Study questions

Here on this page, we give you a handful of study questions that can help you get started with your analysis of “How to Pronounce Knife” by Souvankham Thammavongsa. On the following pages, you can find examples and explanations that will help you answer these questions.

Structure

How do the first lines of the short story introduce the conflict between two cultures?

What role do Joy’s flashbacks play in the story?

Is the ending optimistic or pessimistic?

Characterization

How can we see that Joy is caught between her Lao identity and her new Western identity?

To what extent are her parents able to help her adapt to her new country?

How does Joy try to protect her parents from losing face?

Why does Joy react so strongly to being corrected on the pronunciatio...