Falling Leaves

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the book in your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Gender Hierarchies and the Female Struggle is one of the ongoing themes developed throughout the narrative: Gong Gong, Aunt Baba, and Adeline all experience some form of female-related struggle and gender bias.

• What overall message or idea is suggested by their experiences with gender hierarchies and the female struggle? (topic sentence)
• What actions by Gong Gong, Aunt Baba, Adeline, or their antagonists contribute to that message or idea? Provide examples of actions, events, and/or situations from the text.
• In your concluding sentence(s) identify the most important pivotal scene involving gender hierarches and the female struggle and why it is important to the story.

2. On her deathbed, Aunt Baba tells a fairy tale to Adeline about a girl hurt by her stepmother who then triumphs over the pain to create beautiful pieces of art.

• What is the significance of this fairy tale? (topic sentence)
• Compare Aunt Baba’s fairy tale to the “Cinderella” fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers.
• What does this say about Aunt Baba’s role in Adeline’s life? In your concluding sentence(s), discuss the connection between the fairy tales and Aunt Baba’s attitude toward Adeline.

3. By the end of Falling Leaves, everyone (the children, Aunt Baba, Ye Ye, Joseph) become powerless against Niang.

• Why is everyone powerless against Niang? (topic sentence)
• How is Niang victorious in manipulating the children after her death? How and why does she fail?
• What is your final impression of Niang? In your concluding sentence(s) share how you think she came to be this way.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Adeline Yen Mah uses the Chinese proverb “falling leaves return to their roots” as the basis for her title Falling Leaves. What is the significance of this title? Of all the Chinese proverbs used throughout the narrative, why do you think she chose this one for the title? What does it mean in the larger context of her story? How does it contribute to the recurring motif of Chinese Proverbs and Chinese Characters? Use examples from the text to support your ideas.

2. Once away from her family and over the course of her adult life, Adeline enters into three romantic relationships: Karl, Byron, and Bob. Of the three, two are considered unhealthy. Why does she enter into the harmful relationships with Karl and Byron? Why do they turn out to be destructive? What does this relationship pattern say about Adeline? Compare and contrast them with her relationship with Bob. How is her relationship with Bob different? Why? Support your ideas with examples from the text.

3. Adeline experiences life in at least three different cultures: China, England, and America. How do these international experiences shape her character? What does she learn from these experiences? How do these lessons support one or more of the narrative’s themes? Use textual references to reinforce your ideas.