanghai to return to newly-liberated Tianjin. The household in Shanghai once again becomes much more peaceful and pleasant, though Adeline is still occasionally bullied by her brothers. Adeline grows close to Ye Ye and Third Brother during this time. Several months later, shortly after Father and Niang and the other children return, the children are each gifted with a pet duckling by family friends. Adeline names her duckling Precious Little Treasure, or PLT for short, and loves and cares for it with all her heart. However, one evening, Father decides that he wants to have fun with his German Shepherd by watching it attack one of the children’s ducklings, and PLT is chosen. The duckling is killed in front of Adeline and she is horrified and heartbroken.

Two years later, Niang arranges for Big Sister to be married to a doctor who is twice her age, the thought of which frightens Adeline. Months after the wedding, Chun-mei wants to celebrate her birthday, but only if Adeline can attend the party. Adeline keeps refusing, since she is not allowed to visit friends’ houses, but eventually relents and creates a scheme to go to the party while Niang believes her to be at school. Niang discovers the ploy and beats Adeline, also discovering pocket money that Aunt Baba illicitly gave her, with which she had meant to buy Chun-mei a gift. Father also beats Adeline with a dog whip when he arrives home and resolves that Aunt Baba is a bad influence on Adeline and the two must be separated.

A couple days later, Adeline is democratically elected class president and student leader of the school. She is thrilled, having forgotten the horrors of the past few days to some degree. However, Adeline’s school friends secretly follow her home to throw her a surprise party, unaware of Adeline’s bad home environment. Niang is enraged by this, screaming and beating Adeline within earshot of her friends, leaving visible marks and causing her to bleed. After Adeline tells her friends they must go home, Father and Niang force her to throw the congratulatory gifts her friends had given her in the trash. Father and Niang decide that they will no longer care for Adeline and tell her she will be given to an orphanage.

Within days, Father and Niang take Adeline to Tianjin, even though most people are fleeing the city because of the civil war and the approach of the Communist army. They leave Adeline at the boarding school where she had attended kindergarten and fly back to Shanghai, abandoning her. The school’s enrollment swiftly dwindles as students flee the city with their families; eventually, Adeline is the only child left, kept company only by a few nuns. She spends Christmas and New Year’s there before being rescued by Niang’s sister, Aunt Reine , and her husband and two children, Claudine and Victor . The family takes Adeline with them and flees to Hong Kong via ship, where Adeline’s parents have also fled after Shanghai was captured by the Communists.

Though Adeline is initially wary of Aunt Reine, assuming she will be like Niang, Aunt Reine accepts Adeline as one of her own children and is kind and generous to her. Adeline develops close relationships with Claudine and Victor as well, getting her first experience of living in a normal, healthy family. Their ship arrives in Hong Kong and Adeline is reunited with her family, though it is days before Father or Niang even acknowledge her existence. Ye Ye is happy to see her, but he seems older and more defeated than last time Adeline had seen him. Aunt Reine’s family stays to visit for a week, but as soon as they have left the city, Adeline is placed in another boarding school in Hong Kong.

Adeline excels in her academics once again and has a few close friends, but she never manages to confide in them about her abusive family life. She also feels rather pathetic, since Father and Niang refuse to buy her properly fitting clothes or anything that is not worn out. Despite her impressive intelligence, Adeline most often feels shabby and inadequate. During this time, she begs her parents to send her to study in England, where two of her brothers are already in college, but Father and Niang ignore her.

At the end of her first term, Adeline comes down with pneumonia and is hospitalized. She recovers after several weeks, taking a week to rest at home. During a conversation with Third Brother and Ye Ye, Adeline finally expresses how sad and frustrated she is, how she feels like she has no future, and how low her self-esteem is. Ye Ye rebukes her for this, telling her that only she can have control over who she will be and what she will achieve. Realizing that her own self-loathing and defeatism also hurts Ye Ye, Adeline promises him that she will make something of herself. Father and Niang send Adeline back to the boarding school a week before the next term starts. With nothing to do, Adeline decides to enter an international playwriting contest. She writes a play with a heroine who is similar to herself, and expresses all of the painful repressed feelings of her childhood through the character. She dedicates the play to Ye Ye and sends it to be judged, but does not hear anything about it for over six months.

