PASSAGE 2 - A Retelling of the Ballad of Mulan In this version, the story is told in first-person point of view from the perspective of Mulan's younger sister, Mu-Ying, who remains at home while Mulan is off at war.

A year has passed, the Orchids have bloomed—the smell of Mulan is in the air. Yet Mulan is still not home. Mulan is still at war. I tend to the gardens, to the pigs and hens and horses. I tend to my ill-stricken father, my heart-broken mother, and my toddling brother. I weave the silken prints and bring them to the markets before dawn. I sigh, as I think of Mulan.

Five years have passed, the Orchids have bloomed—the smell of Mulan is in the air. Yet Mulan is still not home. Mulan is still at war. I tend to father, who is on the verge of death. I tend to mother, who can barely leave the bed. I tend to younger brother Lee, helping him with his studies, with his martial arts, and the struggles of life.

Eight years have passed, the Orchids should have bloomed—the smell of Mulan is not in the air. Mulan is still not home. Mulan is still at war. I no longer tend to father. I no longer cook hearty dinners on behalf of mother. Brother Lee no longer attends school; instead he helps with the chores around the house of the Wons. He is in the stables—he is a servant boy.

I weave, facing the door. I do not hear master’s calls or the shuttle’s sound. I only hear myself sigh. I ask who is in my heart? Who is on my mind? “Father, mother, and Little Lee are in my heart. Mulan is on my mind. My heart tears to see Little Lee, carrying the sacks of rice on his small back. My heart tears, cringes... My ears hesitate when I hear them call me Xiao-Yu, the name of a servant. Mulan, oh Mulan, when will you come back and save me?”

Ten years have passed. The stars are especially bright tonight. Father always said that when a person passes away, the stars glow brighter. Two stars glow bright. I wonder if, tonight, I’ll see a third.

I am marrying the eldest Won, Yuan—the rank of the third wife falling at my feet. But, at least now, Little Lee can attend school, can wed the woman of his dreams. I have married the eldest Won, and Mulan has returned home. She takes off her wartime gown, fixes her cloudlike hair, dabs on yellow flower powder and moves back into the empty house. Surprise is in her eyes, as she watches me don my own wartime gown. Though this one is less heavy, more red, donning a flair of fake merriness as it imprisons me for life.
Question 8 (2 points)
The following statement is an example of which language device?

A year has passed, the Orchids have bloomed—the smell of Mulan is in the air.

Five years have passed, the Orchids have bloomed—the smell of Mulan is in the air.

Question 8 options:

A. Anaphora

B. Epistrophe

C. Symbolism

D. Hyperbole

Question 9 (2 points)
What point of view is passage 2 told from? How does this POV relate to narrator credibility?

Question 9 options:

A. The story is told from an all-knowing, omniscient narrator—knowing everything gives the narrator credibility.

B. The story is told from the sister’s point of view—the reader needs to consider the sister’s accuracy with being able to retell her version of the story.

C. The story is told from Mulan’s point of view, she knew her experience best and was the most credible person to retell it.

Question 10 (2 points)
What indirect characterization can we gather about Mu-Ying from paragraph 2? Choose the BEST answer.

Question 10 options:

A. Mu-Ying is an artist and a weaver.

B. Mu-Ying is a selfless person who cares for many family members and takes pride in taking care of her family.

C. Mu-Ying is at war.

Question 11 (2 points)
What is the tone (author’s attitude) of the last sentence of Passage 2?

Question 11 options:

A. Her attitude is honest about being in love.

B. Her attitude is humorous considering the circumstances.

C. Her attitude is happy concerning her marriage.

D. Her attitude is accepting of her life sentence of imprisonment.

Question 12 (2 points)
What is the significance of the last three sentences of Passage 2?

A. The passage reveals a contrast between Mulan and Mu-Ying’s societal roles. One sister is freed by her “wartime gown” and the other sister is imprisoned by her “wartime gown”.

B. The passage is significant because the sisters are excited for the wedding.

C. The passage communicates with the reader that Mulan is shocked her sister is getting married.