Themes

Question 1

“How worthless and ugly Niang made me feel.”

Answer 1

This is the theme abandonment and loneliness because she feels that Niang makes her feel sad and like nobody likes her

Question 2

“I was the only one accompanied by anyone from my family.”

Answer 2

The theme is family and relationships because no one from her family cared about her enough to come and congratulate her about getting a award.

Question 3

“I’m nothing, less then nothing.

Answer 3

The theme is self-esteem because she thinks that she’s nothing and worthless and that no one cares about her.

Question 4

“It all stem from mama dying when you were born…things were much nicer when she was alive. You made her go away

Answer 4

This is the theme family/relationships, because she is always blamed for misfortune in her family and her mothers death, this takes a massive toll on her family relationships.

Question 5

“……… Does he truly hate me or is he just going along with her because he loves her more and wants a peaceful life.”

Answer 5

This is the theme family because her father just goes along with Niang’s rules and the way she treats Adeline’s brothers and sister.

Question 6

“I imagined Niang introducing me to a strange man and ordering me to marry him. The thought filled me with horror and fear.”

Answer 6

This is the theme abandonment because she thinks that Niang hates her so much that she will just give her a way with the click of a finger.

Question 7

“For the first time she was nice to me and I felt very close to her.”

Answer 7

This is the theme family and relationships because she believes that finally someone in her family cares and loves her.

Question 8

“For once, he was proud of me ……. My whole being vibrated with all the joy in the world.”

Answer 8

This is the theme self-esteem because finally her dad really notices her and that she is smart and that fills her with lots of joy.

Question 9

“No way will I ever allow myself to be the object of anyone’s charity or pity.”

Answer 9

This is the theme abandonment because she feels that she doesn’t want to be owned or had anyone pity her because they would treat her differently.

Question 10

“There is a god after all.”

Answer 10

This is the theme self-esteem because she finally believes there is hope for her and things will get better for her.

Question 11

“For the first time I realised adults could be wrong in their judgement of a child.”

Answer 11

This is the theme family because she realised that what adults think of her being dumb and useless is wrong and she thinks she can be something.

Question 12

“How long did it take for a person to die of shame.”

Answer 12

This is the theme self-esteem because she is ashamed of what happened in front of her friends and that they will never treat her the same ever again.

Question 13

“I was such a no-body that he didn’t remember my name.”

Answer 13

This is the theme self-esteem because she’s saying that just because he can’t remember her, she is nothing to him and to the family, making her feel horrible.

Question 14

“To her we are not separate people. Over there, we have become one single unit know as all of you.

Answer 14

This is the theme family because the quote says that they are as one not just a separate people but one whole unit.

Question 15

“One by one they were greeted and led away by anxious mothers. Nobody came for me.”

Answer 15

This is the theme abandonment and loneliness because no one in her family cared to come and pick her put from school, she was just left there by herself. Abandoned.

Question 16

“Continue to study hard and bring honour to the Yen family name so we can be proud of you.”

Answer 16

This is the theme family because her dad wants her to study hard and bring honour to the family because she is back luck he probably feels like she is in honourable.

Question 17

“They had tossed me aside like a piece of garbage.”

Answer 17

This is the theme self-esteem because shes saying that no one in her family cares about her. She feels like no one cared if she left and that they don’t care about her at all.

Question 18

” I was such a nobody that he didn’t even remember my name!”

Answer 18

This is the theme self-esteem because she is calling herself a nobody and making herself more sad about being alone.

Question 19

“We counted for so little that our birthdays were never remembered, let alone celebrated.”

Answer 19

This is the theme family/relationships because the other kids always are more favoured then them and they get better cloths and their birthdays are remembered, but the other children don’t get better stuff and they are cared for so little that father can’t even remember their birthdays.

Question 20

“Its your aunt who has taught you to lie and cheat. She feeds your arrogance by giving you money behind our backs.”

Answer 20

This is the theme family because Niang is making out that its all Aunt Babas fault that she has lied and cheated, making aunt Baba look like the bad guy.

Question 21

“I am not worthless. They respect me.”

Answer 21

This is the theme relationships because she is starting to realise that just because her family believes she is bad luck doesn’t mean she is a bad person and can do nothing with her life.

Question 22

“I don’t want her to grow up like big sister. She is going to be different.”

Answer 22

This is the theme family because her sister is pushed into a bad fate but her grandfather wants Adeline to have a better life because he cares about her, and he believes that she can have a better life then her bigger sister.

Question 23

“I am truly nobody.”

Answer 23

This is the theme loneliness because she feels that she is alone and that nobody in the whole world cares about her, and that everyone thinks that shes bad luck.

Question 24

“Nothing will ever come of you. The problem is that you have bad blood from your mother.”

Answer 24

This is the theme family because Niang is always trying to get Adeline and her aunt away because she believes that they are bad and they can do no good to anyone.

Question 25

“The worst if it is that I could see no way out.”

Answer 25

This is the theme loneliness because she thinks that her life is over and she will never escape.