Podcast
Questions and Answers
What's the date when the Lee family realizes Lydia is missing?
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?
At what time does Nath say he heard Lydia's radio playing?
11:30 PM
Why does Lydia 'defy genetics'?
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?
How old was Lydia when Marilyn first saw her walk?
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What grade is Lydia in?
What grade is Lydia in?
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What does Lydia have for her first period class?
What does Lydia have for her first period class?
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What's the name of the town the Lee family lives in?
What's the name of the town the Lee family lives in?
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How long is the Middlewood lake across?
How long is the Middlewood lake across?
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How many people live in Middlewood?
How many people live in Middlewood?
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What does James wish at least one of his students could spell correctly?
What does James wish at least one of his students could spell correctly?
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What's the score James gives a paper on the day they realize Lydia is missing?
What's the score James gives a paper on the day they realize Lydia is missing?
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How long has James been working at Middlewood College?
How long has James been working at Middlewood College?
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What geographical mistake does Louisa say the students keep making?
What geographical mistake does Louisa say the students keep making?
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What does James pick out of Louisa's hair?
What does James pick out of Louisa's hair?
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What is Lydia's full name?
What is Lydia's full name?
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What was Lydia last seen wearing?
What was Lydia last seen wearing?
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What year did Marilyn go missing?
What year did Marilyn go missing?
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What photo of Lydia did the Lee family give the police?
What photo of Lydia did the Lee family give the police?
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What names do Marilyn and James believe Lydia is friends with?
What names do Marilyn and James believe Lydia is friends with?
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Why doesn't Nath tell his parents about Jack when discussing people who may know where Lydia is?
Why doesn't Nath tell his parents about Jack when discussing people who may know where Lydia is?
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When does a passerby notice the rowboat out on the lake?
When does a passerby notice the rowboat out on the lake?
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When do the police find Lydia's body in the lake?
When do the police find Lydia's body in the lake?
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What college does Marilyn attend and what's the year of her freshman year?
What college does Marilyn attend and what's the year of her freshman year?
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What class does Marilyn's advisor at Radcliffe give her instead of introductory Physics?
What class does Marilyn's advisor at Radcliffe give her instead of introductory Physics?
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In high school, what class did Marilyn want to take instead of Home Ec?
In high school, what class did Marilyn want to take instead of Home Ec?
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How old was Marilyn when her father left?
How old was Marilyn when her father left?
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What does Marilyn say her mother's hands smelled like?
What does Marilyn say her mother's hands smelled like?
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When and where does Marilyn meet James?
When and where does Marilyn meet James?
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What was James wearing when Marilyn and James met?
What was James wearing when Marilyn and James met?
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What was on the syllabus for The Cowboy in American Culture?
What was on the syllabus for The Cowboy in American Culture?
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James said he would hold office hours until what time?
James said he would hold office hours until what time?
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Why did Marilyn come to see James after the class?
Why did Marilyn come to see James after the class?
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What does James say his favorite subject in school was?
What does James say his favorite subject in school was?
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What did Marilyn think James tasted like when they first kissed?
What did Marilyn think James tasted like when they first kissed?
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What is the first reason James came to love Marilyn?
What is the first reason James came to love Marilyn?
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During the second time James and Marilyn had class together, what does Marilyn do after the class ends?
During the second time James and Marilyn had class together, what does Marilyn do after the class ends?
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What do Marilyn and James do to solve the issue of them being in the same class?
What do Marilyn and James do to solve the issue of them being in the same class?
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How did James attend Lloyd Academy for free?
How did James attend Lloyd Academy for free?
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What new 'English' names do James' parents get when they start to work at Lloyd Academy?
What new 'English' names do James' parents get when they start to work at Lloyd Academy?
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What kind of car did James' father drive him to school?
What kind of car did James' father drive him to school?
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How long did James attend Lloyd Academy?
How long did James attend Lloyd Academy?
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What color does James paint his apartment when Marilyn suggests it?
What color does James paint his apartment when Marilyn suggests it?
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What does Marilyn make for her and James on their first Thanksgiving together?
What does Marilyn make for her and James on their first Thanksgiving together?
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Why does James stop speaking Chinese to his parents in the fifth grade?
Why does James stop speaking Chinese to his parents in the fifth grade?
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James applies for positions in what cities as a back-up?
James applies for positions in what cities as a back-up?
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Who does Professor Carlson hire instead of James?
Who does Professor Carlson hire instead of James?
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What is the date and time James and Marilyn plan to get married?
What is the date and time James and Marilyn plan to get married?
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Why is Marilyn and James's planned marriage in 1958 illegal in Virginia and half the country?
Why is Marilyn and James's planned marriage in 1958 illegal in Virginia and half the country?
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What reason does Marilyn's mother suspect James wants to marry her for?
What reason does Marilyn's mother suspect James wants to marry her for?
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What flowers does Marilyn's mother want her to get for her wedding instead of daisies?
What flowers does Marilyn's mother want her to get for her wedding instead of daisies?
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What smeared Marilyn's mother's sleeve after they had an argument on wedding day?
