Pearlyn's literature!!

Island Voices

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posted by PeArLyN @ 3:32 AM 0 Comments

Off Centre

Unravelling Off Centre , pg 91 :

Questions:

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

In my opinion, Vinod's relationship with his parents might have played a part in Vinod's inevitable end but is not the main key to it.Vinod's parents are of high status and rarely sees him, causing him to be lonely and maybe even depressed.Other things which might have led to Vinod's inevitable end could be the fact that Saloma was becoming normal, making it feel as if she was leaving him behind.He wants to care for Saloma, give her love, give her good advice and to give her security as well.However, if Saloma recovers, it will be Saloma looking after Vinod and not the other way around.If so, it might cause Viond to be depressed and lead to his inevitable end.Another reason could be Vinod not taking his medication as he does not want his hands to shake and be thought of as weird be people.However,by not taking his medication, he will not recover and instead, get worse than he is now. Thus, leading to his inevitableend.Therefore,Vinod's relationship with his parents might have played a part in Vinod's inevitable end but is not the main key to it.

2 quotes from the book are :

"my parents are hoping I'll get well tomorrow and then go abroad to study the next day, graduate on Friday, do my Masters on Saturday and start work as Deputy Public Prosecutor
on Monday.They're very concerned, so I can rest on Sunday."
(Act 1, Scene III, pg 27)

"So, no need to take medicine all the time.If not my hands will tremble.Then nobody will talk
to me."
(Act 1, Scene III, pg 23)

2. 'Vinod's high expectations of himself caused his downfall.' To what extent do you agree with this analysis of Vinod's predicament and tragedy?

I agree with this analysis of vinod's predicament and tragedy to only a small extent.When talking to Mr Chow, Vinod's intelligence and wit exacerbates instead of helping him to reintegrate.His lucid mind leads him to question Mr Chow's practices and eventually causes him to lose his job.However,it is also his keen awareness of the effect of medication that stops him from taking the medication and ultimately leads to his suicide.When the robber taunted Vinod of his cowardice, Vinod went berserk and screamed.It could have caused his downfall too as he felt that he could not protect Saloma and fell deeper into depression. Therefore, I agree with this analysis of Vinod's predicament and tragedy to only a small extent.

2 quotes from the book are :

"You need a voice.A voice."
(Act 2, Scene IV, pg 78)

"Vinod lets out a piercing scream."
(Act 3, Scene III, pg 96)

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

Saloma's transformation in the play first started when she met Emily at the half way house.Even though she starts out using the mantra Emily taught tentatively, she does turn out to be the stronger character between her and Vinod. For instance, although Vinod is the better educated one between the two, Saloma is the one who is set on writing to the newspaper to address the discrimination against mental patients. Her transformation continues when Vinod shuts himself in his room, making her desperate without him.What becomes the turning point for her, pushing her out to face the real world, is the bird in her room.Whether this is real or a figment of her imagination is not the point. Whether real or a metaphor for herself, the bird's predicament helps her to react and do something about herself.It is not known if the bird falls to its death or that it manages to fly to safety, but Saloma's anger at the bird endangering its own life by leaving its cage prompts her hunger to go out, even if its without Vinod. Mak might even be a reason for Saloma's transformation and survival. She is constantly reminding Saloma of her need to turn to god, an idea which Saloma accepts and even repeats to Vinod. Another plausible reason for Saloma's transformation is her use of medicine.Perhaps this provides some form of mental respite for Saloma in contrast to Vinod's unsettled mental state because he refuses medication. Thus, the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.

2 quotes from the book are :

"No.You are strong.Say it.I am strong.Nothing can destroy me."
(Act 2, Scene II, pg 58)

"Saloma, let me tell you, anytime ah, anytime at all you think someone is saying bad things
about you, be strong. Tell yourself,"Huh!!They are jealous because I am special."Can you say that?Just try..."
(Act 2, Scene II, pg 55)

4. "Though a minor role in the paly, the character of Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre." To what extent do you agree with this assessment?

I agree with this assessment to only a small extent. Razali works as the security guard at the void deck and is also known as Bapak and is an almost surreal character.He starts to build a relationship with Vinod and Saloma, primarily because the void deck where the two of them meet is also Razali's place of work.He appeals to Saloma because of his fatherly demeanour when he addresses her fondly as 'anak' and refers to himself as 'Bapak'.Such terminology is often used in malay culture to denot respect as well as affection despite there being no blood relation.However Saloma's affection seems to run deeper almost as though he is indeed her father.His action in buying her curry puffs is by a surreal twist exactly what her deceased father promised her in her dream and connects Razali and her real father.For Vinod, Razali is even more.He is their guardian as well as their 'father'.However Razili himself is actually just doing his job as a security guard.His role is made bigger through no fault of his.He never claims to be either 'father' or guardian to either of them.Indeed when Vinod accuses him of not being there during the robbery, his answer is an almost pleading and honest protest and defence of his role.Therefore, I agree with this assessment to only a small extent.

