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Wednesday, January 26, 2011 @ 1:42 AM
LIT PROJECT

THEME FOR RELEASE

THEME 1:Neighbour(NEGATIVE)
EVIDENCE:
"Eileen tied her hair into a ponytail and went over to say hi, just to be a friendly neighbour. She was so pregnant that she could hardly walk down the street without heaving like a dying dog, but she went anyway" -pg 139

"Eileen thought the woman was shy."Are you moving in all right?" The woman snarled,"I'm not moving in."" -pg 139

"Yeah,yeah, you're like our dog...Our dog is pregnant...Due in a month.When are you going to get rid of that...Don't give birth to as many as this dog's going to have" -pg 140

"In the first week, the new neightbour cut down the guava tree near the fence separating the two houses while Eileen was at the supermarket. She came back to a big, ugly hold in the garden" -pg 141

Personal Comment:
Eileen who is pregnant wanted to made a good expression to her neighbour went to their house and said hi, in return the neighbour was rude. Her neighbour snarled at her which shows us that the tone of the neighbour is very aggressive. Her neighbour also compared her to their dog, which is something we do not do as you are trying to imply that she is a bitch. During the first week, her neighbour cut her guava tree leaving a ugly hole, which is not a welcoming sight.

THEME 2: Mystery
Evidence:
"The man shoved a blueprint under her nose and said, "The lawyer might not think so, and you should count yourselves lucky that the ex-owner was too lazy to investigate this."...Philip looked at the blueprint and handled it back to the man..."the blueprint didn't look like the one of their property."" -pg 142~143

"Every time the baby fell asleep, the four puppies would whimper and the baby would wake up, and it was hell trying to get her to sleep again" -pg 143~144

"Thud. A dull sound. It came from the outside.She looked out the window, heard it again-thud. She heard squeals. Thud, and one more- thud. And there was silence. She saw the man emerge from the shadows, wiping the spanner" -pg 148

Personal Comment:
It is suspicious that the man had the blueprint and it could be fake. The four puppies that whimper could be feeling hunger. The man could be using the spanner which he got from Eileen to kill the puppies as there was silence after the thud, and the man emerge from the shadows, wiping the spanner which could be covered with blood.

THEME 3: Selfishness
Evidence:
"She had gone to the neighbours a few dats ago, but there was no one home. No
one had been home for a while. She didn't know how long they had been gone. She tried as hard as possible not to notice anything about her neighbours. Someone must be looking after the dog and the puppies. There were always food and water in the bowls, though she never saw the person who filled them." -pg 144
"But you see, they're not in. The dogs are by themselves." -pg 145

Personal Comment:
The neighbour is being selfish by going on a holiday, leaving their dogs at home to be taken care of by a hired worker. The hired worker took matters at his own hands and most probably killed their dogs.

Characteristics:

Eileen:
P1:She is on good terms with others
E1:“Eileen tied her hair into a ponytail and went over to say hi, just to be a friendly neighbor. She was pregnant that she could hardly walk down the street without heaving like a dying dog, but she went anyway. -pg 139

P2: She is compulsive
E2:""Goddammit," Eileen said. She grabbed Philip's arm and said, "Go and tell that woman to move the fence back." -pg 142

P3:She is narrow-minded
E3:“You don’t do gardening anyway. So what if they took a foot if the garden? Why make things so difficult? -pg 143

Philip:
P1:He is Petty
E1:“I told you yesterday and this morning…It’s all right. I’ll just have to zip over to the cleaners before I come and get you. I thought that now you weren’t working, you could…forget it. If we’re late for dinner, you explain to them” -pg 140~141

P2: He not detailed
E2: "Philip looked at the blueprint and handled it back to the man. He took Eileen's arm and steered her towards their house."Sorry," he said to the man, who went back inside his house and slammed the door..."That blueprint didn't look like the one of their property."" -pg 142~143
Monday, January 10, 2011 @ 6:16 AM


Prose 1
What is your impression of the main character?
My impression of the main character is that he is suspicious. From the passage, is states that "He was tired of running and dodging.Either he had to find a place to hind or he had to surrender...They're looking for me all over...he would wait until the siren sounded far off, then he would go out." This shows that he is trying to avoid someone who is trying to look for him, we then start to question why is someone trying to look for him and who is the "They" that is finding him. He is also acting suspicious as he would wait until the siren sounded far off before he go out, it made me question whether the "siren" is something that got to do with the people that are looking for him all over. Therefore my impression of the main character is that he is suspicious.

By paying close attention to repeated words and images, show how the writer conveys and develops the sense of fear within the main character. How effective is he in doing this?
Give evidence to support your answer.
The writer is effective in conveying and developing of the sense of fear within the main character. From the passage, he uses the image of "siren" in "siren sounded far off, then he would go out...the siren sounded so near..." , the image of the "scream of brakes and the siren broke off" as well as the image of the fast moving water in "He dropped and was washed violently into an ocean of warm, leaping water.His head was battered against a wall and he wondered if this were death." This shows that the writer is trying to develop the sense of fear by using the image of the "siren" which sounded so near, we knew from the start that the main character is trying to avoid the "siren". The writer then develop the sense of fear further by using the image of fast moving water, the main character dropped and was washed away by the fast moving water, he head was also battered against a wall, this increases the level of fear within the main character as he wondered if this were death. Lastly, the writer uses the image of the "scream of brakes and the siren broke off", the main character was caught by the policeman which makes the main character in fear of what is going to happen to him. Therefore, the writer is effective in conveying and developing the sense of fear within the main character.

How would you describe the mood in the text? Support your answer with reference to the text.
The mood in the text is mystery and suspense. Throughout the whole passage, we could see that the main character is running away from the police, but we do not know the reason why he is being wanted by the policemen. Throughout the whole passage, there is suspense as we read, we do not know what is going to happen next, whether he could escape from the police or would he be caught in the end. The feeling of suspense kept the reader interested to read finish the whole passage. Therefore, the mood in the text is mystery and suspense.

What techniques does the writer use to create tension and suspense as he builds the story up to its climax?

Prose 2
What is the narrator's view of men in general and , in particular, her boyfriend?
The narrator's view of men is that they are hard to comprehend. From the passage, "Men are difficult.So hard to understand...And he'd be so tired, so irritable. He'd snap at me for no reason. And when I got upset he'd make me feel guilty for being upset, for spoiling his few hours of freedom...He'd mention some sergeant who he said had marked him but when I hugged him and said I was sorry he shrugged me off; I could not understand , he said. He was right; I could not understand."This shows that the narrator's view of men in general is that they are hard to comprehend with the evidence of "Men are difficult.So hard to understand". The narrator also do not understand her boyfriend who snaps at her for no reason and make her feel guilty for being upset when he is the cause of it. Therefore, the narrator's view of men is that they are hard to comprehend.

