Characters & Relationships
Who is the narrator of Fish Cheeks?
Amy Tan.
What is the main theme of Fish Cheeks?
Be proud of your culture and heritage.
In Fish Cheeks, what food made Amy embarrassed at dinner?
The fish with its eyeballs
What point of view is Fish Cheeks written in?
First person.
Define “heritage.”
Traditions, values, and culture passed down through family.
Who is the narrator of My Mother’s Garden?
Kaitlyn Greenidge.
What is the main theme of My Mother’s Garden?
Stay true to yourself even if others don’t understand.
In My Mother’s Garden, what did neighbors and others call her mother’s garden?
Ugly, messy, or weird.
What point of view is My Mother’s Garden written in?
First person.
identity.
The qualities and beliefs that make up who a person is.
In Fish Cheeks, who is Amy embarrassed in front of during Christmas dinner?
The minister’s son, Robert.
What lesson does Amy’s mother want her to learn in Fish Cheeks?
That her Chinese heritage is something to be proud of.
What gift did Amy’s mother give her at Christmas and what did it symbolize?
A miniskirt, showing she understood Amy wanted to fit in, but also told her to be proud of who she is.
How does Amy Tan use imagery to show Amy’s embarrassment?
She describes the food in detail, like “tofu, squid, and fish with bulging eyes.”
What does “embarrassed” mean?
Feeling self-conscious or ashamed in front of others.
In My Mother’s Garden, why does the narrator’s mother start a garden?
To grow her own food and create beauty, even when others mocked her.
What lesson does Kaitlyn learn from her mother’s garden?
What lesson does Kaitlyn learn from her mother’s garden?
How does Greenidge describe her mother’s gardening style?
Wild, unconventional, and colorful.
How does Greenidge use descriptive language to show her mother’s garden?
She compares it to a jungle, full of wild colors and life.
What does “individuality” mean?
The quality of being unique or different from others.
How does each narrator feel about their mother by the end of the story?
They appreciate and respect their mother’s uniqueness and strength.
How do both stories connect to identity?
Both narrators struggle with embarrassment about family traditions but come to see them as part of their identity.
Find a quote from either text that shows pride in cultural or personal identity.
Fish Cheeks – “Your only shame is to have shame.” / My Mother’s Garden – description of how her mother’s garden was her joy.)
How do both authors use contrast to show the narrators’ struggles?
Contrast between cultural expectations and American norms (Fish Cheeks), and contrast between society’s view and her mother’s vision (My Mother’s Garden).
In Fish Cheeks, what does the word “appalling” mean when Amy describes the food?
Horrible, shocking, or disgusting (to her at that moment).