Literary Analysis: “Fish Cheeks” In Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks‚” a young girl learns that she should not be ashamed of her of her culture. The author employs strong symbols and vivid imagery to depict this very theme as she traces the events of a memorable Christmas gathering. The cultural differences that serve as the narrator’s main conflict are symbolized through the contents of the dinner the “smiley rock cod with bulging eyes that pleaded not to be thrown into a pan of hot oil” was demonstrating
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the World”‚ she recounts a scene of a boxing match between Joe Louis and Carnera in which the outcome of the match was very important because it would determine whether the blacks would be subjugated to the whites or not. Similarly‚ in Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks”‚ she remembers a story of when she was fourteen during Christmas when her crush and his father were invited to their house‚ she felt embarrassed at her family‚ the food‚ and Chinese traditions. Both stories mention nationalities which feel inferior
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In numerous texts‚ the authors like to reveal themes in different ways. Theme can be interpreted as the lesson of a story and is the central meaning. In two short texts‚ “Half and Half” by Lensey Namoika and “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan‚ they share a similar theme about their character. However‚ the two writers use various techniques to reveal the theme. In the stories‚ the theme “Be proud of who he/she is” is revealed by the author in different ways. In the first short story Half and Half‚ the author
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First‚ both Tan and Crutcher utilize conflict to convey the shared theme that a strong sense of self is necessary under pressure from the expectations of others. For example‚ in Tan’s story‚ ‘Fish Cheeks’‚ when it is revealed to Amy that Robert’s family was invited to her house for Christmas Eve‚ it is said‚ “What would Robert think of our shabby Chinese Christmas Eve?” (2) it is presented that she thinks her family is embarrassing. The problem is that she also enjoys Chinese culture‚ as shown in
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Amy Tan and Maya Angelou come from extremely different cultures‚ and trying to feel accepted in American Culture. Both authors discuss a feeling of being an outcast and how their cultural differences set them apart. However‚ Amy Tan effectively uses narration and description to depict her sense of isolation from the dominant American culture. Angelou’s story is set in the South during the 1930’s when racism was prominent in society and an acceptable practice. Angelou’s writing mostly describes
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Compare/Contrast Maya Angelou’s “Champion of the World” and Amy Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” both capture the authors’ past experiences of oppression‚ and convey their struggles with identity. Both authors are from minority cultures‚ and both describe the same harsh pressures from the dominant culture. Both author’s share situations of being outcasts‚ coming from different racial backgrounds and trying to triumph over these obstacles. Tan and Angelou speak about the differences between their childhood
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If you went to China‚ the things they ate and how they acted would seem strange to us because we are not used to their styles. In the Chinese culture now‚ their food and manners differ from Americans; Amy Tan shows the contrast of cultures in “Fish Cheeks”. Chinese New Year food and manners are different from the way we’re raised as Americans. The Chinese prepare food for the holidays that many of us haven’t even tried in our lifetime‚ yet they eat it more than once a year. During the dinner‚
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their similarities and differences. Some people suspect that every culture is the same or should be the same‚ which is crazy. This is like saying everyone has to be clones of each other; color or race. This is not etiquette. In Amy Tan’s memoir Fish Cheek‚ she touches on this subject by using humor to talk about her embarrassment at her Christmas Eve dinner with the minister’s family. Tan begins by introducing the reader to her inner feelings of her crush and her culture‚ with an optimistic and
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people’s lives. The way that people act‚ and the way they live their life is determined by their culture. In this Essay I will be comparing Chinese New Year versus American Christmas traditions. I will also be comparing these traditions to the book Fish Cheeks by Amy Tan. There are large differences between Chinese and American traditions while celebrating. Chinese New Year is a celebration that centers around the start of a new year (Chinese). The date of Chinese New Year is determined by lunar cycles(Chinese)
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her foretimes. No matter it is good or bad‚ delighted or painful‚ it is a true story of one’s life and the past cannot be changed or wiped away. There are two essays in the book Brief Bedford Reader‚ “Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou and “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan‚ both authors tell the reader their own story. Maya Angelou and Amy Tan‚ who were growing up in different environment and communities‚ have different experiences and different ways to tell their stories. Compare the two authors Angelou
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