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1. Techniques/Literary Devices: Find quotes from "Fish Cheeks" that demonstrate Amy Tan's use of a literary device. Name the device in your post.

2. . How does the speaker’s family act during dinner? How does the minister’s family act during dinner? Why do they act so differently? Explain.

3. . What instances do you see in this story of cultural expression, exchange, appropriation, or racism?

4. . What does Amy’s mother understand about family that Amy couldn’t see at 14? How is the relationship between family members different from other relationships? Do you agree that it is important to remember and stay true to your culture, heritage, and traditions?

5. . What shapes a person’s cultural identity? Is it possible for a person to change their identity? Should they try? Explain.

6. . What do you think could be the positive or negative consequences of ignoring your family’s past and traditions in favor of something that seems more popular or “normal”?

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the speaker's family is happy to eat the food on the table while the ministers family is shocked. different cultures eat different foods and a traditional american family would be surprised with all the different dishes

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"pulling black veins out of the backs of fleshy prawns" and "A slimy rock cod with bulging eyes".

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"A plate of squid, their backs were crisscrossed with knife markings so they resembled bicycle tires". The speaker is comparing the unappetizing look of the squid to a bicycle tire.

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Amy's family stays true to their culture and traditions and eats as they normally would. Their customs are very different to the ministers family who are american and are used to a different arrange of food and ways of eating the food.

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Personification: "A slimy rock cod with bulging eyes that pleaded not to be thrown into a pan of hot oil"

Simile: "He was not Chinese, but as white as mary in the manger"

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A person's background, ethnicity and their family traditions shape their cultural identity. Yes, it is possible for a person to change their identity but not their cultural identity. They can not erase the background they come from but can add more cultures to their identities throughout life

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"Then my father poked his chopsticks just below the fish eye and plucked out the soft meat."

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2. The speaker's family act very authentic and do not change anything despite the ministers family in their presence. They lack traditional manners and eat in a less formal fashion. The ministers family is much more reserved and formal while eating the meal. Being patient while waiting for dishes to be passed around and minding their manners. The difference in the way they act could possibly originate from tradition. Some families such as the speakers are much less strict about manners whereas other families may have more strict policies when it comes to dining. The difference in the way they act may also come from the fact that the speaker family are much more comfortable in a familiar home where the minister's family are trying to be polite and respectful as the guests.

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The speaker's family acts as though they would any christmas, celebrating with their traditional dishes and sharing plates of food. The minister's family is almost appalled by the scene as it is different from their "proper American manners". Cultural differences

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the speakers family was not shy of there culture's food especially her father he "leaned back and bleached loudly" but the ministers family is more in shock they didn't know what to expect. American food is different that chinese food. they act so differently becouse there cultures are different.

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Personification is used "bulging eyes that pleaded not be thrown into a pan of hot oil"-third paragraph.

Alliteration is used "Dinner threw me deeper into despair"- fifth paragraph.

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Amy in particular struggles expressing her culture and embracing who she is. she wants to be more american and judges her family more then the others at some point

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One instance of cultural exchange in this story was when the minister's family was invited for dinner over at Amy's house and how they got to experience the way christmas is celebrated in a different culture as well as traditional from from the chinese culture.

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The speaker's family is very comfortable eating the food they prepared. They are also not afraid to show off their traditions and cultural aspects of dinner. The ministers family is a lot more reserved, and uncomfortable. They act like this because they aren't used to seeing this type of dinner, due to cultural differences.

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"A slimy rock cod with bulging eyes that pleaded not be be thrown into a pan of hot oil"

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"as white as Mary in the manger"

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The speaker is trying to hide their identity in order to impress a guest/crush. At the time the speaker thinks that this is what she should do. However as she looks back on this moment she appreciates her true cultural identity and regrets this moment.

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Cultural expression shown in the foods they are served and in the exchange after the dinner as the father leans back and belches as a show of appreciation for the mother's cooking.

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"The minister managed to muster up a quiet burp" and "Dinner threw me deeper into despair"

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"She was pulling black veins out of the backs of fleshy prawns."

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Amy's mother is very wise and realizes that family is more important that fitting in to social and cultural norms. The relationship you have with your family is more important than a crush when you're fourteen. Amy's mom has lived longer and has more experience with what it is like to be a young girl trying fitting in.

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2. The speaker's family appears to act in their traditional ways regardless of having guests present. They seem comfortable and confident. The minister's family seems uncomfortable as they are not used to Chinese customs.

4. At 14, Amy couldn't see that her family helps shape who she is. She didn't recognize that she can't run from her culture, but should embrace it.

5. A person's social network influences their cultural identity, as they learn from their surroundings. A person cannot change their background and inner identity, but their identity can deepen and grow.

6. By ignoring your family's past for popularity causes confusion and loss of connection. Once you get older, you may regret your past decisions. At the moment however, it feels more comfortable.

