Answer:
1. What happens in the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the story?
The story starts as Waverly and her mother are shopping through different stores in Chinatown. Waverly happens to see some salted plums and pulls her mother towards the store. Her mother does not like this so she scolds Waverly. The next week, Waverly went into that store with her mother as her mother picked up the salted plums. Later in the story, Waverly's brother receives a chess set from the Chinese Santa, which his mother did not approve of having the chess set. As Waverly watched her brothers play the game, she thought of how fun it would be to play as well. She started to play and got better and better. She got to the point where she was a professional chess player. One day, Waverly and her mother were walking through some stores, when her mother started to talk about all of Waverly's accomplishments. This made Waverly so embarrassed that she ran away. In the allies, she realized that she needed someone to take care of her so she went back home and went to her room. In the calmness of her room, she imagined a chessboard and her unbeatable opponent, her mother, as she ponders her next move.
2. How does the author use the exposition to give background information about the characters and the conflict?
Amy Tan uses exposition at the beginning of the story to introduces important characters and events in the story. The story starts with Waverly’s mother talking to her about the art of invisible strength and outwitting your opponents. Then she goes on to talk about how her mother would scold her for wanting something that she knew she wasn’t supposed to have. Amy Tan shows that Waverly doesn’t want anything to do with the Chinese tradition, whereas her mother wants everything to be based on tradition only. The author also shows that Waverly’s mother has a “soft spot” for Waverly since she did eventually buy the salted plums.
3. How does the author use the rising action to create tension and move the story forward?
The rising action in this story is used to introduce conflicts and challenges the character faces and how they respond to keep the story moving forward. Waverly learns how to play chess with an old man from the neighborhood park. Because of her practice with him, she goes on to play in chess tournaments.
4. What is the climax of the story?
The climax in this short story occurs when Waverly is walking with her mom through the streets and her mother starts talking so highly of Waverly. When Waverly runs away, this the height of the story.
5. What decision or turning point does the protagonist face during the story’s climax?
After Waverly runs away, she has to decide if she is going to go home or stay. Since she cannot take care of herself, so she must go home and face the consequences.
6. What events are part of the falling action?
The falling action in this story would be when Waverly comes into her house and is sent to her room with no dinner. She envisions a chessboard with her unbeatable opponent, her mother.
7. How is the conflict resolved at the end of the story?
The conflict is resolved when Waverly realizes her mother will always win any battle. This is depicted in Waverly’s vision of a game against her mother as she ponders her next move.
8. How does the author use the overall structure to convey a sense of tension in the story?
Amy Tan uses the structure to create tension by leaving the reader enticed to read the next part of the series of stories she wrote.
9. How does the structure of the story help the reader better understand the characters and the conflict?
The structure in this story helps the reader better understand this story by adding a flashback of her life in the beginning of the story. It also shows the conflict between Waverly and her mother.