Identify the internal and external conflicts in the text.

Discuss how the tone and style of narration are appropriate in this extract.
The tone and style of narration are appropriate in this extract. The tone of the extract is melancholy while the style of narration is a first-person narration. The tone shows that the narrator is feeling sadness for not being able to understand men especially her boyfriend. The style of narration is a first-person narration as she uses the word "I", the writer use this form to focus on how she views the events in the story, which is her displeasure towards men. Therefore, the tone and style of narration are appropriate in this extract.

How does the writer develop our sympathy for the protagonist? Support your answer with reference to the text.

The writer of this extract is a male person. Do you feel that his depiction of the female persona is stereotypical? Give reasons for your answer.

Prose 3
Vampires are traditionally known to be evil and cruel in nature. Does the vampire in this extract appear to be different? Can you say how? Provide examples to support your point.
The vampire in this extract appear to be different as he is the opposite of what vampires are traditionally know to be which is evil and cruel in nature. From the passage, "But I thought vampires didn't like light...Don't be afraid. Just start the tape...Believe me, I won't hurt you. I want this opportunity.It's more important to me that you can realize now. I want you to begin." This shows that the vampire in this extract is not what vampires are traditionally known for, the vampire in this extract was not afraid of the light, he is not evil and cruel to hurt the boy which can be seen as "Don't be afraid", "I won't hurt you". Therefore, the vampire in this extract appear to be the opposite of what vampires are traditionally known to be which is evil and cruel in nature.

What evidence can you find to show that the boy becomes increasingly uneasy during the interview?
The evidence to show that the boy becomes increasingly unneasy during the interview is "And then he sighed with relief when the vampire moved towards the table and reached for the overhead cord...His fingers danced backwards on the table to grasp the edge...The boy recoliled, sweat running down the sides of his face...It took a moment for the boy to wipe his forehead and his lips with a handkerchief, to stammer that the microphone was in the machine, to press the button, to say that the machine was on." This shows that the boy becomes increasingly uneasy during the interview as he started to sweat which flow down the sides of his face. In the end, he had to wipe his forehead and his lips with a handkerchief as he most probably sweat alot, he also stammer which shows he speaks with sudden pauses and had a tendency of repeating himself. Therefore, the boy becomes increasingly uneasy during the interview.

The boy appears to be in control of the interview at the beginning of the text. Show how the vampire takes control of the interview as it progresses.
The boy appears to be in control of the interview at the beginning of the text, the evidence showing that is "I'm anxious to hear why you believe this, why you...", but he was interupted by the vampire who disagree with how the boy begins the interview. The boy was afraid to offend the vampire thus becoming nervous. In the end, the vampire manipulated the boy using fear and thats how he took control of the interview as it progresses.
Prose 4
What do you think the tangerine symbolizes?
I think that the tangerine sumbolizes prosperity and good luck. He saw her standing a little further back, letting the children run ahead her, he bought a bag tangerines from her. Form the passage,"He knelt before her to wait and handed her the note when she held up the bag to him, her thin, brown arm straining with the weight of the baf on her entended arm." This shows that he offered half of the tangerine to her is because he wanted to give her luck, but partly because he saw how thin she was.

Discuss the writer's use of point of view and style of narration. How do they enhance your understanding of the narrator's character?
The style of narration is a second-person narration because it was not Nick that experience the event, he uses "he" instead of "I".
What kinds of conflict are evident in this extract? Do you think any of those conflicts are resolved by the end of this passage?
The conflict in the extract is the internal conflict in Nick. Nick who grown up ruthlessly effiecient, organized and prepared for most things that creates the conflict within himself, he is learned and used to "close his eyes, his ears and his heart to other people's suffering, telling himself that if he could not help, he should not feel too badly about it" This made him lose the sense of pity in him. I think that the conflict is resolved by the end of this passage, when he is able to feel a pity for the girl who sell tangerines by buying a bag and sharing the tangerine with her.

Prose 5
How would you describe the setting and atmosphere of this scene? How does the setting complement the inner feelings of Mrs Mallard?
The setting is heavy and sorrowful, to complement the inner feelings of Mrs Mallard as she receive the news of her husband's death from her sister Josephine. From the passage, "The delicious breath of rain was in the air", shows that it was raining which brings up the mood of her being depress over his death. The rain could also represent her crying for the death of her husband. Therefore the setting is heavy and sorrowful.

In what way has Mrs Mallard been repressed in her marriage? What other impression do you have of Mrs Mallard and what are your feelings for her at the end of the text?

Why is the conclusion of this story ironic? How does the writer develop the story towards its ironic conclusion?
The conclusion of this story is ironic as it was Mrs Mallard that died instead of her husband, Brently Mallard. Throughout the whole story, it makes us believe that Brently Mallard had died in a railroad disaster but in the end, it shocked us to realise that it he is still alive while his wife died of heart disease.
Prose 6
Why is the father unable to recognize his daughter when he first sees her?
The father was unable to recognize his daughter when he first sees her as since his ex-wife, who won the custody of her, had take went to California and never came back. They have not met each other for eight years, within this eight years, alot of things could change, his daughter had grown up and should look different compared to eight years ago. Therefore, the father was unable to recognize his daughter when he first sees her.

What is your impression of Li Wen? How well do you think she will be able to adjust to her new environment? Give evidence to support your points.
My impression of Li Wen is that she is agressive. From the passage, "He saw her finally, by the soft-drinks machine, inserting coins; no drink emerged and she kicked the machine, once, twice, three times." This shows that she is agressive. I think that it will be hard for her to adjust to her new environment. From the passage, ""Man, is that all the radio there is? M.O.R and Bach?" She sounded flabbergasted..."I gotta get my Walkman out from the back. I can't listen to this junk. Kenny Rogers-" She rolled her eyes." This shows that she is unable to adjust to the music in the new environment that she needs her Walkman which has songs from her old environment which she is used to. Her reaction towards the songs being played, shows that she isn't able to adjust to her new environment easily. Therefore, I think that it will be hard for her to adjust to her new environment.

