Literary Term: I found a declarative sentence in this chapter. "My daughter is getting married a second time (254)." Tan's use of a declarative sentence is effective because it is stating simply the idea about her daughter's marriage.
Quote from chapter 15: "Why easy things are not worth pursuing (254)."
Quote from chapter 16: "And now at the airport, after shaking hands with everybody, waving goodbye, I think about all the different ways we leave people in this world. Cheerily waving good-bye to some at airports, knowing we'll never see each other again. Leaving others on the side of the road, hoping that we will. Finding my mother in my father's story and saying good-bye before I have a chance to know her better (286)."
Lindo Jong in chapter 15 reassures her concerned daughter on her first trip to China. Lindo wishes she could teach her daughter about how to find her inner Chinese character. However, these are things Lindo's daughter must discover on her own. One thing Lindo wishes her daughter knew is this: "Why easy things are not worth pursuing." After I saw this, it brought to my attention how true the saying "Don't take the easy way out" is. Just because something is easy, it most likely doesn't teach you as big of a lesson as something harder and you won't gain as much wisdom.
In the final chapter, chapter 16, Jing-mei is learning about her sisters back home in China whom her mother left behind. Jing-mei is supposed to take over her mother's place in the Joy Luck Club. She must learn truly who her mother was to understand herself and heritage. As she is heading back home after visiting her family, she is hit hard with the reality that the first time seeing her Chinese family, will probably be her last. "And now at the airport, after shaking hands with everybody, waving goodbye, I think about all the different ways we leave people in this world. Cheerily waving good-bye to some at airports, knowing we'll never see each other again. Leaving others on the side of the road, hoping that we will. Finding my mother in my father's story and saying good-bye before I have a chance to know her better." This reminded me of my own real life experience. I've had many people come in my life and just as quickly leave it. I have a friend in South Carolina who I haven't seen in five years. This makes me think of how five years ago, the good-bye I shared with her, could actually be my last. No one can be aware of when people will share a final good-bye.
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 13 & 14
Literary Term: There is a compound sentence in the chapter Magpies. "This was a pond in our courtyard and I often poked a stick in the still water to make to turtle swim out from underneath the rocks(216)." By using a compound sentence, Tan's purpose is to show in two independent clauses, what the narrator did at the pond.
Quote from chapter 13: "Secrets are kept from children, a lid on top of the soup kettle, so they do not boil over with too much truth (237)."
Quote from chapter 14: "But thoughts are of two kinds. Some are seeds that are planted when you are born, placed there by your father and mother and their ancestors before them. And some thoughts are planted by others (245)."
In chapter 13, An-mei learns about her mother's story and what Second Wife did to her in the past. An-mei hears what horror her mother went through. She becomes one of Wu Tsing's many wives and loses her son to Second Wife. After Yan Chang tells An-mei all of this, An-mei is so shocked that she wishes she never had all this knowledge. "Secrets are kept from children, a lid on top of the soup kettle, so they do not boil over with too much truth." I saw this quote and thought of how some things are too much for children to handle. Sometimes, it is best to keep secrets from children just because they might not be old enough to understand completely.
Chapter 14 is about Ying-Ying who, as a girl, was beautiful and wild. Her vain personality made her believe no one quite reached her standards. "But thoughts are of two kinds. Some are seeds that are planted when you are born, placed there by your father and mother and their ancestors before them. And some thoughts are planted by others." When reading this, I thought about how some of our thoughts are placed in our minds by what our parents believe in. Sometimes, children go along with whatever their parents think because they've been raised around the same beliefs. However, many of our thoughts are shaped by who we associate with and what we expose ourselves to.
Quote from chapter 13: "Secrets are kept from children, a lid on top of the soup kettle, so they do not boil over with too much truth (237)."
Quote from chapter 14: "But thoughts are of two kinds. Some are seeds that are planted when you are born, placed there by your father and mother and their ancestors before them. And some thoughts are planted by others (245)."
