1. Li-Young Lee Poetry Stephanie Ho and Lauren Ellis

2. Biographical Info Was Born August 19, 1957, in Jakarta, Indonesia Was Born August 19, 1957, in Jakarta, Indonesia Has great pride in his Chinese heritage Has great pride in his Chinese heritage Mother was daughter of 1 st president of Republic of China Mother was daughter of 1 st president of Republic of China Father personal doctor to Mao Zedong Father personal doctor to Mao Zedong Father was one year political prisoner Father was one year political prisoner This led to the family being on the run This led to the family being on the run Ended up in America around the time Lee was 7 Ended up in America around the time Lee was 7

3. Influences on Lee’s Work Childhood spent on the run Childhood spent on the run Grew up in American culture Grew up in American culture

6. Lee’s Style Strength Strength Silence Silence Simplicity Simplicity Inspired by classical poets Inspired by classical poets Structure Structure Irregular stanza organization Irregular stanza organization No specific rhyming pattern No specific rhyming pattern

7. Themes & Motifs Everyday/trivial things Everyday/trivial things Fatherhood and childhood Fatherhood and childhood Differences b/w American and Chinese culture Differences b/w American and Chinese culture Love and hurt Love and hurt

8. Literary Criticism The City in Which I Love You (Publisher’s Weekly): The City in Which I Love You (Publisher’s Weekly): “Weaves a remarkable web of memory from the multifarious fibers of his experience.” “Weaves a remarkable web of memory from the multifarious fibers of his experience.” “Images are economical yet fluid, and his language is often startling for its brave honesty." “Images are economical yet fluid, and his language is often startling for its brave honesty." Persimmons Persimmons reaches into the murky depths of memory to salvage cherishable characteristics of his parents and their culture reaches into the murky depths of memory to salvage cherishable characteristics of his parents and their culture