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RULES OF THE GAME

Amy Tan Background Information Biography Amy Tan was born in 1952 in California, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Rules of the Game is a short story about a child chess champion in a difficult mother-daughter relationship. As a major theme, the story reflects the clash between an American child and an immigrant parent who is striving to maintain the culture, traditions, values and behavior of the old country. Setting: Place San Francisco' Chinatown. Time: Waverly's childhood in the late 1950. Characters Major Characters: Waverly Jong- Meimei, (her Chinese name "little sister") Lau- Po- the chess teacher, Waverly's mother- Lindo. Minor characters: Waverly's brothers Vincent and Winston Waverly's father. Point of view: first person through the eyes of the young Waverly. Cultural issues and relevant vocabulary The examples of Mrs. Long's speech show us that the Chinese language has a very different structure than English, particularly in how verbs are used. Look at these examples: Wise guy he not go against wind. Who say this word? However, despite the incorrect syntax, the meaning of her words can be understood. One of the elements that define an ethnic group is their food and herbs. In the first part of this story we are given many details about the food and herbs available in Waverly's Chinatown neighborhood. It is not important to know their exact meaning but rather to get a sense of their variety and otherness. Examples of these are: dim sum, the odor of fried sesame balls, sweet curried chicken crescents, pungent leaves, The game of chess is played all over the world and is known for the tactics and strategies it requires. The name of the chess pieces in English are: king, queen, bishop, castle, knight and pawn. Plot & General Interpretation Part I This story of a troubled mother-daughter relationship is a narrative in the first person through the eyes of the young daughter, mixed with dialogue. The key phrase in the opening sentence is invisible strength - a strategy for winning arguments, gaining respect from others, and also for defeating chess opponents. Although the body of the story seems to focus on winning chess matches, we perceive throughout the underlying conflict between mother and daughter and the fight for respect, which also ends the story. The mother's lack of assimilation and reliance on her past is reflected in her typical, cut off Chinese sentence structure and the imagery in her speech throughout the story. After the first example of learning invisible strength, Waverly gives us a rich description of the story's setting - life for a financially struggling immigrant family living in San Francisco's Chinatown. They live above a bakery and we see the neighborhood as the young girl sees it to her and her brothers it is a fascinating place that offers interest and adventure. She does not see herself as poor or deprived in any way. The first full dialogue between mother and daughter about Chinese torture shows that the mother does not get the subtle hint that she is hurting Waverly, or perhaps she simply does not know the meaning of the English word torture but does not want to admit it, and so treats it as another profession, proudly (but ironically) saying the Chinese do it best: We do torture.

Best torture. The dialogue is also humorous. This concludes the introduction, drawing us into an entire world in just a few of pages of text. Part II Next we move to the Christmas gift of the chess set, with a detailed description - once again through the eyes of the child - of the distribution ceremony. We get a first glimpse of Waverly's intelligence when we see how she selected her gift. The mother maintains her sense of pride, not wanting to keep a second-hand, incomplete gift, but here she loses out to her children. Waverly takes an avid ( ) interest in the game, asking about the rules, and this leads us directly to an example of her mother's wisdom. We are told explicitly that she cannot read English, but she is shrewd and understands how life is for an immigrant and how it is up to the immigrant to adapt. Every time people come out from foreign country, must know rules.... Better you take it, find out why yourself. The description of what Waverly learns about chess exemplifies everything we know about how chess can help to develop a person's thinking: tactics, having clear plans, foresight, patience: ... one must gather invisible strengths and see the endgame before the game begins. We can also see that chess is a metaphor for succeeding in a generally hostile world. Invisible strength also means revealing as little as possible to the other side about the why: one must show and never tell. Waverly finds a mentor in the park who teaches her everything he knows and explains the different chess plays with typical Chinese imagery. Part III When a stranger suggests she play in local tournaments, Waverly shows us that she has learned both her lessons - she bites back her tongue and applies the principles of chess - she has her endgame of wanting to play in the tournaments, but has to plan a strategy to get her mother to agree. She uses reverse psychology, saying she does not want to play in order not to disgrace the family if she loses. Her strategy is successful. The description of her first tournament shows her great ability to focus on the game. It also shows that although she seems to wish to distance herself from her mother's old country ways, Waverly is still Chinese by heritage and uses the picturesque oriental imagery of her mentor to plan her moves. Compared to the earlier detailed descriptions, Waverly talks about her meteoric rise to fame very briefly - as if all this attention is not of great interest to a little girl. She is more interested in the changing family dynamic - her brothers' dissatisfaction at having to do her chores, or exactly what she was wearing in the photograph, and the loss of her freedom to play as a child in the alley. Part IV While she is refining her chess-playing techniques for future tournaments, we become aware of the much bigger game she is constantly playing - against her mother. She feels crowded by her mother's hovering over her as she practices, and embarrassed when her mother shows her off at the market. This leads to the second dialogue - a tense, climactic conflict between them. Waverly runs off but life is not exactly a game of chess and there are not always convenient escape routes - especially spontaneous ones. She returns home, knowing she will be punished. Banished to her room, she retreats into her world of chess - finally recognizing openly that her opponent is her mother. Her mother's eyes, two angry black slits, remind Waverly that Strongest wind cannot be seen. She knows her mother is a truly fierce opponent, but despite her young age she is not afraid and is prepared to apply all the skills she has acquired so far to face the challenge. It is ironic that it is the mother herself who has taught Waverly these skills. This story has some interesting structural parallels with A Summer's Reading by Bernard Malamud. Although the setting is much later, and as far away from New York as one can get in America, we read of an immigrant community making its way towards assimilation and