In chapter 13, An-mei learns about her mother's story and what Second Wife did to her in the past. An-mei hears what horror her mother went through. She becomes one of Wu Tsing's many wives and loses her son to Second Wife. After Yan Chang tells An-mei all of this, An-mei is so shocked that she wishes she never had all this knowledge. "Secrets are kept from children, a lid on top of the soup kettle, so they do not boil over with too much truth." I saw this quote and thought of how some things are too much for children to handle. Sometimes, it is best to keep secrets from children just because they might not be old enough to understand completely.
Chapter 14 is about Ying-Ying who, as a girl, was beautiful and wild. Her vain personality made her believe no one quite reached her standards. "But thoughts are of two kinds. Some are seeds that are planted when you are born, placed there by your father and mother and their ancestors before them. And some thoughts are planted by others." When reading this, I thought about how some of our thoughts are placed in our minds by what our parents believe in. Sometimes, children go along with whatever their parents think because they've been raised around the same beliefs. However, many of our thoughts are shaped by who we associate with and what we expose ourselves to.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 10, 11, 12
Literary Term: I found a symbol in the chapter Four Directions. "I went to the closet and then came back with a mink jacket that Rich had given me for Christmas. It was the most extravagant gift I had ever received. I put the jacket on. 'It's sort of a silly present,' I said nervously. 'It's hardly ever cold enough in San Francisco to wear mink. But it seems to be a fad, what people are buying their wives and girlfriends these days (169).' " The mink jacket is a symbol of Rich's generosity to buy his fiance' a fashionable gift to remember him by. The mink jacket is a symbol of a gift from a future husband to his future wife.
Literary Term from chapter 12: I found a complex sentence in this chapter. "My mother was seventy-one, but she still walked briskly along, her small body straight and purposeful, carrying a colorful flowery plastic bag (198)." The complex sentence is used to describe the narrator's mother by using one independent clause and one dependent clause.
Quote from novel chapter 10: " 'You think it is so easy. One day quit, next day play. Everything for you is this way. So smart, so easy, so fast (171).' "
Quote from chapter 11: " 'A mother is best. A mother knows what is inside you,' she said above the singing voices (188)."
Quote from chapter 12: " 'For a long time, I wanted to give you this necklace. See, I wore this on my skin, so when you put it on your skin, then you know my meaning. This is your life's importance(208).' "
In chapter 10, Waverly gets to the point where her love of chess is ruined by her mother's overbearingness and pride. Waverly thinks that if she takes a break from chess, then her mother will get worried and beg Waverly to compete again. However, her mother backs off and doesn't approach Waverly or say a thing. Waverly then comes to her mother saying she's ready to play again. Her mother's reply is, " 'You think it is so easy. One day quit, next day play. Everything for you is this way. So smart, so easy, so fast.' " This made me think of how people think that you can quit something, and just as easily pick it back up. Sometimes, after taking breaks, regaining old talent isn't so easy.
Chapter 11 starts with Rose meeting up with her mother at church. Rose is going through divorce with Ted. She begins taking advice from friends on how to cope. Rose is seeing a psychiatrist which her mother disapproves of. " 'A mother is best. A mother knows what is inside you,' she said above the singing voices." This reminded me of my realization that mothers really do know best. Somehow, my mother knows what is inside me. I am just a mirror image of her, and so i think a lot of the time she knows what is inside me. My mother knows me so well.
Jing-mei, in chapter 12, is given a jade pendant by her mother as a gift of life's importance. Jing-mei never really understands what her mother see's as her importance. This is a tragedy and mystery after Jin-mei's mother dies. Jing-mei must find out for herself what her mother intended the pendant means. When Jing-mei receives the pendant her mother says something to her. Her mother says, " 'For a long time, I wanted to give you this necklace. See, I wore this on my skin, so when you put it on your skin, then you know my meaning. This is your life's importance.' " This entire passage brought to mind how some gifts are passed on through generations. These gifts are special because they have years of memories in them and are intended to stay in the family.
Literary Term from chapter 12: I found a complex sentence in this chapter. "My mother was seventy-one, but she still walked briskly along, her small body straight and purposeful, carrying a colorful flowery plastic bag (198)." The complex sentence is used to describe the narrator's mother by using one independent clause and one dependent clause.
