Amy Tan
1) How would you describe the overall tone of 'Two Kinds'? Does it ever change?
At what point in the story does it shift?
2) Part of the beauty of the story comes from Tan's use of language, especially
her metaphors and similes. Note a few while you are reading.
3) Look for humor while reading. Although this isn't a funny story, Tan uses
humor quite a bit.
4) The title "Two Kinds" could be applied to a number of different
pairs in the story as well as the comments the mother makes to Jing-Mei. What
are some of these pairs?
1) The reader's sympathy uses swings back and forth between the daughter and
the mother. Jot down when you sympathize with the mother or the daughter. Do
you think there's a balance, or does one end up siding with one or the other?
Explain.
2) Look at the effect of Tan's choice of narrator and point of view. How does
this choice of this point of view color the story?
3) What is the relationship between the mother and the daughter. How and why
are the perspectives different?
4) This is also a story about the culture clash between an immigrant and a native
born child. What makes this specifically about Chinese-Americans? Do you think
this story could relate to anyone in any situation?
5) What is the significance of the final section. Why does the narrator return
to the piano as an adult? What has she learned about herself and her mother?
Anniina's Amy Tan page, full of great links and you don't really need anywhere
else:
http://www.luminarium.org/contemporary/amytan/
Excellent long article on Tan. Highly recommended: http://www.theage.com.au/books/2001/05/07/FFXOCM14FMC.html
A fan's page: http://members.tripod.com/~Roella/AmyTan/
The Internet Public Library's Amy Tan page: http://www.ipl.org.ar/cgi-bin/ref/litcrit/litcrit.out.pl?au=tan-155
Book Magazine interview: http://www.bookmagazine.com/issue14/tan.shtml
Chronology of Amy Tan: http://www.allsands.com/Entertainment/People/amytanbiograph_anu_gn.htm
Rock Bottom Remainders, Tan's band!
http://www.dqydj.com/rbr.htm
"Old China" information: http://www.talesofoldchina.com/introduction.html
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