questions

In class we'er currently reading The Warrior Woman, chapter "White Tigers." I was the moderator for our lit. group and I had to come up with some questions for the chapter.

As most of us know this is a very confusing book because the narrator changes characters.
Some of the questions that I have are...

1) The bed Mulan slept in, the old woman says "Opera singers, who begin their training at age five, sleep in beds like this." What is the significance of this? What is the significance of the bed? (pg.22)

2) How is everyone so accepting to the fact that she will not return home? Her parents hardly care and she seems to take it well. Isn't it hard to give up your family? Does their culture affect this? (pg.22)

3) She refers to the fungus as 'the fungus of immortality,' what does she mean by this? (pg.25)

4)Why did the rabbit jump into the fire? (pg.26)

5) Mulan's childhood friend and future husband marries her even when she's not there. He became a spirit bridegroom. Is this common in their culture? (pg.31)

6)When she was ready to leave the old couple , they give her the fifteen beads, what exactly are they and what are they supposed to do? (pg.33)