integration. Both stories contain key dialogues between the protagonist and antagonist, which are focal points in the story and in both cases, the ending of the story is left somewhat open - we assume George will be more successful in his attempt to read, having learned certain life lessons during the summer, and we may assume that Waverly will also prove to be a match for her opponent, using everything she has learned so far. Page 75 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION A 1 The game of chess is a metaphor for the "game" of life. Possible answer This is a good comparison because in the game of chess, as in the game of life, a player needs to learn the rules in order to win. The life lesson that Waverly's mother teaches her, "the art of invisible strength", or self-control, later helps Waverly to win at chess. Lau Po also teaches her self-control, strategies and chess etiquette. Everything Waverly learns about chess can be applied to her life. For example, tactics, strategy, outsmarting the opponent, using psychology and keeping the goal in mind from the beginning. 2. 1. Waverly uses "the art of invisible strength", or self control, to get what she wants from her mother. She does not ask directly for what she wants. For example, she gets the bag of salted plums that she had wanted the previous week, and she is allowed to play in the local chess tournaments. The lesson helps Waverly succeed in chess because she learns self-control. She learns not to reveal "why" to others, to withhold knowledge and to lose graciously. ("Never hurl pieces into the sandbox after you have lost a game.") 3. Waverly's mother is winning the imaginary game of chess at the end of the story. When Waverly realizes that she cannot defeat her mother in the imaginary game of chess, she retreats and quits the game, flying out of the house and high above the city (and her mother's influence) until she is completely alone. She symbolically breaks the ties with her family and home. She is lost and alone and doesn't know what to do next. This parallels what is happening in Waverly's life. Waverly feels that her mother has too much control over her life. Waverly tries to insist on her independence by challenging her mother in the market and then running away. But she knows that at this stage in her life, she cannot win. Her mother is "the strongest wind that cannot be seen". By force of her personality the mother exerts her influence on Waverly and the entire family. She controls the home as she controls the chessboard, making sure that Waverly's family don't pay attention to her when she returns home. ("We not concerning this girl. This girl not have concerning for us.") As in her dream, Waverly feels that her mother is an opponent whom she cannot defeat, so she physically tries to remove herself from her mother's influence by running away in the market. 4. No. she isn't only talking about chess. She is also planning her next move at home. For example, she is planning to apologize to her mother / to explain to her mother that she feels embarrassed when her mother boasts to people about her. B 1 the thinking skill of Comparing and Contrasting Possible answers 1. There are no similarities mentioned in the chart. The main differences are: Chinese culture is more concerned with the group and American culture with the individual. Chinese culture is based on values such as respect for parents and elders, modesty and being non-confrontational. American culture is based on values such as self-fulfillment, personal achievement and open discussions - even confrontation. Chinese culture emphasizes a .strict code of social behavior. American culture emphasizes personal freedom and self-expression. 2. For example, I prefer the respect that Chinese people show to their elders because older people have a lot of experience and wisdom and should be listened to.

I prefer the self-expression that is encouraged in American society because a person should be free to express himself / herself. 3. For example, my own culture is similar to American culture because it is based on personal freedom and expression, direct confrontation and personal achievement. 2 The thinking skill of Comparing and Contrasting because we compared and contrasted Chinese and American culture. C1

D 2 Answers 1. Mrs. Jong is showing her modesty by attributing ( ) Waverly's success in the chess game to luck rather than her excellent skill in playing chess. 2. Lao Po teaches Waverly to be humble and not announce the end of the game with arrogance and pride because she may be mistaken, and her opponent may still make a move and win the game. This saying also reflects a belief in mystery and magic, rather than in logical reasoning. 3. Waverly cannot say anything to disagree with her mother, because in Chinese culture children show obedience and respect for their elders and do not contradict their parents. 4. When Waverly tells her mother that she can't practice when her mother stands over her, she is expressing her own feelings and asserting herself. This is an example of how her behavior has become Americanized. 5. Waverly is being impolite to her mother. She is showing disrespect to her elders. This behavior contradicts the values of respect and obedience to elders that is valued in Chinese culture. Here Waverly shows the influence of the American cultural values of assertiveness and independence. 3 Possible answers Waverly "bites back" her tongue when she goes into the shop with her mother. She does not ask for the salted plums again. Her mother has taught her obedience. One of the mothers at the Christmas party slaps her son because he did not show appreciation for his gift. His mother has to "save face" by apologizing to the crowd for his bad manners. Mrs. Jong gives Waverly a small tablet of red jade for luck before the chess tournament. This is an example of the importance of magic and mystery in Chinese culture. Waverly complains that the bedroom is too noisy. She is asserting herself (an American value), even if it leads to confrontation. Waverly talks back to her mother: "I wish you wouldn't do that, telling everybody I'm your daughter." Waverly's criticism of her mother is un-Chinese. She is expressing herself openly - a quality valued by American culture. E 1 The thinking skill of Distinguishing Different Perspectives Answers 1. Mrs. Jong would agree. Waverly would probably disagree. She would think that children need to

