RED SCARF GIRL by Ji-Li Jiang (Study Guide for prologue to Chapter 7)

RED SCARF GIRL by Ji-Li Jiang

Study Guide for Prologue to Chapter 7

Answer Questions in complete sentences and in depth on another sheet of paper and include PAGE NUMBERS.

1. Who are the members of Ji-Li’s family? Describe her family home. What class status does her family belong to? What is the occupation of her father? Mother?

Classes answer: The members of Ji-Li's family are Ji-Yong as the younger brother (11years old), p14, Ji-Yun (10 year old), Song Po-Po (the nanny/housekeeper), p14-15, mom and dad, Grandmother, (who used to be the principal), p14, Aunt and cousin, (they live downstairs and the cousin is You-Mei, p15, a cat called "little White", p17. You-Mei's baby (Hua-Hua) pg.15.

Her family home is a big building in Shanghai, a french window and high ceiling, p15, and had only one room. The apartment was warm, and bright, p7. There was a private bathroom, as large as some peoples entire house, p15-16. They lived on an alley, p20. Mahagony table, p16.

Family occupation: Her dad is an actor and her mom used to be an actor, p13, (she now works at a sport store). Her Grandmother was vice-principal of her old school, p14.

Her families class status: Upper middle class, p16, (there family had a bigger place to live in and were more special). p15, her Grandmother had a modern education.


My answer: The members of Ji-Li's family are mom and dad, Ji-Yong her younger brother (11years old), Ji-Yun another younger brother (10 years old), Grandmother who used to be the vice-principal of her school, Song Po-Po the nanny/housekeeper, aunt, her daughter cousin You-mei, cousin’s daughter (Hua-Hua) and a cat called "little White", (p14-17).

Her family home is in a big building in an alley in Shanghai. There is only one huge room with a French window and high ceiling. The kitchen is small and is outside the room on the landing. There is a private full-size bathroom, as large as some people’s entire house with a sink, a toilet and a tub, (p15-16). The apartment is warm and bright, (p7).

Her family is upper middle class. They are considered to be part of the elite society, bourgeoisies, as they are educated and Ji-Li’s grandfather was a landlord (p-58).

Her dad is a stage actor and her mom used to be an actress but she now works at a sport store, (p13).


2. What is Ji-Li’s life at school like? What special honor is Ji-Li picked for at school? Describe Ji-Li’s parents’ reaction. What does Ji-Li do instead of entering the audition?

Classes answer: Ji-Li's life at school: Ji-Li was expected to succeed in everything, She was able to excell(pg.1). They were acussing her and her best friends for spreading the "four olds" (pg34-36). Ji-Li scored a perfect score on a math test(pg.3)
She had oppertunitys for dance training (pg.6)

What special honor is she choosen for?: The central liberation army arts academy choose Ji-Li for their dance troop (pg.6).

Her parents reaction: They said no. They said that they had political problems that were complicated (pg.10). Her mom said that the army would be strict (pg.8) Her father was first shocked then angry then overp protected and discouraging (pg8-10). Solemn(pg.8)

What does Ji-Li do instead? : She gives a note to the principal about how she cannot participate in the try-outs (pg.11)


My answer: Ji-Li is very happy at school as she excels and succeeds in everything she does (pg.1). She is picked by the Liberation Army woman to audition for the Central Liberation Army Arts Academy’s dance troop (p-6). Ji-li’s parents were not happy about the audition and they forbade her to do it. At first her parents were shocked and looked very solemn when Ji-Li told them about the audition (p-8). Her mother tried to tell her that the audition would be too strict but her father told her that they had political problems that were complicated (p-9-10). Ji-Li gives Principal Long the note from her father and hurries out of the room before the principal can question her. She hides behind a tree and cries when she sees the others going to the audition (p-11-12).



3. What are the “four olds”? Provide some examples of each and explain why they need to be destroyed. What does “prosperity” mean? Why is it considered an old thought?

The four olds are old culture, old ideas, old customs and old habits (pg.21).

Example of old culture is the Great Prosperity Market sign. This sign indicates that it is good to make a lot of money. Example of old ideas are superstitions such as eating a spring roll so you would roll the money in it. Example of old customs is spending a lot of money for someone who has died. By spending money on coffins and banquets they believe that the spirit will go to heaven. Example of old habits is like not sweeping the floor on New Year’s Day so one would not sweep the god of wealth out of the house
(P-25-26). Chairman Mao said that the Four Olds need to be destroyed to establish the Four News, as only then they will succeed at building a strong socialist country (p-21).

Prosperity means to make a fortune (p-26).
It is considered an old thought because the new idea is that making too much money is exploitation (p-25).


4. What is xenophile? Why was it bad to be a xenophile in Revolutionary China?

A xenophile is a person who follows western rules and culture (p-34). During the Revolutionary time in China it was bad to be a Xenophile because Chairman Mao had said to destroy anything that had to do with western culture. If one followed the western culture people then that person would be considered a capitalist which would mean the person believes in exploitation and the four olds (p-36).

5. What are da-zi-bao? What are being done with them? Who is Jiang Xi- Wen? Why does Ji- Li hang a da-zi-bao on her house?


Da-zi-bao’s are big posters that have negative things written on them about the educational system (p-38).

Da-zi-baos are being posted on the houses of some bourgeoisie (p-43).

Jiang Xi- Wen is Ji-Li’s aunt; she is Ji-Li’s Dad’s cousin. She is a bourgeois and is hated by lots of people. She is old but because she dresses stylishly and wears make-up she makes herself look young. She is picky about things and isn’t really friendly (p-44).

Ji-Li hangs a da-zi-bao on Jiang Xi- Wen’s house because she is a bourgeois and also because a few weeks ago Jiang Xi-Wen had complained to the school because some students had climbed into her yard to pick mulberry leaves for their silk worms (p.46-47).

6. Why does Ji-Li stop going to school for a while? (She has been accused of what?)


Ji-Li stops going to school because she has fever and because people wrote a da-zi-bao about her (p-52). The da-zi-bao was about her and her relationship with Ke Cheng-li, a male teacher (p-49). The da-zi-bao wasn’t true.

7. What is a rightist? Use your own words to briefly explain the process of remolding one’s ideology.

Rightists are people who believe that citizens should have more say in how the country is run; they believe that the government should be small (pg.58).

Remolding one’s ideology is changing how one thinks. The process of remolding one’s ideology is, basically how the government or someone uses different systems, methods philosophies, etc, to change how one thinks.


8.What did Ji-Li’s grandfather (her Dad’s father) do for a living? How does this affect Ji-Li’s life?

Ji-Li’s grandfather was a landlord (p-58).

This affects Ji-Li’s life because people have a bad impression on landlords as they are considered to be the number one enemy, the worst of the “Five Black Categories”. Landlords were considered to be exploiters and there were worse than criminals and counterrevolutionaries (p-58). As her grandfather was a landlord her family class status was not right which is why she was not elected as a Red Successor (p-61).