2 quotes from the book are :

"You are the guardian!"
(Act 5, Scene I, pg 113)

"We are your children.You're not our father?"
(Act 5, Scene I, pg 113)

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

Vinod's presumptuous air of superiority pushes him to reject Saloma when she became stronger than him.Instead of bein 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. Instead of applauding her effort, he reminds her acidly that she was the one who rekected the world in the first place, and rells her point-blank that she cannot live like other people because she is not normal to begin with.When Saloma tries to reason that people like her and Vinod can because of God's help, Vinod tells her that there is no such thing as God or heaven; people turn into worse than nothing because there is no afterlife.Vinod is so angry because he cannot believe in God. He no longer has faith and he abhors the fact that Saloma's faith is making her strong. He is so frustrated that he is angry with her, together with the rest of the world he hates.He admits to Saloma that he does not want her to become better, and actually feels happy having it said.Even when Saloma continues to extend her hand of friendship, offering help in job-hunting because Vinod has been dismissed wrom work, Vinod just does not want to care.He is fatalistic and resigns to the fact that he will never fit in society.His hurt from society has channelled his efforts into rejecting society.Now that Saloma is embracing the society, he feels immense disappointment and channels his efforts towards rejecting her as well.After the robbery, Vinod had insulted her and abused her by pulling her hair, hitting her and causing her to cry.Thus, showing how Vinod exerted control in his environment and his life.For Saloma, she exerted control in her environment and her life by taking her medication and finding a job, even though her mother, MAK, had said no to both of what she was doing and what she wanted to do.Therefore, showing how the major characters in the play exerted control in their environmend and/or their lives.

2 quotes from the book are :

"Then why you want to control me?"
(Act 5, Scene II, pg 129)

"I want to work.Then I can give money to you."
(Act 5, Scene II, pg 125)

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

Based on the text Off Centre, peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.For peer acceptance, it is needed for people to believe in themself and be brave.It is espically important for people with mental problems.Without peer acceptance, they may feel rejected from society and be stress.If they get too stressed, instead of getting better, they might fall deeper into their illness, such as depression or schizophrenia.For people without any mental illness, they need peer acceptance to feel reassured and to be encouraged to do better in things such as exams and presentations.Family support is also very important as children might need reassurance from parents.They will also need the support and guidance from their family so that they won't stray off the path and so things such as stealing and lying.If they were to be thrown to jail in the future, they might be stressed, leading to mental illnesses and affecting their mental well-being as well.Therefore, peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.

2 quotes from the book are :

"I want to work.Then I can give money to you."
(Act 5, Scene II, pg 125)

"Vinod, they love you.They want you to study because you are smart."
(Act 5, Scene IV, pg 134)

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posted by PeArLyN @ 9:49 PM 0 Comments

Literature notes , pg 24

1. " However, China had nothing to say to my spirit, if indeed land speaks to spirit. My spirit was an 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 truely belonged, among skyscrapers with glass fronts 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?

I think the reference to Singapore as a " diamond city " is apt.
It is trying to say that Singapore is filled with expensive things and that Singapore is a relatively modern country. It can be proven from the above reference. Quote from the the above is " skyscrapers with glass fronts and gold-encrusted orchids.". It is evidence for my answer as skyscrapers with glass fronts and glod-encrusted orchids are really expensive and not many people in Singapore is even able to afford them other than the Singapore government. But it does not mean that not a single person can't afford it at all. Therefore, I think that the reference to Singapore as a " diamond city " is apt.

Firstly, I feel that Singapore is like a bee as it is small in size. However, Singapore may be small but it provides with useful products from factories like new inventions that may be useful in our daily lives, just like how bees provides us with their honeys.They are also hardworking and are loyal to the Singapore's government, just like how the bees are loyal to the queen bee.

Secondly, I feel that Singapore is like a ball. Whenever Singapore comes face to face with a problem, it will be as if the ball is falling down. However, the ball will bounce back up even higher and stronger, meaning to say that Singapore will overcome the problem and find a way to make things better than before.

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 such relish."

Why do you think her uncle behaves in this manner? Do you feel sory for him or do you regard him with distaste, as his niece does?

I think that her uncle behaved in that manner as he wanted to act like a high class person who would not drink from a dirty glass even though he was not of high class statue. I do not feel sorry for him but regard him with distaste, as his niece does.

3. "I returned to Singapore alienated from the China I saw, but no less egar to listen to my father's stories of the most beautiful of beautiful lands."

Do you find this a contradiction? Why or why not?

I do not find this a contradiction. The China which the author had alienated from was the present China. However, the China which her father tells story about was the China in the past and from his memories. They are not exactly the same China which the author had heard about and seen with her own eyes. Therefore, it is not a contradiction.

4. "A country is only as good as its men. My father is a good man....whichever country can claim 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 answers. Which country, do you think, should claim him for its own?

