What is the genre of Chinese Cinderella
Autobiographical memoir
Who is the audience for Chinese Cinderella
Western reader
What is the purpose of Chinese Cinderella
To inform and entertain
Her outcome allows her to be free
What is the structure of Chinese Cinderella
Chronological order, first person perspective
What is key in Adeline’s life
Despite her family’s material wealth, she lives in emotional scarcity
‘My heart was not in it and I was losing steadily’
‘Back of my mind like a persistent toothache.’
-anticipation of her going home affects her mentally and emotionally
-metaphor for her losing at life
-simile symbolises her pain which is unescapable- result of rejection from her family
-shows ongoing pain- never ending
‘I ran downstairs as in a nightmare, wondering who had died this time’
-sense of anticipation and dread
-shows her anxiety, fear, trepidation about going home
-sense of sadness and pathos created as she only goes home in a time of crisis
-augment sense of fear
‘How should I know, he answered defensively.’
-even the chauffeur is rude to her- gives an impression of what her family may be like
-he is curt and dismissive-does not treat her as part of the family- shows her isolation
‘I wondered what I had done wrong.’
-already blames herself- she feels at fault reflecting previous trauma
-irony as she has in fact done the opposite
‘Where are we? I asked foolishly.’
‘I had forgotten.’
-she is isolated from her family unit- doesn’t even know they moved into a new home and has to learn this from someone employed by the family
-she pretends to remember as she is actually embarrassed as she has not been told or invited-she is not willing to confront this
‘Timidly, I knocked on the door.’
-fronted adverbial shows her fear and anxiety
-emphatically placed
‘Is this a giant ruse on his part to trick me?’
‘Dare I let my guard down.’
-shows not normal distrust of father
-pathos is created
-metaphor shows how she feels the need to protect herself from her father
-emphasised by repeated rhetorical questions
‘Sit down! Sit down!’
-repetition shows his lack of patience as she obeys him
-imperatives show his power and authority- there is not greeting showing the lack of love
-direct speech allows the reader to see the power dynamic between Adeline and her father
‘Is the winner Adeline Jun-Ling Yen related to you?’
-shows disconnect and how she is not important in her fathers life as his friend does not even know her and only recognises her from her surname
‘I was quite pleased to tell him you are my daughter.’
-modifier shows how he is unwilling to show his full pride
-present how he is proud because she gave him status
-it is mainly about him feeling superior to his friend
‘For once, he was proud of me.’
-generates pathos for the reader
-rare occurrence- subverts expectations of parents
‘Writer! He scoffed’
‘Who is going to read your writing’
-confidence is immediately undercut and diminished by short one word sentence
-scathing dismissal of her dream- not warm and loving parental figure
-irony as everyone reads her writing as she is a successful writer
‘You will learn to deliver babies’
‘Don’t you agree.’
-her fate has been determined- imperatives show how she has no choice in the matter
-stark opposite of her desires
-her fate is decided as her role as a woman
-patriarchal attitudes dominate as the end of the text- traditional view of male and female roles
-ironic as she cannot disagree to the question
‘Thank you very much’
-genuine gratitude despite her fathers wishes she is also getting her desire
-her reflections are purely in the present moment of the child first person account
-dialogue is key in exposing conflicts and tensions between Adeline and her father
-direct speech shows power differential