Ye Ye dies that year and Adeline attends his funeral. She is the only member of the family who cries at the loss. Niang also announces that Father will no longer pay for Adeline’s schooling after this term. Adeline falls into a heavy, anxious depression for several weeks. In the midst of this, however, Father’s chauffer takes her to discuss something with Father. She is initially fearful, but when she speaks with Father, he reveals that she has won the playwriting competition and brought Hong Kong and him great honor. As a reward, Father agrees to send Adeline to study in England with Third Brother, where she will study medicine.

The last chapter is a letter from Aunt Baba, responding to a letter Adeline had sent her from Singapore, on her voyage to England. Aunt Baba is proud of her for enduring her difficult childhood and compares her life to the story of Ye Xian, a character from Chinese folklore who seems to be the original version of the English fairytale of Cinderella.

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About the Book

In Chinese Cinderella, Adeline Yen Mah returns to her roots to tell the story of her painful childhood and her ultimate triumph and courage in the face of despair. Adeline’s affluent, powerful family considers her bad luck after her mother dies giving birth to her. Life does not get any easier when her father remarries. She and her siblings are subjected to the disdain of her stepmother, while her stepbrother and stepsister are spoiled. Although Adeline wins prizes at school, they are not enough to compensate for what she really yearns for — the love and understanding of her family.

Following the success of the critically acclaimed adult bestseller Falling Leaves, this memoir is a moving telling of the classic Cinderella story, with Adeline Yen Mah providing her own courageous voice.

Adeline Yen Mah, 2017.

• Lit Charts Plot summary.
• Super Summary Plot summary.
• Lit Charts Character list.
• Lit Charts Themes.
• Lit Charts Quotes.
• Study Questions Questions to answer after each chapter.

Historical Context

From page 138 Adeline describes, from a historical viewpoint, some of the background to the period through which she lived as a child. Though these events certainly affected her life and that of her family at the time, as political and social events they were not fully understood by the young Adeline.

Whilst Adeline is unceremoniously placed in a convent boarding school in Tianjin (p.142), the Communists, under their leader Mao Ze-Dong, are moving through China swiftly taking power. At the very time when Adeline is placed in this convent, away from family and friends, the members of the population who can afford it, or are able, are fleeing China in droves. In only a short time Adeline finds herself the only student remaining in the convent (p.148) as everyone else has been collected or evacuated by their loved ones. It is only well-meaning relatives who, without consulting Adeline’s parents, collect Adeline at the last minute (p.153).

• More on the historical context

Chinese Culture

• Elder superiority
• Foot binding
• 'Bad luck' child

In the 1940’s, and even now, there has been a large tradition of strict respect and superiority of elders. Many families in the Chinese culture live together, usually with three to four generations under a single roof. There is large superiority by the grandparents and crowded living conditions because of the many generations in one house. In Chinese Cinderella, Jung-ling’s family is taken by surprise when her NeNe (Grandmother in Chinese) dies of old age. Once their mourning period ends, the oldest family member of the next generation took charge. That family member happens to be her Stepmother, Niang, who abuses her power and takes favour over Jung-ling and her siblings for her own blood-children. With grandparent superiority comes abuse of power and unjust decisions made within the family.  According to tradition, elders of the family are in charge of decision making; and as a sign of respect, all family members are to agree with them. Since this is happening, no one else is able to disagree with the decision made, or speak their minds. When Niang takes over Jung-ling’s NeNe’s position, she also begins to make decisions for the family; and when others disagree, or speak out about her decision, Niang would then fight with them and wave them off as if they were nothing.

• More information

Another Chinese tradition is the belief in superstitions. It is believed that if a mother dies while giving birth, or soon after, her child is considered bad luck. A child that has lost a mother whilst giving childbirth can struggle socially and emotionally; which can affect their life forever.  If the family is incredibly strict, they too will ignore the child and treat them unjustly. For example, Jung-ling’s mother dies shortly after her birth, and because of that her entire family considers her as bad luck, which affects her entire childhood.

