Two Kinds
Two Kinds by Amy Tan: Literary Analysis - There are many key elements which together make up a story, namely a story's setting, its main characters, the plot, and the symbolism it contains. A story's setting is usually described in the beginning of the story, giving an explanation of where and when the story is taking place. Many stories have a protagonist and an antagonist as well as other key characters. The protagonist is the "hero or antihero; (the) character you tend to 'root for'." . The antagonist opposes the protagonist, usually creating some sort of conflict within the story. The plot of a story is the way the events play out in the story. Along with these elements, there is usually some sort of symbolism within the story. Symbols occur in most stories, not always in the form of an item. Symbolism can also be demonstrated in words, colors, or anything that seems to represent a deeper meaning. The story "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan demonstrates all of the elements mentioned above.
Setting and Characters
The story's main events take place in Chinatown throughout the 1950s and perhaps early 1960s. The main character of the story, who is also the protagonist, is the author herself: Amy Tan. The antagonist happens to be her own mother, who is always pushing Amy to discover some hidden talent and be someone she is not. There are a few other minor characters in the story. There is Lindo Jong (who she calls Auntie Lindo), who is a close friend of Amy's mother. Waverly Jong is Auntie Lindo's daughter, who is close to Amy's age. Amy's piano instructor, who she dubs "Old Chong", plays a small role in the story. Amy's dad is included in the text, but does not play much of a role.
Plot
The plot of a story has six key parts that are normally sequential. A story begins with an exposition, and follows with rising action. Next is some sort of conflict which usually results into the climax of the story. Climax can be defined as "a moment of great or culminating intensity in a