The Jade Peony

The Jade Peony is a novel written by Wayson Choy.

The novel is set in Vancouver's Chinatown during the early 20th century. The story follows a Chinese immigrant family as they struggle to integrate into a new country. It is told from the perspective of the three children. The book has 3 sections, each narrated by a different child.

The first section is told by Jook-Liang, the only daughter. The second section is told by the middle brother, Jung-Sum. The final third of the novel is narrated by Sek-Lung, who is the youngest brother.

The Jade Peony is a wonderful tale of a family adjusting to a new country. It investigates themes of adaptation and compares the old and the new.

The Jade Peony characters are very important for the novel.  The most powerful character is Poh-Poh, the grandmother and matriarch of the family. She is strong in her ways, and constantly reminds the children to respect the Old China ways and to remember they are always Chinese.

While the parents do not play an enormous role in the story, they do provide the guidance and support for the children. Stepmother is the father's second wife, and her power struggles with Poh-Poh display cultural and family differences.  The father works hard and does everything he can to help his children adapt to Canadian life.

It is the children who drive the story. Kiam is the oldest, and has adapted to Canadian life the fastest and most easily.

The next oldest is  Jung-Sum . Jung was adopted at an early age. In the second section of the novel, Jung is the narrator, and we learn of his struggles with the death of his family.

The next child is Liang , who is the only girl in the family. In her section, we learn about the difficulties of being a girl in China. Her constant battles with the grandmother display key elements to the story.

The youngest child is  Sek-Lung , or Sekky. He brings the comedic element to the novel, as his youth provides a fresh perspective. His antics and trouble-making are also interesting. Through his relationship with Meiying and her Japanese boyfriend, we learn more about the difficulties for the Japanese in Canada during World War II.

The Jade Peony had many literary devices.  Throughout the story, there are a number of historical allusions in the story, all of which provide great background for the setting.  The story also has many important symbols.  The key themes of the story give a better insight into the depth of the characters and situations.  The Jade Peony is also full of quotations that shed light on the characters, setting, and themes. 

For more information on the Jade Peony, try these links below:

Jade Peony Essay Questions
Jade Peony Characters
Jade Peony Themes
Jade Peony Quotations

If you would like to read reviews or purchase the Jade Peony, you can read more here:

The Jade Peony

The Jade Peony Part Three Quiz

The Jade Peony

Part Three Quiz

Name:

Date:

General Information (K/U 5)

1. Why must Sekky go with Mrs. Lim?

a)     To learn about traditional Chinese values

b)    Because he got into trouble when he was alone

c)     Because he needs to improve his Chinese language skills

d)    To help Mrs. Lim with chores around her house

2. What happens to Tammy Okada?

a)     She fights with the Chinese students because she is Japanese.

b)    She gets in trouble in class because she doesn’t speak English.

c)     The teacher gives her school supplies because she has none.

d)    She becomes scared when the teacher tells the war stories.

3. Why did Sekky not know John Doyle had died?

a)     His English was not good enough to understand the stories.

b)    Mrs. Doyle did not want to tell him.

c)     The other students lie to him about what happened.

d)    He was away from school when the teacher told the class.

4. List two historical events mentioned in part 3.

Short Answers

1. Choose one of these characters for part three and give a character description. Include both physical and emotional traits. (A 5)

Meiying	Mrs. Lim
Mrs. Doyle	Kazuo

·         ·         ·         ·         ·

Written Response (T/I 7.5, C 7.5)

1. Why does Sekky say he has “glimpsed Paradise” when referring to his school? How is this a metaphor for Canada?

2. Why does the family fight about how to honour Poh-Poh’s life? Has your family ever disagreed about how to continue a tradition?

3. What is the significance of Sekky’s final two actions with Stepmother on the last page? How does it provide a good conclusion to the story?

The Jade Peony Part Two Quiz

The Jade Peony

Part Two Quiz

Name:

Date:

K/U		10
T/I		5
C		5
A		5
		25

General Information (K/U 5)

1. Who is Max?

a)     A famous boxer

b)    A friend of the family

c)     Jung’s friend from the gym

d)    Jung’s boxing coach

2. What do the people of Chinatown think of Old Yuen?

a)     He is unlucky.

b)    He is lucky.

c)     His son has the same luck as him.

d)    He should not worry about his bad luck.

3. Who are three of Jung’s heroes? (K/U 5)

1
2
3

Short Answers

1. Choose one of these characters for Part Two and give a character description. Include both physical and emotional traits. (K/U 5)

Max	Frank Yuen
Old Yuen	Gee Sook

·         ·         ·         ·         ·

2. List two quotations that show the difference between traditional Chinese and modern Canadian viewpoints. (A 5)

Written Response (T/I 5, C 5)

1. What do the characters in this novel believe about luck? How is that different or similar to your beliefs?

2. How does Jung build his self-awareness and gain a better understanding of his own identity? Why do you think teenage years (in general) are a common time for this emotional growth?