About the Author

Her first book Falling Leaves was published in 1997. It made the New York Times Bestseller list and sold over a million copies worldwide, being translated into twenty two languages. After the publication of Falling Leaves, Adeline gave up medicine to write full-time. Chinese Cinderella is her autobiography written for children and also sold over one million copies worldwide. It received an award from the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California in 2000 for Compelling Autobiography and Lamplighter’s Award from National Christian School Association in June 2002 for Contribution to Exceptional Children’s Literature. Her third book Watching the Tree is a book of Chinese philosophy, published in 2001. Her fourth book, A Thousand Pieces of Gold, was published in October 2002.

Image retrieved from Goodreads, 2017.

• Last Updated: May 26, 2023 1:02 PM
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Chinese Cinderella

45 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-15

Chapters 16-18

Chapters 19-22

Key Figures

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Chapters 5-8 Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 5 summary: “arrival in shanghai”.

Some months after Nai Nai’s funeral, the children meet Father at the train station, and he informs them that the entire family will be moving to Shanghai. They take a train to their new home, which is located in Shanghai’s French neighborhood. Adeline sees that her father has acquired a German shepherd. Father insists that the dog is harmless, but Adeline is still afraid. Niang informs them that they will be required to sleep on the third floor, while she and her son (Fourth Brother) will sleep on the second with Father. The older children are not allowed to visit the second floor without permission.

Chapter 6 Summary: “First Day at School”

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Chinese Cinderella

By adeline yen mah, chinese cinderella summary and analysis of chapters 7-10.

The family is abuzz about the rest of the Tianjin family coming to join them in Shanghai, especially since it’s been six months since they’ve all been together. Ye Ye , Aunty Baba, Third Brother and Little Sister arrive at the house just fine, and Little Sister starts to explore. While the siblings all vie for her attention, she never strays far from Aunt Baba , even when Niang tempts her with candy. When separated from Aunt Baba by Niang, Little Sister starts to scream and struggle. After breaking Niang’s pearls, Niang loses her temper, and sets about “beating her daughter in earnest” (34). While all the others look on silently, Adeline cannot restrain her cry, “Don’t hurt her anymore. She is only a baby!” (35) Niang does not appreciate the outburst and declares that she “shall never forgive” (35) Adeline.

As the months stretch on, the divide between Niang’s children and stepchildren widens as the older siblings are placed on a strict “austerity program” (36) and given no allowance at all. The boys are forced to sport a “Buddhist monk special” (36) haircut and are mocked by their classmates for their bald crowns. To help the children get to school, Aunt Baba and Ye Ye have been giving them enough for tram fare, but their funds have been depleted. Aunt Baba mentions she might go back to work, but Father is uncomfortable with this idea of Aunt Baba working “like a commoner” (39). If Ye Ye and Aunt Baba need an allowance, they just need to ask Niang, Adeline wonders why Ye Ye is “suddenly and mysteriously dependent on Father and Niang for pocket money” (38). When the issue of tram fare comes up, Niang is outraged that the children have gone behind her back and forbids them from troubling Aunt Baba or Ye Ye again. Soon, Adeline realizes that there is “a new family hierarchy within [the] family” (40) with Niang at the very top. Though they agree to stay loyal to Ye Ye and walk instead of buckling under Niang, one by one they slowly give in. Adeline remains resolute, walking to school in the rain and cold, though she feels isolated when her siblings are invited into the “Holy of Holies” to collect their allowances each week.

The whole house is abuzz with excitement for the New Year and the new beginnings it should bring. Traditionally, the Chinese New Year is a significant holiday full of specific rituals and all around celebration. The children are invited into the “Holy of Holies” for New Year’s clothes. The brothers are given identical, loose fitting Chinese smocks while the sisters are given plain qipaos. They’re outraged by the “blatant inequality” (43) between them and Niang’s children, who received stylish western outfits for the New Years, and start to talk about how unfair life is. The youngest siblings have the most modern clothes, trendiest hairstyles, and unlimited access to the kitchen. They are allowed to buy anything they desire. The older siblings also complain about Niang’s spies, particularly Miss Chien, the younger children’s tutor. Eventually, the children attempt to get organized and revolt against Niang, by sending a letter to Father about how unequal their treatment is. Niang catches wind of this plot, and though she does nothing initially, she invites Big Sister to the second floor and converts her into a spy. The siblings cannot remain organized without the help of Big Sister and their attempts to change the situation cease.