adopt the values of the culture they are living in. 2. Waverly would agree. Mrs. Jong would disagree. She would believe that cultural values should be passed on from generation to generation. 3. Mrs. Jong would agree. Respect for parents and obedience is part of Chinese culture. Waverly would think that children should express their own opinions and not have to behave as their parents wish. 4. Waverly would agree. Mrs. Jong would disagree. She would think that children should fulfill their parents' wishes and be obedient. F Possible answers 1. The theme of cultural conflict is reflected in the conflict between Chinese-born Mrs. Jong and American-born Waverly. Waverly and her family live in Chinatown in San Francisco. They live above a Chinese bakery, shop in traditional Chinese stores (like the medicinal herb shop and fish market), go to the First Chinese Baptist Church and get presents from a Chinese Santa Claus. The Chinese immigrant parents want to preserve their traditional culture, whereas the children want to integrate into American society. Waverly's mother emphasizes traditional Chinese values of self-control and obedience, whereas Waverly wants to assert her independence. The young Chinese Americans find themselves alienated not only from American society but also from their Chinese parents and heritage. 2. The theme of conflict between mothers and daughters is reflected in the relationship between Waverly and her mother. When she is younger, Waverly accepts her mother's right to set the rules and control her life. As she grows older, however, she begins to assert her independence. Her mother feels she is losing control, and a power struggle occurs as a result. Their relationship reflects the generation gap, which causes misunderstandings. Waverly's impatient behavior and intolerance ( ) of her mother cause conflict. For example, Mrs. Jong misunderstands the chess game, thinking that it is better to lose fewer pieces Waverly gets annoyed at her ignorance, especially because it is disobedient to correct her. Waverly is rude to her mother in the market. Mrs. long misunderstands Waverly, thinking that her daughter is embarrassed to be seen with her. But Waverly doesn't want to be "displayed". Mrs. long is insulted, and Waverly is frustrated and runs away. The theme of cultural conflict between immigrant mothers and American-born daughters is also reflected in the relationship between Waverly and her mother. As a Chinese mother, Mrs. long wants her daughter to succeed in American terms (to do well in the chess tournaments and have status), but she expects her to keep Chinese values of family loyalty and respect. As Waverly becomes increasingly Americanized, she is embarrassed by her mother's old-fashioned ways, and her mother is disappointed in her daughter's rejection of tradition. For example, Mrs. Jong expects Waverly to accompany her on market days and be shown off to people without protesting. 3. In the beginning of the story, Waverly is more in touch with her Chinese culture because she is younger and her mother has more control over her. She lives above a Chinese bakery and plays in a Chinese neighborhood. By the end of the story, Waverly is older and has been more exposed to American culture. She has attended chess tournaments, each one further away from home. As a result, she is less in touch with her Chinese culture. 4. Mrs. long names Waverly after the street that they live on. She takes her children to a Christmas party. She allows Waverly to play in the chess tournaments. She gives Waverly special privileges (according to the new American rules). 5. Waverly learns the Chinese rules of behavior and uses them to get what she wants. For example, she uses self-control and manipulation to get her mother to allow her to play in the chess tournament. However, as Waverly gets older, she and her mother do not always play by the same rules. Mrs. Jong

plays by the Chinese rules of behavior, whereas Waverly has begun to reject these rules in favor of the American values of self-expression and independence. This causes conflict in their relationship. 6. At the end of the story, Waverly imagines a chess game with her mother as her opponent. Mrs. Jong sits opposite her, winning the game of inner strength. The chess game is a metaphor for her struggle (rebellion) against her mother, and therefore for growing up. In her imaginary game, Waverly breaks free from her mother's influence and all she has known before. She leaves the safety of her home and neighborhood and floats above the city. She is free, but she is also alone with no one to guide her or tell her what to do. She must now make her own decisions. Therefore, the imaginary game could symbolize the transition from childhood to approaching adulthood. Page 79 BRIDGING TEXT AND CONTEXT Possible answer for B The author's difficult relationship with her mother is reflected in Waverly's difficult relationship with her mother, whom she sees as her opponent in the imaginary chess game. The cultural conflict that Chinese Americans experience is another theme reflected in the story. Waverly does not entirely identify with the American mainstream nor with her parents' Chinese culture. Possible answer for C The character Waverly Jong is both similar to and different from the author Amy Tan. Both were the only daughters of Chinese immigrant parents, and both had difficult relationships with their mothers. Amy Tan defied her mother's wishes and studied English and linguistics, and Waverly defies her mother by running away in the market. Tan became a successful writer, whereas Waverly becomes a successful chess player.