The Paper Menagerie
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Racism and Identity Familial Love and Estrangement Language and Translation Art vs. Consumer Items
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Jack Jack’s Mother Jack’s Father Mark Susan
Symbols
All Symbols Paper Animals
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Genre Imagery Irony Mood Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
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The Paper Menagerie

by

Ken Liu

The Paper Menagerie Symbols

Paper Animals

In “The Paper Menagerie,” the paper animals that Jack’s mother makes for Jack symbolize his Chinese heritage. The paper animals are an artisanal specialty of Sigulu Village, where Jack’s mother grew up in China; she…

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