Question

Think about the author's use of structure in your Module One short story. How does the author order events? What plot techniques (flashback, flash forward, dream sequence) are used? In 3–5 complete sentences, thoroughly explain how the author's choices regarding structure create tension and/or add to the meaning. Provide at least two specific details from the text to support your analysis of structure.

Answer 1

In “Rules of the Game,” an excerpt from her 1989 novel The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan examines an early part in the development of a Chinese-American girl named Waverly Jong and her relationship with her Chinese immigrant mother. Tan presents events in chronological order; nonetheless, she varies the pacing of the action in order to create tension and add meaning to the story.

"Rules of the Game" opens with exposition; six-year-old Waverly is on a typical shopping trip with her mother. Tan describes Waverly’s family, home, and surrounding environment. These rich and quickly-presented details are important for understanding Waverly’s relationship with her mother and her life as an American-born Chinese girl growing up in San Francisco Chinatown.

Tan then slows down the narrative to focus on the object that changed Waverly’s life: her brother’s chess set. The author describes exactly how the chess set came into Waverly’s life: it was a Christmas charity gift from their church.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

"Rules of the Game" relies primarily on the use of the plot technique of flashback in order to highlight the conflict between Waverly and her mother.

Step-by-step explanation: