What is the central idea of growing up Asian in America?
Noda’s theme is about identifying one’s identity, and throughout her essay she describes how she managed to discover her own identity: a Japanese American woman.
How does the authors use of the term Japanese American change over the course of the text?
How does the author’s use of the term “Japanese-American” change of the course of text? At first, the author uses it to separate herself from “other” Americans. By the end, the author embraces: “We live our thanks.
What is Noda’s purpose for writing?
Noda’s purpose for writing this is twofold. It helps her reach acceptance with her own identity as a Japanese American woman (as shown in the concluding line). The story also helps characterize the struggle of Japanese Americans and portrays the racial tensions in America (as shown in the introductory paragraph).
What words does Noda associate with being Japanese American?
In line 80-90 Noda associated being Japanese as being clean, quiet, motivated and determine the american way in second paragraph, but in first paragraph she describes Japanese americanas victim and silent.
How might Noda have had one purpose in writing this essay for herself and another in writing for a broader audience?
To reference her mothers Japanese cultural connection. How might Noda have had one purpose in writing this essay for herself and another in writing for a broader audience? Noda may have been writing for herself to vent and to others to explain what Japanese Americans go through.
Does Noda explain the meaning of the nursemaid?
Noda explains that the nursemaid is “the intersection of heaven and earth, the intersection of the human, the natural world” (Noda 3). According to Noda, in the song, the nursemaid looks at life steadily, without being concerned for the future and not having any meaningful goals and aspirations.
Why was Noda not devastated by her uncle’s anger?
She is not devastated by her uncle’s anger because his anger makes him active and vocal, the opposite of what frightens her (89). It is the most difficult part because it meant accepting her connection to her mother (171). In her mother Noda saw “all that I feared most in myself” (172-3).