Everything I Never Told You

Questions and Answers

What's the date when the Lee family realizes Lydia is missing?

May 3, 1977

At what time does Nath say he heard Lydia's radio playing?

11:30 PM

Why does Lydia 'defy genetics'?

She's Chinese and has blue eyes instead of brown/black.

How old was Lydia when Marilyn first saw her walk?

11 months old Signup and view all the answers

What grade is Lydia in?

Tenth grade Signup and view all the answers

What does Lydia have for her first period class?

Eleventh grade Physics Signup and view all the answers

What's the name of the town the Lee family lives in?

Middlewood Signup and view all the answers

How long is the Middlewood lake across?

A thousand feet Signup and view all the answers

How many people live in Middlewood?

Three thousand Signup and view all the answers

What does James wish at least one of his students could spell correctly?

Czechoslovakia Signup and view all the answers

What's the score James gives a paper on the day they realize Lydia is missing?

65/100 Signup and view all the answers

How long has James been working at Middlewood College?

18 years Signup and view all the answers

What geographical mistake does Louisa say the students keep making?

They say that the Cape-to-Cairo Railroad was in Europe. Signup and view all the answers

What does James pick out of Louisa's hair?

A ladybug Signup and view all the answers

What is Lydia's full name?

Lydia Elizabeth Lee Signup and view all the answers

What was Lydia last seen wearing?

A flowered halter-neck dress Signup and view all the answers

What year did Marilyn go missing?

1966 Signup and view all the answers

What photo of Lydia did the Lee family give the police?

A portrait taken on her 16th birthday. She's looking somewhere off-camera and smiling. Signup and view all the answers

What names do Marilyn and James believe Lydia is friends with?

Pam Saunders, Jenn Pittman, Shelley Brierley, Karen Adler. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't Nath tell his parents about Jack when discussing people who may know where Lydia is?

He doesn't want to get in trouble for covering for Lydia, nor does he want to admit that Jack was part of her life. Signup and view all the answers

When does a passerby notice the rowboat out on the lake?

Wednesday afternoon Signup and view all the answers

When do the police find Lydia's body in the lake?

Thursday morning Signup and view all the answers

What college does Marilyn attend and what's the year of her freshman year?

Radcliffe; 1955 Signup and view all the answers

What class does Marilyn's advisor at Radcliffe give her instead of introductory Physics?

Chemistry Signup and view all the answers

In high school, what class did Marilyn want to take instead of Home Ec?

Shop Signup and view all the answers

How old was Marilyn when her father left?

Three Signup and view all the answers

What does Marilyn say her mother's hands smelled like?

Lemons Signup and view all the answers

When and where does Marilyn meet James?

September 1957, her junior year of college; He was the professor of the course she took (The Cowboy in American Culture) Signup and view all the answers

What was James wearing when Marilyn and James met?

A black suit, black tie, and white shirt Signup and view all the answers

What was on the syllabus for The Cowboy in American Culture?

Ten required books, a midterm exam, and three essays Signup and view all the answers

James said he would hold office hours until what time?

Three o'clock Signup and view all the answers

Why did Marilyn come to see James after the class?

To apologize for all of the boys who left the class during the lecture because of James' race. Signup and view all the answers

What does James say his favorite subject in school was?

Paleontology Signup and view all the answers

What did Marilyn think James tasted like when they first kissed?

Coffee Signup and view all the answers

What is the first reason James came to love Marilyn?

She had blended into his class so perfectly that he hadn't noticed her the first time. Signup and view all the answers

During the second time James and Marilyn had class together, what does Marilyn do after the class ends?

She dawdles while everyone rushes out. She put her papers away in her folder slowly and tucked her pencil into her pocket. Signup and view all the answers

What do Marilyn and James do to solve the issue of them being in the same class?

Marilyn drops the class Signup and view all the answers

How did James attend Lloyd Academy for free?

He passed an entrance exam at six years old. Signup and view all the answers

What new 'English' names do James' parents get when they start to work at Lloyd Academy?

Henry and Wendy Signup and view all the answers

What kind of car did James' father drive him to school?

A Ford truck that the school had lent him Signup and view all the answers

How long did James attend Lloyd Academy?

12 years Signup and view all the answers

What color does James paint his apartment when Marilyn suggests it?

A pale yellow Signup and view all the answers

What does Marilyn make for her and James on their first Thanksgiving together?

A roasted chicken, cubed potatoes, and peeled yams all in a casserole dish Signup and view all the answers

Why does James stop speaking Chinese to his parents in the fifth grade?

He was afraid to tint his English with an accent Signup and view all the answers

James applies for positions in what cities as a back-up?

