Kingston has said that "On Discovery" is the introduction to an epic novel. What connections do you see between "On Discovery" and the other stories in China Men? Do you agree With Kingston that China Men is an epic?

Do some research on popular stereotypes of Asian Americans in twentieth-century America. How and why do you think stereotypes get started? Do you think Kingston deals with stereotypes effectively in "On Discovery," or do you agree with Frank Chin that her story allows readers to believe these stereotypes?

The Woman Warrior is characterized as "autobiography" and China Men is characterized as "history." Read both works and think about whether you would put them in different categories. What do you think the necessary qualities of a history are? An autobiography? A novel? How can these genres overlap?

Kingston's work is often discussed in the...