These characters are the parents of the heroine. With the help of a buffalo boy, Minli tracks down the King. The performance starred Caroline Workman as Minli, Michael Tow as Storyteller/ Minli's Ba, and was directed by Jane Staab. Traits - where the mountain meets the moon where the mountain meets the moon Minli is very nice Ma is stressed through out the story Pa is wise Dragon is loyal Green tiger/magistrate is foolish Jade Dragon is sad but becomes happy in the end Jade Dragons Kids are loyal Minli's Goldfish is wise and helpful The Goldfish man is wise The stone lion gives the thread to Dragon. One day, after a goldfish salesman promises that his wares will bring good luck, Minli spends one of her only two coins in an effort to help her family. publication in traditional print. Have a Feast (recipes to enjoy with the book). In the book "Games at Twilight", what details do you notice that show this story is not taking place in the United States? Place on parchment lined baking sheet. Also, she is full of bitterness and resentment due to their poverty. A battle between the Green Tiger and Dragon ensues, and Dragon is mortally wounded. Important Quotes. Then photocopy the sheet to have students keep in their binders. Because of what seemed like a personal sacrifice in favor of helping a friend, Minli and her family receive all they ever hoped for and more. Illustrate this character3. Order our Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Study Guide, teaching or studying Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. He remembers a story he has recently heard about a family from the area giving a dragons pearl to the king of the City of Bright Moonlightwho responded by bestowing the familys whole town with generous gifts of seeds and equipment for farmers. Thus she spent much of her childhood trying to ignore her Asian heritage in order to fit in better with her peers. I absolutely loved this book, beautifully written. Minli realizes she has to go on alone, but before she leaves, she promises to ask Dragons question for him. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make yourown. This is quite a minor character. (For example: ReadWriteThink's, Each student should have a notebook or composition book with a dedicated section for. This talking creature helps the heroine and her friend along their way early in the story. When they have finished, have them compare the results with a partner to see what different effects they get when they use vivid language. When he lands, he says that he feels like he is home. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.This is a wonderous novel with an epic journey and memorable characters in the tradition of The Wizard of Oz. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. She meets an orphan boy who lives alone with only a water buffalo for company, and she tells him that she needs to see the king. In the first part of the lesson, students read each of the embedded folktales as they cover the main narrative. There are several forest and rivers and a peach grove. This strikes Minli because The Old Man is what she thought, only a character from her father's stories. Eager for adventure, Minli sets out alone seeking advice from the Old Man of the Moon. He planned on doing whatever he could to marry his son to a member of the Imperial Family. When he was a teenager, he learned that he was going to die young. It says the word thankfulness over and overand nothing else. "[6], Andrew Medlar from Booklist said: "Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine & mystical land [] children will embrace this [] story"[6], A companion, titled Starry River of the Sky, was published on February 11, 2014. Students will provide detailed information regarding how the characters interact with the main characters, as well as challenges the characters face. At the onset of the quest, she meets Dragon. The depth of Minlis affection for Dragon is put to the test, as is her loyalty to her family. The characters and scenes are both appropriate for the book's characters. Imagine how much more those books would have meant to me, she wrote later, if they had been books of substance, if they had reflected my life with more accuracy and heart, addressed concerns and struggles and triumphs that really affected me. She also loved the books of Chinese folktales that her mother gave her, in spite of their being too simply told. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Summary. Numerous collections of Chinese folktales can also be accessed through the library. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2.d:Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. Seeing her mothers unhappiness, the daughter grew discontented and went away to try to change her familys fortune. 8-12), Reading level: Ages 8-12Pages: 288 pagesPublisher: Little, Brown Young ReadersLanguage: English ISBN: 0316114278, 978-0316114271. Read more than you ever thought you wanted to know about the backstory of the book! Image Based Life > Uncategorized > where the mountain meets the moon character traits They identify the friends and mentors who helped her, and the character traits that led to her success. