Two Kinds by Amy Tan

Name______Two Kinds by Amy Tan I. JOURNALS: Just for a moment imagine yourself as an acclaimed musician or artist, a champion athlete, a brilliant scientist, or an award winning actor. Write a description of yourself as a person who is at the top of his or her chosen field. Briefly tell what you have accomplished and what you enjoy most about your success. ______

II. VOCABULARY: Be able to define the following words and understand them when they appear in the story. prodigy ______lament ______reproach ______mesmerizing ______reverie ______discordant ______devastate______fiasco ______

II. LITERARY TERMS: Be able to define each term and apply each term to the story. Most stories are based on a problem, or conflict, that gets resolved over the course of the story. Define external conflict: ______Define internal conflict: ______What is the main external conflict in Two Kinds? ______Identify another external conflict in the story? How does this conflict get resolved? ______Describe an internal conflict that Jing-mei or her mother might have. How does it relate to the main conflict you identified earlier? ______

Tone: ______Example:______

Foreshadowing:______Example: ______

Simile:______Example: ______

Irony:______Example: ______

Climax:______Example: ______III. QUESTIONS: Answer the following questions. "Two Kinds" Reading Guide 1 Read pages 49-51. (If your book has different page numbers, read from the beginning of the story until the line "At last she was beginning to give up hope." There should be a breaking point after that line. Stop reading there.) Then answer the following questions.

1. What is a prodigy?

2. Why does Jing-Mei’s mother want her to be a prodigy?

3. What kinds of talents does Jing-Mei’s mother make her try?

4. How does Jing-Mei feel at first about being a prodigy? Do her feelings change?

5. What does Jing-Mei promise to herself? Why does she make this promise?

6. What does Jing-Mei do to make her mother stop testing her?

"Two Kinds" Reading Guide 2 Read pages 51-53. (If your book has different page numbers, read from the line "Two or three months had gone by..." until the line "And right then, I was determined to put a stop to her foolish pride." There should be a breaking point after that line. Stop reading there.) Then answer the following questions.

1. What is Jing-Mei's mother's new plan? When does she get this idea?

2. Who is Mr. Chong? Describe him.

3. What does Jing-Mei learn from Mr. Chong? (Note: She learns both good and bad things.)

4. Why doesn't Jing-Mei like her lessons with Mr. Chong?

5. Think about the last line of this reading. Why is Jing-Mei mad at her mother? What is her mother's "foolish pride"?

"Two Kinds" Reading Guide 3 Read to the end of the story. Then answer the following questions.

1. What happens at the talent show? Describe it. How does Jing-Mei feel at the beginning? How does she feel at the end? How do the other people who came to see her react?

2. How does Jing-Mei's mother react after the talent show? How does this make Jing-Mei feel?

3. What happens two days after the talent show? What do Jing-Mei and her mother fight about?

4. What does the piano represent to Jing-Mei? What does it represent to her mother? 5. Think about the ending of the story. What is important about the two halves of the song Jing-Mei discovers? (Hint: Think about the titles.)