How does the writer depict the tension between father and daughter in this extract? support your answer with reference to the text.
There is a difference in the western and eastern culture. The tension between father and daughter in this extract could be seen during the incident of the music being played by the radio. From the passage, "Oh my God...Can this be real...Man, is that all the radio there is? M.O.R. and Bach?...We don't believe in being swamped by the media here." This shows that both Lee and her father were making sacarstic remarks which create the tension in this extract which also shows the difference between the western and eastern culture.

How does the writer effectively convey the changing attitude of the father towards his daughter as the text progresses? Support your answer with reference to the text.
The father was firstly annoyed by her not remembering her country. However, her father attitude changes towards the end when Lee wanted to stop to take her Walkman, he was about to say no, but he gave in to her and stopped the car, to make her happy. In the end of the passage, "in a way, it was a relief not to have to talk." which shows that he was happy that he do not need to talk to Lee and I think it is because it could cause much more conflict between them.

In what way does the writer highlight the conflict between East and West? What are your feelings towards the father and daughter in the story?
The writer highlight the conflict between East and West through the conversation the father had with his mother. From the passage, "He had had great difficulty in persuading his mother to stay away that night; he'd needed, he said to be alone when he met Li Wen."Is that a new-fangled Western concept or what?" his mother had demanded. She had never understood that one sometimes needed a modicum of privacy, a moment to take stock; everything had to be done As Family." This shows that the East are used to doing things in a group while the West are used to doing things along independently which is conflicting. Therefore, the writer highlight the conflict between East and West through the conversation the father had with his mother.


Wednesday, January 5, 2011 @ 4:28 AM
HOLIDAY HOMEWORK

HOLIDAY HOMEWORK
MINING FOR MEANING PG245

WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS POEM IS ABOUT?
1. I THINK THAT THIS POEM IS ABOUT THE WRITER WRITING ABOUT HIS SON GROWING UP. HE REMINISCES HIS SON'S CHILDHOOD AT THE TIME HIS SON IS LEAVING HOME AND BECOME A MAN. HE STARTED THE POEM WITH "THE LEAVES JUST TURNING" WHICH IS CHANGE, BUT IN THIS POEM IT MEANS THAT LIFE IS CHANGING. THEN HE WENT ON TO THE FOOTBALL GAME, HE USED THE IMAGERY OF SATELLITE, "WRENCHED FROM ITS ORBIT, GO DRIFTING AWAY" SHOWS THAT HIS SON IS MOVING FURTHER AWAY FROM HIM AND "WRENCHED" EMPHASIZES THE IMPACT OF HIS SON MOVING AWAY FROM HIM IS. IN THE END, "HOW SELFHOOD BEGINS WITH A WALKING AWAY" SHOWS THAT HIS SON DEVELOPING OF HIMSELF IS ABLE TO ACHIEVED WHEN HE WALK AWAY. THE POEM IS CONCLUDED WITH "AND LOVE IS PROVED IN THE LETTING GO" SHOWS THAT HIS FATHER LOVE FOR HIS SON IS PROVED BY HIM LETTING HIS SON GO TO GET "SELFHOOD".

WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SPEAKER AND SEAN? SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER WITH REFERENCE TO THE TEXT.
2.MY IMPRESSION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SPEAKER AND SEAN IS THAT THEY ARE FATHER AND SON AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS WEAKENING AS SEAN IS GROWING UP BUT THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR HIS SON NEVER CHANGE. FROM THE POEM, FROM WWW.DICTIONARY.COM, "PATHOS" MEANS THE QUALITY OR POWER IN AN ACTUAL LIFE EXPERIENCE. HE USED THE WORD "PATHOS" TO HIGHLIGHT HIS SON LACK OF LIFE EXPERIENCES. HE ALSO USES "HALF -FLEDGED THING SET FREE" WHICH IS LIKE A BIRD LEARNING HOW TO FLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEN HE USES "INTO A WILDERNESS" WHICH IS DANGEROUS. "WHO FINDS NO PATH WHERE THE PATH SHOULD BE" SHOWS THAT HIS SON HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE HIS OWN DECISION, JUST LIKE CHOOSING A PATH. IN THE END, THE WRITER CONCLUDED THAT HIS LOVE FOR HIS SON IS PROVED BY HIM LETTING HIS SON GO TO PURSUE SELFHOOD.

THE POET USES SEVERAL IMAGES TO TALK ABOUT THE BOY'S WALKING AWAY FROM HIS FATHER. WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW DO THESE IMAGES CONTRIBUTE TO THE MOOD OF THE POEM?
3.THE POET USES SEVERAL IMAGES TO TALK ABOUT THE BOY'S WALKING AWAY FROM HIS FATHER, SUCH AS "SATELLITE","HALF-FLEDGED THING","WINGED SEED".

HE USES THE IMAGE OF A "SATELLITE" WRENCHED FROM ITS ORBIT, SHOWS THAT HIS SON WHO IS THE "SATELLITE" IS DRIFTING AWAY FROM ITS FATHER WHO IS THE "ORBIT" AND THE WORD "WRENCHED EMPHASIZES THE IMPACT OF HIS SON DRIFTING AWAY FROM HIS FATHER IS.

HE USES THE IMAGE OF A "HALF-FLEDGED THING", A BIRD WITH HIS WINGS HALF-FLEDGED WHICH SHOWS IT GOING TO FLY INTO THE "WILDERNESS" WHICH IS DANGEROUS BRINGS THE FEELING OF ANXIETY OF HOPING THAT HE WOULD BE SAFE.

POETRY EXERCISE 2
WHAT IS THE SUBJECT MATTERN OF THE POEM AND WHAT IS THE SPEAKER'S FEELING OR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE SUBJECT MATTER? SHOW EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR POINTS.
1.THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS POEM IS FAVOURITISM FOR MALES INSTEAD OF THE FEMALES. THE WRITER FEELINGS IS THAT HE FEELS THE FAVOURITISM FOR MALES IS TOO MUCH, WE COULD SEE THAT FROM "ALREADY RINGED BY DAUGHTHERS" AND NO SON, THEY KEEP TRYING AND TRYING STILL AND TRYING UNTIL". THIS SHOWS THAT THEY ARE ALREADY SURROUNDED MY DAUGHTERS, THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO GET A SON BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL WHICH THEY STOP BEARING MORE CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF MOTHERING MORE WOMEN.

