THE MONKEY KING · 2017-12-27 · fire and smoke added to the monkey a pair of fiery golden crystal...

THE

MONKEY KING a Breakfast Serials, Inc. story

Adopted From the Classic Chinese Tale

By Ji-li Jiang

Illustrated by Hui Hui Su-Kennedy

Teacher’s Guide

Created by Jan McDonald

Rocky Mountain Readers

2

THE

MONKEY

KING

Adopted From the Classic Chinese Tale By Ji-li Jiang

Illustrated by Hui Hui Su-Kennedy

Teacher’s Guide

Created by Jan McDonald

Rocky Mountain Readers

OVERVIEW

Before Reading… The Monkey King Legend page 3-4

About the Author page 4-5

Curriculum Connections on the Internet page 5-6

More Curriculum Connections pages 6 - 8

During Reading… Chapter by Chapter: pages 9-25

Vocabulary

Question/Predict/Evaluate

After Reading… More Newspaper Activities page 26

Answers to Question/Predict/Evaluate pages 26 – 29

National Standards page 29

This guide has been prepared and noted according to the National Standards for the

English Language Arts. A list of these standards can be found at the end of this guide.

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The Monkey King Legend Standard 2

“Monkey King, or known to the Chinese as “Journey West”, is one of the renowned classical Chinese novels dating back some 400 years ago. “Monkey King” was based on a true story of a famous Chinese monk, Xuan Zang (602-664). After years of trials and

tribulations, he traveled on foot to what is today India, the birthplace of Buddhism,

to seek the Sutra, the Buddhist holy book. When he returned to China, or the Great

Tang, as it was called at that time, he started to translate the sutras into Chinese,

thus making a great contribution to the development of Buddhism in China.

“Monkey King” is an allegorical rendition of the journey, mingled with Chinese fables, fairy tales, legends, superstitions, popular beliefs, monster stories as well as

whatever the author could find in the Taoist and Buddhist religions.

While average readers are fascinated with the prowess and wisdom of the Monkey

King, many critics agree that the protagonist embodies what the author tried to

convey to his readers: a rebellious spirit against the then untouchable feudal rules.

“Monkey King” is indeed rebellious, being in fact not an ordinary being. He was born out of a rock, fertilized by the grace of Heaven, according to the story. Being

extremely smart and capable, he learned all the magic tricks from a master Taoist.

Now he can transform himself into 72 different images such as a tree, a bird, a beast

of prey or a bug as small as a mosquito so as to sneak into an enemy’s belly to fight him or her inside out. Using clouds as a vehicle, he can travel 180,000 miles in a single

somersault.

He claims to be a king in defiance of the only authority over heaven, the seas, the

earth and the subterranean world - - Yu Huang Da Di, or the “Great Emperor of Jade” in Chinese. That act of high treason, coupled with complaints from the

masters of the four seas and hell, invites the relentless scourge of the heavenly army.

In fact, the monkey had fought into the seas and grabbed the crown treasure of the

Neptune kingdom: a huge, iron bar that supposedly serves as ballast of the seas and

can expand or shrink at its owner’s command. That became the monkey’s favorite weapon in his later feats. With that weapon, he went down into hell and threatened

the king to spare his and his followers mortal lives so that they all may enjoy eternity.

After many showdowns, the dove faction of the heavenly court persuaded the

emperor to offer the monkey an official title to appease him. The monkey accepted

the offer on a trial basis. However, he learned a few days later that he was cheated

and being jeered all over the heavenly court; the position he held was nothing but a

stable keeper. Enraged he revolted, fighting all his way back to earth to resume his

own claim as a king.

Eventually, the heavenly army subdued him, only after many a battle, with the help

of all the god warriors. However, all methods of execution failed. Having a bronze

head and iron shoulders, the monkey dulled many a sword inflicted upon him. As a

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last resort, the emperor commanded he be burned in the furnace where his Taoist

minister Tai Shang Lao Jun refines his pills of immortality. Instead of killing him, the

fire and smoke added to the monkey a pair of fiery golden crystal eyes that can see

through what people normally cannot. He fought his way down again.

At last, the emperor asked Buddha for help. The Buddha moved a great

mountain known as the Mount of Five Fingers to fall upon him. Still, the tenacious

monkey survived the enormous weight and pressure. Only that he could not move.

500 years later, there came to his rescue the Tang Monk, Xuan Zang, whom we

mentioned at the beginning of this story.

To insure that the monk could not make for the West to get the sutras, Buddha

had arranged for the Monkey King to become his disciple and escort him, along with

two other disciples they later came across (actually also arranged by the Buddha).

