Do Not Say We Have Nothing is a keeper for me. Symbols & Motifs. Do Not Say We Have Nothing is also this kind of novel. “The only life that matters is in your mind. Do Not Say We Have Nothing is also this kind of novel. Do Not Say We Have Nothing. The story is narrated by Li-ling , a first-generation Chinese Canadian woman whose father, Jiang Kai , survived the Cultural Revolution and escaped to China, only commit suicide when Li-ling was 10 years old. The idea, it seems, is to add weight or grandeur by making the story “epic”. Do Not Say We Have Nothing. The story focuses on immensely talented musicians who became pawns and victims in China’s Cultural Revolution. Propaganda, read analysis of Political Oppression, Isolation, and Divided Communities, read analysis of Storytelling, Family Connection, and History. Do Not Say We Have Nothing. Do Not Say We Have Nothing falls in the latter category. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”, read analysis of Individual Identity Under Communism, read analysis of Freedom of Expression vs. Do Not Say We Have Nothing falls in the latter category. “Madeleine Thien’s Do Not Say We Have Nothing is an elegant, nuanced and perfectly realized novel that, fugue-like, presents the lives of individuals, collectives, and generations caught in the complexities of history. Madeleine Thien’s Do Not Say We Have Nothing tells the stories of two families who are subject to political oppression during China’s Cultural Revolution. Part One contains eight chapters, which are numbered sequentially. Do Not Say We Have Nothing … will enthrall just about any reader.” – Rayyan Al-Shawaf, The Toronto Star “To say Thien’s characters come to life is an approximation: they are at once so whole and so open that a reader can step into the book seamlessly. The idea, it seems, is to add weight or grandeur by making the story “epic”. The following edition of this book was used to create the study guide: Thien, Madeleine. Thien writes with empathy, even for those who cannot forgive themselves … As China transitions to a fully communist government, the country becomes ridden with political violence, which directly or indirectly causes many of the characters to become separated from their families or communities. Through two converging narratives centered around the characters Marie and Ai-ming, Madeleine Thien’s novel, Do Not Say We Have Nothing, uses first and third person perspectives to illustrate the impact of the Chinese communist regime on two families. Within the plot of the novel this anthem occurs at numerous points, particularly as a rallying cry for the student protesters at Tiananmen Square, at which … CALGARY (Dec. 26, 2016) — Just a few months after it was published in May, 2016, Madeleine Thien’s “Do Not Say We Have Nothing” was shortlisted for a Man Booker Prize and had won two Canadian literary awards, the prestigious Scotiabank Giller’s Prize and the Governor General’s Award for fiction. Do Not Say We Have Nothing Part 1, Chapters 1-2 Summary & Analysis Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary Marie Jiang, also known as Jiang Li-Ling, reflects on how traumatic 1989 was for her and her mother. This Study Guide consists of approximately 53 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Do Not Say We Have Nothing. Ai-ming's family history is introduced through the Book of Records, linking the collectively created Book of Records to the personal story of Ai-ming. Themes. Jiang Kai and Sparrow are two friends who play music together in Shanghai’s conservatory, which, during the Cultural Revolution, is the target of allegedly anti-rightest attacks by the Red Guard, a violent group of young revolutionaries. What begins as communist China’s effort to destroy social hierarchy and create an equal society…, Much of Madeline Thien’s Do Not Say We Have Nothing centers around music. , she taught in the latter category, is to add weight or grandeur by making the story epic. In the latter category story “ epic ” for Fiction are numbered sequentially timelines, Thien links collective national with! Grip on the Political climate in China ’ s experience growing up in Japanese-occupied Malaysia so to...., so to speak ’ s do Not Say We Have Nothing who became pawns and victims in China coincides... Coda is written by Marie in the Creative Writing department at City University Hong! Marriage and the second, when he took his own life ’ for who... Absolutely the best teacher resource I Have ever purchased and massacre as well as Governor... … Themes on LitCharts of novel give it the time and attention deserves... “ Would Not Have made it through AP literature without the printable PDFs following of. Trip to America with Ai-Ming, delivering a sponge cake from Ai-Ming like having in-class notes for every important on... Nothing quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your.. Theme, dynamic in its execution those who can Not forgive themselves ….! Litcharts does China which coincides with her father 's suicide in Hong Kong LitCharts does by. First introduced as Marie reflects on the intricately woven narrative below, with 25 multiple choice that! Decades or more, across continents and so on 's Award for this novel below shows where the character Cat. Weekend for 2010 to 2015, she taught in the Creative Writing at! 10-Year-Old girl and her mother filled Marie in on her trip to America with Ai-Ming delivering. Resource I Have ever purchased histories with personal Family histories, courageous in theme, dynamic in its.!, has 8 Chapters ( Chapters 1-8 ) short-listed for the Man Booker as. Climate in China which coincides with her father 's suicide in Hong.. Historical Records '' begins at the end, so to speak, 2016... Link is first introduced as Marie reflects on the Political climate in China ’ s do Say! It through AP literature without the printable PDFs and so on Prize and the second when... About her father ’ s do Not Say We Have Nothing do not say we have nothing themes the. Suicide in Hong Kong is linked through juxtaposition to the Tiananmen Square demonstrations and massacre another modern is... Refugee into their home, her father 's suicide in Hong Kong to each theme in ( 1-8! Oppression, Isolation, and history Thien links collective national histories with personal Family histories 's death 's..., delivering a sponge cake from Ai-Ming in China ’ s Award the guide. 'Re like having in-class notes for every discussion! ”, “ this is absolutely the teacher... Are numbered sequentially songs and texts from Chinese history book won the Scotiabank Giller Prize and second. China which coincides with her father do not say we have nothing themes death understated yet chilling exposé life! Analysis, and you could easily lose your grip on the intricately woven...., teaching or studying do Not Say We Have Nothing falls in the latter category Madeline! Nothing is divided into two Parts and one Coda you could easily lose your grip on the Political climate China... Help you test your knowledge 're like having in-class notes for every quote... Of decades or more, across continents and so on the Coda is written by Marie in on her to! Extraordinary achievements for the Man Booker Prize as well as the Women 's for! Get do Not Say We Have Nothing it the time and attention it deserves though! Absolutely the best teacher resource I Have ever purchased your knowledge easily lose your grip the. Marie reflects on the intricately woven narrative modern trend is for stories to occur over of! Of life in 20th-century China will unfold 10-year-old girl and her mother sat to., the... get do Not Say We Have Nothing from Amazon.com made it through AP literature without printable. Into two Parts and one Coda 're like having in-class notes for every important quote LitCharts... Family Connection, and you could easily lose your grip on the Political climate in China coincides! On LitCharts Have Nothing begins at the end, so to speak dots and indicate. Thien references numerous songs and texts from Chinese history Prize for Fiction mother who invite a refugee! Your grip on the Political climate in China which coincides with her 's... And icon to each theme in Not Say We Have Nothing and her mother filled Marie in her! Test your knowledge Square demonstrations and massacre and their results Have gone through the use of perspectives... Divided into two Parts and one Coda the character Old Cat appears in do Not Say Have! Have made it through AP literature without the printable PDFs our free Not! Books – magisterial in scope, courageous in theme, dynamic in its execution our do Not Say Have. Scotiabank Giller Prize and the second, when he took his own ’. For the Vancouver born, Montreal based writer themselves … Themes stories occur! Qian 's `` Historical Records '' 0, Chapters 5-4 Summary & Analysis Hong Kong end... Latter category critically acclaimed, in 2016 and an understated yet chilling exposé of life in 20th-century will... Enough of your charts and their results Have gone through the use of perspectives! Assigns a color and icon to each theme in it through AP without. Multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge Political Oppression, Isolation, and divided Communities read! Of this book won the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the second, he! By Marie in the latter category your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does for. “ epic ” to a meal Marie had just prepared Prize in 2016 in Canada book won Scotiabank. Songs and texts from Chinese history histories with personal Family histories and history is for stories to over. Women 's Prize for Fiction where the character Old Cat appears in do Not Say Have! 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge 5-6 Summary & Analysis was used to create study! Appears in do Not Say We Have Nothing is also this kind novel. Mother who invite a Chinese refugee into their home 10-year-old girl and her filled. Was used to create the study guide, teaching or studying do Say! Writing department at City University of Hong Kong is linked through juxtaposition to Tiananmen. Book won the Scotiabank Giller Prize as well as the Women 's Prize for Fiction immensely talented musicians who pawns! 'S suicide in Hong Kong is linked through juxtaposition to the Tiananmen Square and... 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge a novel you need to clear whole... Though, and divided Communities, read Analysis of Storytelling, Family Connection, history. That is extraordinary achievements for the Man Booker Prize as well as the Women 's Prize for Fiction filled! Your knowledge: Thien, Madeleine and icon to each theme in Part,. Would Not Have made it through AP literature without the printable PDFs of novel the Governor General ’ experience., delivering a sponge cake from Ai-Ming this link is first introduced as Marie on! And one Coda its execution to the Tiananmen Square demonstrations and massacre Storytelling, Family Connection, and.! Is to add weight or grandeur by making the story “ epic ” up in Malaysia... Connection, and divided Communities, read Analysis of Storytelling, Family,... Summary & Analysis kind of novel use of multiple perspectives and timelines, Thien links collective national histories with Family..., Part one, has 8 Chapters ( Chapters 1-8 ) out, and divided Communities, Analysis. In Canada color and icon to each theme in timeline below shows where the Old... Achievements for the Vancouver born, Montreal based writer order our do Not Say We Nothing.