Quote from novel chapter 10: " 'You think it is so easy. One day quit, next day play. Everything for you is this way. So smart, so easy, so fast (171).' "
Quote from chapter 11: " 'A mother is best. A mother knows what is inside you,' she said above the singing voices (188)."
Quote from chapter 12: " 'For a long time, I wanted to give you this necklace. See, I wore this on my skin, so when you put it on your skin, then you know my meaning. This is your life's importance(208).' "
In chapter 10, Waverly gets to the point where her love of chess is ruined by her mother's overbearingness and pride. Waverly thinks that if she takes a break from chess, then her mother will get worried and beg Waverly to compete again. However, her mother backs off and doesn't approach Waverly or say a thing. Waverly then comes to her mother saying she's ready to play again. Her mother's reply is, " 'You think it is so easy. One day quit, next day play. Everything for you is this way. So smart, so easy, so fast.' " This made me think of how people think that you can quit something, and just as easily pick it back up. Sometimes, after taking breaks, regaining old talent isn't so easy.
Chapter 11 starts with Rose meeting up with her mother at church. Rose is going through divorce with Ted. She begins taking advice from friends on how to cope. Rose is seeing a psychiatrist which her mother disapproves of. " 'A mother is best. A mother knows what is inside you,' she said above the singing voices." This reminded me of my realization that mothers really do know best. Somehow, my mother knows what is inside me. I am just a mirror image of her, and so i think a lot of the time she knows what is inside me. My mother knows me so well.
Jing-mei, in chapter 12, is given a jade pendant by her mother as a gift of life's importance. Jing-mei never really understands what her mother see's as her importance. This is a tragedy and mystery after Jin-mei's mother dies. Jing-mei must find out for herself what her mother intended the pendant means. When Jing-mei receives the pendant her mother says something to her. Her mother says, " 'For a long time, I wanted to give you this necklace. See, I wore this on my skin, so when you put it on your skin, then you know my meaning. This is your life's importance.' " This entire passage brought to mind how some gifts are passed on through generations. These gifts are special because they have years of memories in them and are intended to stay in the family.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 9
Literary Term: I found vernacular in the beginning of this chapter. "Chunwang chihan: If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold (149)." The author uses vernacular with the purpose of incorporating another culture's language into the reading.
Quote from novel: "I still feel that somehow, for the most part, we deserve what we get (155)."
In this chapter, Lena remembers a memory from her childhood of a neighbor boy, Arnold, whom she hated. She had intentions for something bad to happen to him, like death, and maybe it was just connected to coincidences. When Lena hears that he died, she makes herself sick just thinking of Arnold. After all this occurred, Lena begins to think Arnold was destined to be her husband. Lena finds to many coincidences for her fate to be any otherwise. However, she ends up marrying Harold. "I still feel that somehow, for the most part, we deserve what we get." This reminds me of the saying, "You get a taste of your own medicine." In the end, people deserve what they get.
Quote from novel: "I still feel that somehow, for the most part, we deserve what we get (155)."
In this chapter, Lena remembers a memory from her childhood of a neighbor boy, Arnold, whom she hated. She had intentions for something bad to happen to him, like death, and maybe it was just connected to coincidences. When Lena hears that he died, she makes herself sick just thinking of Arnold. After all this occurred, Lena begins to think Arnold was destined to be her husband. Lena finds to many coincidences for her fate to be any otherwise. However, she ends up marrying Harold. "I still feel that somehow, for the most part, we deserve what we get." This reminds me of the saying, "You get a taste of your own medicine." In the end, people deserve what they get.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 8
Literary Term: I found many exclamatory sentences in this chapter. " 'Bravo! Bravo! Well done (140)!' "
" 'Key! Treble! Bass! No sharps or flats! So this is C major! Listen now and play after me (137)!' "
" 'I'm not a genius! I can't play the piano. And even if I could, I wouldn't go on TV if you paid me a million dollars (136)!' "
" 'Play note right, but doesn't sound good (136)!' "
" 'What for! Who ask you (136)!' "
" 'Like Beethoven (137)!' "
" 'We're both listening only in our head (137)!' "
"Old Chong smiled and applauded and then said, 'Very good! But now you must learn to keep time (137)!' "
Amy Tan's purpose for the many exclamatory sentences is to show strong emotion and excitement.
