Chinese cinderella- Adeline yen mah Flashcards
Emotive Language
“My heart was full of dread.”
“I was overwhelmed by the thought that I had been summoned by Father.”
Effect: Highlights the narrator’s fear and anxiety.
Helps readers understand her emotional state — vulnerable, isolated, and desperate for affection.
First-person Narrative
“I wondered why I had been singled out.”
Effect: Makes the text intimate and personal.
Allows readers to experience events through her eyes, increasing emotional impact.
Direct Speech
“Sit down!” he said, not looking at me.
“You have potential. I’ve decided to send you to England.”
Effect: Makes the moment feel real and immediate.
Shows power dynamics — the father’s coldness vs. the daughter’s nervousness.
Contrast
She expects punishment but receives unexpected praise.
Effect: Highlights the emotional confusion and low self-esteem caused by her upbringing.
Emphasises how rare kindness or attention is for her.
Symbolism
“Going to England is like entering heaven.”
Effect: England symbolizes hope, escape, and freedom from emotional abuse.
Suggests how desperate she is for a better life and for her father’s approval.
Imagery
“The door closed silently behind me.”
Effect: Enhances the mood of tension and isolation.
A small detail that represents her nervous anticipation.
Metaphor
“A bird about to take flight.”
Effect: Reflects her hope and longing for freedom.
Suggests she is trapped, but this moment may offer escape.
Formal Tone of the Father
His speech is clipped, emotionless, and authoritative.
Effect: Highlights the emotional distance and power imbalance.
Makes the daughter’s fear and desire to please even more painful.
Chronological Narrative / Linear Structure
The story follows a clear beginning-to-end sequence: from being summoned → walking to her father’s room → conversation → reaction.
Effect: Builds a sense of real-time progression, allowing tension and emotion to develop naturally.
Makes the reader feel like they are experiencing the moment alongside her.
Opening with Uncertainty and Dread
“Time went by relentlessly and it was Saturday again.”
Effect: Creates an immediate mood of unease.
Starts with a tone of resignation, reflecting her emotional state and setting the tone for what follows.
Build-Up of Tension / Suspense
As she walks to her father’s room, thoughts race:
“Why? Why was I being singled out?”
Effect: Mirrors her rising anxiety and fear.
Makes the reader anticipate something bad, increasing emotional investment.
Shift in Focus: External → Internal
Begins with her physical actions, then moves to her inner emotions and thoughts.
Effect: Helps the reader understand how overwhelming the moment is — not just what happens, but how it feels.
Emphasises her emotional vulnerability.
Climactic Moment: Dialogue with Father
The middle of the text contains the tense exchange with her father.
Effect: This is the turning point — the unexpected praise and plan to send her to England.
Offers contrast to her expectations and creates an emotional twist.
Contrast in Reactions Before and After
Before: dread and fear
After: relief, disbelief, and quiet excitement
“Going to England is like entering heaven.”
Effect: Emphasises the unexpected emotional shift, deepening the emotional impact.
Shows how rare approval or kindness is in her life.
Ending on a Reflective and Hopeful Note
The extract ends with her internal thoughts, imagining the future.
Effect: Provides a sense of emotional release and hope after the tension.
Leaves the reader reflecting on the power of small moments of validation.
Use of Paragraphing to Mirror Emotion
Shorter paragraphs for emotional impact, longer ones for description and thought.
Effect: Varied rhythm mirrors the emotional ups and downs of the experience.
Emphasises important moments by isolating them.