What smeared Marilyn's mother's sleeve after they had an argument on wedding day?
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When was the last time Marilyn ever saw her mother?
When was the last time Marilyn ever saw her mother?
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Why does James choose for Lydia to have a closed casket funeral?
Why does James choose for Lydia to have a closed casket funeral?
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In middle school, Tommy Reed snuck past a funeral service to get what kind of leaf?
In middle school, Tommy Reed snuck past a funeral service to get what kind of leaf?
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What kind of flowers were on Lydia's casket?
What kind of flowers were on Lydia's casket?
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What does Jack wear to Lydia's funeral?
What does Jack wear to Lydia's funeral?
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What does Nath think he sees drip down Marilyn's face?
What does Nath think he sees drip down Marilyn's face?
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Where does Nath sit after his fight with Jack at the funeral?
Where does Nath sit after his fight with Jack at the funeral?
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How many nights a week does Jack's mother work at the hospital?
How many nights a week does Jack's mother work at the hospital?
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What grade does Jack have in physics?
What grade does Jack have in physics?
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What reason does Jack give the police for hanging out with Lydia before she died?
What reason does Jack give the police for hanging out with Lydia before she died?
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Where did James hide the autopsy report?
Where did James hide the autopsy report?
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The autopsy report says Lydia's cause of death was what?
The autopsy report says Lydia's cause of death was what?
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What is Louisa wearing when she comes into James' office while he's reading Lydia's autopsy report?
What is Louisa wearing when she comes into James' office while he's reading Lydia's autopsy report?
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What apartment does Louisa live in?
What apartment does Louisa live in?
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What flowers are on Lydia's pillowcase?
What flowers are on Lydia's pillowcase?
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What are two books Marilyn sees on Lydia's bookshelf?
What are two books Marilyn sees on Lydia's bookshelf?
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When did Marilyn give Lydia her first diary, and what did it look like?
When did Marilyn give Lydia her first diary, and what did it look like?
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What did Marilyn find in all of Lydia's diaries?
What did Marilyn find in all of Lydia's diaries?
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What did Marilyn wear to the university's annual Christmas party?
What did Marilyn wear to the university's annual Christmas party?
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Why did James not want Marilyn to work?
Why did James not want Marilyn to work?
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Marilyn's mother died of what on what date?
Marilyn's mother died of what on what date?
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What trick does Marilyn remember to unlock her childhood home with the key?
What trick does Marilyn remember to unlock her childhood home with the key?
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What was Marilyn's mother's Betty Crocker cookbook mended with?
What was Marilyn's mother's Betty Crocker cookbook mended with?
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What sign of her time did Marilyn find in her childhood home?
What sign of her time did Marilyn find in her childhood home?
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What does Marilyn think the only thing worth remembering about her mother is?
What does Marilyn think the only thing worth remembering about her mother is?
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How do James, Nath, and Lydia take their eggs?
How do James, Nath, and Lydia take their eggs?
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What did James serve Nath and Lydia every day for breakfast while Marilyn was gone?
What did James serve Nath and Lydia every day for breakfast while Marilyn was gone?
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Why does James get annoyed with Nath's shyness when he was a child?
Why does James get annoyed with Nath's shyness when he was a child?
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When James was young, why had he been embarrassed to ask classmates to his house?
When James was young, why had he been embarrassed to ask classmates to his house?
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What happened when Nath was playing Marco Polo with the other kids?
What happened when Nath was playing Marco Polo with the other kids?
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What did James offer Nath at dinnertime after the Marco-Polo incident?
What did James offer Nath at dinnertime after the Marco-Polo incident?
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What happened when Nath demanded a hard-boiled egg for breakfast after Marilyn got back?
What happened when Nath demanded a hard-boiled egg for breakfast after Marilyn got back?
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What color was the waiting room of the hospital?
What color was the waiting room of the hospital?
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What does Marilyn notice about the doctors at the hospital?
What does Marilyn notice about the doctors at the hospital?
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What makes Marilyn finally decide to leave her family in 1966?
What makes Marilyn finally decide to leave her family in 1966?
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Why does Marilyn think it is possible for Dr. Wolff to be a doctor?
Why does Marilyn think it is possible for Dr. Wolff to be a doctor?
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What classes does Marilyn enroll in at the community college in 1966?
What classes does Marilyn enroll in at the community college in 1966?
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Just before she leaves, what does Marilyn bake for Lydia's birthday?
Just before she leaves, what does Marilyn bake for Lydia's birthday?
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How does Marilyn prepare the family for her absence without them knowing it?
How does Marilyn prepare the family for her absence without them knowing it?
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Which marble of Nath's does Marilyn take before she leaves?
Which marble of Nath's does Marilyn take before she leaves?
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What small tokens does Marilyn take from James, Lydia, and Nath before she leaves?
What small tokens does Marilyn take from James, Lydia, and Nath before she leaves?
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How long do Nath and Lydia sit on the front stoop until James gets home?
How long do Nath and Lydia sit on the front stoop until James gets home?
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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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
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!