What are Jing-mei's expectations for her recital? Does she anticipate delivering the type of performance she ends up giving? Why or why not?

Why is the narrator's mother so determined to turn her daughter into a prodigy? Apart from her rivalry with Lindo Jong, what broader cultural influences might be shaping her mindset?

At the conclusion of the story, the narrator discovers that the music piece she struggled with as a child, "Pleading Child," has a companion piece titled "Contented Child." She comes to understand that they are "two halves of the same song." Discuss how this realization serves as a metaphor for the story.

A recurring theme in Tan's work is the challenge immigrants face in assimilating into American society. Research your own family history and, if possible, collect stories from your relatives.

What challenges did your family face during the assimilation process into American culture? Which traditions have endured through this process?