One is the humorous and not uncourageous pig transgressed from a heavenly general

for his crime of assaulting a fairy, and the other a used-to-be sea monster. There the

four started their stormy journey west which was packed with actions and

adventures that brought into full play the power of the monks disciples, the Monkey

King in particular.

Source: http://people.wku.edu/haiwang.yuan/China/tales/monkey.html

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Standard 8

Ji-li Jiang is also the author of Red Scarf Girl: a Memoir of the Cultural

Revolution. This autobiography tells her story as a twelve-year-old girl in 1966 - the

same year that the Cultural Revolution began in China. This political situation

affected her life and her family and caused great suffering to them all.

Ji-li was born in Shanghai, China in 1954. Though she had always wanted to attend

the Shanghai Drama Institute, her family’s political situation made that impossible. Instead she was accepted into a less prestigious university. When the United States

began to accept students from China, she decided to study in America. She was a

science teacher before coming to the United States in 1984. After attending the

University of Hawaii, she worked in the hotel business. In 1992 Ji-li started her own

company called East West Exchange which fosters cultural exchange between

Western countries and China.

Source : http://www.jilijiang.com/

http://people.wku.edu/haiwang.yuan/China/tales/monkey.html

http://www.jilijiang.com/

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CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS On the Internet Standards 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12

It is fitting that we start this study of China on the Internet because one of the

most popular search engines on the Internet, Yahoo, was co-founded by an Asian

immigrant, named Jerry Yang. When Jerry came to American at 10 years of age, he

spoke no English. As an electrical engineer, he and partner, David Filo, guided Yahoo

into becoming a public company in 1996.

There are many good sites for investigating China:

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/china/#china-dragon.jpg

https://www.coolkidfacts.com/china-facts-for-kids/

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/

The China Guide: Helping Travelers Discover China Interactively

Experience a walk on the Great Wall of China

http://www.thechinaguide.com/great_wall_of_china/index.html

More areas to investigate:

MATH SCIENCE Origami Chinese Inventions

Following Directions: Flag The Giant Panda

Time Zones Animals of Asia

Keeping Track of Time Papermaking and more…

Counting in Chinese

Mars Bars Fractions and more… THE ARTS Calligraphy

LANGUAGE ARTS Chinese Folk and Fairy Tales Postcards from China

Cinderella & Ye-Shen Creating a Brochure

ABC Book of Words Word Search Puzzles

Writer’s Workshop Write your own folktale

Chinese Nursery Rhymes Chinese Emigration

Immigration Interview And more…

CELEBRATIONS, HOLIDAYS, AND CUSTOMS Chinese Zodiac Ying and Yang Symbols

Zodiac Bookmarks Zodiac Puppets

New Year’s Firecrackers Shoe Box Dragons

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/china/#china-dragon.jpg

https://www.coolkidfacts.com/china-facts-for-kids/

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/

http://www.thechinaguide.com/great_wall_of_china/index.html

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MORE CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

LANGUAGE ARTS

Monkey’s adventures can be endless. Students may want to create their own series of tales featuring Monkey using plot ideas that may have happened in their

school. What mischief could Monkey make during a field trip, an assembly, a play, a

sports activity, a test, lunchtime, etc.? What would be his quest in each story?

If your school has a mascot, students can create their own myths and legends

around this character. Include teachers and principals and other staff members who

are important in the school’s history as main characters. Haiku, the Japanese form of poetry, consists of 17 syllables arranged in three lines:

Line l = five syllables Line 2 = seven syllables Line 3 = five syllables

Create haiku describing Monkey and some of his adventures, or the beautiful

settings in this story.

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

In stories Monkey has been called over-confident, rebellious, naughty, punished,

mischievous, resourceful, brave, humorous, uncivil, self-centered, chaotic, bold,

brash, rabble-rousing, trouble-making, rambunctious, power-seeking, skillful, and vain.

Find examples in the story that prove Monkey is all of these qualities at different

times.

SOCIAL STUDIES

China is a land of over 1 billion people. Its culture is fascinating. Using the

newspaper, study China in the news today. What are the challenges and problems

facing this vast country?

The Chinese New Year begins between January 21 and February 19. It is a colorful

celebration that includes dancing, parades, and music. Part of this tradition is the

naming of each year for an animal of the Chinese Zodiac. 2001 is the Year of the

Snake. Find out in what Chinese year you were born and what personality traits this

may include.

Compare the 12 signs of the Chinese horoscope (animals) to the 12 signs of the

Zodiac.

SCIENCE

Did you know that the Chinese have given us such inventions as the wheelbarrow,

abacus, compass, gunpowder, paper, paper money, matches, rockets, and the decimal

system, plus many more?

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MATH

Learn how to use an abacus. Use it on a test instead of an electronic calculator.

