Introduction to American Born Chinese

About the Author: Gene Luen Yang, was born August 9, 1973 in Alameda, California.  Gene’s father was an electrical engineer from Taiwan, and his mother, a programmer from Hong Kong. He grew up in San Jose and Saratoga, and was one of only a few Asian Americans that attended his elementary school.  He was teased and ridiculed, and since then, has been uncomfortable being Asian in the United States.  He wanted to write about what it means to be Asian American and to explore his feelings about his cultural identity.

What the Story is About: It’s all about stereotypes and the feeling of “otherness!” Our main character, Jin Wang, is one of three Asian students in a predominantly Caucasian school – he is the only student from Chinese decent. Jin is a representation of the author, Gene Luen Yang, and his character reveals to us how it feels to be the “other” within such a community. The text covers three story lines that eventually merge as one – The Monkey King, The Story of Jin Wang, and “Everyone Ruvs Chin-Kee.” Due to the various plot lines, we have different narrative perspectives.

Types of Narrative Perspectives: First Person – is a style where the narrator recounts or interacts within the storyline using the term “I.” The first person perspective is limited and this narrator can only tell the readers what s/he sees, interacts with, or is told. Second Person – is a narrative where the narrator divulges what is going on in the text through the use of “You.” This type of narrator interacts with the audience by making assumptions about your thoughts on occurrences within it. Third Person – is also known as a limited omniscient narrative who reports what is going on through the use of “he” or “she,” and is able to tell readers nearly everything. Omniscient – is a narrator that knows everything and is very God like.

Perspectives Continued: Monkey King Narrative – Jin Wang – Chin-Kee – Third Person First Person Third Person Limited Omniscient

Who Are Ours? Character Types that We Should be Aware of: Why? - In fictional literature, authors use many different types of characters to tell their stories. Different types of characters fulfill different roles in the narrative process, and with a little bit of analysis, you can usually detect some or all of the following types. Major/Central/Protagonist Characters – the plot and the resolution of a conflict revolves around these characters. Protagonists may not always be admirable (e.g. an anti-hero). Who Are Ours?

2. Minor Characters – serve to compliment the major characters and help move the plot events forward. 3. Antagonist – is the character(s) that represent the opposition against which the protagonist must contend.

How Characters Can be Portrayed Dynamic - A dynamic character is a person who changes over time, usually as a result of resolving a central conflict or facing a major crisis. Round - A rounded character is anyone who has a complex personality; he or she is often portrayed as a conflicted and contradictory person. Flat - A flat character is the opposite of a round character. This literary personality is notable for one kind of personality trait or characteristic.

4. Static - A static character is someone who does not change over time; his or her personality does not transform or evolve. 5. Stock - Stock characters are those types of characters who have become conventional or stereotypical through repeated use in particular types of stories. *These are related to archetypes.

6. Foil - A foil is any character (usually the antagonist or an important supporting character) whose personal qualities contrast with another character (usually the protagonist). By providing this contrast, we get to know more about the other character. 7. Symbolic - A symbolic character is any major or minor character whose very existence represents some major idea or aspect of society.

Why do we need to know character types, character portrayals, narrative perspectives?