1. The use of the first-person narrator carries with it many potential pitfalls for the reader. First of all, we must question the narrator’s objectivity. We must also be wary of his interpretation of the "facts" as they are presented to us.

a. What memory problem is LuLing concerned with in the first part of the excerpt? What is the importance for her of remembering Precious Auntie’s name?

b. Explain the type of relationship that exists between Precious Auntie and the narrator, LuLing.

c. We often take verbal communication for granted, but there are many ways of getting a point across. How is it that Precious Auntie is able to communicate with LuLing?

d. How is LuLing a go-between for Precious Auntie and the rest of the world? Why is this necessary?

e. The relationship between adult and child is frequently dotted with the stuff of fantasy. How do Precious Auntie’s explanations given concerning her inability to speak reflect this? What is she trying to do through her actions? Why?

f. What does Precious Auntie’s explanation about the ancestral spirit tablets reveal about the role of women in this culture?

g. Explain the way that ghosts and death seem to haunt the narrator.

2. In the second part of the excerpt, fascinating character development and a variety of interesting literary techniques materialize.

a. How does the narrator change for the second part of the excerpt? Why does Amy Tan do this?

b. How might we interpret Ruth’s recurring laryngitis on a symbolic level? Explain.

c. Why is it ironic and humorous that Ruth’s ailment becomes part of tradition and is even seen as therapy?

d. Ruth’s mother employs superstition in her interpretation of the world. How and why does she do this?

e. How does the relationship between Ruth’s and LuLing reflect that of LuLing and Precious Auntie?

3. Her mother’s written pages weigh heavily on Ruth. As Ruth can’t interpret them, they serve as a symbol of the relationship she has with her mother, whom she likewise doesn’t understand. Why does Ruth feel guilty?

4. Remember that literary themes are abstract or intangible. Explain two important points Tan is trying to make.

a. How is memory a theme in this excerpt?

b. Silence—accidental or enforced—is also a theme here for Tan. Explain its significance.