Tangrams were thought to originate in China about 250 years ago. What are they

and how are they connected with mathematics?

RELIGION

Buddha was born about 563 B.C. in southern Nepal. His real name was Siddhartha

Gautama and he was a member of a rich, powerful family. At 29 his disillusionment

overwhelmed him. Thinking life was filled with unhappiness and suffering, he left his

wife and son to seek enlightenment. He became a wandering monk. His quest lasted

6 years, and he found enlightenment. He believed he had discovered why life was

filled with suffering and how people could free themselves from this unhappiness.

After this, he was called Buddha, meaning Enlightened One.

Buddha preached that life was a cycle of death and rebirth. A person’s estate in life was determined by his behavior in previous lives. If you were a good person, those

good deeds may lead to rebirth as a wise or wealthy person or as a being in heaven. In

the same way, evil deeds may lead to one’s rebirth as a poor and ill person or a place in hell.

Buddha also taught that people could break out of this cycle of death and

rebirth, pain and suffering by disavowing any attachment to things of the world. By

ridding oneself of these attachments, people could reach a state of peace and

happiness. Buddha called this pinnacle of peace and happiness nirvana. Nirvana

could be reached by following the Noble Eightfold Path which consists of:

1. Knowledge of the truth

2. The intention to resist evil

3. Saying nothing to hurt others

4. Respecting life, morality and property

5. Holding a job that does not injure others

6. Striving to free one’s mind of evil

7. Controlling one’s feelings and thought

8. Practicing proper forms of concentration Source: World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Inc. USA, 1986 Volume 2.

How do your classroom rules compare to this list? CREATIVE ARTS

The settings described by Ji-li Jiang are very beautiful and lush

an artist’s dream. Students can create a mural of the settings of this story and decorate the classroom with them including:

Mountain of Flowers and Fruit

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The Blessed Cave of the Water Curtain

Master Subhodi’s cave

Under the Eastern Sea with the Dragon King

Heaven

Celestial Peach Gardens

Make a life size paper doll of Monkey King. As the story progresses, add

to him all the special powers, skills and magic that he accumulates.

CREATIVE DRAMA

Make shadow puppets and act out the adventure of Monkey that the

class votes as their favorite.

FOODS

Celebrate the Monkey King story by enjoying your own Peach Banquet.

Our story includes the tempting treats of jasmine tea, celestial peaches, and

laughing liquid (peach juice?). The menu can be rounded out with fried rice,

and fortune cookies. Make your own fortune cookies and let students create

their own sayings inside based on the wisdom according to Monkey King.

What wise sayings would Monkey write?

Make Chinese lanterns to decorate your dining place.

Invite a Chinese chef to your classroom and ask him/her to speak about

the benefits found in the Asian diet. Write a newspaper story about these

facts.

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Chapter One Monkey is Born

Vocabulary In Context Standards 3, 4

torrents “Torrents of rain

pelted the

mountainside.” (rapids)

cowered “…and the animals living there cowered

in terror.” (trembled)

erupted “At once it erupted

into flame.” (blew up)

somersault “…rolled into a perfect somersault…”

(just right, expert)

hearty “It was a long, hearty

laugh…” (cheerful)

league “…who could see as far as a thousand

leagues…” (nautical measure

equal to three geographical miles)

Question/Predict/Evaluate Copyright 2001 Hui Hui Su-Kennedy

Standards 3, 6, 7

1. What words and phrases does the author use to describe Monkey’s arrival into the world?

2. What words and phrases does the author use to describe Monkey himself?

3. Thousand League-Eye could see as far as a thousand leagues. How far is

that?

4. Is the Jade Emperor sitting on his Dragon Throne worried about a little

monkey?

5. Predict what kind of trouble a little, laughing monkey could cause.

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Vocabulary In Context Standard 3, 4

clan “On the Mountain of Flowers and Fruits lived a great clan of

monkeys.”(family)

crystal “…they drank crystal water from the streams.” (sparkling)

forlornly “…the monkeys were sitting forlornly by a stream.” (sadly)

current “You’d drown and be swept away by the mighty current.” (stream)

jabbered “Who will dare?” the monkeys jabbered. (chattered)

boastful “Oh, you boastful monkey” (bragging)

arrogance “Monkey, you’re full of arrogance.” (overconfidence, conceit)

Question/Predict/Evaluate Standards 3, 6, 7

1. What happens when the monkeys followed the stream up the mountain?

2. The author uses a metaphor and a simile to describe the waterfall. Notice

the difference and discuss what each kind of comparison adds to our

language.

“…a gigantic waterfall, an immense white curtain of rushing water casting down billions of water pearls, each one glittering in the sunlight.” (metaphor) “The rushing water made a noise like thunder.” (simile) 3. What is the challenge Monkey accepts?

