"Congratulations! IT'S A BOY!"

Woods' English 2A: "Moon Lady"

3. At the very beginning of the chapter, when Amy Tan talks about how Ying-Ying misplaced her heritage; I began to wonder where the "Moon Lady" of the chapter title would appear. I loved how she started off the chapter all mysterious-like. It kept me reading and learning about the strict Chinese culture. I was somewhat bored when she talked about the adults reading poems and gossiping. I connected with Ying-Ying when her mother scolded her about what girls can't do, but boys can. Ugh, I despise that about the culture. I realized that her shadow was a symbol, but I couldn't figure what of. Why does she keep talking about the shadow and its reactions? There were parts where there was nothing going on, except descriptions of local color and I got really bored then. Honestly, those parts are supposed to be "important" but I just skim through them because of my lack of interest. What was that part with the imprisoned bird catching the fish all about? Oh my dear; when Ying-Ying spread turtle blood all over her clothes, I wanted to slap her silly. Are you serious, Ying-Ying? That makes everything more noticeable and on a special day, you're not supposed to slather yourself with blood! That's unlucky! Then, I felt more sympathetic when everybody laughed at her in her undergarments. I really can't believe nobody cared about Ying-Ying enough to notice that she wasn't even on the boat until a long time after! That's so sad! The man was nice for fishing her out of the water and saving her life, but he was a bit scary. I honestly thought he was going to do something bad to her, but he didn't. I believe the Moon Lady appeared very randomly out of nowhere in the chapter and I was VERY surprised to find out that she was a he, in reality. Did Ying-Ying really think that man was beautiful and radiant with a voice of an angel? That's kind of creepy. Why was he a man anyway? Were there no pretty women who could sing as well as he did? I'd like to see the man, just out of curiosity. Last, but not least, I loved the ending. It was short, yet very powerful: "I wished to be found."

4. Ying-Ying: she gives her half-sisters part of her special pastry, but not the parts with the filling, only the parts with the dough. This proves she is selfish. Also, when they race to the stone bench to sit down and eat, she uses her advantage as the bigger sister and sits in the shady and cool spot, leaving the sunny and hot areas for her younger sisters. VERY SELFISH, indeed, but then again, she was only a child and children are known to be selfish.

5. I believe the main conflict is the internal one, human vs. self. At the very beginning of the story, the author introduces the conflict: Ying-Ying struggles to remember her true self, to remember who she really is inside by remembering her wish to the Moon Lady. She then narrates a flashback, where the conflict started. At the end of the chapter, the conflict is resolved. She finally remembers how she lost herself, through innocence, trust, restlessness, wonder, fear, and loneliness. She remembers that she wished to be found.

6. d. Wow, Amy Tan uses so many writing techniques that I get lost in her words. First and foremost, the chapter consists mainly of a flashback, years ago when she was just a wee little child. It helps me understand how the conflict came to be and gave me many more details of her childhood to help me understand Ying-Ying better. I'm pretty sure the author foreshadowed many times, but I forgot where. Her word choice is absolutely amazing. It forms so many images in my head, of the boat on the water, of Ying-Ying in her bloody clothes, of the Moon Lady performance, etc. In addition, somehow, even though she used very extravagant words, her story flowed with many similes and metaphors. There weren't any awkward breaks or anything of that sort! It simply weaved into a beautiful piece, just like a puzzle.