Quote from novel: "I had new thoughts, wilful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of wont's. I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not (134)."
In chapter 8: Two Kinds, Jing-mei's mother is always after her about finding her nitch, special talent, or calling. Jing-mei is never impressed with her mother's ideas. She gets slightly annoyed at her mother for quizzing her constantly to find what she's good at. To Jing-mei, all of this pressure from her mother to be perfect at something is stressful. Jing-mei doesn't aspire to be on television or be a genius, but those are the kinds of things her mother has in mind. It is no surprise when her mother signs her up for piano lessons with the retired piano teacher from upstairs. Jing-mei has no choice but to give piano a try, even though she's never had an interest for it before. Jing-mei begins to realize that she can't just live under her mother's dreams for her. "I had new thoughts, wilful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of wont's. I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not." This quote stood out to me because I beleive Jing-Mei is describing the feeling of being someone she's not. Oftentimes, people clothe themselves in what others want to see. This way, people can avoid letting down, for instance, their parents, if they want their child to be an athlete and the child doesn't want to participate in sports. I feel like most times people are afraid to be themselves. Jing-mei is finding out that she can't let her mother control her. This goes along with one of my favorite quotes. The quote is: "Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else."-Judy Garland
" 'Key! Treble! Bass! No sharps or flats! So this is C major! Listen now and play after me (137)!' "
" 'I'm not a genius! I can't play the piano. And even if I could, I wouldn't go on TV if you paid me a million dollars (136)!' "
" 'Play note right, but doesn't sound good (136)!' "
" 'What for! Who ask you (136)!' "
" 'Like Beethoven (137)!' "
" 'We're both listening only in our head (137)!' "
"Old Chong smiled and applauded and then said, 'Very good! But now you must learn to keep time (137)!' "
Amy Tan's purpose for the many exclamatory sentences is to show strong emotion and excitement.
Quote from novel: "I had new thoughts, wilful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of wont's. I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not (134)."
In chapter 8: Two Kinds, Jing-mei's mother is always after her about finding her nitch, special talent, or calling. Jing-mei is never impressed with her mother's ideas. She gets slightly annoyed at her mother for quizzing her constantly to find what she's good at. To Jing-mei, all of this pressure from her mother to be perfect at something is stressful. Jing-mei doesn't aspire to be on television or be a genius, but those are the kinds of things her mother has in mind. It is no surprise when her mother signs her up for piano lessons with the retired piano teacher from upstairs. Jing-mei has no choice but to give piano a try, even though she's never had an interest for it before. Jing-mei begins to realize that she can't just live under her mother's dreams for her. "I had new thoughts, wilful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of wont's. I won't let her change me, I promised myself. I won't be what I'm not." This quote stood out to me because I beleive Jing-Mei is describing the feeling of being someone she's not. Oftentimes, people clothe themselves in what others want to see. This way, people can avoid letting down, for instance, their parents, if they want their child to be an athlete and the child doesn't want to participate in sports. I feel like most times people are afraid to be themselves. Jing-mei is finding out that she can't let her mother control her. This goes along with one of my favorite quotes. The quote is: "Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else."-Judy Garland
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 7
Literary Term: I found dialogue between Ted and Rose in this chapter. " 'No, because you can never make up your mind about anything,' he said" "And I protested, 'But its only with things that aren't important.' " " 'Nothing is important to you, then,' he said in a tone of disgust." " 'Ted, if you want me to go, I'll go (120).' "
The author uses dialogue to let the reader read about the important conversation two characters are having in the story.
Quote from novel: " 'And you're just going to sit there! Let my mother decide what's right (118)?' "
The chapter Half and Half begins with Rose's recollection of the first time she met her husband's mother. For Rose, the conversation with Mrs. Jordan was uncomfortable. Mrs. Jordan is unaccepting of Ted's relationship with Rose because she thinks it is a distraction from Ted's future plans. Rose also feels Mrs. Jordan is being racist and ignorant towards her Chinese culture. This incident almost cost Ted and Rose their relationship. Rose tells him of what happened, and he is shocked to see his mother had such a large part in Rose's decisions. " 'And you're just going to sit there! Let my mother decide what's right?' " Both agreed to see one another, despite Mrs. Jordan's disapproval. This entire scene of the book brought to mind another familiar story. Romeo and Juliet can be compared to Rose and Ted by the fact that their undying love for each other could not be broken by their parent's disapproval. In both stories, the couples go against what others want and stay together out of love.