4. Is Monkey brave, boastful, foolish, or arrogant?

5. Will Monkey survive the challenge?

Chapter Two

Monkey Accepts

a Challenge

11


illuminated “He was in a vast cave illuminated by soft light.” (lit up)

luscious “Clusters of nuts and luscious fruit…” (juicy)

paradise “This is a hidden paradise.” (heaven)

bathed “…a beautiful iron bridge bathed in brilliant light." (covered)

inscription “…an inscription etched in the marble…” (message)

squabbling “…pushing, shoving and squabbling gloriously.” (bickering)


1. What does Monkey find through the waterfall?

2. How did Monkey become King of the Monkey Clan?

3. How does the clan of monkeys react after passing through the waterfall?

4. Do you expect Monkey to be a good king? Explain.

Chapter Three

Monkey Behind the

Waterfall

12


sages “First are the sages. They study the secret of life…” (wise men)

immortals “…the immortals, who…can live forever?” (everlasting ones)

enlightenment “…since they have achieved complete enlightenment…” (wisdom)

mislead “I didn’t intend to mislead anyone.” (trick)

prickling “…a prickling sensation nearly overcame him.” (tingling, itchy)


1. What is perfect happiness to a monkey? What would be perfect happiness

to you? Your parents? Your teacher?

2. Why is Monkey unsatisfied?

3. What is Monkey’s quest? 4. What are the three types of beings who can live forever?

5. What does the woodcutter offer to Monkey?

6. What do you think is causing the “prickling sensation” that nearly overcame Monkey?

7. How do you think Master Subhodi might look?

Chapter Four

The Monkey King

Goes Searching

13


filmy “A tiny child dressed in filmy white silk emerged from inside.” (gauzy)

solemn

dignified “Everything about him was solemn and dignified.” (serious)

(distinguished) unruffled “Where are you from? the master asked, unruffled.” (unmoved)

modest “…but he decided it was better to sound modest.” (humble)

stupefied “The students were stupefied.” (stunned)

taunts “Monkey, ignoring the taunts, was truly puzzled.” (heckling)


1. How does Master Subhodi show he knows everything?

2. How are Monkey and Master Subhodi different?

3. How does Monkey show he is lazy?

4. What does Monkey do to make the master lose his temper?

5. What do you think the Master was trying to tell Monkey?

6. Would you like Monkey as a student in your classroom?

Chapter Five

Monkey Meets a

Sage

Chapter 5

Monkey

Meets a

Sage

14


wretched “You wretched monkey! What are you doing here? (miserable)

transformations “He learned transformations that allowed him to turn

himself into anything he wished.” (changes, alterations)

intently “All the students were listening intently…” (carefully)

Calamities “…what about the Three Calamities? (disasters, misfortunes)

perish “If you don’t know how to ward them off, you will perish.” (die)


1. What convinces Master Subhodi to accept Monkey as his student?

2. Explain what makes a good student. Is monkey a good student?

3. “Monkey King began to get bored.” The author, Sid Hite, wrote that “Boredom is an excuse for not thinking.” Does this apply to Monkey?

4. Monkey gives many examples of “being up to monkey business”. What does this idiom mean in connection to Monkey?

5. Does Monkey know everything as he claims? What do you think lies ahead

for Monkey?

Chapter Six

Monkey Becomes

a Student

15


recited “He recited spells, memorized formulas, and formulas

listened to his master’s lessons.” (performed)

advanced “Monkey became the master’s most advanced student.” (superior)

disrespectful “It’s too dangerous. And disrespectful.” (rude, bad-mannered)

wailed “As he went, he wailed, ‘What will happen to me now?’” (cried)


1. Create a list of Master Subhodi’s rules. What do you think would be on

his list?

2. Did Monkey have a good reason for using his special power?

3. Should Master Subhodi give Monkey another chance?

4. Answer Monkey’s last question, “What will happen to me now?” 5. What has been Monkey’s most difficult challenge so far?

Chapter Seven

Monkey Transforms

Himself

16


lassoed “…he leaped up into the sky and lassoed a cloud.” (roped)

soles “…they hugged him…from the top of his head to the

soles of his feet.” (bottoms)

demon “We were attacked by a terrible demon…” (devil)

havoc “He is called the Demon of Havoc.” (chaos, disaster)

vast “…landing right next to a vast hole…” (enormous)

billowing “A dark, stinking wind was billowing out…” (bulging)

marbled “…he wore a breastplate marbled with hailstones.”(spotted)

conjuring “…conjuring up a great wind

of his own.” (using magic to create)

Question/Predict/Evaluate Standards 3, 6, 7 1. What does Monkey find on his return to his clan?

