"The White Umbrella" by Gish Jen
About the Author, Gish Jen
Gish Jen, author of "The White Umbrella" is a second generation Chinese American, born in 1955 in Long Island, New York. "The White Umbrella" was written based on Gish's real-life experiences. For example, both the narrator and Gish struggled to get used to the American culture. In addition, in "The White Umbrella" the narrator is embarrassed that her mother is working as a secretary, and in real life, Gish is embarrassed of how Chinese she is. Also importantly, similar to the story, the narrator and Gish both have regrets and thoughts that they wish they could take back, such as when the narrator says "I wish you would quit!" (Pg.10). In summary, Gish Jen wrote "The White Umbrella" based on what she has experienced and lived through for her entire life.
Gish Jen, author of "The White Umbrella" is a second generation Chinese American, born in 1955 in Long Island, New York. "The White Umbrella" was written based on Gish's real-life experiences. For example, both the narrator and Gish struggled to get used to the American culture. In addition, in "The White Umbrella" the narrator is embarrassed that her mother is working as a secretary, and in real life, Gish is embarrassed of how Chinese she is. Also importantly, similar to the story, the narrator and Gish both have regrets and thoughts that they wish they could take back, such as when the narrator says "I wish you would quit!" (Pg.10). In summary, Gish Jen wrote "The White Umbrella" based on what she has experienced and lived through for her entire life.
Pre-reading Activity:
What does it mean to be embarrassed?
To be embarrassed means to be ashamed of yourself for doing something or when someone else says something about you. For example, if there is someone bullying you who steals something such as a diary or journal, they may tell people something embarrassing about you, such as a person you like, or an embarrassing hobby that you rarely do. In addition, when I was six years old, one time my sister and I embarrassed my mother when we were fighting at the market. Everyone was staring at us, probably thinking "how were those kids raised?" and this made my mother feel horrible. Also importantly, I have been embarrassed by my grandfather; at my Tahitian Drumming competition in Merced last year, when me and my partners came on stage, he yelled "yee-haw" in the front row. This embarrassed me because we were at a Tahitian competition, not a rodeo. In conclusion, to be embarrassed means a lot of different things, such as if you are embarrassed by family, it isn't meant to be so bad, but if you are humiliated by someone you are not fond to, it could be purposive.
What does it mean to be embarrassed?
To be embarrassed means to be ashamed of yourself for doing something or when someone else says something about you. For example, if there is someone bullying you who steals something such as a diary or journal, they may tell people something embarrassing about you, such as a person you like, or an embarrassing hobby that you rarely do. In addition, when I was six years old, one time my sister and I embarrassed my mother when we were fighting at the market. Everyone was staring at us, probably thinking "how were those kids raised?" and this made my mother feel horrible. Also importantly, I have been embarrassed by my grandfather; at my Tahitian Drumming competition in Merced last year, when me and my partners came on stage, he yelled "yee-haw" in the front row. This embarrassed me because we were at a Tahitian competition, not a rodeo. In conclusion, to be embarrassed means a lot of different things, such as if you are embarrassed by family, it isn't meant to be so bad, but if you are humiliated by someone you are not fond to, it could be purposive.
Vocabulary in Context
Mechanism: The main control part of a car that operates the sunroof, the windows, etc. "We just couldn't get the roof of our car to close, is all. We took it to the beach last summer and got sand in the mechanism. (Pg.2)
Radiant: Shining or filled with something. "Mrs. Roberts, radiant with pride, swept her daughter out of the room as if she were royalty, born to the piano bench." (Pg.3)
Resumed: Continued or proceeded. "As she resumed abuse of the piano, I stared at the umbrella." (Pg.4)
Revelation: A promotion or jump. "Even Mona seemed to find the revelation disappointing." (Pg.9)
Maneuver: A shift or rotation of someone or something. "Remembering what I had said to Mrs. Crosman, I tried to maneuver the umbrella under my leg so she wouldn't feel it." (Pg.10)
Diverted: Synonym for maneuver; a shift or rotation. "I was relieved to have attention diverted from the umbrella." (Pg.11)
Intently: A specific look on someone's face. "She turned around, looked at me intently, then put her hand to my forehead." (Pg.11)
Mechanism: The main control part of a car that operates the sunroof, the windows, etc. "We just couldn't get the roof of our car to close, is all. We took it to the beach last summer and got sand in the mechanism. (Pg.2)
Radiant: Shining or filled with something. "Mrs. Roberts, radiant with pride, swept her daughter out of the room as if she were royalty, born to the piano bench." (Pg.3)
Resumed: Continued or proceeded. "As she resumed abuse of the piano, I stared at the umbrella." (Pg.4)
Revelation: A promotion or jump. "Even Mona seemed to find the revelation disappointing." (Pg.9)
Maneuver: A shift or rotation of someone or something. "Remembering what I had said to Mrs. Crosman, I tried to maneuver the umbrella under my leg so she wouldn't feel it." (Pg.10)
Diverted: Synonym for maneuver; a shift or rotation. "I was relieved to have attention diverted from the umbrella." (Pg.11)
Intently: A specific look on someone's face. "She turned around, looked at me intently, then put her hand to my forehead." (Pg.11)
Evaluative Writing
Sometimes keeping a secret can be either good or bad. For example, it is good to keep a secret when someone such as your friend tells you to, because it might embarrass them, like in "The White Umbrella" when the narrator tells Mona not to tell anyone her mother is a secretary. In addition, it is bad to keep a secret from your parents or a person of authority, such as when a bully shoves you on the ground and tells you "don't tell anybody!", because you do not want to have to lie to your parents when you get a black eye from someone. Also importantly, it is bad to keep a secret from anyone you know, because it could ruin your friendship. In conclusion, no one should keep secrets unless they are for your own or someone else's good.
Sometimes keeping a secret can be either good or bad. For example, it is good to keep a secret when someone such as your friend tells you to, because it might embarrass them, like in "The White Umbrella" when the narrator tells Mona not to tell anyone her mother is a secretary. In addition, it is bad to keep a secret from your parents or a person of authority, such as when a bully shoves you on the ground and tells you "don't tell anybody!", because you do not want to have to lie to your parents when you get a black eye from someone. Also importantly, it is bad to keep a secret from anyone you know, because it could ruin your friendship. In conclusion, no one should keep secrets unless they are for your own or someone else's good.