When You Trap a Tiger

In a scary moment mid-way through the novel, Halmoni cannot recall who Lily is. Lily reflects on the extent to which memories impact our identities: “Who is Halmoni without her memories?” (201). How do memories of the past impact characters’ traits and actions throughout the book? Consider at least three characters or three moments in which a memory affects someone’s actions.

When Lily, Sam, and Mom move in with Halmoni, they form a multigenerational household. What different ideas and values might each generation represent? In what scenes are these ideas particularly clear?

Conflict between Lily and Sam exists on many levels; the distance between them can be read as typical sibling behavior, but confusion and hurt from past situations play a role as well. In contrast, how would you describe the conflict between Mom and Halmoni? How does Halmoni try to exert control over Mom? At what point in the story does each play a caretaking role? Support your answers with evidence from the text.