2. How does the Demon of Havoc truly look like his name?

3. How does the Demon show his disrespect for Monkey?

4. What did Monkey use to defeat the Demon?

5. Do you think Monkey will be content to return home and stay with his

monkey clan?

Chapter Eight Monkey Meets a Demon

17


churning “…jumped into the churning stream.” (roiling, agitated)

suitable “I need a suitable weapon for myself…” (appropriate)

rude “What a rude request!” (impolite)

barged “Without waiting…he barged into...the Hall.” (pushed)

pillar “His eyes were drawn to a thick iron pillar…” (column)

innumerable “…glowed with innumerable beams of light.” (countless)

funnel “…making a great funnel of water…” (cone, shaft)


1. What does Monkey King seek from the bottom of the sea and how does he

get there?

2. Why did The Dragon King agree to give Monkey a weapon?

3. Was Monkey respectful to the Dragon King? Explain.

4. What weapon does Monkey choose from the Treasure Hall?

5. The Dragon King calls Monkey a thief. Do you think he is a thief? What

does this whole episode show about Monkey? Has he made a friend in the

Dragon King?

6. Do you think Monkey is now “prepared for anything?”

Chapter Nine

Monkey Goes to the

Sea

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abominable “I…beg you to bring the abominable monkey to justice.” (horrible)

pest “…send soldiers to capture this pest…” (nuisance)

mused “Jade Emperor mused out loud.” (pondered)

strategy “Brilliant strategy…” (plan)

troupe “…while a troupe of magical spirits danced…” (cast, group)


1. Explain what the Jade Emperor’s “brilliant strategy” is to handle Monkey. Do you think it will work?

2. How does Monkey show his arrogance to the Jade Emperor?

3. Will Monkey be able to carry out his job – to protect the celestial peaches?

4. Explain the last two lines of this chapter. Why do you think the Jade

Emperor “smiled mysteriously”?

Chapter Ten

Monkey Visits Jade

Emperor

19


pagodas “…leading to eight red pagodas carved with dragons.” (temples)

swooned “Monkeys fairly swooned with delight”. (fainted)

aroma “The air was ripe with the aroma of peaches.” (scent, smell)


1. Explain Monkey’s great temptation in his job as supervisor.

2. What do we learn about Monkey fro m this chapter? Is there anything that

Monkey is afraid of?

3. How do you think the Jade Emperor will react to the fairies’ news? How will

Monkey explain this one? What excuse will he use to get out of this problem?

4. In a battle for control who would win: the Jade Emperor or Monkey?

Chapter Eleven

Monkey in the

Celestial Peach

Garden

20


fetch “We were sent by the Jade Emperor to fetch peaches…” (get)

feigned “Monkey feigned surprise.” (pretended)

tittered “But then Monkey tittered.” (snickered)

delectable “A delectable current flowed down his tongue…” (delicious)

giddy “Feeling a little giddy, Monkey sat on the floor.” (dizzy)

glee “It shall give us all a touch of glee.” (merriment)


1. Why do you think Monkey was not invited to the Peach Banquet at the

Jade Pond?

2. How does Monkey get his invitation to the banquet?

3. In this chapter the author uses many kinds of words to show laughter.

Create a word wall with all of these words. Use the newspaper to

continue your search and add more words. What makes you laugh

uncontrollably?

4. Has Monkey finally met the end of his foolishness? What will the Jade

Emperor do? Can he really fire Monkey?

Chapter Twelve

Monkey Goes to a

Banquet

21


disguised “Monkey suddenly remembered he was disguised.” (masked, camouflaged)

restrain “Monkey could no longer restrain himself.” (contain)

gravely “Jade Emperor looked gravely round at Monkey.” (sternly)

arrest “It’s a kind of an arrest, although he doesn’t know that…” (capture)

rascal “I order you to…arrest this rascal…” (scoundrel)

regret “He shall regret the day he ever came to Heaven.” (bemoan)


1. What is the extremely serious matter to be discussed by the gods and

goddesses?

2. How does Monkey give himself away?

3. What chaos has he created in Heaven? How many different enemies has

he made throughout this story?

4. Can Monkey survive Vaisravane’s one hundred thousand soldiers? What powers could Monkey use to overcome this army?

Chapter

Thirteen

Monkey at the

Peach Banquet

22


geyser “Monkey spat it all out in a great geyser…” (spout of water)

vicious “...another carried a vicious hook…” (brutal)

fearsome “Each bore a fearsome weapon…” (terrifying)

panic “The King of the East fled in panic.” (terror)


1. Describe the battle scene in Chapter 14. Notice the battle flags used by each

side. What do they mean?