EXPLAIN THE PHRASES"RINGED BY DAUGHTERS"(line 1)AND "CONTOURED BY CHOICE"(line8). HOW DO THESE PHRASES ADD TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER? WHAT OTHER INTERESTING WORDS CAN YOU FIND IN THE POEM? EXPLAIN THE IMPLIED MEANINGS OF THESE WORDS.
2.RINGED BY DAUGHTERS MEAN THAT THEY ARE SURROUNDED MY DAUGHTERS

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WOMEN IN THE POEM? WHY?
3.I FEEL SORRY ABOUT THE WOMEN IN THE POEM. THEY LIVE TO BEAR CHILDREN FOR THEIR HUSBANDS AND WHEN THEY COULD NOT BEAR MORE CHILDREN WHICH CAN BE SEEN AS "CONTOURED BY CHOICE", THEY HAVE TO SHARE THEIR HUSBANDS WITH OTHER WOMENS SO THAT THEY COULD HELP BEAR A SON FOR HIM WHICH CAN BE SEEN AS "THEY MANAGE PEOPLE OVER".

POETRY EXERCISE 3
IN THE FIRST STANZA, IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE IN YOUR OWN WORDS, TWO DISTINGUISHING ACTIONS OF THE MAN IN THE BOWLER HAT AND SAY IF THE ACTIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT.
1.IN THE FIRST STANZA, THE FIRST ACTION IS "THE MAN YOU LOOKED THROUGH LIKE A WINDOWPANE". THIS SHOWS THAT HE IS LIKE A WINDOWPANE WHICH IS INVISIBLE WHICH ALSO SHOWS WHY HE IS "UNNOTICED, THE UNNOTICEABLE MAN". THE SECOND IS "THE MAN WHO WAS THE COLOUR OF THE CARRIAGE THE COLOUR OF THE MOUNTING".THIS SHOWS THAT HE FEELS LIKE HE IS FADING INTO TTHE BACKGROUND.

DO YOU THINK HE HAS THE QUALITIES OF A (a)LEADER OR (b)FOLLOWER? SHOW EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR POINTS.
2.HE HAS THE QUALITIES OF FOLLOWER BUT WHO THINKS HE ABLE TO DO MORE THAN THAT.FROM THE POEM ,"THEN MAN WHO IS PATIENT TOO LONG AND OBEYS TOO MUCH AND WISHES TOO SOFTLY AND SELDOM...I AM THE MAN THEY CALL THE NATION'S BACKBONE, WHO AM BONELESS -PLAYABLE CATGUT, PLIABLE CLAY....I AM THE LED, THE EASILY FED, THE TOOL , THE NOT-QUITE-FOOL".THIS SHOWS THAT HE SOMEONE WHO FOLLOWS ORDERS AND IS NOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO STAND UP THIS IS WHY THE WRITER USES "WISHES TOO SOFELY AND SELDOM", HE IS NOT THE NATION'S BACKBONE WHO IS THE LEADER, WE CAN SEE HE IS ALSO EASILY LED AND THE ADVANTAGE OF HIM BEING LED BY OTHERS IS THAT HE IS BEING FED WHICH IS LIKE A BRIBE.THEREFORE HE HAS THE QUALITIES OF FOLLOWER RATHER THAN A LEADER.

A BOWLER HAT WAS WORN IN ENGLAND BY BUSINESSMEN IN THE PAST. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WRITER IS SAYINT ABOUT THE LIFE IN MODERN SOCIETY? GIVE REASONS FOR YOUR ANSWER.
Monday, June 28, 2010 @ 7:06 AM
Two Quotes From Island Voices

PAPER

1) "You're a show-off, what's so grand about marble flooring and a swimming pool? Why don't you put your money to better use?" - Page 3

2) "There is a devil in him" - Page 7

The Martydom of Helena Rodrigues

1) "Helena's tactics enabled her to tyrannize most people - with normally sensitive consciences" - Page 12

2) "George was kept tied to Helena's side" -Page 13

Sundowner

1) ""All right, sir," said the Malay, "Aman can speak English"" - Page 21

2) "Only in the mornings, tuan. They could stop if tuan wishes" - Page 22

Tanjong Rhu

1) "She has eaten more salt than you have rice" -Page 35

2) "They're special glasses, big ones to help you see things faraway." - Page 31

Evening Under Frangipani

1) "Their home was in a cul-de-sac lined with frangipani trees: their fragance sweet and cloying when in full blossom." -Page 53

2) "I'm so glad you've converted to Christianity. it would be such a pity if Elaine couldn't have beef." -Page 59

Lee

1) "Meat is poison" - Page 94

2) "I don't believe in God" - Page 97

A History of Tea

1) "Not my cup of tea" - Page 109

2) "A storm in a teacup" - Page 119

A Dream of China

1) "Could I get him out of China?" - Page 123

2) "My father is a good man" - Page 123

Release

1) "Don't give birth to as many as this dog's going to have." - Page 140

2) "She sat down, blinded by the scream that filled her mind." - Page 148

An Obituary for Fifth Aunt Come Late

1) "She was my aunt but I didn't make it a point to be her niece." - Page 149

2) "No one is sure or will say how old she was." - Page 161

Corridor

1) "You just stay in the hotel room the whole day." - Page 164

2) "Who said I wasn't happy at home? You all go to work whole day never see me in the house." - Page 165

Mid-Autumn

1) "Mummy, don't be sad, can always buy new one." - Page 179

2) "I stayed in my teaching job so I could afford the best education for my daughter." - Page 180

Hamid and the Hand of Fate

1) "Would one hand make a good enough embrace." - Page 189

2) "He always made sure he had enough in his wallet to satisfy her, going to the bank almost every week now." - Page 201

The Move

1) "Ma, you are not taking those footstools!" - Page 204

2) "Remember how Melissa and I would wait forever for the first pomegranate of the year to turn red?" - Page 206

Pastime

1) "This is just a story, you understand?" - Page 213

2) "It's a hobby , a pastime , it's not real life" - Page 220
@ 6:41 AM
5 Off Centre Memorable quotes

1) “Everything is so void. Who are we trying to avoid?"
–Vinod / Act Two/ Scene III / Page 63

2) “We are strong. Nothing can destroy us!”
-Saloma / Act Three/ Scene III / Page 95

3) “Eh, your boyfriend coward ah...Eh, your boyfriend no balls ah?”
-Robber / Act Three/ Scene III/ Page 96

4) “Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata. Give. Sympathise. Control.”
-Emily / Act Four/ Scene I/ Page 103

5) "We're f**king Singaporeans and Asian societies can't touch touch hug hug right?!!"
-Vinod / Act Five/ Scene III/ Page 129
Saturday, June 26, 2010 @ 9:51 PM
Off-Centre

1. In your opinion , how key is the parent-child relationship to Vinod's inevitable end ?

In my opinion, Vinod's parents who are successful lawyers gave him the education and oppotunities that many others would love to have, and want him to be as successful as them. They think that by giving him education and pushing him to the top would make him happy and successful. But little do they know that he does not want the certificates at all. He studied for the sake of fufiling his parent's dream. Thus causing the pressure and stress that led him to depression and finally his tragic suicide. Although there are other factors that contributed to his suicide, his parents were the ones that pushed him to his limits and even after he falls into depression, they do not want to face the truth and think that it is all an excuse. Thus accumulated pressure and stree on him lead him to his suicide at the end.

