The Jade Peony
“The Jade Peony”
By: Wayson Choy
Who? (Characters)
Sek-Lung (Protagonist)
Grandmother (Protagonist)
Father
Caring
Helpful
Youngest Child
Spiritual
Loving
Stubborn
Stubborn
Persistent
What? (Plot) This story is about a Chinese immigrant family adapting to their new life in Canada. The story starts with the Grandmother on her death bed, she talks about how she is about to die. As the story goes on, it goes back a month and talks about her wind chimes. The grandmother finds the supplies for her wind chimes in odd places like in the garbage in the back of the neighbour’s houses. The children then confess that they are embarrassed about their grandmother looking through the trash because she seems like a beggar. The grandmother and Sek-Lung then go to find more supplies for the grandmother’s “sacred” wind chime. During their trip, they collect broken colored glass from the church that was set on fire; the grandmother says that these are special pieces due to the fact that they came from a holy place. When they return home, the grandmother mentions a juggler that she knew when she was younger who disappeared. At the house there is a quarrel because the children say that the mandarin they learn is useless and confusing. The father retaliates by asking the children why they don’t find other languages like Latin, French and German hard. During their fight, they mention that Sek-Lung was previously sick and that he had to miss a year of school. For the next weeks, Sek-Lung and his grandmother both work on the sacred wind chime. The grandmother uses fabric that match the colour of her jade carving of a white peony that she always keeps with herself. When she died, Sek-Lung found the same jade carving in his pocket.
When? (Time) The story takes place in the present. It is important because it talks about how this world is so scientific compared to their home.
Why? (Theme) The theme of the story is the controversy of tradition and a new culture and society. The
By: Wayson Choy
Who? (Characters)
Sek-Lung (Protagonist)
Grandmother (Protagonist)
Father
Caring
Helpful
Youngest Child
Spiritual
Loving
Stubborn
Stubborn
Persistent
What? (Plot) This story is about a Chinese immigrant family adapting to their new life in Canada. The story starts with the Grandmother on her death bed, she talks about how she is about to die. As the story goes on, it goes back a month and talks about her wind chimes. The grandmother finds the supplies for her wind chimes in odd places like in the garbage in the back of the neighbour’s houses. The children then confess that they are embarrassed about their grandmother looking through the trash because she seems like a beggar. The grandmother and Sek-Lung then go to find more supplies for the grandmother’s “sacred” wind chime. During their trip, they collect broken colored glass from the church that was set on fire; the grandmother says that these are special pieces due to the fact that they came from a holy place. When they return home, the grandmother mentions a juggler that she knew when she was younger who disappeared. At the house there is a quarrel because the children say that the mandarin they learn is useless and confusing. The father retaliates by asking the children why they don’t find other languages like Latin, French and German hard. During their fight, they mention that Sek-Lung was previously sick and that he had to miss a year of school. For the next weeks, Sek-Lung and his grandmother both work on the sacred wind chime. The grandmother uses fabric that match the colour of her jade carving of a white peony that she always keeps with herself. When she died, Sek-Lung found the same jade carving in his pocket.
When? (Time) The story takes place in the present. It is important because it talks about how this world is so scientific compared to their home.
Why? (Theme) The theme of the story is the controversy of tradition and a new culture and society. The