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Snow Flower and The Secret Fan Study Guide

The document is a study guide for the novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan containing questions about various chapters in the book. The study guide includes questions about the narrator's perspective, themes in the story, examples of foreshadowing, the meaning of cultural traditions and objects described in the novel, and vocabulary words from the text. It aims to test the reader's comprehension of key events and insights from the novel.

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723 views5 pages

Snow Flower and The Secret Fan Study Guide

The document is a study guide for the novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan containing questions about various chapters in the book. The study guide includes questions about the narrator's perspective, themes in the story, examples of foreshadowing, the meaning of cultural traditions and objects described in the novel, and vocabulary words from the text. It aims to test the reader's comprehension of key events and insights from the novel.

Uploaded by

Morpho23
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Study Guide

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan


Sitting Quietly
1. Why do you think the author chooses to have the narrator tell the story
from the point of view/vantage point of an 80-year-old?
2. What is the root of every problem the narrator has experienced in her life?
3. Define mother love (teng ai).
4. List two examples of foreshadowing found in this chapter.
5. What does the fan represent to the narrator?
6. What might the quote but inside I also waged something like a mans
battle between my true nature and the person I should have been mean?
7. What is the narrators purpose for writing these pages?

Vocabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Natal
Teng ai
Yielding
Nu shu
Laotong
Scrupulous
Intermediary
Adorned

Study Guide
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Milk Years
1. What kind of family and living situation does Lily come from? Why might
See have chosen to use this description?
2. How does Lilys mother look at her?
3. When Lily looks back on her trip to the Xiao River, two things stick out to
her very clearly. State these below.

Vocabulary
1. Mou
2. Hearth
3. Vied
4. Tufts
5. Swaddled
6. Congee
7. Karst
8. Reproach
9. Sidled
10. Concubine
11. Ornery
12. Jin
13. Placidly
14. Bawdy
15. Pensively
16. Akimbo
17. Lattice
18. Wistfully
19. Sows
20. Palanquins

Study Guide
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Footbinding
1. Define little daughters-in-law.
2. Why does See have Lily go quietly to the top of the stairs so I could
eavesdrop?
3. During the meeting with Madame Wang, what does Lily realize about her
mother?
4. Notice (on page 20) how the author has the narrator speak in second
person. What effect does this have? Why might See choose to do this?
5. What is the difference between nu shu and mens writing?
6. How does each of the three girls respond to the footbinding?
7. According to the narrator, what is the most important lesson for women?
8. On page 32, Mama shows a mothers love when she says of the Third
Sister I would rather keep her on this earth unmarried than lose her
forever. Yet, this isnt mothers love. Why not?
9. How does foot size determine how marriageable Lily will be?

Vocabulary
1. Dowry
2. Diviner
3. Auspicious
4. Propitious
5. Gape
6. Kowtowed
7. Trivialities
8. Conniving
9. Gaudy
10. Poised
11. Languid

14. Wai
15. Hawed
16. Alum
17. Astringent
18. Instep
19. Cleft
20. Reprieve
21. Brazier
22. Mewling
23. Stoic
24. Filial

12. Aghast
13. Nei

25. Assiduously
26. Muslin

Study Guide
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
The Fan
1. What is the custom of buluofujia?
2. Summarize The Tale of Sangu. What is its significance?
3. What is the difference between a laotong relationship and a marriage?
4. What difference do you see between Snow Flower and Lilys first fan
messages?

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