The author uses dialogue to let the reader read about the important conversation two characters are having in the story.
Quote from novel: " 'And you're just going to sit there! Let my mother decide what's right (118)?' "
The chapter Half and Half begins with Rose's recollection of the first time she met her husband's mother. For Rose, the conversation with Mrs. Jordan was uncomfortable. Mrs. Jordan is unaccepting of Ted's relationship with Rose because she thinks it is a distraction from Ted's future plans. Rose also feels Mrs. Jordan is being racist and ignorant towards her Chinese culture. This incident almost cost Ted and Rose their relationship. Rose tells him of what happened, and he is shocked to see his mother had such a large part in Rose's decisions. " 'And you're just going to sit there! Let my mother decide what's right?' " Both agreed to see one another, despite Mrs. Jordan's disapproval. This entire scene of the book brought to mind another familiar story. Romeo and Juliet can be compared to Rose and Ted by the fact that their undying love for each other could not be broken by their parent's disapproval. In both stories, the couples go against what others want and stay together out of love.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 6
Literary Term: In this chapter I found a flashback. "As I remember it, the dark side of my mother sprang from the basement in our old house in Oakland. I was five and my mother tried to hide it from me. She barricaded the door with a wooden chair, secured it with a chain and two types of key locks. And it became so mysterious that I spent all my energies unraveling this door, until the day I was finally able to pry it open with my small fingers, only to immediately fall headlong into the dark chasm (103)." Amy Tan's use of a flashback is effective because it gives the reader insight into the character's recollection of a significant past memory.
Quote from novel: "I had such fears inside, not in my head but in my stomach (113)."
In chapter 6, Lena's home life spirals downward as her mother falls apart slowly after her youngest baby's death. Lena's father tries to shut out the reality of what is happening and make things better. Lena must cope with the world shattering inside and outside the walls of her room. Every night it seems, the girl next door is living a nightmare too. Screams, shouts, and bangs arise from the room next to Lena's where a girl, Teresa, it seems, constantly fights with her mother. Lena's life is filled with fear and feeling scared. However, to Lena, it feels a little comforting to know she didn't have it the worst. "I had such fears inside, not in my head but in my stomach." "...It comforted me somewhat to think that this girl next door had a more unhappy life." The first quote reminded me of what my mother used to say to me. I remembering hearing from her these words: "Don't worry, you'll make yourself sick." Sometimes, people think and ponder too much over things that upset them. This is unhealthy because it adds stress, anxiety, and unhappiness. It is possible for a person to worry so much that they make themselves feel sick. I believe this is the feeling Lena is experiencing in this quote from the book.
Quote from novel: "I had such fears inside, not in my head but in my stomach (113)."
In chapter 6, Lena's home life spirals downward as her mother falls apart slowly after her youngest baby's death. Lena's father tries to shut out the reality of what is happening and make things better. Lena must cope with the world shattering inside and outside the walls of her room. Every night it seems, the girl next door is living a nightmare too. Screams, shouts, and bangs arise from the room next to Lena's where a girl, Teresa, it seems, constantly fights with her mother. Lena's life is filled with fear and feeling scared. However, to Lena, it feels a little comforting to know she didn't have it the worst. "I had such fears inside, not in my head but in my stomach." "...It comforted me somewhat to think that this girl next door had a more unhappy life." The first quote reminded me of what my mother used to say to me. I remembering hearing from her these words: "Don't worry, you'll make yourself sick." Sometimes, people think and ponder too much over things that upset them. This is unhealthy because it adds stress, anxiety, and unhappiness. It is possible for a person to worry so much that they make themselves feel sick. I believe this is the feeling Lena is experiencing in this quote from the book.
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