2. 'Vinod's high expectation oh himself caused his downfall." To what extent do you agree with the analysis of Vinod's predicament and tragedy ?
I agree to a large extent with the analysis. I think that Vinod's desperation to reintegrate into the society has caused his illness to worsen



I agree to large extent with the analysis. His desperation to reintegrate into the society has caused his illness to worsen because of the physical consequences, e.g. his handshakes and people shun him when they see his hands tremble, a side-effect of the medicine as a result he opposes consuming medicine which is necessary to control the symptoms of the illness. His rejection to the medicine can be seen when he said “They see my hands tremble, my eyes sleepy sleepy they will avoid me”.

His relationship between Saloma and him is like a project for him. To him Saloma is a kitten he has found, one that he had to protect. Without the friendship, he has no purpose in life. Saloma is his centre. It is clear that Vinod regards Saloma as his inferior in terms of education, He often treat her as someone who needs information, and frequently displays his knowledge about books and philosophy. It is also apparent that Vinod regards he as an inferior in terms of mental girth, which is why he is so devastated when he realizes that she has become stronger than he is after the robbery.

Vinod’s presumptuous air of superiority pushes him to reject Saloma when she becomes stronger than him. Instgead of being happy for Saloma when she finally makes progress to be reintegrated into society, Vinod becomes unhappy, even distraught. He hurts her by hurling insults and discouraging her like saying “Great! Saloma Nightingale. Who will faint first? The person receiving the injection or the person giving it?”

His inability to protect Saloma and Saloma slowly reintegrating into the society made him feel inferior to her. His failure to become “centre” has made him suicidal with his rejection to medicine. Thus lead to his downfall.

Therefore I agree to a large extent to the analysis of his high expectation leading him to his downfall

3. Discuss the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play .

Saloma changes from a shy girl to one who survives from mental illness. She's even able to reason out with mak at the end. As she expresses her desires to live.

The first turning point for Saloma is when she meets Emily at the halfway house. Even though she starts out using the mantra, Emily taught tentatively, she does turn out to be the stronger chatracter between her and Vinod. For instance, although Vinod is the better educated one between the two, Saloma is one who is set on writing to the newspaper to address the discrimination against mental patients.When Vinod shuts himself in his room, Saloma grows desperate without him.

What becomes the turning point for her, pushing out to face the real world, is the bird in her room. Whether this bird is real or a figment of her imagination is not the point.This marks the second turning point for Saloma because before Vinod withdrew from the world, including her, she did not know what to do with her self, even where to go or what to do.

One night also argue that Mak is a reason for Saloma's transformation and survival. After all, Mak is constantly reminding her of her need to turn to God, an idea which Saloma accepts and even repeats to Vinod.

4. "Though a minor role in the play , the character Razali is the key to the plot of off centre." To what extent do you agree with this assement ?

I do not agree with this assement to a large extend. To Saloma, Razali plays a role that is like her dad, he is the one who buys epok epok (curry puff) for her just like what her deceased father promise, one who talks to her & gives her advices. He fufills the role of fatherly model to Saloma. However, to Vinod, he is someone that protects the community as he is a guard, he protect the people living at the block. However during the robber incident, he fails to help them and Vinod blames him for not being there to protect the both of them. Vinod is tested against his manhood when the robber said "Your boyfriend coward ah ?" and "Your boyfriend got balls anot ?", he breaks down and this series of events is similar those that he faced when he is in the army. Platoon Commandor (PC) asked Vinod, "Are you a man or not Vinod?" Razali plays a role to help both Vinod and Saloma, however, he is not the key to the plot of off centre.

5. "Datta , Dayadhvam , Damyata" means to "Give , Sympathise , Control". How did the major characters in the play exert control in their enviroment and / or their lives ? Support your answer with evidence from the text .

Major characters like Vinod exert control in their environment by his intelligence. As a person who thought that his life was over when he didn't get straight As for his A levels, and met Saloma whose education level was only up till VITB, he used his intelligence to "show off" to Saloma as he feels that Saloma needed information and to make himself feel better about himself. He would give his reasons and lectures Saloma on why the Gods are not good. Eg: The indian boy whose head got chop off by his own father because he didn't allow him into the house because he obey his mother because she said not to allow anybody to the house when she's taking a bath.

Vinod exert control in his live by being the better,smarter person between the both off centre person, namely himself and Saloma.As for Saloma, she exerts control by asking Vinod to take his medication. Like the medicine could help him get better but he think otherwise. She also exerts control at the last part of the play by asking Vinod to go the the dance with her when he didn't want to as he felt useless after the robbery.

In her life, Saloma exert control when mak ask her to stop taking the medicine as she feel that her own daughter is not mad at all and taking the medicine would not help. Saloma didn't listen to mak and this is how she exert control.

6. Based on the text Off Centre, discuss how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.

Vinod's parents' marked absence in the play reveals their non-involvement in Vinod's life . They always leave Vinod alone to his own devices most of the time . Instead of being worried that Vinod has been shutting himself in room for weeks , they feel annoyed because they think that Vinod is taking advantage of their patience . He desires love and warmth but they are very proper and distant because of their high status . Therefore , Vinod is unable to get love and warmth from his parents and this is one of the reason that led to his death because of the abandonment from his parents .During Vinod's JC days , Charlie , Denise and Johnson were close to Vinod as they were in the same class . They associated with him because of his literary brillance and often made photocopies of his excellent work as model essays to learn from . However , after Vinod's nervous breakdown , they ceased contact with him . When Vinod met them at the NUS , Vinod realises that people will always remember and remind him of his breakdown . This is why Vinod believes he will never be able to get past his history and move on normally as he gets negative reactions from ex-classmates .From here , we can state that peer acceptance and family support is very important .