New Haven and Providence Signup and view all the answers

Who does Professor Carlson hire instead of James?

William McPherson Signup and view all the answers

What is the date and time James and Marilyn plan to get married?

June 13 (Friday), 11:30 Signup and view all the answers

Why is Marilyn and James's planned marriage in 1958 illegal in Virginia and half the country?

They are an interracial couple. Signup and view all the answers

What reason does Marilyn's mother suspect James wants to marry her for?

A green card, even though James is American Signup and view all the answers

What flowers does Marilyn's mother want her to get for her wedding instead of daisies?

Roses Signup and view all the answers

What smeared Marilyn's mother's sleeve after they had an argument on wedding day?

Red lipstick Signup and view all the answers

When was the last time Marilyn ever saw her mother?

On her wedding day Signup and view all the answers

Why does James choose for Lydia to have a closed casket funeral?

Half her face was eaten away in the lake Signup and view all the answers

In middle school, Tommy Reed snuck past a funeral service to get what kind of leaf?

A Sassafras albidum Signup and view all the answers

What kind of flowers were on Lydia's casket?

White lilies Signup and view all the answers

What does Jack wear to Lydia's funeral?

A dark blue shirt, dress pants, and old black-and-white tennis shoes Signup and view all the answers

What does Nath think he sees drip down Marilyn's face?

A tear stained black by mascara Signup and view all the answers

Where does Nath sit after his fight with Jack at the funeral?

On the roots of an elm tree Signup and view all the answers

How many nights a week does Jack's mother work at the hospital?

Six Signup and view all the answers

What grade does Jack have in physics?

B+ Signup and view all the answers

What reason does Jack give the police for hanging out with Lydia before she died?

He was teaching her to drive Signup and view all the answers

Where did James hide the autopsy report?

In the bottom drawer of his desk Signup and view all the answers

The autopsy report says Lydia's cause of death was what?

Asphyxia by drowning Signup and view all the answers

What is Louisa wearing when she comes into James' office while he's reading Lydia's autopsy report?

The black dress she'd worn to Lydia's funeral that morning Signup and view all the answers

What apartment does Louisa live in?

3A Signup and view all the answers

What flowers are on Lydia's pillowcase?

Red poppies and blue forget-me-nots Signup and view all the answers

What are two books Marilyn sees on Lydia's bookshelf?

A Brief History of Medicine, and Rosalind Franklin and DNA Signup and view all the answers

When did Marilyn give Lydia her first diary, and what did it look like?

She was five, and it was flowered with gilt edges Signup and view all the answers

What did Marilyn find in all of Lydia's diaries?

Nothing; they were blank Signup and view all the answers

What did Marilyn wear to the university's annual Christmas party?

A peach cocktail dress with her pearls Signup and view all the answers

Why did James not want Marilyn to work?

Other people would say that he didn't make enough, so she had to get a job Signup and view all the answers

Marilyn's mother died of what on what date?

A stroke; April 1, 1966 Signup and view all the answers

What trick does Marilyn remember to unlock her childhood home with the key?

Wiggle it down and to the left Signup and view all the answers

What was Marilyn's mother's Betty Crocker cookbook mended with?

Scotch tape (Two times) Signup and view all the answers

What sign of her time did Marilyn find in her childhood home?

Thumbtack holes in the wallpaper Signup and view all the answers

What does Marilyn think the only thing worth remembering about her mother is?

That she had cooked Signup and view all the answers

How do James, Nath, and Lydia take their eggs?

James takes it sunny-side up, Nath takes it hard-boiled, and Lydia takes it scrambled Signup and view all the answers

What did James serve Nath and Lydia every day for breakfast while Marilyn was gone?

Cereal Signup and view all the answers

Why does James get annoyed with Nath's shyness when he was a child?

Nath reminded him of himself at that age Signup and view all the answers

When James was young, why had he been embarrassed to ask classmates to his house?

He'd been worried that they would recognize his mother from the lunch line or his father from mopping the hallway Signup and view all the answers

What happened when Nath was playing Marco Polo with the other kids?

They got out of the pool and watched him swim around looking for them. Eventually, Jack got in and let Nath get him. Nath thought Jack was making fun of him. Signup and view all the answers

What did James offer Nath at dinnertime after the Marco-Polo incident?

A Salisbury steak Signup and view all the answers

What happened when Nath demanded a hard-boiled egg for breakfast after Marilyn got back?

She burst into tears Signup and view all the answers

What color was the waiting room of the hospital?

A pale, calming blue Signup and view all the answers

What does Marilyn notice about the doctors at the hospital?