Adeline turns to school to keep her sane and also attempts to cheer Aunty Baba by getting good grades. Adeline’s schoolmates nickname her “Genius” for her incredible dedication and intelligence. Soon, Adeline discovers writing as a means of escape from the cruelty of everyday life with Niang.

At school Adeline come to admire one of her classmates, a fiery athlete by the name of Wu Chun-mei. They strike up a fast friendship as Chun-mei lends Adeline books and in turn Adeline helps tutor her in arithmetic. Since they go home in the same direction, Chun-Mei constantly offers to take Adeline in her chauffeured car, but Adeline always refuses. Until one day, a typhoon ravages Shanghai with fierce winds and Adeline is almost swept away. She reluctantly takes a ride with Chun-mei and though Adeline never accepts a ride from her again, Chun-mei walks alongside her friend when their paths cross.

The end of World War Two starts a craze for everything American as soldiers settle into Shanghai. At this time, Chun-mei lends Adeline The Little Princess, a book about a young girl escaping poverty through hard work. This idea resonates with Adeline and she is given hope for the future. Because the war has ended, Father leaves Shanghai with Niang, Big Sister, Fourth Brother and Little Sister to reclaim his Tianjin properties, leaving the rest of the household relaxed and free. The brothers start to act like normal boys and Adeline even becomes close to Third Brother. One of Adeline’s compositions wins an award in the Shanghai Newspaper Association and to congratulate her, the brothers mix her a glass or orange juice. Though she is suspicious at first, Third Brother reassures her that it’s safe. When she goes to drink from it, she is hit by a “wall of urine” (69), which the boys had mixed in with the concentrate. Though the betrayal doesn’t shock her, she is saddened by the way that “straddling the fence” (69) is chipping away at Third Brother’s integrity. Later that week, the mischievous Chun-mei fools Adeline again: she convinces her school friends to bite into unripe persimmons.

The conflict between Niang and Adeline is brought to a head with the latter's anger at the beating of Little Sister. This conflict will be one of the driving forces behind the rest of the novel, as evidenced by the subsequent clashes in the case of walking to school and the respect of Aunt Baba and Ye Ye. Adeline's isolation is further exemplified by her wandering around Shanghai, with her family's forgetfulness serving as a metaphor for her worthlessness to them.

For the rest of the novel, Niang uses Adeline as an outlet and a scapegoat, punishing the young girl as a way to express her frustrations and insecurities. Adeline's innocent words should not have elicited such a strong reaction from Niang, especially since Niang was in the wrong. Because Adeline exposed that Niang was not infallible in a moment of weakness, Adeline sentenced herself to a lifetime of agony.

This passage and the next establish the new family structure of the Yen household. With Nai Nai 's death, Niang is new matriarch of the family and it appears as if her power is unchecked by any of the other adults, including Father. Ye Ye is no longer in the respected position that he once was, but is reduced to asking for an allowance instead of having his own funds. In the classical Chinese family structure, this is unheard of. Elders are always highly respected and sought out for advice often. Reducing Ye Ye to a mere member of the household goes against all cultural norms.

The attempt to overthrow Niang highlights the relationships between the siblings. They are united by their common complaints and the inequality that marks the household, but this is a fickle bond. Big Sister's manipulative nature comes to light once again, as she is the first to address Adeline in their attempted revolt. Though Adeline was "thrilled that Big Sister... [addressed her] personally" (45), it shows how Big Sister only acts to advance her own situation. She knows that the siblings must present themselves as a unified front to advance their cause, and must bring Adeline on board, yet the chapter before she mocked Adeline by counting the tram fare allowance on Adeline's bed.