@ 7:08 PM
Questions

1. "However, China had nothing to say to my spirit, if indeed land speaks to spirit. My spirit was as alien here as I was. It inclined towards a diamond city of trees and meaningful occupation, efficiently sparkling in the modern world. that was where I truly belonged, among skyscrapers with glass fonts and gold-encrusted orchids."
Do you think the reference to Singapore as a "diamond city" is apt? Why or why not? How would you describe your feelings towards Singapore, using imagery you feel suitable?

A: I think that the reference to Singapore as a "diamond city" is apt. Diamond to me is something precious and rare which is well protected. I feel that I am safe living in Singapore and fortunate that I am born here too, because of the security of the country is tight which make sure all crimes will be at the minimum. I would describe Singapore like a complete package. In Singapore we have everything, technology, leisure, food and clothes which are imported from around the world.

2. "With great grandness, my uncle ordered orange drinks from the waiter. He criticized the glasses as dirty when the drinks arrived and insisted on new ones..... I kept buying him the orange drinks he swallowed with suck relish."
Why do you think her uncle behaves in this manner? Do you feel sorry for him or do you regard him with distaste, as his niece does?

A: In my opinion, I think her uncle behaved this way because he was required to do all the hard work when he returned to China and suffer all the hardship that took place, but not her father who stayed in Singapore. He found it unfair for himself, and starts to demand more and more from his brother to recoup his losses in the early days. I do not feel sorry for him at all for it was his job to take charge of the life and he has no one to blame, but himself. He could have chosen to stay in Singapore and not return, but he did not. I do regard him with distaste for that he did not accept his mistakes and blame others for what he had done.

3. "I returned to Singapore alienated from the china I saw, but no less eager to listen to my father's stories of the most beautiful lands."
Do you find this contradiction? Why or why not?

A: Yes, I find it contradicting. She did not find what her father said and what she saw any bit that's similar, but she is still willing to find out more about what her father thinks of China in his own heart without knowing that China has changed so much so that it's no longer the China he knew. She used beautiful land for she believes that her father stopped at that point of time that China was still a piece of beautiful and perfect land for her father to stay in.

4. "A country is only as good as its men. My father is a good man.... whichever country can clain him as its own."
What do you think the narrator means by the first statement? To what extent would you agree that her father is a good man? Give reasons for your answer. Which country, do you think, should claim him for its own?

A: 'A country is only as good as its men.' I believe what the narrator is trying to convey is as long as he has confidence in the country, the country will be what the men believes. To a large extent I would agree her father is a good man. When he had to send more money to his brother in china, he did not grumble or complain a single thing to anyone. He might feel annoyed by his brother's behaviour, but he did not express it out, for he believed that his brother is still wonderful deep down in his heart. Thus he did not want to spoil his image in front of other people. In my opinion, Singapore should claim him for its own. It's only fair for him to enjoy his life in Singapore but not return to China to work hard again to support his brother.
Sunday, January 24, 2010 @ 5:50 PM
Older generation of Singaporeans

Choose two stories that reveal the thinking of an older generation of Singaporeans: What new insights have you gained from such a revelation.

The Move

This story is about a family shifting into another apartment. Madam Teo, mother of Jimmy and Tommy, wanted to bring along her sentimental items, which her children opposed of doing so, because they said that the items that she brought was run-down and that they can buy a new one to replace it. For example, the pomegrante tree that symbolises the family's generation. During the period when they are growing up, they waited for the fruits to turn red. But now, the pomegranate tree has already grown so big, and they do not want it anymore.This shows that young people do not treasure and care about their history, whenever they get something new, they will be oblivious to the past things. Whereas most people of the older generation treasures everything they have, mostly because they experience more hardship than the younger generation.Just like Madam Teo, she said : "Sadness was seeing your father-in-law in China lose all his rice fields when the communist took over. Sadness was watching your father crawl home after being bayonated by Japanese troops in 1942. Sadness was watching your pregnant mother succumb to malarial fever in occupied Singapore not having any drugs to allay her fever. Sadness was waking up in the darkness finding her not in her bed, going out to the rubber plantation to search for her, fearing, as she had threatened, that she would take a cold bath in the nearby pond. Sadness was finding her drowned pregnant formed by moonlight, and knowing that you had to be the one to run home to wake your father and tell him the news. Sadness forever after the funerals of mothers that her friends and cousins lost, which she could never attend, because they reminded her of how she lost hers."

Tanjong Rhu

Mr Lee is a wealthy businessman. He lives with his wife, daughter and mother. His mother sees things in a different perspective as she is old. When Mr Lee bought a binoculars for her and wanted to give her, she said : "Ahwah, things you can buy, I do not need." And Mr Lee said : "But you don't even know what it is." She said : "I know i have everything i need." This shows that Mr Lee's mother is easily satisfied with what she has. As long as she has her basic needs such as food, water, a clean place to stay, etc, she is satisfied. She doesn't want or need the lastest technology, but rather repeat the beautiful memories she had in her past, where she brought Mr Lee who was just a skinny little boy to Tanjong Rhu to count the ships, skipping pebbles on the waves. This shows that old people aren't so materialistic.

Choose 5 links and write comment of 50-100 words about the content of the blogs. (Not design/pictures/layout)You must identify yourself.

Sunday, January 17, 2010 @ 5:58 PM
Change

With reference to suitable stories, discuss how far change is shown to be either welcomed, or feared.

A History of Tea

This story is about TienYee and Beverly, it differentiates the high class from the middle class. TienYee's cousin Beverly, is someone who is very high class. She has a discerning taste for tea. She drinks her tea in a pot, trimmed at the top and base in a blue and gold pattern - Japanese imitating Royal Doulton, with matching cup, saucer, tiny jug of milk, a plated spoon and tea strainer on its own base, all produced on a gleaming tray with roses and briars worked onto the handles, compared to TienYee, who drinks tea in a tall mug with only blue on bamboo patterns and a cover to help it brew, beaded on its underside with water. TienYee is very simple minded, he treats tea like tea while Beverly is very complex, she treats tea very importantly, which had to be served properly every single time.The MoveThis is story is about a family shifting into another apartment. Madam Teo, mother of Jimmy and Tommy, wanted to bring along her sentimental items, which her children opposed of doing so, because they said that the items that she brought was run-down and that they can buy a new one to replace it. For example, the pomegrante tree that symbolises the family's generation. During the period when they are growing up, they waited for the fruits to turn red. But now, the pomegranate tree has already grown so big, and they do not want it anymore.This shows that young people do not treasure and care about their history. Whenever they get something new, they will be oblivious to the past things.
@ 5:55 PM
Change

With reference to suitable stories , discuss how far change is shown to be either welcomed or feared .