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON - Charissa's Kid Lit. Chronicles Not affiliated with Harvard College. In a poignant essay entitled Why Couldnt Snow White Be Chinese? Lin discusses her sense of otherness and states that as a child, she found her dual identity to be a burden. Minli befriends a dragon along the way. All of the villagers, along with Minli's family, are also very poor, as farming is difficult in the hard and dry land due to Fruitless Mountain being the broken and lonely heart of the immortal Jade Dragon, a dragon that once brought rain to the Earth. Give them time to legibly recopy (and edit!) Create a character map for the major characters. Write the word challenge on the board and ask students to define it. Without even asking the Old Man of the Moon, Minli has come to understand why people like the buffalo boy and A-Fu and Da-Fu seemed so happy: they are thankful for what they have rather than bitter about what they do not. The elder of the family gave up the secret readily. Define a frame story and explain the complex way that subsidiary stories are embedded within the novel, Identify different types of challenges in the story. While Minli has this adventure, Dragon waits outside the city. Minli upsets her parents, who are frightened about what will happen to her. Ba smiles and says that Minlis return is the best fortune of all. Work on the first sentence together. Minli's mother, Ma, instead despises the stories that Ba tells, feeling that they are simply "nonsense." Suggested techniques: If students are interested in folktales in general, the. Minli is a strong character and a positive role model. On the journey, Dragon tries to protect Minli from a poisonous Green Tiger but gets injured in the process and would have died had Minli not sought help from a nearby village of Moon Rain. When they reach their destination, Minli and Dragon are devastated to discover they cannot climb it. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Minlis parents desperately hope she can change the familys fortune. Far away from here introduces the suggestion of an exotic location and/or time; The Jade River suggest China, which is known for jade. In thanks, the fish tells Minli how to travel to Never-Ending Mountain to find the Old Man of the Moon, who may know how Minli can change her familys fortune. The following day, Minli then sets out, freeing the goldfish so as not to burden her parents further, and leaves the village to find "the old man of the moon". Meanwhile, at the Village of Fruitless Mountain, Ba and Ma have decided to return home and wait for Minli, and during this time, Ma feels remorse for having been so discontent when she already had her own precious treasure: her daughter. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon | NEH-Edsitement However, she is still not sure if the film will be made or if it will not be made. The dragon explains that he does not know how to fly and wants to learn, so Minli invites him to come with her to see the Old Man of the Moon, the only person who might be able to tell him how. Ba, however, seems glad that Minli is so hopeful. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters Activity Have them copy each days assignment into their notebooks; Make a photocopy of Worksheet 1 for each student and cut off a strip for each daily assignment for students to paste at the top of the notebook page; Cut off each assignment strip and paste it onto a sheet of lined paper. Emphasize that Minlis story is a fantasy; in the real world, it is dangerous for children to run away from home, and naturally it is impossible for them to scale a ladder to the moon. Along the way, she finds excitement, danger, humor, magic, and wisdom, and she befriends a flightless dragon, a talking fish, and other companions and helpmates in her quest. She invites them to come with her to see the Old Man, but they laugh and say, Why would we want to change our fortune? Minli is left to ponder these words as she flies a kitemade of both the paper and the thread from the City of Bright Moonlightinto the sky. If the boys in the class seem likely to find it difficult to identify with a female protagonist, suggest that they imagine a twin brother accompanying her on her journey. Stop believing stories and stop wasting your time. This is the god character who knows the future and permits the heroine to ask him a single question. This book, a celebration of the importance of imagination and story, introduces upper elementary students to Chinese culture and tradition. As they search, they come upon the goldfish man, who listens to their troubles and tells them his story. Less than half of the information of the notes is correct and relevant. [7] Grace Lin introduces Minli, the main character well, as a girl who wants to change their fortune when her mom repeatedly talks about how poor they are. I LOVED it! Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin is a middle grade fantasy fiction novel that takes inspiration from Chinese folklore and details the journey of a young girl, Minli, as she embarks on a hero's quest to improve her family's circumstances. Activity 2, Key Scenes: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, follow the directions at the beginning of Day 2. According to the goldfish, the wise man can answer Minli's question on how to bring good fortune to her family and the village. He spoke to the Old Man of the Moon, who changed the Book of Fortune to give him ninety-nine years of life instead of nineteen. Dragon cannot fly. Dragon realizes that this must be the borrowed line, so he tells them about Minli. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009. . Website design by Mira T. Lee of MIRA T. CREATIVE. So Mini decides to leave and set off to find the Old Man of the Mountain. This outline can serve as a reference for the teacher for the entire lesson.). How does this character change over time? Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Character Descriptions Outside the city, Dragon also obtains a red string of destiny that is used to tie people destined to meet and marry together, which he believes is the borrowed line. Optional Activity Grade Level Standard. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.5:Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story, drama, or poem. Lin's love of Chinese culture is evident in her creation of vivid new folktales that are built into the narrative in such a way that they become a seamless part of the story and their messages are thus relevant and meaningful. He alone recognizes it as a dragons pearl, a treasure worth as much as the Emperors fortune. I definitely recommend this book! Before each set of chapters, distribute the questions that students should answer and make sure that they understand what they are looking for. Then I dropped something and it made a loud noise. He resolved to kill them for this impertinence, but when he and his army arrived at their house, they had mysteriously disappeared. Symbols & Motifs. The boy is poor and has nothing but a buffalo but helps her find the king, who possesses a borrowed line of text, which is essential to finding the Old Man of the Moon. There are numerous other minor characters in the book: You can help us out by revising, improving and updating Map Your Own Connections (with red threads) What challenges does this character face? Put the character's name in the title boxes and choose a character and scene to represent each one. Mix well, a soft dough should form. Before students begin their draft remind them in the real world it is not a good idea for children to leave home to confront evil and danger. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Grace Lin When he arrives, he is amazed to be greeted as an old friend. Where The Mountain Meets The Moon Character Analysis Minli Minli is the protagonist and hero in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. After a brief discussion of types of challengesphysical, emotional, economic, etc.students read the entire book, focusing on the main narrative. It was written and illustrated by Grace Lin and published in 2009. Together, the two fly back to Minlis village, so she can return to her parents. The meaning of that gift can only be revealed by reading the book. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Why did Ma change from being envious of other peoples wealth to being content? When she arrives to find the Old Man of the Moon, he offers her what seems to be a Spartan gift: she can only ask him a single question. She refused to let it rain anymore, thus leaving the people of the earth to suffer and starve. Minli and her parents live in the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, where they toil endlessly. Determined to change her familys fortune, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, urged on by a talking goldfish who gives her clues to complete her journey. Why did Minli also learn to be content? Many of the notes have correct information, but some are incorrect or missing. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon By Grace Lin Chapters 1-4 Before you read the chapters: The protagonist in most novels features the main character or "good guy". The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. Summarize this character Subjects: English Language Arts, Reading, Vocabulary Grades: Not Grade Specific Types: (If the class has already studied the concept, teachers may want to point out that this is an excellent example of a. Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. The boy finds out that the king is supposed to appear in the Market of Green Abundance. A-Fu and Da-Fu, twins who are a bit younger than Minli, explain that a vicious magistrate once planned to kill the whole family out of jealousy over their happiness. How important is magic in the story? I think it is good for many different ages, from 7-year-olds to 12-year-olds. The Old Man of the Moon. Lins own full-color drawings open each chapter. She describes a poor woman who was blessed with loving husband and a beautiful, happy daughter. Anonymous "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters". Tell students about Grace Lin, using information from the Background section. An editor Use evidence from the text to argue who is the most generous character in the book. He speaks to a stone statue of a lion, who explains that he is the Guardian of the city. After her mother ridicules what she believes to be a foolish purchase, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, who, it is told, may impart the true secret to good fortune. Powerful Stories About Martin Luther King Jr. Written by people who wish to remainanonymous. I really think you should read it! CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.2:Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. Unlisted storyboards can be shared via a link, but otherwise will remain hidden. Read the Study Guide for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, View Wikipedia Entries for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Another main theme idea of this story is friendship. Neither is sure which line is the one they need, so they decide this is another question for the Old Man of the Moon. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - amazon.com However, that is far from the end of this intricate tale. A Newbery Honor book in 2010, this novel moves on from the ordinary lives of Asian Americans in her other books to a fantastical adventure in a timeless, traditional China. Keeping a Reading Journal. The people and the houses look happy and prosperous. Have you explained how you felt when you had met the challenge? I loved the way it was told through a lot of fairy tales. Minli is a strong-willed, young Chinese girl who lives in the Village of Fruitless Mountain. For example: Teachers may opt for their own method of discussion. As you look at the embedded folk tales in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, what are three values that seem to be important? [Ripping a page from the Book of Fortune will not change one's fate.] When her parents find out, Ma is angry. Minli's father is a storyteller. Goldfish Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin | Goodreads Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Character Map (Teacher Resource: Plot Outline can serve as suggested answers. You may use Worksheet 4: Narrative Rubric provided for both student self-assessment and your own final assessment. Perfect for Moon Festival celebrations or Mother-Daughter Book Clubs, this kit provides an invite, posters and instructions for the journey-like game. In the morning, her parents are overjoyed that she is home. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Wikipedia However, what she especially enjoys are her father Ba's stories, which are often told at the dinner table. With beautiful language, Lin creates a strong, memorable heroine and a mystical land. Summary. They travel onward, and after an encounter with a vicious tiger, they meet the family that used to be famous for its perfect happiness. This character was a cruel ruler of the land in which all the main landmarks (save the moon) were located over a century ago. Find Symbols in the Story (learn about Chinese symbolism) Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy-adventure children's novel inspired by Chinese folklore. They become friends, and Dragon offers to be her steed for the journey, despite the fact that he cannot fly, unlike other dragons. She accomplishes her tasks, undertaken with the help of a talking dragon, by showing generosity, courage and integrity. Have students explain how they grew or changed because of this experience. Even so, Minli is a happy and vibrant child who eagerly listens as her father, whom she calls Ba, tells stories every night. In the story that the girl told the Great Green Tiger she stated that another tiger had taken her brother to be his slave for life. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Characters | GradeSaver For number 4, you could even ask students to walk across the classroom to act out the sentence as they rewrote it. As they work, hold writing conferences with individual students in need of assistance. She obeys and almost immediately, Dragon can fly. "Bringing fortune to our house! Minli remains silent, absorbing this new information. This time, it says, You only lose what you cling to. After thinking this over, the king decides that giving the paper to Minli is the only way to avoid losing it. [1] [2] The novel received a 2010 Newbery Honor [3] and the 2010 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature. Minli's restlessness is her central conflicted character trait. This first activity introduces the book and requires students to read it and keep a journal. Use vivid language to construct their own personal narrative. Along the way, Minli meets a special friend. Finding Identity through Childrens Books, Dont Judge a Book by Its Character (Even If It Is Chinese), The Extra Adjective: How I Came to Terms with Being a Multicultural Book Author, Folktales and Ecology: Animals and Humans in Cooperation and Conflict, Helpful Animals and Compassionate Humans in Folklore, "Cinderella" Folk Tales: Variations in Character. Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. She endeavors on a journey to find the Old Man of the Moon who will answer her question of how to find her family's fortune. In this activity, students return to the novel to analyze the folktale embedded within it. She does not like for Ba to tell the stories to Minli because she thinks he is filling her head with ideas. In August 2015, Lin revealed that the film rights for the book had been bought. In the book, what were many suggestions about the word that was written on the paper the Magistrate wantedthe secret of happiness. Tell students that before they write the story, they are going to practice the skill of using vivid language. Even though you can determine the scene in your head, Grace Lin adds sharp details making the scene more vivid. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.). Minli rescues Dragon and includes him in her quest to find the Old Man of the Moon. You can help us out by revising, improving and updating