2. What are Monkey’s crimes? 3. What skills does Monkey use to defend himself against the Jade Emperor’s forces?

4. In what ways does this chapter resemble an American tall tale – Chinese style?

5. Is there anything that the Jade Emperor can do to stop Monkey? What do

you think the Goddess Guan-yin has in mind?

Chapter Fourteen

Monkey Under

Attack

23


pursuit “But the hawk followed in close pursuit.” (chase)

veered “Suddenly the sparrow veered and dove…” (swerved)

tentacles “…the fish swam…right between the tentacles.” (feelers)

vicious “…each hair became ten thousand vicious wasps.” (nasty)


1. Magician Lang was described as “a very pretty, delicate looking woman,

with a pale face, finely arched eyebrows, and a small red mouth”. Who is

this magician and how do her actions defy her description?

2. How does the battle of transformations between Magician Lang and

Monkey turn out? What was the most evenly matched battle?

3. How could Monkey escape the magic vase?

Chapter Fifteen

Goddess

Guan-yin’s

Idea

24


securely “…to bind Monkey securely with magic ropes.” (tightly)

unrepentant “This Monkey is unrepentant”! (unapologetic)

indestructible “I became immortal. I am indestructible!” (unbreakable)

cauldron “Put him in a cauldron and light a fire beneath

it for one year.” (boiler pot)

reassembled “Everyone in Heaven reassembled to view the

cauldron…” (came back together)

dispute “I am Buddha…and I have come to end this dispute.” (quarrel)

ambitious “You are indeed ambitious.” Buddha smiled. (determined)


1. How does Monkey show he is unrepentant in front of the Jade Dragon?

2. How does Monkey finally prove he has become immortal?

3. Finally someone comes to end this conflict. Explain.

4. Is Monkey worthy of replacing the Jade Emperor? Should a leader by

serious instead of laughing to be worthy?

Chapter 16

Monkey

Captured

25

Vocabulary In Context Standards 3,

4

unfamiliar “…in front of him was an un-

familiar landscape…” (strange)

sputtered “It’s…it’s impossible!”

Monkey sputtered. (gasped)

wailed “Five hundred years!”

Monkey wailed…” (cried)


1. Buddha offers Monkey a test. Why

does Monkey so readily agree to this

challenge?

2. List all the ways Monkey has used his

hair throughout the story.

3. What is the “boundless flat plain with five pillars soaring straight into the sky?”

What does this symbol mean?

4. How did Buddha prove to Monkey that he never left his palm?

5. What is Monkey’s punishment? 6. Buddha seems to speak in riddles when he says, “...my hand is always the

smallest hand in the world and the largest – at the same time.” What could Buddha mean?

7. Buddha said Monkey could be released when he has learned from his

mistakes. What were Monkey’s mistakes? 8. Would you call Monkey an optimist or a pessimist? Why?

9. Imagine the continuing story of Monkey. What kind of Monkey magic

could he be involved in as he learns from his mistakes?

10. In Chapter 7 Master Subhodi said “Nothing in the world is too difficult, but our thoughts make it so. All you have to do is work hard at it.” Do you think Monkey can do the hard work and transform himself into a

worthy and useful one?

Chapter Seventeen

What Happened to

Monkey King

26

MORE NEWSPAPER ACTIVITIES Standards 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12

Using the international sections of the newspaper, study the China of

present day. What are the challenges and problems facing the Chinese

people today? What facts can you learn about the following issues:

business relationships, human rights, the environment, religious

understanding, cultural awareness, and political conflicts?

In what sections of the newspaper do you find stories relating to China?

In what sections of the newspaper do you find examples of how China has

influenced our own culture?

Create a collage of newspaper stories the class has collected which

connect with China and her culture.

Use the newspaper to study how China relates to its neighbors including

Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Russia.

Monkey has been made into books, a CD rom, and a television series. Study

the comic section of the newspaper. Which comics use animals as their

main character? How are they portrayed? How do they talk? Then using

the titles of the chapters in this story, design a Monkey King comic strip

that shows the action in each. Decorate the classroom with these works

of art.

Monkey King is to China as Paul Bunyan is a national character in

America. Study the newspaper to discover the pressing problems of your

state, city, and community. How would Monkey King solve these problems?

Find the international section of the weather page. How do temperatures

in China compare to those in the United States, with your state, your

community?

Find and clip stories that show the influences Asian Americans have had

and continue to have on our culture.

Using one of Monkey’s escapades, rewrite this piece of literature as news. Answer the Who? What? Where? When? How? And Why? as a reporter

would. Write a headline after studying the headlines in your newspaper for

ideas.

