American identity and “Two Kinds” Amy Tan American identity and “Two Kinds”

Background on Amy Tan Born on February 19, 1952 in Oakland, CA In 1985 she wrote “Rules of the Game,” her inspiration for her first novel The Joy Luck Club. This novel explores the relationship between Chinese women and their Chinese- American daughters. It received the Los Angeles Times Book Award and has been translated into 25 languages. The Joy Luck Club also became the longest-running New York Times bestseller the year it was published, 1989.

Themes and Motifs in “Two Kinds” Finding one’s identity- focus on the narrator and her mother’s perception of their own identity Parent/child relationship- focus on differing views and conflicts between them American assimilation- why does the mother want her daughter to be assimilated into American culture? Chinese culture vs. American culture- Coming of Age- how does the protagonist mature and what does she learn from her experience? Nature of first and second-generation immigrants

Anticipation Questions Anticipation Guide for “Two Kinds” If you agree with a statement below put a YES next to that number. If you disagree with the statement write NO next to that number. Write a reason why you feel the way you do. _____ 1. Life for our parents was simpler, more peaceful than life for us (teens) today. _____ 2. Most people yearn to escape their everyday pressures. _____ 3. Conflict between children and their parents is inevitable. _____ 4. Parents live vicariously through their children, expecting them to fulfill the dreams they didn’t achieve. _____ 5. It is difficult to find your own identity at times.

Video clip from “Two Kinds”