These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the novel.

Pre-Reading “Icebreaker”

Think about a memory that you associate with food. Is it positive? Negative? What comes to mind about this food? Does this make you feel nostalgic or think about a family member?

Teaching Suggestion: This question introduces the idea of food as a symbol. Yangjin is frequently complimented for her cooking when she runs the boarding house, and kimchi is a motif that demonstrates how Sunja was able to provide for herself and her family while Noa was embarrassed by having the smell on his clothes.

• Food First published this article that discusses the history of kimchi and includes a recipe for kimchi. 

Post-Reading Analysis

Over seven decades pass during Pachinko, and we learn more and more about the different things that Yangjin and her descendants do to survive. Choose one character and think about their ability to handle what life throws at them. Are they successful? Why or why not? What effect does this have on the rest of the family?

Teaching Suggestion: Guide students to think about the theme of resilience as they are responding to this prompt. You can also note that other families, such as Etsuko’s and Yumi’s are broken and can be used as a point of comparison for Hoonie and Yangjin’s descendants.