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The meal at dinner was a traditional Chinese menu that the narrator had loved. Her perception of the food changed because she thought that her crush who was used to American Christmas traditions would find it distasteful.

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Amy's mother understands that taking pride in your relatives is more important than what others may think of you or your family. It is better to be your authentic selves rather than pretend to be people you are not. With family often people are very comfortable to act as their most authentic self because we assume our own family will not judge who we are. Relationships with others however, different people have different opinions and norms that may cause them to judge how you are acting. This results in people tweaking the way they act around others in order to fit in and not be judged. I believe it is a good thing to stay true to who you are and the culture you come from while also respecting the differences of others and their own beliefs and traditions.

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Someone's identity is shaped by their moral values and by the way their parents raised them. The identity is shaped by traditions and culture: you can try to change your identity and adapt to another culture but deep inside you will always have your historical traditions.

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I think someone completely ignoring their family's culture and traditions would damage the relationship between the family, especially for something popular or normal because those things change and come and go, family does not.

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2. Amy's family acts completely normal for their culture during dinner. In the eyes of the Americans, it is very weird and not normal, but the Chinese family does not change who they are around people different from them. The Americans act very formally and properly, trying to be respectful, but they are uncomfortable in this different culture. Amy thinks her family is being bad guests, but in the end, she realizes they are being who they are and won't change their cultural identity for anyone.

4. Amy is a young girl, and wants to impress an American boy, yet this is just a little crush, and her true relationships come from her family, which will last a lifetime. Amy's mother wants her to always remember her family and their culture, so that she stays true to herself and always remembers who she really is. In the end, Amy realizes that the dinner was actually perfect, and that the entire dinner was all the food she loves.

5. Someone's origins and nationality are a major factor of someone's cultural identity, but it can change over time. The family in "Fish Cheeks" is of Chinese descent, and that is their cultural identity, however in moving to the United States, they gained a new part of their cultural identity. Where you live and who you surround yourself with shapes your cultural identity in many different ways.

6. When you ignore your family's past and try to be more normal, you lose your true self, your history, and your lineage. The history of your name, family, and ancestors are a major past of your life and identity, and if you try to forget about it and be a completely different person, you will lose your true self.

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Personification "A slimy rock cod with bulging eyes that pleaded not to be thrown into a pan of hot oil"

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there background there family's traditions. it is possible to change a person's identity on the out side but not the person identity on the inside. they can try to get away from who they are but deep down they will always know who they are culturally and traditionally.

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a slimy rock cod with bulging eyes that pleaded not to be thrown into a pan of hot oil

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Tradition, music, and food are all examples of aspects that can shape someone's cultural identity. I believe that it is possible for people to choose how they wish to shape their personal identity or try to change how others view them—but someone's cultural identity stays with them forever. People cannot get rid of their roots and the culture that raised them, it is forever apart of their life. Either big or small.

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A person's identity is shaped by the tradition and history of their family or their country. Morals and values play an important role in identity. You can try to change it but not fully. It is impossible to erase your whole previous identity even if you want to change it. You will always carry at least a small part of it.

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There are many things that may shape a person's identity, in this story, culture is a big one. Amy grew up with Chinese culture, eating certain foods and dressing in certain ways. She tries to shape it by acting Americana and dressing american. I believe it is possible to shape your identity in different ways, but regardless of what you do, you grew up a certain way so part of you will carry that piece of your identity.

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The speaker's family acts with chinese customs; They share the bowls of food with used saliva covered chopsticks and expressing their enjoyment of the food through belches. The minister's family acts differently with american customs; they wait for platters as it is common to grab your own food with clean utensils to avoid mixing things into the bowls of food. Both of the families are acting in what they know to be respectful but with their differing ideas they end up seeing the other family as weird or disrespectful for the way they eat.

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the reason they act so differently is because of the cultural barrier between them. the Chinese family celebrates the holiday with there own traditions and customs that the American family isn't used to.

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A person's cultural identity is shaped by their family and where they live. As a child, someone's cultural identity is heavily influenced by their family's traditions and culture. It is possible for someone to add to their cultural identity by experiencing and engaging with other cultures, but not to take away from or replace it.

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Amy's mother could understand that people need to stay rooted to their culture and heritage for the family to be stronger. I agree that it is important to at least remember your culture and heritage as it is also a huge part of your identity and how it has shaped you as a person.

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I think there are huge consciences to ignoring family traditions. the people who raised you have a massive influence on who you are. I think that having your own personal beliefs and cultural identity is more important then "fitting in"

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The speakers family was happy and not shy esspically when her farther belched loudly and the ministers family is more shocked by the dinner as it says "explained my farther to our astonished guests." they might be acting different because the minsters family has never seen that before.

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One example of cultural expression in this story is when Amy's father is done eating and leans back and belches to show appreciation for the meal the mother had just served them.

