Two Kinds By Amy Tan

Characters There could be a range of reactions to Jing Mei and her mother, the two main characters. How far do you agree with the following statements? Justify with evidence from the text: Jing Mei’s mother: A). Works tirelessly and unselfishly to provide opportunities for her daughter B). Bullies her daughter and refuses to listen to her C). Pushes her daughter to achieve for her own selfish reasons and not for her daughter's sake.

Characters Jing Mei D). Does her best to displease her mother E). Is lazy and ungrateful F). Is unforgivably rude and cruel in the way she speaks to her mother

The Plot – Conflicts and Twists The mother-daughter conflict is at the heart of the story. Think about the reasons for the conflict and the way it develops in the following extracts: A). “America was where all my mother’s hopes lay.” B). “and after seeing my mother’s disappointed face once again, something inside of me began to die.” C). “I won’t let her change me, I promised myself. I won’t be what I’m not.”

The Plot – Conflicts and Twists D). “Three days after watching the Ed Sullivan show, my mother told me what my schedule would be for piano lessons and piano practice.” E). “And then I decided. I didn't have to do what my mother said anymore. I wasn’t her slave. This wasn’t China.” F). “‘Only two kinds of daughter,’ she shouted in Chinese. ‘Those who are obedient and those who follow their own mind! Only one kind of daughter can live in this house. Obedient daughter!’”

The Plot - Twists The plot also throws up some twists: A Comic Irony – What comic irony occurs at the piano performance? The Final Ironies: A). What is Jing Mei’s reaction to the gift of the piano? B). Why does she take the Chinese dresses home? C). What does she realise in the final paragraph and why is the timing sad?

Themes Which of the following ideas seems to be the most central to the story? A). You will get nowhere without discipline and effort B). Parents cannot live their lives through their children C). America is competitive, but also a land of freedom and opportunity D). Parents have to let their children live their own lives E). Good parenting is not putting your children under pressure

The Title How does the title relate to the story’s central themes? Does the story suggest that: A). The mother and daughter have two different kinds of personality? B). The mother and daughter are caught between two different kinds of cultures? C). There are two different kinds of daughters? D). There are two different kinds of children – the remarkable and the ordinary? E). There are two approaches to life – the easy way and the hard way – and they should be kept in balance?

Characterisation This is the only story in the collection which uses a character as a first-person narrator. Tan uses Jing Mei as the ‘I’ who tells the story – an approach which is popular among American writers. When exactly is Jing Mei writing the story and why is this important? Are you more sympathetic to Jing Mei because it feels as if she is sharing her feelings with you first-hand? What examples from the text depict this point of view

Characterisation and Dialogue Look at the difference between Jing Mei’s dialogue and her mother’s dialogue. Why does Tan create this difference? Why does Jing Mei’s mother revert to Chinese at certain times?

The Language of Comedy Pick out and explore some moments where you think Tan gives us the humorous point of view, logic or language of a nine-year-old girl

The Language of Conflict Pick out and explore the effect of verbs which Tan uses to convey the actions of Jing Mei’s mother , especially in her dealings with her daughter.