Answers to Question/Predict/Evaluate

Chapter 1 1. A terrible storm, bolts of lightning, thunder crashed, winds howled, torrents of rain, animals cowered, the huge rock on

the mountaintop split in two, leaving a glossy, stone egg at the needle peak of the mountain, 2 feet round and blacker than night. 99 days later, a gust of wind shaped as a dragon breathed fire on the egg. The fireball grew 9 times, burned for 9 days and nights and on the l0th day, the fire died, the egg split, and there stood a small stone monkey.

2. Monkey’s eyes twinkled, silky golden fur, he jumped up 30 feet, rolled into a perfect somersault, and landed on his feet. He bowed 4 times, lifted his head to the sky and laughed a hearty powerful laugh that shook the trees. As he laughed, a beam of light shot from his eyes.

3. If a league = 3 geographical miles, a thousand leagues = 3,000 miles. 4. The emperor said “if it is only a little monkey, and he’s laughing, there is nothing for us to worry about.”

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5. Answers will vary. Chapter 2 1. The monkeys find themselves at the bottom of a gigantic waterfall. 2. AWV. 3. Monkey accepts the dare made by the curious monkey…whoever is brave enough to go through the waterfall and

discover what is on the other side will become our king. 4. 5. AWV. Chapter 3 1. Monkey finds a hidden paradise with lush gardens, beautiful tables, books, a golden throne, and more. 2. Monkey becomes the king by going through the waterfall and finding the paradise when no one else would. He

proved himself worthy by doing this challenge. The other monkeys also keep their word and proclaim him king. 3. The monkeys behave badly…they scream, fight, squabble, push, and shove each other. 4. AWV. Chapter 4 1. Monkeys are happy when they have no cares or worries. AWV. 2. Monkey worries about dying and then all the joy will end. 3. Monkey’s quest is to find the secrets of the 3 beings that live forever. 4. Sages, immortals, gods. 5. The woodcutter takes Monkey to Master Subhodi’s cave. Master Subhodi is a sage. 6. 7. AWV. Chapter 5 1. Monkey is greeted by a tiny child (sent by Master Subhodi) and the child knows everything about monkey and his

arrival. 2. AWV. Subhodi is solemn, dignified, a man with a long, white beard, kind face, eyes full of wisdom. Monkey is

boastful, loud, impatient, and naughty. 3. Monkey does not want to learn the any of the 360 schools of wisdom. He does not want to do anything that is difficult

or will take time. 4. Everything that Master Subhodi suggests, Monkey turns down. He wants only to learn one thing…to live forever. 5. 6. AWV. Chapter 6 1. Monkey was able to read Master Subhodi’s secret signs. 2. 3. 4. AWV. 5. Master Subhodi makes a fool of Monkey. He says Monkey knows nothing about cloud soaring, the Three Calamities, and the secret of life. AWV. Chapter 7 1. AWV, but may include work hard, study, recite spells, memorize formulas, listen to master’s lessons, be respectful, be

humble, never use powers without a good reason, etc. 2. Monkey’s reason for using his special powers is to show he is smarter than all the other students. Master will not

think this is a good reason though Monkey obviously does. 3. 4. 5. AWV. Chapter 8 1. When Monkey returns, he finds everything in his paradise has been ruined because his clan was attacked by a demon. 2. Havoc means disaster, chaos and ruin. The Demon of Havoc is enormous, with bulging muscles, blows hot winds, his

eyes are fireballs, his beard is made of icicles,, his chest covered with hailstones, and he carries lightning bolts. This is the disasters that come from all of Mother Nature’s weather.

3. The Demon laughs at Monkey’s size, and throws away his weapons. 4. Monkey uses his fists like cannonballs, he becomes invisible to evade the lightning bolts, and finally he plucks golden

hairs from his leg which turn into hundreds of tiny monkeys who swarm over the demon and conquer it. 5. AWV. Chapter 9 1. Monkey seeks a weapon “suitable” for someone as special as he is. He jumps into the churning sea and rides a

whirlpool to the front of the Dragon Palace. 2. The Dragon King agrees because he is a little nervous about Monkey because only someone great and powerful could

get to the bottom of the sea. So the Dragon King does not refuse him. 3. Monkey was not respectful because he refused the 3 weapons offered to him and chose his own from the Dragon’s

Treasure Hall. 4. Monkey wants the “magic pillar” that holds up an island on the sea surface.

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5. 6. AWV but include the fact that Monkey does steal the pillar without regard to what happens to the island or what the Dragon King thinks. The Dragon King sends an army against Monkey which is defeated by Monkey and the pillar.

