The Paper Menagerie

Ken Liu

1. We feel that the very beginning of the story projects the narrator’s mother as a patient and
understanding woman because she was the one who sat there trying to calm the child down
unlike the father who got annoyed and impatient and left the room. Thus, she appears more
compassionate and patient as she clearly expresses her desire to make the child feel better.

2. We can say that the narrator’s mother was a mindful and responsible homemaker because
for years she carefully sliced open the wrappings around the Christmas gifts and saved them on
top of the fridge in a thick stack, this shows that she was mindful about the future need of the
paper and saving them. So, it turned out that one day she indeed needed those vibrant gift
wrappers not only to soothe her sobbing child but also distract him and involve him in a playful
engagement.

3. The narrator finally stopped crying because he observed that his mother had pulled a sheet of
wrapping paper from the top of the fridge. Fascinated, he forgot crying, being too curious to
understand what his mother was doing with that paper. Kan had observed that for years his
mother would carefully slice open the wrappings around Christmas gifts and save them on top of
the fridge in a thick slack and he wanted to know what his mother was trying to make out of it by
turning, folding, pleating, hacking, tucking, rolling and twisting it.

4. The narrator's mother blew into the paper tiger perhaps because she wanted the paper tiger
to be brought to life as part of her magical ability. It was a manifestation of her extraordinary and
fantastical skill in bringing paper animals to life.

5. The paper tiger did not have the familiar black stripes on the yellow body because the gift
wrapper used to make the tiger had the print of red candy canes and green Christmas trees on it.
Hence, it was different from a regular yellow tiger with black stripes

6. The narrator was startled because the paper tiger his mother had fashioned for him jerked its
tail, pounced playfully on his finger, and growled, startling him. With his index finger, the
narrator rubbed its back, laughing while under his finger, the paper tiger purred and vibrated.

1. The narrator later came to know that his mom was capable of magic because she could
breathe life into her paper creatures, causing them to come to life. Her charm was in that.

2. The narrator’s father did not see any further than the page containing of Kan’s mother in
the matrimonial catalogue perhaps because of the woman's beauty in the image, who was
 dressed in a fitting green silk cheongsam. Perhaps the narrator's father was drawn to her long,
black hair, which was styled in such a way that he instantly decided she was the woman he
wanted to wed. In addition, it was said in the catalogue that she was from Hong Kong, loved to
dance, and spoke excellent English. They would not require a translator for communication
because she spoke English, but in the end, that was not the case.

3. The catalogue said that the narrator’s mother spoke good English because she was from
Hong Kong and presumed to be a typical woman aspiring to fit into American society
underscoring the theme of adaptation and the challenges faced by immigrants as they try to
balance their heritage with their desire for acceptance in a new country.

4. Initially the narrator’s father did not have a direct interaction with his would-be wife
because the communications were all through letters and the letters passed through the company.

5. The narrator’s father realised that the company had been writing her responses because she
did not know any English other than "hello" and "good-bye"

6. Young Kan felt contempt for his mother because Kan had grown up in a modern, American
society and the idea of marrying someone based on catalogues and for women to offer themselves
up to be wives of unknown men seemed very foreign, strange and revolting to him.

7. It is said that contempt felt good like wine because just like wine feels bitter to the tongue
when tasted yet leaves a feel-good factor behind similarly the contempt Kan felt for his mother
for having advertised herself so cheaply to get married, filled him with a mixed feeling of
bitterness and irresistible satisfaction that was the result of feeling the continuous complex that he
did on account of the different ways that his mother was a misfit in his society.

8. Instead of demanding a refund, Kan’s father paid a hotel waitress to act as a translator
because he genuinely liked the girl despite all her shortcomings and therefore took a practical and
immediate approach to address the communication problem with his would-be wife. This
decision of his showed his genuine willingness to make the marriage work and to bridge the gap
between their languages and cultures, rather than simply seeking a refund and putting matters to
an end.

9. Kan’s mother would look at her would-be husband, both scared and hopeful because she
knew that nothing about her that was written on the catalogue was true, thus she was scared that
the narrator's father would refuse to marry her. However, at the same time, she was hopeful that
he would accept the alliance trusting her own understanding of the man till that point of time.
10. She started to smile slowly because she gradually started to understand what the man had
written to him in English in those letters. It was only after the hotel waitress translated the
contents for her, that she began to understand what those letters had to say to her which in turn
helped her to get over her nervousness and have the smile back.