Adeline's "Shanghai School Days " serve as a sharp relief to her home life and the everyday slights that she must suffer through. School provides Adeline with a level playing field, a place where her companions don't see her as a mother-murdering waste of space. Not only is she well-liked, but Adeline is also highly respected and seen as an equal. Through school and education, Adeline proves to herself that she should continue to live and has the potential to have a great life, even if her family is constantly bringing her down.

Chinese Cinderella Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Chinese Cinderella is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Why is big brother so forceful?

Adeline's eldest brother is distinct from the other three in that he often shows a maturity corresponding to his position, albeit interposed with flashes of malice that corrode any of Adeline's built-up good will. Big Brother, along with his other...

How is the narrator of Chinese Cinderella's school life different from her home life?

At home, Aunt Baba views Adeline as a treasure “impossible to replace” (4). In the final paragraph of Chapter 1, however, this illusion is shattered. Big Sister’s treatment of Adeline is representative of the rest of the family’s opinion; Adeline...

How did Adelines mother die?

Adeline's mother died as a result of complications of childbirth.

“Your mother came down with a high fever three days after you were born. She died when you were two weeks old.…” She hesitated for a moment, then exclaimed suddenly,

Study Guide for Chinese Cinderella

Chinese Cinderella study guide contains a biography of Adeline Yen Mah, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Chinese Cinderella
• Chinese Cinderella Summary
• Character List

Essays for Chinese Cinderella

Chinese Cinderella essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah.

• The Significance of Family in 'Chinese Cinderella'

Lesson Plan for Chinese Cinderella

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Chinese Cinderella
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Chinese Cinderella Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Chinese Cinderella

• Introduction
• IGCSE Extract Synopsis

exam saviour 

Chinese cinderella.

Author: Adeline Yen Mah

The anthology is about Mah who was rejected by her stepmother and despised by her brothers and sisters. She was sent to boarding school and left there. Her father is a distant but powerful figure. The anthology is about one of the times she went home.

It is written in the first-person narrative.

“Cinderella” - the fairytale has connotations of neglect, abandonment and rejection.

 The anthology is about Adeline Yen Mah’s unfortunate circumstance where she is hated by her stepbrother and siblings. ● She also doesn’t have an attachment with her father and feels as though he is manipulative. (isolation)

In the beginning, it is evident that she is aware of how quickly time is passing.

Also, she is quite reluctant to return home and is unsure of why she has been summoned home.

She finds out that she has actually won an international literary prize and a sum of fifty pounds. When she is given a chance to study in England, she confesses how she wants to be a writer but her father doesn’t agree with the profession and she is almost forced to study medicine and become an obstetrician.

 Chinese culture is accentuated throughout. Structure:

The author uses direct speech.

​  Meaning :

The anthology is about how her father praises her after she wins a playwriting competition.

 Her father recognises that she has a talent and allows her to study in England like her brothers, however, only if she studies medicine and specialises in obstetrics.

The anthology is aimed to inform on Chinese culture and tradition, explain her thought process and describe her experience of returning home.

The element of regret and distress is clearly highlighted throughout the anthology.

“Elegant villa at mid-level, halfway up the hill between the peak and the harbour.”

“In my case perhaps the end of school forever.”- conscious of time passing as she is not looking forward to returning home. (quite melodramatic)

 “Perhaps”- lack of control over her own life and she doesn't know what is going to happen to her.

 “I was losing steadily”- indicates her mind is elsewhere.

 “Outside it was hot and there was a warm wind blowing. The radio warned of a possible typhoon the next day.”- pathetic fallacy indicates the increased tension and dread she feels about returning home.

 “Like a persistent toothache”- simile describing how returning home was a painful thought. This suggests that she has a vulnerable home environment and that she has little control over her life.

 “We all stood up and greeted her”- highlights formal and disciplined Chinese culture.

 “Chauffeur”- indicates her wealth (prominent family). It also can be argued that this indicates a detachment from her family as her family didn’t come to pick her up (she is unloved).

 “Your chauffeur is waiting to take you home. Full of foreboding, I ran downstairs as in a nightmare, wondering wo had died this time. Father’s chauffeur assured me everyone was healthy”- juxtaposition here highlights how she only returns home if something bad happens. It emphasises how the mention of home brings an unsettling feeling.

