Reaction Paper # 3—Analyzing Themes in “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid and “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan.

A theme is a concept or idea that an author explores in a literary work (See Reading Fiction I in ‘Course Readings”) for more detail.

Directions: Read “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid and “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan. Choose two themes listed in the charts on the following pages. Collect 3-4 details from “Girl” and/or “Two Kinds” (such as specific plot points, symbols, or quotes) that the author/s use to explore each theme and enter them in the Evidence section of the table below. When you have completed your work, remember to save it as a new file, otherwise you will just re-send this file without saving your work.

Next, use the evidence you’ve collected to write an analysis that describes and explains the role of the theme in “Girl” and/or “Two Kinds.” Your analysis should be at least 1-2 paragraphs. Here are some questions to consider as you write:

How do the ideas or actions of the main characters reflect different aspects of the theme?

Does the theme develop or change over the course of the story? If so, how?

If your evidence includes symbols, explain how the author/s use those symbols to explore the theme.

Include specific quotes from the text and explain how those quotes provide examples of how the theme applies to the story you are discussing.

The four themes I have asked you to explore include the following:

· Mother/daughter relationship

Authenticity and Identity

Generational Differences

Culture and Tradition

These four suggested themes to explore do not necessarily capture all possibilities. If you find a theme you would like to explore, you can enter it into one of the charts on the following pages.

Theme # 1

Theme

Mother/Daughter Relationship

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Analysis: Write your 1-2 paragraph analysis that describes and explains the role of mother/daughter relationship in the readings.

Theme # 2

Theme

Authenticity and Identity

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Analysis: Write your 1-2 paragraph analysis that describes and explains the role of the authenticity and identity in the readings.

Theme # 3

Theme

Generational Differences and Conflicts

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Analysis: Write your 1-2 paragraph analysis that describes and explains the role of the generational differences and conflicts in the readings.

Theme # 4

Theme

Culture and Tradition

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Evidence from the text that explores the theme.

Analysis: Write your 1-2 paragraph analysis that describes and explains the role of the culture and tradition in the readings.