Rules of the Game by Amy Tan s1

Rules of the Game by Amy Tan

1. The narrator begins her story by describing a lesson that she learned from her mother at age six. Write the sentence that best summarizes this lesson. What do you think this line means?

2. How did the narrator get her name? What is her nick name? What does this name mean?

3. The story begins with a problem between Waverly and her mother. Would this conflict be considered internal or external? How is this clash resolved?

4. From what point of view is this story told?

Characteristics for P.O.V. Example Page/Line Describes people and events as he or she experiences them Describes people and events as he or she experiences them Doesn’t know what other characters are thinking and feeling Doesn’t know what other characters are thinking and feeling Use of specific pronouns (use different pronoun for each example) Use of specific pronouns (use different pronoun for each example)

5. Review line 88. What is Waverly’s motivation for asking her mother about Chinese torture? a. she is curious about her family’s heritage b. she wants to comment on having her hair pulled c. she hopes the boy in her class will be punished d. she wants to make her mom feel smart

6. The narrator includes many sensory details to help you visualize the different settings in the story. Use the bubble below to list the details and then tell me which sense they appeal to the most. (make sure to include the time and place as well)

7. How did the chess set come into her life? How old was she at this point? 8. Reread lines 99-131. Write down details that would convey humor in this section.

9. What character traits are revealed in her description of the party? Explain.

10. Waverly’s mother has two reactions to the chess set---one at the church and another at home. What are they? Which one do you think is the real/true one? What do you think is Mrs. Jong’s motivation for hiding her true feelings?

11. Waverly learns everything she can about the “whys” of chess and its rules. Explain three specific things she shares with the reader in this section of the story.

12. How might learning chess tactics help Waverly avoid conflicts?

13. What character traits does Waverly display in her interaction with the man at the park? Explain.

14. List three things Waverly learns from Lau Po.

15. What does Waverly’s mother mean by her statement in line 273? “Is shame you fall down nobody push you.” Restate her message in your own words.

16. A mysterious wind appears several times in the story. Think about its role in the 1st chess tournament and in other key scenes. What might this wind represent or mean?

17. How old is Waverly when she has enough points to be a national chess champion?

18. Waverly is photographed on more than one occasion. How are the two events similar and different? 19. What conflicts does Waverly experience as she devotes all of her free time to chess? Are these internal, external or both. Explain. What price does she have to pay for her talent?

20. How does Waverly dress and act during the chess tournaments? Explain what this reveals about her character and her strategy for winning?

21. Waverly can describe other character’s actions but not their thoughts and feelings. Reread lines 358 – 367. What do you think Waverly’s mother is thinking and feeling. Provide evidence for your inference. How does knowing only Waverly’s point of view affect your impression of her mother?

22. Waverly and her mother have a very different view of the market days. What is Waverly’s perspective? What do you think Mrs. Jong’s perspective is? What was the fight about between the two at the market?

23. What are some "American rules" that Waverly's family adopts? What are some "Chinese rules" that Waverly's family holds on to?

24. How does learning the rules of chess teach Waverly the rules of life? Give specific examples from the text to support your answer.

25. What does Waverly mean when she said “the chessboard seemed to hold elaborate secrets waiting to be untangled” and later calls chess "a game of secrets in which one must show and never tell"?

26. Are Waverly and her mother allies, opponents, or both? Use details from the story to explain your answer.

27. What scene in this story can you picture the most vividly? Reread that part of the text and sketch the scene below. Make sure you have a three sentence summary of the scene included. ______

Quote My Interpretation/Significance to text

“Strongest wind cannot be seen.”

“It [the wind] whispered secrets only I could hear.” “Check,” I said, as the wind roared with laughter.

“This American rules,” “Every time people come from foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, Too bad go back. But they knowing all the time.”

At the next tournament, I won again, but it was my mother who wore the triumphant grin.

Vocabulary Acquisition Word Sentence in Context Meaning (own words) Impart

Pungent

Benefactor

Tactic

Adversary

Foresight

Retort

Malodorous

Concession

Ponder

***Write a paragraph summarizing the story incorporating 5 vocabulary words correctly. Underline each of the words. Here is a beginning sentence to help you get started.

At first Waverly’s brothers Winston and Vincent do not want to impart their knowledge of chess to her.

______