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by ignoring your family's past you can lose your true self trying to be someone your not. the history behind you like your name and family is a major role in your identity.

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"a plate of squid, their backs crisscossed with knife markings so they resemble bicycle tires"

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Amy's family acts like they normally would during a large dinner in their culture. The minister's family views this as strange and it makes them uncomfortable due to the fact that they are not used to being around different cultures in settings like this.

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Often the most influential factor of someone's cultural identity is their family. If a family is more strict on their traditional policies and a person is raised around that often times it will either result in them also taking their culture and traditions very seriously, or deter them from it entirely in the future (take going to church as an example). It is not until someone becomes more mature and more sure of who they are when they may be able to have a greater impact on their identity. With individuality as you get older also comes the ability to be responsible for your own actions and beliefs without as big of an impact from others.

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The importance of family, she didn't realise her mom had all her favourite foods out for that dinner until later and when she realized she knew that family knows and loves her more than anyone else. Amy was so caught up in wondering what other people think or how they're judging her that she didn't even notice the effort her mother had put into the dinner for her. She realizes now that just because she wanted that one thing in the moment doesn't mean she can abandon her family values.

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Amy's family did not care what the minister's family thought about their heritage. Her family is proud of their culture and to present a different type of food to the minister. At the time Amy was embarrassed by this and how her father acted. Even though it is part of their culture. As Amy grew up she embraced her background and stopped caring what others thought. The minister's family was respectful of Amy's family and their traditions. The minister even tried to take part in her fathers behavior by "muster[ing] up a quiet burp".

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The minister's family has classic table manners, like waiting for the food to be passed to them, and waiting until everyone is done to grab their food.

Amy's family doesn't really show the classic table manners. They grab the food from the plate, lick the end of their chopsticks and then use them to grab food from the dishes, and reaching across the table.

They act differently because they grew up learning the different manners. The minister's family grew up as an american family who was taught the classic table manners while Amy's family doesn't really do table manners and was never really taught them.

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Cultural expression is shown through the dinner. Amy's family is showing their culture using the food they cook for their Christmas Eve dinner. Cultural exchange was shown when the minister burped after dinner. He learned that was a Chinese custom, and wanted to engage in their culture.

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One negative consequence of ignoring your family's past and traditions could be that you lose a part of your identity and also change the relationship you have with your family. Your culture and heritage play a big role in how your relationship is with your family and when you ignore your traditions and family's past it also changes the way you interact with your family.

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Amy doesn't want to embrace her culture as part of her identity and because of this it seems like she judges her family and culture more than the others

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the people who you are associated with shape your cultural identity. if you choose to be around your family then the culture that they were raised with will be passed to you.

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I think living around here has shaped my identity. I haven't really lived anywheres else so I have no comparison but I would assume that my upbringing in this environment is definitely an influence

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During the dinner the family is happy to celebrate christmas with their traditions and to share their favorite food with the minister's family. However they seem shocked by the Chinese traditions of the other family. The reason for their reaction is the difference between the two culture.

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cultrual identity shaped by traditions and beliefs, it is posible to try to hide your identity but shouldn't because it is your background and it is a part of a person

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The speaker's family is excited to share their meal and culture with the ministers family. The minister's family is very polite, following American table manners, waiting for platters to be passed around. They are kind of in shock because they aren't used to chinese culture. They act differently because their cultures are different and they share different traditions and values.

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the ministers family got to have a traditional Chinese Christmas dinner. they got to experience a different way that Christmas can be celebrated.

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the food in this story and each family's reaction is an example of cultural expression. as the American family s reaction to it was different than the hosting family's.

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I think the negative side to ignoring your family's past and traditions is the loss of history and also creates a disconnect between yourself and your family. Tradition is something passed down through generations and without it you lose your family heritage. If this is done with the goal of popularity or to fit in, you are losing some of your individuality and becoming less unique in a way.

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Amy's family eats as they normally would and does not change how they go about it. On the other hand, the Ministers family sits back and waits for the food to be served to them because that is the "American way". The two families act differently because of their different cultures and the way that they enjoy their food. Also the arrangement of food is very different from what the Ministers family typically eats.

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Amy's mother understands the importance of their family's ancestral roots, and respects it by celebrating through traditional plates and mannerisms. Amy at the time doesn't recognize the importance of this, and is ashamed instead because they are different. The relationship between family members is different from others as more commonly than not they have been there since day one. Family members understand what's important, and embrace their culture together. I think that your culture, heritage, and traditions are something that should be cherished and embraced rather than ashamed and embarrassed.

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"Dinner threw me deeper into despair". Repetition of "d" sounds.

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there are negitive consequences of ingnoring your familys past and traditions one being it will damage the realtionship built with the family off of these traditions.

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A person's cultural identity is shaped by people's surroundings (family, family history, ethnicity). And I think that identity can change, but I think usually, something new is added to their identity.

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The speaker's family acts happy and excited to see one another. They reach for food during the dinner. The minister's family seems more reserved as they wait for food to be passed to them instead. They also are shocked by the food and the traditions of the speaker's family . I believe they act differently because of their different cultures.

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Amy isn't really showing her families culture, she wants to be more american and engage in more american stuff. an instance of cultural exchange is when the minister burped, he was trying to engage in their culture.

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A person's cultural identity is shaped through their upbringing. The practices and behaviors that are taught to them through their background, family, friends, even the influences of those who aren't that close to them. These teachings and practices are the building blocks for their life to develop. A person can continue to grow and shape themselves further, but that background and influence of their culture still holds importance throughout their life, even if they try to change that.

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During the dinner, the speaker's family is excited to share their culture and traditions. They act like usual and they are happy to celebrate together. The minister's family is uncomfortable and finds all of this culture-sharing weird. They act so differently because of their cultural differences.

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"He was not Chinese, but as white as Mary in the manger."

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ignoring your culture to fit in with everyone around you can cause many negatives. It can cause a loss of connection with family, and confusion about your true identity.

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The mother emphasizes that the daughter should not sacrifice the parts of her identity and expression that make her happy in order to fit in with others. Her family understood that she enjoyed these parts of her identity and wanted to bring her back to that.

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Amy's mother understands that it is important to stay true to your culture and not change because of somebody else's. The relationship between your family is much more important than any other. I think that what Amy's mother did was the right thing because she is embracing her culture and does not feel ashamed about it.

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By going against your culture's norms and trying to blend in, you present a false identity. I think you lose a bit of yourself as your culture and history is a part of who you are. It is fine to change your identity to what you believe in but if the reason is to be more popular then I would say that influence affects what you align with and makes you feel less confident and comfortable with who you are. There is a lot negative consequences if you try to ignore your traditions to participate in a more popular tradition.

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negative - you start to lose your families cultural traditions and you could start having a bad relationship with your family cause your not doing the same things with them.

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2. The speaker's family acts more open and laid back when sitting at the dinner table. They do not have the same type of table manners that the ministers family has because they were not culturally taught to act that way. They were taught to show gratitude by demonstrating their enjoyment for the dinner served to them. They also have more of a communal dinner, where they share dishes and serve themselves. As for the ministers family, they were taught to act polite when sitting at the dinner table.

3. The cultural expression and exchange in the essay is through the symbol of food. The speakers family proudly invited the ministers family to spend christmas eve together by sharing food. They invited them into their culture by letting them try their food. While the cultural expression is when the speaker's family was acting a certain way at the dinner table when they enjoyed the food. The minor parts in the story that seemed like it could resemble a sense of racism is when Robert himself felt uncomfortable and humbled by the way the speaker's family was acting. His face turned red as if he was embarrassed or seemed like he did not want to be there.

4. Amy's mother understands that family will always be there and will always understand the uniqueness that a culture has on someone's identity. Family tends to have a special bond that other relationships do not have. Family tends to know an individual more than other relationships. They are a part of developing a part of an individual's identity. I believe it is important to have a connection with your culture, but not always stay true to it. People are not always going to agree to aspects of their culture.

6. A positive consequence of ignoring your family's past or traditions is being able to develop a bit of your own identity without shaping yourself around family. A negative consequence is not having any connection to your family and traditions.

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The speakers family seems very informal when it comes to eating and the minister's family seems very proper. The difference in the act is most likely based off the difference in their cultures.

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Your cultural identity is shaped by your home life and your cultural history. These define how you act and what you think is normal. I think that changing that identity is harmful but accepting other cultural norms can be fine as long as it doesn't substitute for your own norms.

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The speaker's family acts regularly as they would for any other Christmas, regardless of the minister's presence. The minister and his family are very reserved and are hesitant to act the same, mostly acting according to their own culture and customs. Neither are particularly willing to change so quickly, and are probably nervous of doing something wrong.

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Pathetic fallacy: "A slimy rock cod with bulging eyes that pleaded not to be thrown".

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The mixing of food with chopsticks compared to the patient waiting for independent serving shows a large difference in how they eat. The minister making a small burp in response to the speaker's father also shows a small willingness to fit in with their culture.

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How they are raised, what they are exposed to, and the reactions they see in other people, all affect their cultural identity, mostly during the earliest stages of growth. Change is possible but many of many parts become habits, and are hard to break. There usually isn't much point in changing unless it conflicts with another standard or convention in a way that may cause issues.

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Amy's mother has lived her young life and may have had similar experiences her self. Her mother was trying to protect her and save her dignity of her culture. Other relationships should be able to accept you for you and you shouldn't have to change. I think it is important to have some traditions in your lifestyle as it is a way to remember past family members.