Summary Of Jonathan Tang's Poem
Diction plays a primary role in the poem as it is used to set and dark tone, which conveys the message of regret and shame. Words such as “dark, pale, frail and ghetto have a negative connotation. Wong’s word choices give the reader emotional insight into the sense of mood and shame that the speaker must have felt in relationship to Chinese culture.
When the poem speaks of Chinese people the tone is carefully crafted to mirror depressed feelings. Words with negative denotation such as “limiting, unAmerican, and stereotype,” (30,31,35) all produce a strong dark feeling. The word “unAmerican” is particularly adverse in connotation. The denotation of un-American is “not characteristic of or consistent with American customs, principles, or traditions.”
When the poem speaks of Chinese people the tone is carefully crafted to mirror depressed feelings. Words with negative denotation such as “limiting, unAmerican, and stereotype,” (30,31,35) all produce a strong dark feeling. The word “unAmerican” is particularly adverse in connotation. The denotation of un-American is “not characteristic of or consistent with American customs, principles, or traditions.”