Lee

This story shows the relationship between a Singaporean father and his Americanized daughter. His ex wife passed away and his daughter re-enters his life. The awkward, uneasy relationship between father and daughter dramatizes the clash between the "Asian" and "Western" culture, and finally his daughter welcomed the Asian culture.
@ 5:25 PM
Motherhood

How is motherhood presented in any two or three stories in the collection?

The Martyrdom of Helena Rodrigues

Helena who is the mother of George, She may not be a perfect mother but she is willing to sacrifice to provide the best for George. When George was sixteen, he acquited his driving licence, and the keys of the family car. One day, when he took the car out all one afternoon, He forgotten that it was his mother's day to play bridge. Helena had been walking to the bus stop after he left for school each day, and slipping in before he came home, so that he will not be able to see her enduring those labour. When George when to dinner with his Uncle, Helena did not complain that she feels lonely so that George could enjoy his dinner and not worry about her.

Mid Autumn

The narrator is a very loving and dedicated mother. She stayed in her teaching job so that she could afford the best education for her daughter. She sent her to the best school in Singapore, and even paid money to sent her to Art, ballet, piano classes and chinese tuition although her husband was not willing to pay for the courses. Her daughter had qualifications to become a GP but she decided to be a missonary in Uganda. Much to her disappointment, every mid autumn festival she still continue to pray for her daughter's deliverance.
@ 7:54 AM
An Orbituary For Fifth Aunt Came Late

Story: An Orbituary For Fifth Aunt Came Late

Conflicts

Internal

-Mother and her children
The mother continuously bewailed her lot of nine children , thirteen is you counted the dead babies with endless chores and drudgery (pg 152)

External

- Mother & Husband
The tight-lipped husband who positioned himself at the dinner-table-the-bed-out-the-front-door , who even she stopped simpering to when he opened his mouth and said “tea” or “hungry already” , and it then fell upon her to break the code (pg 152)

-Aunt & Her Mother
When she was six years old, my aunt developed a bronchial cough that wouldn’t go away even after taking weeks of murky, dark brews. The concoctions were so foul-smelling (smelly) and bitter and no amount of sugar could make them palatable. Don’t waste our sugar , her mother said , your brothers need the sugar for their school sandwiches (pg 152)

Climax

Resolution

Characters

Fifth Aunt

.She is caring (She would put others before herself , she would fill everyone’s bowl before filling hers(pg 150))

.She is filial (She lived in her mother’s house,“ My aunt was in her fifties . She lived in my grandmother’s house” (pg 149))

Grandmother

.She is traditional (She is biased on the males, “Don’t waste our sugar …Your brothers need the sugar for their school sandwiches” (pg 152)

Narrator

.She is disrespectful (She did not treat her aunt they way she should be, “She was my aunt, but I didn’t make it a point to be her niece” (pg 149))

The most interesting part in this story was about the grandmother being biased and showed favoritisms to the males. I wonder if it is still happening until today. I do not know why only males are being loved by the people. Therefore this is the most interesting part in this story as after that it make me want to read more.
@ 7:39 AM
Release

Story: Release

Conflicts

External

-Eileen and the female neighbour
Eileen’s neighbour compared the dog to her which is a sign of disrespect to her (“The woman waved a hand. Her gold bracelet gleamed in the sun. “Yeah, yeah, you’re like our dog”…“Don’t give birth to as many as this dog’s going to have”” (pg 140,141))

-Eileen and her husband
Eileen forgotten to collect her husband’s suit from the dry-cleaners which got him vexed (““Honey, have you picked up my suit from the dry-cleaners?”…“No, I forgot,” she said…“It’s all right. I’ll just have to zip over to the cleaners before I come and get you. I thought that now you weren’t working, you could…forget it. If we’re late for dinner, you explain to them.”” (pg 140,141))

-Eileen and her neighbour

Eileen’s neighbor cut down her guava tree when she was in the supermarket (“In the first week, the new neighbours cut down the guava tree near the fence separating the two houses while Eileen was at the supermarket. She came back to a big, ugly hole in the garden…”Why did you do that? The tree wasn’t in your property, the branches were all within ours.”” (pg 141))

Climax

When Eileen called the SPCA and was bring rejected, she decided to do something about it, so she decided to wait until the person came to give them food, to solve the problem. (“And this was what the person on the line said –Sorry, we can’t help you…“What’ll I do now? I’m going crazy”…she would wait until the person came to give them food.” (pg 145,146))

Resolution

Open Ended
-The problem is only partially solved as Eileen got her Silence from the dog which she wanted, but she was being traumatized by what the man did. We do not what will happen to the man who killed the dogs, or what will the owners do the man who killed their dogs, or whether Eileen would report this incident to the police as animal abuse.

Characters

Eileen
.She is on good terms with others (“Eileen tied her hair into a ponytail and went over to say hi, just to be a friendly neighbor. She ws pregnant that she could hardly walk down the street without heaving like a dying dog, but she went anyway.” (pg 139))

.She is narrow-minded( “You don’t do gardening anyway. So what if they took a foot if the garden? Why make things so difficult?” (pg 143))

Philip
.He is Petty (“I told you yesterday and this morning…It’s all right. I’ll just have to zip over to the cleaners before I come and get you. I thought that now you weren’t working, you could…forget it. If we’re late for dinner, you explain to them” (pg 140,141)
The man who lived at the neightbour house .He is Understanding (“The dogs go really bother the baby, don’t they…Well, don’t you worry. I’ll take care of it” (pg 147))

.He is Violent (“ Thud. A dull sound. It came from the outside. She looked out the window, heard it again –thud. And there was silence. She saw the man emerge from the shadows, wiping the spanner” (pg 148))

The most interesting part in this story was the ending of the story when she saw the man emerge from the shadows, wiping the spanner. It made me curious whether he killed the dog and clean the spanner or he moved the dog to another location and clean his dirty spanner. That is why it is the most interesting part in this story.
@ 7:36 AM
Pastime

Story: Pastime

Conflicts Internal

-Mr. Lee & Tai Poh
Mr Lee was laughing on the inside as he thinks that he thinks that Tai Poh has failed in trying to fool him .
External

Climax

When Mr. Lee started on his own “story”
Resolution Nothing had changed as it is just a story, it was a hobby and pastime and nothing was real.

