Literary devices are perhaps one of the most important elements used in writing. The journey of Suyuan in the historical fiction novel, The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, is characterized through the use of style, plot and motif by establishing tone, emphasizing motivation and characterizing relationships throughout the novel. Tan’s use of style is one of, if not the most, prevalent literary elements used in the selected passage. Style used in the given excerpt of, The Joy Luck Club, helps Tan to illustrate the tone and mood of the story. One element of style, diction, is used to display Suyuan’s desperation to make it to Chungking, where her babies will be safe. Suyuan’s desperation is made apparent through this quote: “The roads were filled
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Additionally, the quote illustrates the chaotic nature of the situation. Tan shows this through the phrase “filled with people”, creating a vision of a mob-like crowd, with Suyuan in the midst of it, desperate for the survival of her babies. To add to the use of diction, Tan also uses syntax to display the mood and tone of the story. Tan’s use of syntax is prevalent in this quote, “Canning, we should go [to China], before it is too late, before we are too old. And I told her it was already too late, we are already too old.” This quotation illustrates a conversation between Suyuan and er second husband, discussing the possibility of traveling back to China. Tan expresses a mood of hopelessness through the use of repeated phrases and strategic placement of commas. The usage of …show more content…
The plot in this passage involves Suyuan having to abandon her children in order to save them while fleeing Kweilin. At this point in the story, Suyuan makes the major decision to give of up babies she writes, “Please take care of these babies with the money and valuables provided.” Suyuan’s instructions indicate her determination to make sure her babies survive even though Suyuan is sure that she will die. The act of leaving her children is the plot point that serves to set up the actions of the actions and events that occur in the remainder of the passage. The actions of this quote lets the reader know that Suyuan believes she will die and her babies will live, thus planting Suyuan’s desire to reclaim her babies after she is rescued. As a result of her being rescued, Suyuan had to face the guilt of abandoning her children and set out on a quest to find them. Her new husband describes her ongoing search in this statement: “She was always looking out of the corner of one eye for twin babies, then little girls.” These words describe the result of Suyuan’s surprising survival, which is another major plot point in the passage. Her survival then leads to the massive feeling of guilt left with her after she leaves her children. This drives Suyuan’s determination and hope in finding her children once more. Tan’s use of plot to drive characters is also enhanced by her use of motif as she
Additionally, the quote illustrates the chaotic nature of the situation. Tan shows this through the phrase “filled with people”, creating a vision of a mob-like crowd, with Suyuan in the midst of it, desperate for the survival of her babies. To add to the use of diction, Tan also uses syntax to display the mood and tone of the story. Tan’s use of syntax is prevalent in this quote, “Canning, we should go [to China], before it is too late, before we are too old. And I told her it was already too late, we are already too old.” This quotation illustrates a conversation between Suyuan and er second husband, discussing the possibility of traveling back to China. Tan expresses a mood of hopelessness through the use of repeated phrases and strategic placement of commas. The usage of …show more content…
The plot in this passage involves Suyuan having to abandon her children in order to save them while fleeing Kweilin. At this point in the story, Suyuan makes the major decision to give of up babies she writes, “Please take care of these babies with the money and valuables provided.” Suyuan’s instructions indicate her determination to make sure her babies survive even though Suyuan is sure that she will die. The act of leaving her children is the plot point that serves to set up the actions of the actions and events that occur in the remainder of the passage. The actions of this quote lets the reader know that Suyuan believes she will die and her babies will live, thus planting Suyuan’s desire to reclaim her babies after she is rescued. As a result of her being rescued, Suyuan had to face the guilt of abandoning her children and set out on a quest to find them. Her new husband describes her ongoing search in this statement: “She was always looking out of the corner of one eye for twin babies, then little girls.” These words describe the result of Suyuan’s surprising survival, which is another major plot point in the passage. Her survival then leads to the massive feeling of guilt left with her after she leaves her children. This drives Suyuan’s determination and hope in finding her children once more. Tan’s use of plot to drive characters is also enhanced by her use of motif as she