Literary Term: I found the setting of where this chapter takes place and where Waverly Jong grew up. "We lived on Waverly Place, in a warm, clean, two-bedroom flat that sat above a small Chinese bakery specializing in steamed pastries and dim sum (89-90)." "We lived in San Francisco's Chinatown (89)." I believe the purpose of Tan's use of setting is to help the reader understand where the story is taking place.
Quote from novel: " 'Ma, it's not how many pieces you lose. Sometimes you need to lose pieces to get ahead (97).' "
In chapter 5, Waverly has become a national chess champion, competiting in tournaments, and is hovered over by her mother giving her tips. Waverly's entire childhood is shaped from her new talent for chess. However, her mother takes great pride in her daughter's successes and it iritates Waverly. Her mother is always around to correct, give pointers, and watch Waverly play chess. At one point, Waverly's mother tries to convince her to win more and lose less. To this Waverly says, " 'Ma, it's not how many pieces you lose. Sometimes you need to lose pieces to get ahead.' " By this, Waverly is meaning that you can't win everything you set out to do. At times, one doesn't win until after they've experienced much loss. Oftentimes, those losses can actually help motivate and inspire a person to get ahead. This reminds me of a quote. This quote states: "If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain."-Dolly Parton. I think this quote helps explain that one must have suffering and hardship before winning and getting ahead. I've always been taught, you win some, you lose some.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 4
Literary Term: I found personification in a line from the book. "I raced to the pavilion and found aunts and uncles laughing as they used chopsticks to pick up dancing shrimp, still squirming in their shells, their tiny legs bristling (75)." (dancing referring to the shrimp) I think the author's purpose for using personification is to add figurative language to the novel.
Quote from the novel: " 'Haven't I taught you that it is wrong to think of your own needs? A girl can never ask, only listen (70).' "
In chapter 4, Ying-Ying St. Clair goes with her family to Tai Lake as a tradition on the Moon Festival. She has many questions about the Moon Lady because she has never went to the event due to her young age. Ying-Ying asks Amah about what a secret wish is to ask the Moon Lady. Amah says it is what you want but cannot ask for, it is a secret. If you ask anyone else but the Moon Lady for it, then it is a selfish desire. " 'Haven't I taught you that it is wrong to think of your own needs? A girl can never ask, only listen.' " When Amah gives these words, she wants Ying-Ying to understand that it is not a girl's job to ask for things, except on this special day. A girl's job, rather, is to think of other's needs first, and not consider one's own. This reminded me of a bible verse. Mark 10:44-45: "And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This verse reminds me of the importance of serving others and their needs before all else.
Quote from the novel: " 'Haven't I taught you that it is wrong to think of your own needs? A girl can never ask, only listen (70).' "
In chapter 4, Ying-Ying St. Clair goes with her family to Tai Lake as a tradition on the Moon Festival. She has many questions about the Moon Lady because she has never went to the event due to her young age. Ying-Ying asks Amah about what a secret wish is to ask the Moon Lady. Amah says it is what you want but cannot ask for, it is a secret. If you ask anyone else but the Moon Lady for it, then it is a selfish desire. " 'Haven't I taught you that it is wrong to think of your own needs? A girl can never ask, only listen.' " When Amah gives these words, she wants Ying-Ying to understand that it is not a girl's job to ask for things, except on this special day. A girl's job, rather, is to think of other's needs first, and not consider one's own. This reminded me of a bible verse. Mark 10:44-45: "And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This verse reminds me of the importance of serving others and their needs before all else.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 3
Literary Term: This part of the novel presents a simile. "I was like the wind (58)."
The use of a simile is effective because it is figurative language and is a unique comparison of two things which the reader can understand.
Quote from the novel: "I once sacrificed my life to keep my parents' promise. This means nothing to you, because to you promises mean nothing. A daughter can promise to come to dinner, but if she has a headache, if she has a traffic jam, if she wants to watch a favorite movie on TV, she no longer has a promise... But later, she will forget her promise (49)."
In the beginning of chapter 3, Lindo Jong observes people's carelessness to keep promises. Lindo holds true to her promise to not disgrace her parents. Also, she is obligated to obey her arranged husband's family. Even though she lived many years in unhappiness in her new home, she remained steadfast for the sake of her promise to family. Nearly everywhere she looks there are people who don't take promises as seriously as she, and this is a shame to her. "...To you promises mean nothing. A daughter can promise to come to dinner, but if she has a headache, if she has a traffic jam, if she wants to watch a favorite movie on TV, she no longer has a promise... But later, she will forget her promise." This section in the book reminded me of a song. The song is "Grandpa, Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days" by The Judds. There is a lyric, "Was a promise really something people kept? Not just something they would say and then forget." This lyric fits in perfectly with what Lindo was trying to get across. Promises should mean something a person can count on, and not just something that is said and then just as easily forgotten.
Music Video for "Grandpa, Tell me 'Bout the Good Old Days" by The Judds:
The use of a simile is effective because it is figurative language and is a unique comparison of two things which the reader can understand.