They were all men Signup and view all the answers

What makes Marilyn finally decide to leave her family in 1966?

She meets Dr. Wolff in the hospital. She had wanted to be a female doctor as well. Seeing someone who had accomplished that, she decides she wants to do the same thing before it's too late Signup and view all the answers

Why does Marilyn think it is possible for Dr. Wolff to be a doctor?

She had no husband and she let her son run wild Signup and view all the answers

What classes does Marilyn enroll in at the community college in 1966?

Organic chemistry, advanced statistics, anatomy Signup and view all the answers

Just before she leaves, what does Marilyn bake for Lydia's birthday?

A pink birthday cake Signup and view all the answers

How does Marilyn prepare the family for her absence without them knowing it?

She cooked large batches of foods, sealed them in Tupperware, and froze them so they'd have something to eat Signup and view all the answers

Which marble of Nath's does Marilyn take before she leaves?

The cobalt one with white specks Signup and view all the answers

What small tokens does Marilyn take from James, Lydia, and Nath before she leaves?

Lydia - A cherry-colored barrette with a white flower, Nath - A marble, James - A spare button from the underside of one of his overcoat's Signup and view all the answers

How long do Nath and Lydia sit on the front stoop until James gets home?

Two hours Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Dates and Events

May 3, 1977: Date the Lee family realizes Lydia is missing.
1966: Year Marilyn Lee went missing.
Wednesday afternoon: A passerby notices the rowboat on the lake.
Thursday morning: Police find Lydia's body.

Characters and Relationships

Lydia Elizabeth Lee: Main character, Chinese-American teenager with blue eyes.
Marilyn Lee: Lydia's mother; attended Radcliffe College in 1955, later works on her education.
James Lee: Lydia's father, a college professor at Middlewood College.
Nath Lee: Lydia's older brother, struggles with familial expectations and dynamics.
Hannah Lee: Lydia's younger sister, feels overshadowed by Lydia.

Contextual Background

Tenth grade: The grade Lydia is currently in at school.
Middlewood: The small town where the Lee family resides, population around three thousand.
Cultural complexity: Characters navigate issues of race and identity in a predominantly white society.

Family Dynamics

Lydia's parents had high expectations; Marilyn wanted Lydia to excel academically, evident from her first-period class in Eleventh grade Physics.
Significant tension and silence about Lydia's struggles and identity within the family.
Nath's secretiveness about Lydia's whereabouts showcases sibling dynamics and protective instincts.

Plot Elements

Lydia's last seen wearing a flowered halter-neck dress, highlighting her youth and innocence.
Key item found: A perfume bottle with a rounded pink lid in Lydia's bedroom, signifying her personal life.
Marilyn struggles with her identity and expectations of motherhood after her own mother's death in 1966.

Symbolism and Themes

The lake: Represents tranquility and tragedy, where Lydia's body is eventually found.
Diary: Marilyn's discovery reveals Lydia's uncommunicated feelings, emphasizing themes of isolation.
Interracial marriage: James and Marilyn face societal challenges in their relationship, portraying issues of acceptance.

Academic and Personal Aspirations

James has a passion for paleontology, which contrasts with his current teaching role.
Marilyn's academic journey includes struggles against traditional gender roles and aspirations in the medical field.
Marilyn begins classes in organic chemistry and advanced statistics to fulfill her dreams, highlighting her quest for independence.

Critical Incidents and Reactions

Nath's conflict at school reflects larger themes of ostracism and the need to belong.
Jack's involvement with Lydia raises questions about peer pressure and adolescent relationships.
James hides the autopsy report, which reveals Lydia's cause of death as asphyxia by drowning, showcasing parental grief and denial.

Important Objects and Symbols

Lydia's first diary: A flowered diary that is ultimately blank, representing unexpressed emotions.
Casket flowers: White lilies on Lydia's casket signify purity and loss.
Marilyn's wedding day memories emphasize her complex relationship with her mother, filled with conflict and unspoken love.

Emotional Resonance

Family breakfast habits reflect individual characteristics, creating a daily rhythm contrasted by disruption caused by Lydia's disappearance.
The impact of Marilyn's departure leads to emotional turmoil within the Lee family, showcasing complexities of love, sacrifice, and regret.
James experiences a transformation throughout the narrative, grappling with his identity as a father and the cultural expectations imposed upon him.

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Test your knowledge of Celeste Ng's 'Everything I Never Told You' with these flashcards. Each card covers crucial details and themes from the novel, helping you better understand the characters and their dynamics. Perfect for literary discussions or exams!

Everything I Never Told You - Flashcards