In Ken Liu’s “Paper menagerie,” the paper tiger symbolizes how Jack relates to his Chinese heritage. When Jack was very young, the paper tiger was made in order to comfort him. So, he has formed a special relationship with the tiger and his Chinese mother who made it for him. For instance, “She set the paper down, plain side facing up, and began to fold it. I stopped crying and watched her, curious.” Jack has a good childhood until his American neighbor comes to his house to play, because his neighbor insults his mother and rips apart his paper tiger. People will realize that he is being mistreated because of his heritage. Meanwhile, Jack’s mother causes other people to stereotype Jack as an outsider because she doesn’t speak English very well and makes strange paper toys. Jack is disappointed and wants to be disassociated with his Chinese heritage because he doesn’t want to be left out. The ripped paper tiger symbolizes this very well as it tells the audience that Jack is done with anything that makes him stand out from the other kids. Furthermore, when Jack’s mother fixes the tiger, Jack throws it into a box and tries to forget that it ever existed. Ever since his mother died from cancer, Jack was living his own “American” life. However, he soon finds the paper tiger on the shelf in his apartment and unfolds it, only to reveal a letter written to him by his mother. Jack finds someone who can read Chinese to read it for him. Only then he realizes how much his mother had been through and how important Chinese heritage is to her. The paper tiger springs back to life just like it did during Jack’s childhood after this realization. This reconnection with his heritage is symbolized by the resurrection the paper tiger.
Category: english 9.7
On the sidewalk bleeding
The main character in Evan Hunter’s short story “On the Sidewalk Bleeding” initially believes that he was a member of the Royals, but later realizes that he hadn’t been himself, a guy named Andy. His change of understanding is revealed through the use of symbolism, dialogue, and thoughts.
Symbolism: “The jacket had only one meaning now, and that was a very simple meaning. If he had not been wearing the jacket, he wouldn’t have been stabbed. The knife had not been plunged in hatred of Andy. The knife hated only the purple jacket. The jacket was as stupid meaningless thing that was robbing him of his life.” The jacket symbolizes a relationship with the Royals which is a gang that is rivals with the Guardians, another gang. It also symbolizes the fake personality of Andy, something that isn’t really himself.
Dialogue:”’I’m Andy, he screamed wordlessly, I’m Andy”‘ After being stabbed Andy wanted to let the world know that he was Andy, not what was displayed on the purple jacket.
Thoughts: “Now, in the alley, with the cold rain washing his hot body, he wondered about the meaning. If he died, he was Andy. He was not a Royal. He was simply Andy, and he was dead. And he wondered suddenly if the Guardians who had ambushed him and knifed him had ever once realized he was Andy? Had they known that he was Andy or had they simply known that he was Royal wearing a purple silk jacket?” The main character wondered how other perceived him. Just a Royal, or Andy.