The line written there has changed again. She has written over a dozen books, many of them using Asian American child characters, in an effort to help Asian American children appreciate their heritage and to create the kind of books she wished she had been able to read when she was growing up. [4] Distribute copies of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery), (You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.). Minli feels guilty when her father gives up some of his food for her fish. Frame Stories in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Slides or photos of challenges for Activity 1. "Where The Mountain Meets The Moon,", Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922-Present, Mythopoeic Awards: Acceptance Remarks 2010, "Wheelocks Mountain a vivid adaptation", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Where_the_Mountain_Meets_the_Moon&oldid=1135777303, This page was last edited on 26 January 2023, at 20:10. Her grief at losing her children made Fruitless Mountain barren of growth. If you read Where The Mountain Meets The Moon, you wouldn't be disappointed because it is an incredible book. Tell students that they are going to use their three sentences as a basis for writing a kind of story called a personal narrative. where the mountain meets the moon characters - TeachersPayTeachers During her journey, she comes across many challenges. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon Buy It Now In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. the end with a mysterious gift. This allows him to fly, and he takes Minli back to Fruitless Mountain. As their quest continues, Minli and Dragon face the vicious Green Tiger, who is the On their way towards the mountain, Dragon and Minli encounter the evil Green Tiger, the reawakened spirit of Magistrate Tiger. Most of the sections of the character map were at least attempted and work is presentable. At the end of the story, Ba says that he thinks nobody is meant to find Minli, just as the magistrate was not meant to find the paper that explained the secret of happiness. It also suggests something valuable; The black mountain seems ominous and threatening; The fact that the mountain cut the sky like a jagged piece of rough metal suggests that it is harsh and perhaps dangerous. Get Started When her parents find out she is gone, they try to look for her, but are stopped by the goldfish seller, who tells them to trust Minli. Then do the same for high ground: mountain, hill, crag, and slope. The next day, Minli sneaks away from her village, leaving a note for her parents saying where she is going. His fortune is even poorer than hers, but he does not seem discontent. He indulges Minli with numerous Chinese folktales including stories about the Old Man of the Moon and the Never Ending Mountain. Together, they live in a small stick hut in a bleak, dry farming village at the intersection of the . Because of Minli's sacrifice to help a friend, she and her family receive everything they could ever have hoped for. The second part of the lesson has students return to the book to explore how the folktales enhance Minlis story.
You may wish to use these tales for additional literature or composition study. When students have finished reading the book, hold a Socratic seminar or other type of discussion. I bolted to get the book and started to read. She realizes that she cannot ask Dragons questionunless she chooses not to ask her own. A fantasy crossed with Chinese folklore, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a timeless story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. While some may say there are too many pages, I think the amount of pages doesn't matter anyways, although I like the amount, and reading more pages is a great challenge. More books than SparkNotes. Let students investigate online resources for folktales from China. In moments, he disappeared from view into the shadow of Fruitless Mountain, and if it wasn't for the goldfish Minli had in Where the Mountain Meets the Moon study guide contains a biography of Grace Lin, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It was even better than I remembered! Ed. What do you think is the secret of happiness? It turns out he is not a beggar at all, but the king in disguise. Write The house was on the hill on the board. their work. Explain your design ideaswhat The twins befriend Minli and want to help her. Each figure tied to the next with the fine red thread of fate. Have you described the setting, the place where the events of the story occur, in clear and specific language? We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Explain that the class is going to read a book about a young Chinese girl who had many challenge to overcome. Students will provide
The grandfather, A-Gong, gives Dragon medicine that doubles as tea. The CharactersThe Characters Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is filled with rich and varied characters: Minli, whose name means quick-thinking; Dragon, her companion on the .