One kind could be the supernatural horror stories, like those involving ghosts, vampires or witches. These play on our fear of the unknown and the things that go beyond our normal understanding of the world.
Two kinds of short stories could be the character - driven ones and the plot - driven ones. In character - driven short stories, the focus is mainly on the development of the characters. The story unfolds as the characters grow, change, or face internal conflicts. On the other hand, plot - driven short stories are more about the sequence of events. There's often a fast - paced plot with twists and turns, and the characters are more secondary, serving to move the plot forward.
There are far more than just one or two kinds of fictional stories. There are numerous types. For example, science fiction which often involves futuristic technology and space exploration. Fantasy stories are full of magic, mythical creatures like dragons and wizards. Then there are mystery stories where the focus is on solving a crime or a mystery. There are also historical fictions that are set in different historical periods and often blend real historical events with fictional characters and plots.
Sure. For the first type, the slasher horror stories are a good example. Think of movies like 'Friday the 13th' where a masked killer hunts down a group of people. It's a more straightforward kind of horror that plays on our fear of physical danger and sudden death.
There can be many kinds of fictional stories, not just one or two. Genres like fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, and adventure are all common.
The short story 'Two Kinds' is about the struggle of identity. The mother tries to shape the daughter into a certain kind of person. But the daughter resists. One important aspect is the cultural difference. The mother, influenced by her Chinese heritage, has a different view of success compared to the daughter who is growing up in an American environment. This cultural gap also adds to their conflict.
The theme of identity is also strong in 'Two Kinds'. The daughter is trying to find her own identity in a world where she is caught between her mother's traditional Chinese values and the American culture she is growing up in. Through the various piano lessons and the conflict with her mother, we see her struggle to define herself. Amy Tan's writing style makes this story very engaging and relatable, as many people can understand the feeling of being pushed in a certain direction by their parents while trying to figure out who they really are.
The story 'Two Kinds' shows the clash of cultures as well. The mother, influenced by her Chinese heritage, has certain ideas about success and achievement which are different from the daughter's American - influenced view. The daughter rebels against her mother's constant pressure, but later in life, she realizes there was some love behind her mother's actions.
I think the main theme of the story is the struggle between parental expectations and a child's own desires, along with the exploration of what it means to be successful in different contexts.