Monkey: A Folk Novel of China

Of all the central characters in the text, Monkey receives the most in-depth backstory. Why is Monkey so important—even more than Tripitaka?

What similarities and differences does Monkey share with traditional folk stories of Western cultures?

What does the inclusion of Tripitaka and the Emperor of T’ang’s backgrounds add to the story as a whole? Would Wu’s overall message have the same impact without that section?

Though the Spirit of Venus tells Tripitaka directly that he will have divine assistance throughout his journey and therefore cannot fail, Tripitaka still despairs in response to every challenge. What does this suggest about the “ordinary man?” Why does Tripitaka behave this way?

If the leaders of Heaven had taken Monkey more seriously from the beginning, would he have caused as much trouble, or would he have caused havoc regardless of how he was treated?

Monkey and Tripitaka have very different personalities, but both are deemed worthy of becoming Buddhas. Why is each worthy of being promoted to Buddhahood?

Name five key aspects of Buddhism that Wu highlights in the text, and explain how he supports those elements with his story.

Does Monkey follow a similar pattern to other mythology, as laid out in The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell? Explain which events in Monkey correspond to those of the hero’s journey.