Topics for Further Study
- Some of the most unforgettable moments in the novel occur when Hang describes the impact of various landscapes on her, such as her first experience of seeing snow in Russia and her subsequent impressions of Along Bay (chapter 5). Write a paragraph detailing the effect a particularly striking natural scene had on you when you first saw it. How did it make you feel? Why does it stand out in your memory?
- As Hang matures, she distances herself from many aspects of her culture and develops her own set of values. Describe how you have shaped your own moral beliefs. How do you determine what you stand for? To what degree has American culture (through television, books, movies, music, etc.) influenced or altered your values? In what ways do your values differ from your parents' values? What experiences have played the most significant role in forming your personal value system?
- Research the prevalence of single-parent families in the United States. How many children are raised in single-parent households? Is the head of these households typically the mother or the father? Has the number of such families increased compared to twenty years ago? If so, why? What challenges do children in single-parent families face? What difficulties do the parents encounter?
- Since the end of the Vietnam War, over half a million Vietnamese individuals have immigrated to the United States. What political and economic factors drove them to leave Vietnam? What has their experience been like in the United States? Where have they predominantly settled? What professions have they pursued? How well have they integrated into American culture?
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
