Question

Directions: As you read in the beginning of the Unit, the mood of a story is the emotional feeling or atmosphere the author creates for the characters. The mood often foreshadows upcoming events; for example, if a character is walking through dark woods alone, is being frightened by small noises, and is struggling to see through the fog, the atmosphere is creating tension for the reader and making the reader just as anxious as the character; the reader almost expects something to jump out at any minute. Think about the mood Lee creates in Chapters 27 and 28 and use the Text Editor to describe it. How does she create the emotional atmosphere of the story? How does she set the scene? What effect does the mood have on the reader? Offer specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Answer 1

In Chapters 27 and 28 of The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan creates a mood of anticipation and mystery as the reader is pulled into the story's suspense. Throughout these chapters, Tan builds the story's atmosphere with vivid descriptions of the characters' actions and surroundings.

Throughout the chapters, Tan uses imagery to set the scene and establish the mood. For example, when the reader is introduced to Jing-mei, she is "standing in the darkness of a narrow hall," adding to the suspenseful atmosphere of the story. The hall's darkness is further emphasized when Jing-mei's mother says, "It is too dark. I can't see a thing." Tan also uses sound to create tension, such as when Jing-mei hears the "loud whirring" of the fan and when she hears the "echo of voices" coming from the hallway.

Tan also uses symbolism to emphasize the mood of anticipation and mystery further. For example, when Jing-mei's mother talks about the "fortune teller" in the hallway, it symbolizes the uncertainty of the future, and the reader wonders what will happen next. In addition, when Jing-mei thinks of her mother as a "treasure chest," it symbolizes the secrets and mysteries of the past, creating an atmosphere of anticipation for the reader.

Through these descriptions and symbols, Tan creates an atmosphere of mystery and anticipation that is both captivating and suspenseful. The mood draws the reader in and makes them eager to discover what will happen next.

Step-by-step explanation: