Well, in 'fish cheeks full story', the central idea revolves around cultural identity. The protagonist is a young girl. During the Christmas dinner, there are a lot of Chinese elements like the fish cheeks dish. She is self - conscious about these things in front of an American boy. It's about how she gradually comes to accept and understand her own culture as she grows up.
Well, 'Fish Cheeks' isn't a novel. It could be a piece of creative non-fiction or a memoir perhaps. But it doesn't have the length and structure of a novel.
Yes, it is. 'Fish Cheeks' has the characteristics of a short story, such as a narrow scope, a single main conflict, and a relatively short narrative length to deliver its core idea effectively.
The novel 'Saving Fish from Drowning' by Amy Tan is not autobiographical. It showcases her creative imagination and storytelling skills rather than being based on her own life events.
There is the girl who is the narrator of the story. She is struggling with her identity. Then there is her mother. Her mother is very traditional and wants to show their Chinese culture through the dinner. And don't forget the boy that the girl has a crush on. He comes to the dinner and his presence makes the girl feel self - conscious.
Well, in the 'fish cheeks short story', the themes of embarrassment and growth are prominent. At first, the girl is embarrassed by her family's fish cheeks dinner in front of her crush. But as she matures, she realizes that her family's traditions are a part of who she is and that she should be proud of them, which shows her growth.
Amy Tan's short stories often explore themes of cultural identity. Her stories are set in the context of Chinese - American experiences. For example, in 'Two Kinds', she shows the complex relationship between a mother and daughter within a bicultural family. The mother, having immigrated from China, has high hopes for her daughter in America, which leads to a series of conflicts as the daughter tries to assert her own identity.