11. We get to know that Kan’s father had no regret about marrying the woman he had decided
to, despite all her shortcomings because immediately after flying back to Connecticut, he began
to apply for the papers for her to come to him. Unless he had been genuinely impressed by the
woman’s simplicity and charm, he would not have made such an earnest move to be united with
her at the earliest.

12. Mark might have been very cynical at the sight of Laohu because being a typical youngster
bred in American society, he was used to toys which were trendy or modelled on popular
characters from movies or comics. A tiger made of used paper hardly passed for a toy in his
estimation. Moreover, Mark could have been reluctant to show his appreciation for the paper tiger
because Kan had been critical of his toys which Mark thought to be fascinating.

13. We get to know that Kan was ashamed of his Chinese origin particularly in the circle of
American friends because he presumably got into fights with them for poking fun at his origin,
he evidently felt ashamed of his looks and kept denying to himself that he had inherited any
Chinese feature from his mother.

14. Dad said “I have been too easy on you. Jack needs to fit in” because he believed that Jack
needed to better adapt to or fit into American culture, given the challenges and complexities that
arise from being an immigrant. He tried to overdo it a little knowing that Jack’s mother would not
be much of a support for him in the American society, despite her best intentions. This required
him to be there for Jack more strongly than ever.

15. Mom has been compared to the water buffalo when Laohu used to pounce on him and
squeeze the air of life out of him because she felt cornered when she sensed how disappointed
her husband was in her, reminding her that she was in America, implying that she needed to
groom herself accordingly. All this while she had faced this resentment from her son but now
with her husband, hitherto sympathetic towards her, also chided her for being so un-American, it
was as though all the life was sucked out of her just like it used to happen with the water-buffalo
made by her.

16. Kan’s packing the paper menagerie in a large shoebox and putting it under the bed is
symbolically significant because it bears out the fact that Kan of China was fast becoming Jack
of America that he was in utter haste to shed off all that was Chinese, traditional and apparently
outdated about him. Just like his childhood toys, he wanted to lock up and shut off everything that
was un-American about him, even things that preserved his childhood memories, only to become
a perfect fit and ensure acceptability in a modern American society.
17. It did not finally matter when Mother succeeded in bettering her English because Jack
preferred speaking in English to Chinese, so the mother struggled to learn the language well to
become close to her son as she once was. Her fluency in English, however, ultimately became
irrelevant because Jack had outgrown the stage when her mother’s prowess in English or lack of
it could matter. There was no such emotional connection between the mother and her son back
then, and the gulf was only widened by a significant cultural and generational gap.

18. For years she had refused to go to the doctor perhaps because it was her way of nursing her
feelings that were repeatedly and insensitively hurt by her son and eventually even by her
husband. But the more likely reason was that she did not want to bother them any further than
they already were with her. She knew she was a misfit in the society she had come to inhabit and
was a cause of embarrassment for both her son and her husband. She did not want to add to their
troubles by complaining about ill health.

19. Kan stroked the arm of his sick mother awkwardly because probably a sense of guilt gnawed
at his heart that despite knowing that his mother was going through the last stage of her life, he
was pre occupied with the ‘flight back, and the bright California sunshine’. Worse still, his
mother even then could read him as perfectly as she always did and wanted to make sure that he
was neither inconvenienced by her condition nor had any guilt feeling about it. Having shut the
door on his mother’s affection long time back, Kan felt awkward stroking her arm trying to
comfort her. Ironically, mother who had never shut her door on him, was spontaneous in her
affection and comforted him instead.

20. We can say that Kan did share a deep attachment with his mother but unfortunately never
quite realised it till she passed away, because Kan's need for fitting into American culture, his
embarrassment over his and his mother's Chinese heritage, and his struggles to communicate with
his Chinese mother created a divide between him and his mother. He failed to appreciate the
magical significance of her paper animals, which symbolized her love and care for her son. It was
only after her death that he recognized the deep love she had for him and the sacrifices she made
for Kan. That Kan always had his mother in his heart though never quite conscious of it, becomes
obvious when his spontaneously remembers how his mother would have made him a paper shark
while watching a documentary about sharks. Moreover, he had almost an unwavering faith in his
mother’s claim that she left a bit of herself while breathing life into those paper animals.

