Ties that Bind, Ties that Break

Ties that Bind, Ties that Break

Setting

•  1952, San Francisco, California, in Ailin’s husband’s restaurant in Chinatown.

•  1911, China

Characters

•  Ailin – Protagonist – 19 years old – Smart, strong and brave girl

Characters

•  Father – Supports Ailin’s decision to not have her feet

bound.

Characters

•  Mother – Ailin’s mother – She believes Ailin should have her feet bound

to ensure a proper marriage.

Characters

•  Big Uncle – Antagonist – Father’s brother

Characters

•  Miss Gilbertson – Ailin’s tutor

Characters

•  Liu Hanwei – Ailin’s former fiancé

Characters

•  James Chew – Ailin’s husband

Characters

•  Warners – An American family of missionaries who hired

Ailin as their amah (nanny).

Vocabulary

•  Lilting •  Characterized by a rhythmical swing •  Example: a lilting stride

Vocabulary

•  Grimace •  A facial expression usually of disgust,

disapproval or pain

Vocabulary

•  Fastidious •  Difficult to please

Vocabulary

•  Looting •  Goods, usually of value, taken in conflict

Vocabulary

•  Lamented •  Mourned for

Vocabulary

•  Agility •  The ability to move with quick and easy

grace

Vocabulary

•  Insolence •  Insultingly disrespectful in speech or

behavior

Vocabulary

•  Lethargy •  The quality of being lazy, or sluggish

Vocabulary

•  Concubine •  One who has a recognized social status in

a household below that of a wife; mistress

Vocabulary

•  Impertinent •  Not showing proper respect; rude

Vocabulary

•  Impudence •  A disregard of others; disrespectful

Assignment

•  On a separate sheet of paper, write an original sentence that correctly uses the vocabulary words.

Character

•  A person in a novel, play or movie

Character Types

•  Main character •  Central to the story and is typically fully

characterized.

Character Types

•  Minor character •  Displays few personality traits and is used

to help develop the story.

Character Types

•  Dynamic •  The character grows and changes during

the story

Character Types

Static •  The character remains basically the same

throughout the story.

Character Types

•  Foil •  A minor character whose contrast with a

major character highlights particular characteristics, often flaws, in the main character.

Character Types

•  Round •  Characters who show varied and

sometimes contradictory traits

Character Types

•  Flat •  Characters who reveal only one

personality trait.

Characterization

•  The methods a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character

Characterization

•  Direct •  The writer makes explicit statements about

a character.

Characterization

•  Indirect •  The writer reveals a character through his

or her words, thoughts, and actions, and through what other characters think and say about that character.

•  “Leon is often distracted, but one thing he stays focused on is girls.”