Asked by: Plamena Plo
books and literature fiction

What is the tone in fish cheeks?

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Amy Tan uses a light-hearted tone to show the humor and to also keep her readers engaged. This tone makes it seem like she is having a conversation with us as if we were one of her close friends. With this tone, she doesn't cover up the message she is perceiving even with all of the humor.


Keeping this in consideration, what is the theme in fish cheeks?

The theme of “Fish Cheeks” is be proud of who you are. That dinner “threw her deeper into despair” and she “wanted to disappear” with embarrassment. When her father belched loudly to show his satisfaction with the meal, Amy was “stunned into silence for the rest of the night” because she was so embarrassed.

Secondly, is fish cheeks fiction? Fish Cheeks. "Fish Cheeks" is a 1987 one-page narrative essay by Chinese-American author Amy Tan and her first published essay. The work was first published in Seventeen and covers a Christmas Eve dinner when Tan was 14 years old. It was subsequently published as a part of The Opposite of Fate: A Book of Musings.

Moreover, how does the narrator's age affect the tone of this essay fish cheeks?

The narrator's, Amy Tan's, age of fourteen years old affects the tone of this essay because of her emotions. Amy had a rough childhood and she was walking down the wrong road. Being a fourteen year old girl is also very stressful.

What is the narrator's main conflict in fish cheeks?

Here's an example from Amy Tan's "Fish Cheeks." Conflict: The narrator is embarrassed about how her crush, an American boy named Robert, will respond to her "shabby Chinese Christmas" when his family visits on Christmas Eve. This conflict drives every piece of action in the narrative.

Related Question Answers

Sodia Iganzi

Professional

What is the purpose of fish cheeks?

The purpose of the story "Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan is precisely as Tan's mother points out at the end of the story: that "the only shame is to have shame," speaking in terms of one's heritage.

Estela Suk

Professional

What is the climax of fish cheeks?

Answer and Explanation:
The climax of Fish Cheeks, is when the families are having a meal and belching. For Amy, the situation is described as her most embarrassing moment.

Ilya Smirnow

Professional

What is the thesis of fish cheeks?

Thesis: In the passage “Fish Cheeks” written by Amy Tan the author uses details and diction to reveal that an embarrassing experience in her youth changed how she felt about her family's heritage by making her realize that her feelings of shame were based on other people's responses more than her own feelings.

Eufrosina Gavioo

Explainer

How does the fourteen year old Tan feel about her Chinese background about her mother?

The fourteen-year-old Tan feels ashamed of her Chinese background because it is different from the rest of her peers. Although she loves her mother, Tan still feels some slight embarrassment and resent that her mother went through the trouble of preparing a disturbingly traditional meal for the minister and his family.

Eustorgio Schweickhardt

Explainer

How does the narrator's description of the COD in paragraph 3 impact the tone of the passage?

How does the narrator's description of the cod in paragraph 3 impact the tone of the passage? She describes it as “slimy” and pathetic, which contributes to the angry tone of the passage. She describes it as “slimy” with “bulging eyes,” which contributes to the horrified tone of the passage.

Hee Haite

Explainer

What does your only shame is to have shame mean?

Tan's mother told her, “Your only shame is to have shame” the meaning is one shouldn't be embarrassed of their background, but appreciate what you have.

Robson Ozores

Pundit

What is the irony of the last sentence of the essay fish cheeks?

The irony behind the last sentence is that even though she was trying to hide her Chinese culture she couldn't because on the inside she loved the food and always would so she would never loose her roots. The simile about Mary in the second sentence of the essay is surprising.

Arsenia Wertheimer

Pundit

Which word best describes the narrator's feelings toward Robert at the end of fish cheeks?

The correct answer should be - Ambivalence. The excerpt has been taken from the story 'Fish Cheeks' written by Amy Tan. Ambivalence is a word that means having some sort of a doubt or confusion. It is a state of being uncertain about something or someone.

Saima Punzon

Pundit

How does Tan use transitions to drive and clarify her narrative?

Tan draws the reader into her story by saying something provocative. She expresses how she fell in love with the ministers son when she turned 14. Tan uses transitions both to drive and to clarify her narrative by showing us how it would be like to be in her environment, since its different from an american lifestyle.

Olavo Quattrucci

Pundit

What are fish cheeks called?

"The cheek of the fish is the best part because it's tender and has a great taste. The cheek is the tiny pocket of meat just below the eye." Cod has a nice big cheek, and so does grouper." Chinese gourmets have always considered the cheeks the best and most tender meat of the fish.

Najwa Santa

Pundit

What is the plot of fish cheeks?

Synopsis of Fish Cheeks
'Fish Cheeks' by Amy Tan is about something that happened when Amy was a teenager. In the story, Amy's mother invites the minister and his family over for Christmas Eve dinner. Her mother proclaims that she made the fish cheeks because they were Amy's favorite.

Xeila Paris

Teacher

Why is Amy embarrassed at the dinner?

This shows that Amy was embarrassed because Robert thought it was gross and that her father shared everyone that she like to eat fish cheeks. This also shows that Amy wanted Robert to think that she didnt like it either. Another example of Amys embarrassment during dinner happens when Amys father let out a giant burp.

Glafira Goranova

Teacher

What is Amy Tan known for?

Born: February 19, 1952. Oakland, California
Amy Tan is known for her lyrically written (using flowing, melodic language) tales of emotional conflict between Chinese American mothers and daughters separated by generational and cultural differences.