"Two Kinds" by Amy Tan - Independent Reading

Before You Read: Think about the expectations your parent/guardian has for you. What do they think of your talents? How are you living up to the expectations? Do you have your own plans? Record your thoughts as a journal entry in a separate post.

While You Read - answer the following questions:

• What is a prodigy and why does the mother want the main character to become one?
• How does the mother prepare her daughter for fame?
• What talents does the girl have?
• Why does she start the piano lessons and how is the mother going to pay for them?
• Describe the piano teacher
• What do Auntie Lindo and Jing-Mei's mother have in common?
• In your own words, relate the events of the recital.
• What does the author mean when she says, "I didn't have to do what my mother said anymore... This wasn't China"? page 97
• What words does the author use to describe her mother's disappointment in her?
• Why does Jing-mei come back to play the piano after her mother's death?
  

After Your Read - research online about the topics below. Find an article and a picture. Next to the picture provide a caption (5-6 sentences) that summarizes each article.

• Shirley Temple
• The Ed Sullivan show
• Beethoven
• Schumann
  
• Extra Credit - the Japanese invasion of China.