1. Jack’s mother stops speaking to him Chinese because… he refused to

acknowledge their native language.
2. Jack felt disconnected from his Chinese heritage because… he was teased
and bullied at school for being different which made him resent his
background.
3. The paper animals stopped moving after Jack’s mother passed away
because… her life force was what animated them and without her presence
they could no longer come to life.
4. Jack’s mother had a difficult time before she came to America because…
she was orphaned at a young age and forced to work as a domestic help
suffering abuse and exploitation.
5. Jack’s mother decided to write him a letter in Chinese because… she
needed to pour her heart into the message and felt that she could best express
herself in her native language.
6. Jack eventually decides to learn about his mother’s past because… he
discovers the letter she left for him written on the reverse side of Lahou, the
paper tiger.
7. Jack’s mother wanted to connect with her son through the paper
animals because… they represented a shared cultural heritage and a way to
bond with him despite their linguistic and cultural differences.
8. Jack’s father was not able to communicate effectively with his mother
because… of the language barrier between them which ultimately led to a
lack of understanding and emotional connection.
9. Jack’s mother felt isolated in the United States because… she struggled to
understand the language and culture and her only source of comfort and
connection was her relationship with her son.
10.The narrator’s mother made an origami goat, a deer and a water buffalo
because… her son had requested her.
11.Lahou avoided birds because… in the past a cornered bird had attacked
him in desperation.
12.The narrator asked his mother to make him a shark because… he had
seen a documentary about them and wanted one of his own.
13.The narrator’s mother made a new shark of tin foil because… the one
made of wrapping paper sank in the water.
14.The ladies called Jack “a little monster” because… of his Chinese features
and claimed that he looked unfinished with his slanty eyes and a wide face.
15.Lahou attacked Obi-Wan because… Mark claimed that he did not look
like a tiger at all and wondered if he was made out of trash.
16.Mark screamed out of fear and surprise because… an origami tiger made
out of wrapping paper had attack his face.
17.Jack pushes away the chopsticks and his bowl because… he wishes to eat
American food instead.
18.Jack’s father buys him a full set of Star Wars action figures because…
he requests some ‘real’ toys as he is tired of playing with origami animals
and wants to fit in with his peers.
19.Jack was embarrassed by his mother because… when she spoke English,
her accent was poor and her sentences were grammatically incorrect.
20. Jack’s mother released later in the paper crane facing West because…
that is where China lies on the map and she hoped that it would reach her
dead parents on the day of Qingming.
21.Jack and Susan visited his dad in Connecticut because… they intended to
help him clean and pack so that the place could be put up for sale.
22.Susan remarks that the narrator’s mother was an amazing artist
because… she has never seen such quality of origami.
23.Jack asked one of the tourists to read his mother’s letter because… he
had never learnt to read Chinese.
24.The villagers in Sigulu made origami birds because… they helped chase
the grasshoppers away.
25.The villagers in Sigulu made origami tigers because… they helped chase
the mice away.
26.The mother’s parents were abused by the villagers because… they had a
relative in Hong-Kong who was assumed to be spying on them and thus they
were regarded as enemies of the people.
27.The narrator’s grandmother had jumped into a well because… she was
unable to endure anymore abuse by the villagers.
28.The narrator’s mother took care of the chin brothers because.. she was
sold into the family as a house help under the false claim of adoption when
she was just a child herself.
29.Jack’s mother was unable to learn English when she was a child
because… Mr. Chin believed that she would contact the police and so he
threatened to deport her on grounds of false pretence and illegal stay.
30.Jack’s mother was delighted when he was born because… he was her new
family with whom she expected to be able to speak in Chinese without any
barriers and who she thought would help him better her relationship with her
husband by helping them both with translation.
31.Jacks mother way able to create magical paper animals because... she
had learned the art of zhe zhi, a traditional Chinese paper crafts, from her
mother, in her childhood, an artform, almost magical in effect because life
could be breathed into them.

