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Lesson plan; “Two Kinds”: A Journey Through Culture, Identity, and Voice

Ann S. Michaelsen

Unraveling Cultural Expectations and Identity in Amy Tan’s ‘Two Kinds’

Born in Oakland, Calif., in 1952 to a father educated as an engineer in Beijing and a mother raised in a well-to-do Shanghai family, Amy Tan grew up in an American world that was utterly remote from the childhood world of her parents. In “The Joy Luck Club,” her first novel, short-story-like vignettes alternate back and forth between the lives of four Chinese women in pre-1949 China and the lives of their American-born daughters in California. The book is a meditation on the divided nature of this emigrant life.

In the hands of a less talented writer such thematic material might easily have become overly didactic, and the characters might have seemed like cutouts from a Chinese American knockoff of “Roots.” But in the hands of Amy Tan, who has a wonderful eye for what is telling, a fine ear for dialogue, a deep empathy for her subject matter and a guilelessly straightforward way of writing, they sing with a rare fidelity and beauty. She has written a jewel of a book. From the book review archives; The Joy Luck Club, By Amy Tan The New York Times. 

Objectives:

  1. Analyze and understand the themes, setting, characters, point of view, style & voice, and plot of “Two Kinds.” Enotes.
  2. Reflect on cultural expectations, identity, and parent-child relationships.
  3. Develop critical thinking and collaboration skills through group discussions, analysis, and creative activities.

Lesson plan; Two Kinds

  1. Read the short story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, either individually or as a group. Two Kinds.
  2. Complete the reading comprehension tasks and graphic organizer in small groups. Compare and discuss answers within the group.  Graphic organizer.
  3. Answer the provided comprehension questions individually and discuss answers in the group. NDLA
    and answer the questions below.
  4. Listen to the podcast from the novel “Saving Fish from Drowning” and discuss its relevance to the themes in “Two Kinds.”
  5. Visit Amy Tan’s blog and read about her personal experiences and perspectives. [Link to Amy Tan’s blog]

Easy Questions

  1. What did Jing-mei’s mother believe about America?
  2. What did Jing-mei’s mother hope her daughter would become?
  3. Why did Jing-mei’s mother take her to the beauty training school?
  4. How did Old Chong teach Jing-mei to keep rhythm during piano lessons?
  5. What piece did Jing-mei perform at the talent show?

More Advanced Questions

  1. How did Jing-mei’s feelings about being a prodigy change over time?
  2. What role did cultural expectations play in Jing-mei’s relationship with her mother?
  3. How did the talent show performance impact Jing-mei’s relationship with her mother?

Questions Requiring Longer Answers

  1. Analyze how Jing-mei’s mother’s past experiences shaped her expectations for Jing-mei. Do you think these expectations were fair? Why or why not?
  2. Reflect on the significance of the piano in Jing-mei’s life. How did its meaning evolve from her childhood to adulthood?

Group Discussion Activities:

Divide students into small groups and have them discuss the following questions:
  1. Should parents have a say in their children’s future plans?
  2. What does Jing-mei expect will happen at the recital? Does she plan to give the kind of performance that she gives? Why or why not?
  3. What is the significance of the twin baby girls in the story?
  4. Analyze the story’s theme, setting, characters, point of view, style & voice, and plot. Determine the climax and turning point.
  5. How much should children be allowed to decide for themselves?
  6. Discuss the statement: “It is more difficult for immigrant children to find their identity than other children.”
  7. Is it desirable to grow up without conflicts, or are conflicts necessary for growing up? When do conflicts become destructive?

Written/Oral Activities:

Choose one of the following options for sharing your understanding and opinions about “Two Kinds”:
  1. Write a blog post about the short story, incorporating the discussion topics from your group.
  2. Create a radio show featuring an author, reader, and critic (or a host if four people are in the group).
  3. Conduct a radio show interview with characters from the short story, with one student acting as the radio host, asking questions.
  4. Prepare a presentation answering the discussion questions, using visuals to enhance your points.
  5. Make a video presenting the short story, showcasing your creativity.

Critical Comparison (10 minutes):

Essay questions

  1. Analyze the mother-daughter relationships in “Two Kinds” and discuss how cultural expectations and generational differences contribute to their conflicts.
  2. Explore the theme of identity in “Two Kinds” and explain how the main character, Jing-mei, struggles to balance her Chinese heritage and American upbringing.
  3. Discuss the role of parental expectations in “Two Kinds” and how they impact the characters’ personal growth and self-discovery.
  4. Compare and contrast Jing-mei’s relationship with her mother to the relationships between other mother-daughter pairs in “The Joy Luck Club.” What similarities and differences can you identify?
  5. Analyze the use of symbolism in “Two Kinds” and discuss how it contributes to the overall message and themes of the story.
  6. Evaluate the importance of the setting in “Two Kinds” and discuss how it impacts the characters and their experiences.
  7. Examine Amy Tan’s narrative techniques in “Two Kinds” and explain how they enhance the reader’s understanding of the story’s themes and conflicts.
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