 “They give the orders and I carry them out”- parallel with the driver. Yen Mah and the driver have no idea why she is going home. ● “Short drive”- close to home. This quote is evidence of how she is abandoned by her family.

“Full of dread.”, “I wondered what I had done wrong” - negative action.

 “Replied rudely”- below the driver in the hierarchy as she was spoken to in a rude manner.

 “I had forgotten”- indicative of distance with family.

 “Quite and cool”- pathetic fallacy here illustrates how loveless her home is.

 “See me in his room?”- the question highlights her disbelief.

 “Summoned”, “holy of holies”- hierarchy in the family. Father is seen as god-like and his room is seen as sacred (metaphorical language).

 “Overwhelmed”, “timidly”, “so scared”- these words imply fear.

 “Small sigh of relief”- doesn’t feel comfortable around her father.

“Is this a giant ruse on his part to trick me? Dare I let my guard down?”- questions highlight distrust and fear when she’s with her father and she feels as though her father has an ulterior motive.

 “I think”- her father lacks confidence in her abilities.

 “For bringing honour”- language relating to culture

 “Is it possible? Am I dreaming? Me, the winner?”- the triad of rhetorical questions reflects low self-esteem and emphasises her awe and confusion.

 “I was quite pleased to tell him you are my daughter”-emphasises pride. Adeline Yen Mah is not necessarily regarded as family. ● “I had given him face.”- emphasises how important her father’s reputation was to him. She has a hyperbolic reaction towards this as this is a rare if not the only amazing moment she has had with her father.

 “I only had to stretch out my hand to reach the stars.’- the metaphor illustrates how elated she is.

 “How come you won?”- italicised emphasises his disbelief.

 “Approvingly”, “But that’s a good answer”- encourages self-deprecation.

 “I asked boldly, thinking it was now or never.”- the climax of the story.

 “My heart gave a lurch as it”- hyperbole- intense happiness over how she has been given this opportunity. ● “Going to England is like entering heaven”- simile highlighting how overjoyed she is.

 “He scoffed” and “who is going you writing?”- belittling and condescending tone.

“I waited in silence. I did not wish to contradict him”- short sentences reflect anticipation and hesitation. It also builds tension.

 “You will”- the modal verb is repeated several times which proves that he is an authoritarian figure.

 “You will specialise in obstetrics”- irony- because she was blamed for her mother’s death and now her father wants her to be an obstetrician almost to make up for it.

“Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive.”- irony- still thinks like a writer. It illustrates her love for English literature. ● “Thank you very, very much”- repetition of “very” highlights her gratefulness and how accepting she is of her father’s decisions.

Effect on the reader:

 The anthology is easy to follow so engages the reader.

 She is writing for a general audience who may be interested in childhood memoirs or perhaps an understanding of the culture that Adeline comes from.

MYP English A

Chinese cinderella, introduction.

To really understand some of the events, and some of the attitudes, in this book, we need to know something about the situation in China at the time. In groups, research your chosen topic (see document below), and present your findings to the class.

CC Research-Task

Reading Tasks

As we read through the book, make sure you answer all the Reading Questions in your notebooks. Pay special attention to the tables where you can record information and observations about the characters. Don’t forget, for every comment you make about a character (e.g. Adeline’s father never notices her) you must show evidence from the book to back up your statement. Use page references in your notes to help you do this.

Chinese Cinderella Chapter Questions

Assessed Tasks

Autobiography

‘Chinese Cinderella’ is an autobiography – a story about the life of the person telling it. Have a go at your own autobiography! See the interactions below.

Autobiography Task

Autobiography Instructions

Self Peer Assessment Form (creative work)

Watch Veracross for dates.

The final (summative) assessment will be a literary essay. The title/topic is below.

Literary Response

You will have one period of class time in which to prepare for this. Use the document below for making your notes. you will be allowed to bring these notes, and your copy of the book, to class when writing the essay.

MYP Generic Essay Scaffold

The essay is done – now it’s party time! See below.

The author first wrote a more complete story of her life for adults. This is it.

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