Amy Tan

Rules of the Game

Dialectical Notes

QUOTE

Strongest wind cannot be seen. (497)

people sat cracking roasted watermelon seeds with their golden teeth (498)

SIGNIFICANCE

The mother uses an epigram to teach her daughter the value of self-control. Her message is a paradox.

The speaker uses imagery to describe people who live in her neighborhood.

QUOTE

Cracking roasted

watermelon seeds

gurgling pigeons (498)

SIGNIFICANCE

Amy Tan uses imagery to

create a mood of warmth

and activity.

QUOTE

One day as she struggled to weave a hard-toothed comb through my disobedient hair, I had a sly thought. (499)

SIGNIFICANCE

Amy Tan characterizes the daughter as rebellious by describing her appearance and thoughts as disobedient and sly.

The hard-toothed comb symbolizes her mothers rules and discipline.

Amy Tan foreshadows the daughters future rebellion.

QUOTES

This American rules, she

concluded at last.

Every time people come

out from foreign country,

must know rules. You

not know, judge say, Too

bad, go back. (502)

SIGNIFICANCE

The mother uses a

metaphor to compare the

immigrant experience to

a game of chess. You have

to know the rules to

move forward in life.

Quotes Significance

Never say check with

vanity, lest someone

with an unseen sword

slit your throat.

(503)

Amy Tan uses hyperbole

to warn against the

possible consequences

of becoming too

cocky.

Quotes Significance

It [the wind] whispered

secrets only I could

hear.

Check, I said, as the

wind roared with

laughter. (504)

The personification of the

wind illustrates the

intensity of her

extraordinary performance

at the chess game.

The winds whispering also

symbolizes her mothers

presence pushing her

forward.

Quotes Significance

I would swing my

patent leather shoes

back and forth like an

impatient child riding

on a school bus.

(506)

This simile emphasizes her

youth. It contrasts her

immaturity with the

maturity required to play

chess with strategy and

self-control.

Quotes Significance

I could see two

yellow lights shining

from our flat like two

tigers eyes in the

night. (508)

The lights, which symbolize

the warmth of her home,

are compared to a tigers

eyes to illustrate the

animosity (hostility)

between mother and

daughter.

Possible Quotes

I could see two yellow

lights shining from our flat

like two tigers eyes in the

night. (508)

It [the wind] whispered

secrets only I could hear.

Check, I said, as the wind

roared with laughter. (504)

Never say check with vanity, lest someone with an unseen sword slit your throat. (503)

This American rules, she concluded at last. Every time people come out from foreign country, must know rules. You not know, judge say, Too bad, go back. (502)

Writers Notebook #2

Describe a time when you had a conflict with a

family member.

Length- one page

Revise for literary elements and devices. Include

at least one simile, one metaphor, and one other

example of figurative language.

Write like Amy Tan, P. 508.

Short Story Test Review If you want to practice analyzing a short story for Section IV,

read the following and make dialectical notes:

Volar- P.669

Internment- P.289

If you want to practice the literary terms for Sections I-III, do the following:

1) Get out the literary terms packet.

2) Make 2 sets of cards (15 numbered cards in each set).

3) Take turns drawing a card and defining the literary term which corresponds with that number (Ex: 1- define plot)

4) Keep the card to win the point. If you answer incorrectly, the question goes to the next person in the rotation.

Ticket Outta Class

Pretend its already Thursday. Write me a

letter describing what you did to get an A

on your test.