Week 13: Multicultural Sampling

Question 1

In general, why do people immigrate to another country?

Answer 1

Seek a better life, escape a situation/war/conflict, work opportunities

Question 2

Define biculturalism, multiculturalism, assimilation and marginalization

Answer 2

1. Biculturalism: presence of two different cultures in the same country or region
2. Multiculturalism: respecting cultural differences, permits the coexistence of culturally diverse populations.
3. Assimilation: blend into your home country’s culture, unlike multiculturalism
4. Marginalization: reduction of involvement in society and the loss of opportunities experienced by certain groups within a society.

Question 3

What is the difference between postcolonial and multicultural writing?

Answer 3

Postcolonial: aftermath of colonialism, countries that are former colonies
Multicultural: showcase contemporary geopolitical diversity

Question 4

What is a symbol?

Answer 4

It has a literal and abstract meaning, something that represents something else

1. Simple recipes: food represents the family’s culture
2. How to pronounce knife: pronouncing “k” in knife= can symbolize the little girl being marginalized, Joy’s clothing represents her status as an outsider.

Question 5

What is a motif?

Answer 5

Motif: situation, incident, idea, image or character type that is found in many different literary works elaborated into a more general theme.

Motifs recur throughout the story, symbols can appear just once to have an impact.

Example: Story “Borders”: border motif linked to the theme of identity, belonging and citizenship

Question 6

Who are the main characters and the main idea in “Simple Recipes”?

Answer 6

Mother, son, father and daughter (whole family)

Explore the conflicts within both intergenerational and intercultural relationships

Question 7

Who are the main characters and the main idea in “How to Pronounce Knife”?

Answer 7

Joy, her father and her mother

The struggle of immigrants in a new country. In connection with this, the story also looks at the issue of bullying and discrimination of immigrant students.

Question 8

How could you describe the parent/child relationships in “How to Pronounce Knife” and “Simple Recipes”?

Answer 8

Miscommunication between parents and children, keeping a cultural balance

Question 9

How is the theme of language and communication portrayed in both stories?

Answer 9

HTPK: The title story of How to Pronounce Knife hinges on the pronunciation of the silent k. It’s an authorial trick that serves as a motif for how immigrants navigate their way through a strange new language and, with it, a strange new culture
SR: Recipes have become a means of communication with her past, a bridge that spans the gap between her old and new worlds.

Question 10

What are some postmodern elements in “Simple Recipes”?

Answer 10

• Nonlinear narrative: The story doesn’t follow a straightforward chronological order; instead, it jumps between past and present moments in the narrator’s life.
• Culture: The story critiques traditional family dynamics and cultural expectations, especially those of immigrant families. Postmodernism often involves deconstructing societal norms and structures, revealing their complexity and instability

Question 11

What are some postmodern elements in “How to Pronounce Knife”?

Answer 11

• The story interrogates cultural identity, particularly within the context of immigration and assimilation. The mother’s emphasis on teaching her daughter “proper” English pronunciation is rooted in the pressure to conform to the expectations of the dominant culture
• Fragmentation: The story often moves between the mother’s efforts to teach her daughter, small moments of reflection