The Jade Peony Part One Quiz

The Jade Peony

Part One Quiz

Name:

Date:

General Information 

1. Why does Liang call her mother “Stepmother”?

a)     She is not her real mother

b)    This is more like Canadian culture

c)     Poh-Poh wants it this way

d)    The father thinks it is best

2. Where does Wong get his cape?

a)     He takes it from his old boss.

b)    The family gives it to him as a gift.

c)     His old boss’s son gives it to him as a thank you gift.

d)    His boss gives it to him.

3. What happens to Wong in the end of Part One?

a)     He dies.

b)    He leaves Vancouver for Toronto.

c)     He takes a job on a steamship.

d)    He goes back to China.

4. Fill in the chart to describe the setting of the novel.

City, Country
Time (Years)

Short Answers

1. List five allusions from the novel. 

	Allusion	Page Number
1
2
3
4
5

2. Give a character description of one of the characters in Part One. Include both physical and emotional traits. 

Character Name: ·         ·         ·         ·         ·

3. List two quotations that show the difficulties the Chinese people faced in Canada during this time. (A 5)

Written Response 

1. What are the differences between Poh-Poh and other members of the family? What conflicts might this cause later in the story?

2. How are the challenges the Chinese faced in the novel similar to the challenges of newcomers in Canada today?  

Jade Peony Literary Devices

The Jade Peony uses several literary devices, making it an excellent choice for a novel study. Follow the links to learn more about the different literary devices in the Jade Peony:

Jade Peony Similes
Jade Peony Allusions

Jade Peony Symbols

Jade Peony Themes
Jade Peony Characters


Here are some novel study questions on literary devices: 

Similes

On page 200 and 210 there are two examples of similes. Find the similes and discuss what they mean and what two things are being compared. Likewise, explain how they affect the story.

Foreshadowing

On page 48, Choy uses foreshadowing when talking about the departure of Wong Suk. Give specific examples of this foreshadowing and discuss how it affects the story.

Symbols

Choose two of the following items and discuss what they represent in the story. In other words, for what are they a symbol?

The turtle                                                    
The Jade Peony

Jung’s jacket                                                
Liang’s tap dance shoes

Sek-Lung’s war toys

Character

Write a character description of any of the main characters in The Jade Peony. Consider both physical and non-physical qualities.

Plot

In many ways, The Jade Peony does not have much of a story. Explain why there are few plot details in the novel and how does this enhance or detract from the other aspects of the story.

Poh-Poh

Poh-Poh is the grandmother of the family. She is the elder and leader of everyone. In the novel, she acts as a driving force keeping the family connected to China. 

She is constantly in conflict with the other members of the family as her Chinese traditions clash with their new Canadian values.

She is in each of the three sections, and depending on the narrator, is shown in a different perspective. 

In the first section, she is always arguing with Liang.  She shows the old Chinese opinion of the value of girls in society.  

In the second section, she shows her wisdom as she sees deep into the soul of second brother Jung-Sum.  

In the final section, she is greatly valued by the youngest child, Sek-Lung. 

The Jade Peony Quotations

The Jade Peony has many wonderful quotations. Some of these quotes make you laugh, some make you think, and others give you insight into the characters, setting, and themes of the novel.

Here are some of the best Jade Peony quotations:


"Stupid boy, Turtle talk to ghosts-all the time, ghost-talk!" 
Poh-Poh
Chapter 4
Poh-Poh responds to Jung-Sum, who believes the turtle is lonely in the shed.  This is an example of Chinese myth in the novel, as Poh-Poh shows the beliefs held about turtles.  It also shows a funny side of Poh-Poh, as she looks down on Jung because he doesn't know the history of the turtle.


"I did not, then, in the days of our royal friendship, understand how bones ust come to rest where they most belong."
Liang
Chapter 3
Liang learns why Won-Suk went back to China at the end of her section of the novel.  This quotation is beautifully written and makes us think about how everyone has a home they will one day rest in.  It is also a good example of how Wayson Choy uses narrative devices through the children.  This quotation is as if Liang is reflecting on the story as an adult.


"At recess, our dialects and accents conflicted, our clothes, heights and handicaps betrayed us, our skin colours and backgrounds clashed, but inside Miss E. Doyle's tightly disciplined kingdom we were all - lions or lambs - equals.  We had glimpsed Paradise."
Sekky 
Chapter 12
Sekky closes the chapter with a reflection on the immigrant classroom of his youth.  Calling it paradise shows the hope and optimism surrounding the immigrant communities of Canada during this time.  It also shows the utopian dream that was a young Canada.


"English words seemed more forthright to me, blunt like road signs. Chinese words were awkward and messy, like quicksand.  I preferred English, but there were no English words to match the Chinese perplexities."
Sekky
Chapter 8
Sekky uses a pair of similes to describe the Chinese and English languages.  His difficulty with the Chinese language and traditions is a humourous part of his section of the novel.


"a man who had aged before his time but never grown wise."
Jung-Sum
Chapter 6
A beautifully written description of Old Yuen, the alcoholic, gambling father of Frnak Yuen.  This phrase makes the reader pity Old Yuen.


"As the years went by, they became part of the darkness at night or, on the brightest day, merely shadows."
Jung-Sum
Chapter 5
Another beautiful phrase to show Jung's reflections on his parents.  This quotation shows the longing and loss he suffered, but also the way he healed as he got older.