FIVE-MARK QUESTIONS
1. How does language play a crucial role in determining Jack's relationship with
his mother ?
Ans- Language plays a crucial role in Jack's identity crisis and his relationship
with his mother as it represents a connection to his Chinese heritage that he has
tried to reject . Jack's refusal to speak Chinese and his embarrassment over his
heritage causes a rift between him and his mother . However through the
discovery of his mother's letter which is written in Chinese , Jack is able to
reconnect with his mother and his heritage . The letter serves as a reminder of
the importance of language and culture in shaping one's identity and
understanding of self.

2. In this story , how does Jack's understanding of his mother's past change his
perspectives on their relationship and his Chinese heritage ?
Ans - Having read his mother's letter that detailed on her difficult past in China ,
Jack gains a deeper understanding of her struggles and sacrifices and realises the
extent of her love and devotion to him . This discovery helps him reconnect with
his Chinese heritage and appreciate the paper animals that his mother had made
for him as a child . It also helps him to come to terms with his identity crisis and
the resentment he had felt towards his mother for trying to force him to embrace
his Chinese heritage . Ultimately Jack's sympathetic understanding of his
mother's past transforms his relationship with her even though she was not
around him physically anymore and also allows him to reconcile with his own
identity.

3. In what ways did the discovery of the letter written by his mother affect the
emotions and actions of Jack ?
Ans - The discovery of the letter written by Jack's mother had a profound impact
on his emotions and actions. Initially , he felt guilty and ashamed for having
rejected his mother's attempts to connect with him through their shared Chinese
heritage . However , the letter also helped him to understand the sacrifices his
mother had made to give him a better life . The letter finally made Jack realise
the importance of her cultural heritage which he himself shared with her . Last
but not the least, the letter helped Jack reconcile with this past and present and
forge a deeper connection with his mother and their shared heritage.

4. Explain the significance and symbolism of the title “The Paper Menagerie”.
Ans - The paper menagerie symbolises attempts of Jack's mother to connect with
him while maintaining a connection with her Chinese heritage . The animals
represent the practical magic that her mother had learnt in her childhood village
and served a utilitarian purpose in chasing away pests and evil spirits .
However , they also came alive through Jack's imagination representing the
power of storytelling and imagination to transcend all barriers of language and
culture . Ultimately the paper menagerie represents the love , care and sacrifice
that Jack's mother poured into her relationship with her son and the importance
of preserving one's cultural heritage and personal identity.

5. In what way was Jack's mother's life in China , a contrast to her life in
America ?
Ans - Jack's mother's life in China was marked by poverty and hardship due to
great famine and Cultural Revolution . She had to eat dirt to survive and her
family suffered violence and tragedy . Unlike her, her parents succumbed to the
violence . Her mother committed suicide and her father was taken away, never
to return . In contrast ,here, life in America with husband was materially more
comfortable , but was also lonely and marked by a struggle to adapt to a new
culture . Her paper animals and the Chinese language were a way for her to
connect with her past and maintain a sense of her identity.

6. In what ways does the story address the challenges faced by immigrants in
the new Country?
Ans - The story explores and addresses the challenges faced by immigrants in
new country through the experience of Jack's mother who immigrated to the
United States from China. In her struggles to adapt to the American culture and
way of life, she only ends up feeling isolated and lonely which is compounded
by the language barrier. The story also highlights the generational and cultural
divide that can arise between immigrant parents and their 'Americanised'
children. Though Jack's journey to understand his mother's past and reconnect
with his Chinese heritage, the story shows the importance of preserving cultural
traditions and family ties in the face of cultural assimilation.

7. In what way does the story depict the complexities of parent-child

relationships particularly in the context of cultural differences ?
Ans - The story portrays the complex nature of parents-child relationships,
especially on the context of cultural differences. Jack struggles with accepting
and appreciating his Chinese heritage, causing a rift in his relationship with his
mother. The mother, in turn, struggles with adapting to American culture and
balancing her own identity with that of her son. The story highlights the
challenges and misunderstandings that can arise in such relationships resulting
in pain, suffering and the consequent importance of communication,
understanding and acceptance in bridging those gaps. Ultimately however the
story suggests that love and family ties can transcend even the most challenging
cultural differences.