Characters

Tai Poh
.He is quiet (“ …he didn’t talk to the passengers or disturb them in any way” (pg 212))

.He is observant(“He watched and carefully considered, before he picked one to feature in his story” (pg 212))

Mr. Lee
.He is cautious(“He thought he could fool me but I was prepared” (pg 216))

The most interesting part in this story was about the shampoo girl. She thought that the defeated –looking man with white hair which was staring at her was disturbing and when he comes over to her seat, she wanted to run away but in the end he hands her a picture of her mother.
@ 7:33 AM
Lee

Story: Lee

Conflicts Internal

-Lee’s dad
.Felt awkward to be in the car with Lee (“…she listened, half-impatiently, without saying a word, and that merely increased his awkwardness” (pg 88))

.Does not like Lee to talk about Alan Piscopo (“He gripped the wheel, feeling a wholly unexpected jealousy irected at the faceless Piscopo, whom he visualized…” (pg 88))

External

Climax

Lee finally talked about her mother’s death which she related it to David Hockney prints (“ When I found Mom –in the pool- that’s what I thought. A David Hockney print come to life.” (pg 99))

Resolution

Complete resolution
Lee finally resent being a Asian or Chinese which makes Lee’s Dad satisfied. (“ I like being Asian. Or Chinese… “And they wrote you off in school, didn’t they?” she said. E shrugged. “Sure,” she said at last. “Maybe. But it’s still not easy.”…But he was satisfied.” (pg 105,106))

Characters
Lee
.She is healthy (“Oh yeah, I’m interested in health foods and stuff. Yogurt. Celery sticks. Do they sell that around here?” (pg 91))

.She is straight-forward (“You think I’m a bastard, don’t you, talking on about Alan…Hey –they didn’t f_k in front of me, if that’s what you mean” (pg 90))

Lee’s Dad
.He is weak at his studies (“Oh, I don’t know. I wasn’t very good at work. Scraped through A levels. I spent more time listening to the radio than studying” (pg 104))

The most interesting part in this story was when Lee’s Dad told her that he was a deejay and her response was “gross out, man” which I find that her response would be what I would say if my dad told me the same thing her dad did. Therefore it was the most interesting part in this story.
@ 7:26 AM
History OfTea

Story: Lee

Conflicts
Internal

External

-Grandmother and Uncle Raja
Grandmother was racism and bigotry about Uncle Raja who married her daughter(“And always, in Grandmother’s eyes, that black man who stole her most beautiful daughter” (pg 111))
Climax The climax began when Beverly mentioned that she was going around
Asia. It gave the author of the story something to think about his travels and
how he has never gotten a chance to explore Asia.

Resolution

Complete Resolution
-The conflicts are all resolved and when the narrator opened the lid to his tea, he saw in it all his relatives and his future.

Characters

Beverly
.She is high-class(“Hers in a pot, trimmed at the top and base in a blue and gold pattern –Japanese imitating Royal Doulton- with matching cup, saucer, tiny jug of milk, a plated spoon and tea strainer on its own base, all produced on a gleaming tray with roses and briars worked onto hangles” (pg 108))

.She is arrogant (“I studied nineteenth and twentieth century Chinese history, you know” (pg 111))

.She is ungrateful (“It’s just that you and your family, and all the other relatives have really spoilt me here in Singapore and Malaysia. You’re always feeding me, looking after me” (pg 112))
Grandmother .She is mean(“…a man eats the heart of a banana tree and at night becomes the evil oily man, committing atrocious crimes, black and slippery in the night…Uncle Raja was the oily man” (pg 112))

The most interesting part in this story was the starting of the story when the author and Beverly was served differently which I find it hard to understand if both were served tea at the same place, should they be given the same kind of treatment they paid equally for.
@ 6:46 AM
Evening Under Frangipani

Story: Evening Under Frangipani

Conflicts

Internal

Prakash

-Prakash felt very scared and streesed if he was going to perform well in the interview.("tried to apperar intentive"(pg47))

External

Prakash and Elaine
-Argued about women's rights. Elaine states that women are worth more than just a housewife.("...marriage as got nothing to do with the fufilment of woman as woman..isn't it better to develop out full potential as human being"(pg 49))

-They fought with each other over her father's hand which Prakash said it looks like beetles.("...Don't get angry.It's your father.His hands.They're like beetles...And so are mine.Is that right?..."(pg 62))

Climax

When Prakash and Elaine broke up.

Resolution

Open ended

Characters

Prakash

.He is nervy (During his job interview,"...his armpits were circled in sweat:his confident starched white shirt betrayed by his body's sweat glands"(pg 47))

.He is a good worker (He is an officer in the army,(pg 48,49))

.He is conscience (He knows the suffering of the boys in Pakistan,"the long hours of concentration weaving the intricate patterns on princely carpets that dulled the minds and eyes of young boys in Pakistan; or the hours of toil in the stifling darkness of coal pits and blinding brilliance of iron boundaries in north-east China that were contained in the bargain kitchenware -bought and sold in five minutes of ritual haggling"(pg 50))

Elaine

.She is feminist/feminism (She fight for women's rights,"...marriage has got nothing to do with the fufilment of woman as woman"(pg 49))

.She is private (Her home was in a private and quiet area,"their home was in a cul-de-sac lined with frangipani trees: their fragrance sweet and cloying when in full blossom:at other times their secent was more delicately spiced"(pg 53,54))

.She is conscience(She knows the suffering of the boys in Pakistan(pg 50))

.She does not like show off (She find people who show off as people who are stupid and people who wants attention,"...jostling with teenagers on parade,bright smart clothes on their fresh young bodies but the sharp scent of glue in their decaying minds"(pg 53))

.She is caring (She wants to cheer Prakash,"She had saved it to cheer him up if he was depressed by an aggressive unsympathetic interview and to add to his happiness if the interview had gone more successfully"(pg 53))

Elaine's Father

.He is passionate (He loves insects,"...he had grown to resemble the loves of his life; and with centipede eyebrows and grasshopper noses playing through his mind"(pg 60,61))

Elaine's Mother

.She is judgemental (She considered Prakash slow and stupid, and imagined him as physically aggressive, worrying that he would bully Elaine out of her depth(pg 83))

.She is unfriendly (the mother is sarcastic and unfriendly(pg 58))

The most interesting part in this story was when Elaine and Prakash broke up, Prakash said that her father's hand looks like beetles which I find it amusing, "Don't get angry.It;s your father. His hands. They're like beetles." Which is on page 62. I did not know that hands can look like beetles which could cause their relationship to end, therefore make this the most interesting part in this story.