Chapter 10 1. The Jade Emperor decides to offer Monkey a job in heaven so he can be watched. If Monkey behaves, he will be

promoted. If he doesn’t behave, he will be arrested. AWV. 2. Monkey shows his arrogance by saying “I am Magnificent Monkey King. Why should I work for you? I am going

home.” Monkey acts better than anyone. 3. 4. AWV. Chapter 11 1. Monkey loves peaches and the Jade Emperor puts him in charge of protecting his Celestial Peach Garden. He is not to

each them and yet there are 3 different kinds, 3600 trees and they offer joy, wisdom, staying young forever, and immortality. How can Monkey resist the temptation?

2. AWV. We learn Monkey does not even fear the Jade Emperor, he does not have will power or self-control. He is a master of transformation and a lazy trickster who has excuses for everything.

3. 4. AWV. Chapter 12 1. AWV. Monkey thinks of himself as a very important being, but the other high beings apparently do not. 2. Monkey invites himself. He sends a guest named Lotus-Feet Immortal to the wrong location. Then he transforms

himself into her identical twin and goes to the banquet in her place. 3. laughs, chortles, giggles, snickers, chuckles, guffawing, belly laughing, slapping his legs, howling, glee, tittering, etc. 4. AWV. Chapter 13 1. The gods and goddesses want to discuss the problem of Monkey and his “arrest” by the Jade Emperor. 2. Monkey’s tail gives him away and he is discovered by the Dragon King from whom he stole the magic pillar. 3. As Monkey escapes from heaven, the seven fairies are unfrozen, Lotus-Feet Immortal appears, and the servants report

the laughing liquid is gone. 4. AWV. Chapter 14 1. The Jade Emperor has 100,000 heavenly soldiers and uses a yellow flag proclaiming peace. Monkey has 10,000

monkey warriors and uses a red and gold flag to proclaim he is the greatest. 2. AWV. Monkey has disrespected the Jade Emperor, broke his agreement as caretaker of the peach orchard, lied to

Lotus-Feet Immortal, stolen from Dragon King and laughed in the immortals faces while saying he is the greatest of them all.

3. Monkey is clever and resourceful. Again he uses hair he pulls from his body and magically turns it into a straw to put water on the fireballs. He leaps, jumps, he frustrates them all. Their normal weapons are of no use on him. He uses water and wasps.

4. A tall tale shows exaggeration. Monkey never takes his enemies seriously. He says he will tickle the Jade Emperor, he laughs in their faces. He is greatly outnumbered by warriors and generals and yet he defeats them easily with water and wasps.

5. AWV. Chapter 15 1. Goddess Guan-yin wants to use Magician Lang to catch Monkey. Monkey says Magician Lang is a pretty woman but

she uses transformations to become a giant, a hawk, a shark, a gray crane, and then fights him as herself for 9 days and 10 nights.

2. The battle is hard fought and evenly matched. No one wins. AWV. 3. AWV. Chapter 16 1. Monkey is only sorry that he didn’t have eyes in the top of his head to see the vase coming that captured him. 2. Monkey is tied to a pillar and overcomes a soldier attack, the Fire Star, Thunder Spirit, and one year in the blackened

cauldron. 3. Buddha, the greatest being of the Western Paradise, interrupts the fighting and gives Monkey a chance to prove he is

worthy of ruling Heaven instead of the Jade Emperor. 4. AWV. Chapter 17 1. Monkey is very arrogant and cocky and also no one has defeated him yet. 2. Monkey has used his hair to become monkeys to battle the Demon of Havoc, to become wasps and defeat General

Vaisravane’s soldiers, and to become a paint brush and mark his spot in Buddha’s palm.

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3. This is Buddha’s palm and the world all at once. This mountain range and Buddha’s palm become the same, the smallest and largest hand in the world all at the same time. Monkey will always be in Buddha’s world.

4. Monkey had left a sign on one of the pillars that said “Magnificent Monkey was here.” So his own sign convinced him that he had not left Buddha’s palm.

5. Monkey must stay under Buddha’s mountain (in his hand) until he can use his power wisely and usefully – at least 500 years.

6. AWV. 7. Monkey’s mistakes are that he has never learned from his mistakes and made trouble throughout heaven. He must

learn to become worthy of respect. Monkey has always though of himself first and others later. 8. Monkey is definitely an optimist. He is always happy and laughing and find solutions for every problem he faces. 9. 10. AWV.

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

1. Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.

2. Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience.

3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics.)

4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and non-print texts.

7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.

8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

9. Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.

10. Students whose first language is not English make use of their first language to develop competency in the English language arts and to develop understanding of content across the curriculum. 11. Students participate as knowledgeable, reflective, creative, and critical members of a variety of literacy communities. 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Source: http://www.ncte.org

http://www.ncte.org/

THE MONKEY KING · 2017-12-27 · fire and smoke added to the monkey a pair of fiery golden crystal...

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