Quote from the novel: "I once sacrificed my life to keep my parents' promise. This means nothing to you, because to you promises mean nothing. A daughter can promise to come to dinner, but if she has a headache, if she has a traffic jam, if she wants to watch a favorite movie on TV, she no longer has a promise... But later, she will forget her promise (49)."
In the beginning of chapter 3, Lindo Jong observes people's carelessness to keep promises. Lindo holds true to her promise to not disgrace her parents. Also, she is obligated to obey her arranged husband's family. Even though she lived many years in unhappiness in her new home, she remained steadfast for the sake of her promise to family. Nearly everywhere she looks there are people who don't take promises as seriously as she, and this is a shame to her. "...To you promises mean nothing. A daughter can promise to come to dinner, but if she has a headache, if she has a traffic jam, if she wants to watch a favorite movie on TV, she no longer has a promise... But later, she will forget her promise." This section in the book reminded me of a song. The song is "Grandpa, Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days" by The Judds. There is a lyric, "Was a promise really something people kept? Not just something they would say and then forget." This lyric fits in perfectly with what Lindo was trying to get across. Promises should mean something a person can count on, and not just something that is said and then just as easily forgotten.
Music Video for "Grandpa, Tell me 'Bout the Good Old Days" by The Judds:
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 2
Literary Term: In this particular part of the chapter there is an anecdote. "I could see my mother's face across the table. Between us stood the soup pot on its heavy chimney-pot stand--rocking slowly, back and forth. And then with one shout this dark boiling soup spilled forward and fell all over my neck (46)." Amy Tan uses an anecdote to let the reader in on an event, and I believe this is very effective.
Quote from novel: "Even though I was young, I could see the pain of the flesh and the worth of the pain (48)."
In chapter 2, An-mei experiences this strange woman, her mother, cut a piece of skin from her arm, and put it in her dying mother's soup. She does this purely out of love and strong attempts to cure her mother. It didn't matter to An-mei's mother that it made her cry and bleed all over. The fact that she loved her mother so much, made the sacrifice bearable and worthy. When I read this passage, I was reminded of Jesus' sacrifice to all of mankind: himself. Jesus knew dying on the cross was going to be agonizing pain, as the soldiers drove nails through his flesh. He also knew that the worth of the pain: salvation for all of mankind, was worth the physical pain he endured. Just like most people are reminded of Jesus' pain and it's worth, An-mei was reminded of her mother's pain and worth too. An-mei thinks back, "Even though I was young, I could see the pain of the flesh and the worth of the pain."
Quote from novel: "Even though I was young, I could see the pain of the flesh and the worth of the pain (48)."
In chapter 2, An-mei experiences this strange woman, her mother, cut a piece of skin from her arm, and put it in her dying mother's soup. She does this purely out of love and strong attempts to cure her mother. It didn't matter to An-mei's mother that it made her cry and bleed all over. The fact that she loved her mother so much, made the sacrifice bearable and worthy. When I read this passage, I was reminded of Jesus' sacrifice to all of mankind: himself. Jesus knew dying on the cross was going to be agonizing pain, as the soldiers drove nails through his flesh. He also knew that the worth of the pain: salvation for all of mankind, was worth the physical pain he endured. Just like most people are reminded of Jesus' pain and it's worth, An-mei was reminded of her mother's pain and worth too. An-mei thinks back, "Even though I was young, I could see the pain of the flesh and the worth of the pain."
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan: Chapter 1
Literary Term: "Too much fire and you had a bad temper (31)." This is an analogy which compares fire to a person's bad temper. Tan's use of an analogy is effective because she makes two seemingly unlike things come together in comparison in a very interesting way.
Quote from the novel: "...People rise to other people's expectations. And when you criticize, it just means you're expecting failure (31)."
In chapter 1, Jing-mei Woo (June) feels her mother criticizes her too much. Even though Jing-mei assumes it is partly her mother's Chinese superstitions, she still confronts her about it. June tells her, " '...People rise to other people's expecations. And when you criticize, it just means you're expecting failure.' " June doesn't think that one should be surrounded with criticism because it is unhealthy for a person. According to June, encouragement should be given instead. This part of the book brought to mind a quote from Mike Huckabee. He said, " 'It's when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached.' " If people are expected to do something, and take this role as an opportunity to exceed what is asked, then it is remarkable. This is the way I think June feels about expectations and criticism.
Quote from the novel: "...People rise to other people's expectations. And when you criticize, it just means you're expecting failure (31)."
In chapter 1, Jing-mei Woo (June) feels her mother criticizes her too much. Even though Jing-mei assumes it is partly her mother's Chinese superstitions, she still confronts her about it. June tells her, " '...People rise to other people's expecations. And when you criticize, it just means you're expecting failure.' " June doesn't think that one should be surrounded with criticism because it is unhealthy for a person. According to June, encouragement should be given instead. This part of the book brought to mind a quote from Mike Huckabee. He said, " 'It's when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached.' " If people are expected to do something, and take this role as an opportunity to exceed what is asked, then it is remarkable. This is the way I think June feels about expectations and criticism.
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