The Paper Menagerie Worksheet
I. Non-Core Vocabulary and Slang
menagerie (26) - a collection of statues, figures, or miniatures, usually of animals
wrapping paper (26) - paper used to cover presents so that the receiver doesn’t know what it is
pleated, packed, tucked, rolled, and twisted (26) - the author is using words to describe how the mother
makes the tiger
candy canes (26) - red and white striped, mint-flavored candies popular at Christmas
pounce (26) - to jump, especially cats, so as to land on and capture prey
storm into (27) - to enter a room or place angrily
to wallow (28). - to lay down and roll around in (esp. animals like pigs)
capillary action (28) - a process by which a liquid moves against gravity soaking into a solid
a limp (28) - a condition where someone is unable to walk properly due to injury
to his heart’s content (28) - as much as he wanted
sparrow (28) - a kind of small bird common in America
cornered (28) - to force someone or something into a space where they cannot escape
whimper (28) - to cry softly out of pain
wince (28) - to slightly move your body as a reaction to pain
patched his ear together (28) - fixed his ear
TV documentary (29) - a show on television meant to teach the audience about something
to come undone (29) - to fall apart
utility company (29) - a company responsible for providing water, electricity, and gas to houses
slanty eyes (30) - negative expression used to describe the narrower eyes of Asian peoples
action figure (30) - a plastic toy for children whose arms, legs, and head can be moved
light saber (30) - a sword made out lasers from the movie Star Wars
skittering (31) - a light skipping sound
snarl (31) - a sound that some animals make with the intent of warning or frightening
to crumple (31) - to take a piece of paper or other similar material and change it from being straight and
flat to more ball-shaped
smooth out the paper (31) - opposite of crumple
crease (32) - a line along which something has been folded
chink (32) - an VERY bad word for Chinese people
brushed her hand away (33) - to use one’s own hand in a waving motion to move something away
mime (34) - to use body language and hand movements to express something
might as well (34) - to be just the same as if
non-insulated (37) - not protected from the elements
brittle (37) - easily broken
flipping through the TV channels (37) - to change the TV channels quickly finding something to watch
shabby (38) - dirty or worn-down; poorly maintained
the departed (39) - the dead
mainlander (41) - someone from China itself, instead of one of its large islands like Taiwan or Hong Kong
II. Core Vocabulary
to sob (26) to soothe (26) to slice (26) stack (26)
plain (26) to growl (26) to startle (26) to vibrate (26)
catalogue (27) to drape (27) contempt (27) to chase (28)
to press down (28) to inflate (28) liquid (28) to collapse (28)
crooked (28) desperation (28) to tear (28) to avoid (29)
soggy (29) translucent (29) to rescue (29) to droop (29)
guilty (29) to magnify (29) evidence (30) nimble (31)
timid (31) to stumble (31) to reason (32) to fit in (33)
to squeeze (33) exaggerated (34) peasant (34) suburb (34)
cancer (35) surgery (35) recruit (35) intellectual (35)
conscious (35) to startle (35) rapidly (36) to give up (37)
awkward (38) dense (38) famine (39) merchant (40)
III. Reading Comprehension
1. When in the narrator’s life does the first part take place?
2. What does the narrator’s mother make for him? What is special about what she makes?
3. The style of this story is called magic realism. What do you think this means? What makes this story an
example of magic realism?
4. How old is the narrator when he finds out about his parent’s history? What is his relationship with his
mother like at the time?
5. What is an introduction service? How do the narrator’s parents meet?
6. Describe the narrator’s first experience with racism.
7. What is the narrator’s initial reaction to Mark’s Star Wars toys? Why does he have this reaction?
8. The incident with Mark and laohu is a formative experience in the narrator’s relationship with his
mother and sets off a chain reaction. What happens and how does it affect his relationship with her and
their home life?
9. What happens when Jack tries to put the paper menagerie away?
10. In what ways does the mother attempt to assimilate to American culture? Use specific examples.
11. What does the narrator mean when he writes: ‘I was already at that age when I wasn’t interested in
what she had to say whatever language she used’ (34).
12. The book mentions people as commodities twice. In what contexts does this occur?
13. What happens when the narrator returns to the paper menagerie as an adult with Susan?
14. Is the mother’s breath really magical?
15. When do the animals come back to life? What is significant about this day?
16. Describe the mother’s life in China, before she goes to Hong Kong.
17. How does the mother view the birth of her son?
IV. Discussion Questions
1. A major part of this story is the complex relationship between two cultures. How does the author
explore this?
2. The paper menagerie is clearly used in a symbolic way? What do you think it represents? Give some
examples.
3. The father is an interesting character. Describe him. How do you think the author means us to feel
about the father?
4. At the end of the story the author reconnects with the paper menagerie. In what context does this
happen? Explain the events leading up to his reading of the letter.
5. How can we interpret the end of the story?
6. In my opinion, there are two major themes that are intertwined throughout this book. What are they?
Give examples.
7. How would you describe the relationship between the mother and the father?
V. ESSAY TOPIC
Pick one of the major themes we discussed in class. How does the author explore this theme in the
story? Use and analyze specific quotations (2-3) and explain how they inform the author’s exploration
of this theme.
