Who Is Mao's Last Dancer
Mao’s Last Dancer
1. Identify your text and author
Non-fiction text, autobiography: Mao’s Last Dancer written by Li Cunxin
2. What is this text about? Summarise the story or the premise of the text.
The text is about a young, peasant boy called Li Cunxin who lives in a poor village in north-east China. The text is set around the rule of the communist party led by Chairman Mao. One day, Li is visited by Madame Mao’s cultural delegates at his school. They are searching for young children to be guards for Chairman Mao and Li becomes one of them. The text conveys a physical and inner journey as Li leaves his small village and dances for some of the most exceptional ballet companies in the world.
3. Identify three aspects of the journey that the text explores and explain each of these.
The text explores:
Journeys offer opportunities for travellers to extend themselves- Li Cunxin has the opportunity to broaden his view of the world in contrast to his small village in China.
Journeys may have difficulties and challenges- Li faces many challenges as he embarks on his journey to find a new solution to his previous destitute life.
Journeys offer hope for a better tomorrow- Li ventures out from his village life, seeking a solution to …show more content…
When Li lived in his poor village in China he wrote, “I made my secret wish. I daydreamed about all the beautiful things in life that were not mine. I begged them for more food for my family.” This is juxtaposed when Li explores his new house in America, “I couldn’t help myself from being constantly shocked. Everything was new... It even had its own bathroom with a human-sized bathtub! I had never used a bathtub before.” This displays the reason for Li to venture out from his small village in China to the city in America, to find something that gives him happiness from his previous life of hardship and
1. Identify your text and author
Non-fiction text, autobiography: Mao’s Last Dancer written by Li Cunxin
2. What is this text about? Summarise the story or the premise of the text.
The text is about a young, peasant boy called Li Cunxin who lives in a poor village in north-east China. The text is set around the rule of the communist party led by Chairman Mao. One day, Li is visited by Madame Mao’s cultural delegates at his school. They are searching for young children to be guards for Chairman Mao and Li becomes one of them. The text conveys a physical and inner journey as Li leaves his small village and dances for some of the most exceptional ballet companies in the world.
3. Identify three aspects of the journey that the text explores and explain each of these.
The text explores:
Journeys offer opportunities for travellers to extend themselves- Li Cunxin has the opportunity to broaden his view of the world in contrast to his small village in China.
Journeys may have difficulties and challenges- Li faces many challenges as he embarks on his journey to find a new solution to his previous destitute life.
Journeys offer hope for a better tomorrow- Li ventures out from his village life, seeking a solution to …show more content…
When Li lived in his poor village in China he wrote, “I made my secret wish. I daydreamed about all the beautiful things in life that were not mine. I begged them for more food for my family.” This is juxtaposed when Li explores his new house in America, “I couldn’t help myself from being constantly shocked. Everything was new... It even had its own bathroom with a human-sized bathtub! I had never used a bathtub before.” This displays the reason for Li to venture out from his small village in China to the city in America, to find something that gives him happiness from his previous life of hardship and