I think the narrator meant by the first statement that for a country to be as good as it is, its citizens first have to be as good as they want their country to be.
I agree to a large extent that her father is a good man.
Reasons are that although he was living in Singapore, he still thought of his brother in China and even sent money to him. He had not returned to China in the past in interest of his family eventhough he wanted to as he felt ashamed ashame that his younger brother would serve family interests far better than he could, and resolved not to displace such a duitful son by returning himself.

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posted by PeArLyN @ 8:47 PM 0 Comments

Comments on 3 other blogs

Denise:
Her post with the title ' LITERATURE =] ' has in dept discreption about the chinese and their believes and how the authors uses them in their story. She says that the authors uses them for more profound purposes  which could be true and she even gives a reason as to why she thinks so. Thus, showing that she is actually thinking in the author's perspective on how they us it in their story. Therefore, the post is useful to read.

Pei Shuan:
Her post on weather the authors uses the traditional chinese rituals for irony or profound purposes are very easy to understand eventhough it is relatively long. She provides lots of quotes as evidence to prove what she thinks of the question and her answer from 2 different stories just to answer one question which shows that she really thinks about how the authors uses the rituals in their story before posting them in her blog. The quotes shows that her answer to the question is that they use them for irony purposes. The quotes provided are very helpful and other people can all use the quotes in their exams. Thus, she did a really good job in her posts.

Xuan Jie:
His answers for questions are short but they do answer the questions. However, he does not provide any evidence in his answer which shows that he might not know much about the stories and thus, answering questions with only a few sentences. On the other hand, the quotes which he provides are easy to memorize which will be of great help to others who might not find evidence easily in stories to back up their answers. Therefore, he should try to improve on how he answers the questions with more evidences.

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posted by PeArLyN @ 8:46 PM 0 Comments

Island Voices Notes

Island Voices

Questions: 1, 2, 3 & 4 (pg 13 & 14 on notes)

1. Do the respective authors use these traditional Chinese rituals ( eating paper dissolved in drink, burning of paper money and houses, lighting joss-sticks and praying to dead ancestors ) just for irony or for more profound purposes? What are these purposes?

I think that the respective authors used those traditional Chinese rituals for more profound purposes. The authors could be trying to present the tradition of Chinese people to people of other races to show that even after out ancestors pass away, we still pay our respects to them by doing things such as burning paper money and houses and lighting joss-sticks to pray to them. They are also trying to show to others that Chinese believe that by eating paper dissolved in drinks, it will help to improve our health.

2. Would you yourself, as a modern young Singaporean, see the relevance of such cultural rituals in your society as necessary still, or are a hindrance to progress and enlightened thinking?

Being a modern young Singaporean, I do find such cultural rituals a little bit of a hindrance as we may have to wake up earlier just to carry out the rituals but I do believe that it is necessary as it is our tradition which we have to pass on down to the future generations so as to keep the cultural ritual alive and it also helps to comfort the older generations as some rituals could be for protection for the ones that they love.

3. Do you think the elderly in Singapore are out of touch with the contemporary world? How far is it a virtue to remain contented like old Mrs Li and think that there is nothing more that a person, especially an elderly one, can want?

I think that a minority of elderly in Singapore are out of touch with the contemporary world but a majority of them in touch with the contemporary world. Everyday, we can see a number of elderly using things like handphones which proves that they are in touch with the contemporary world unlike those that do not own and handphones at all. It is not far a virtue to remain contented like old Mrs Li and think that there is nothing more that a person can want as anyone can achieve that just by not being too vain as to always want to buy new things like clothes even though they already have a lot in their closet.

4. Is looking back at the past necessarily a good thing? This particular story uses the past to affirm strong ties, emotion and sentiment, but when can it become a negative habit?

Looking back at the past is not necessarily a good thing but it is also not necessarily a bad thing. Looking back at the past allows us to remember happy moments that we have been through before and will make our day wonderful but it also reminds us of our sadness from before which may cause us to become emotional and may even start crying and that is when it can become a negative habit.

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posted by PeArLyN @ 5:43 AM 1 Comments

Comments on people's contents of their blogs

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

Juvena : http://lit-44-2010-juvena.blogspot.com/

Her contents in the blog all linked perfectly to the questions given and is relatively easy to understand what she is talking about in her posts.They are all short and sweet which everyone would not mind reading as all the points are stright forward and they all makes sense.

Kerene: http://lit-44-2010-kerene.blogspot.com/

Her posts are long as they are filled with answers to the questions with great details. One example is the story Lee in question 4. She shows the difference between the younger generation and the older generation and also gives many examples and evidence to support whatever she says.

Edmund: http://lit-44-2010-edmund.blogspot.com/

Points are all relavant to the stories and he also gives specific evidences from the stories that helps to answer the questions.He carefully explains the points that he states which makes it even more easier for us to understand what he means when he writes certain points to answer the questions.

Shu Min: http://lit-44-2010-claudia.blogspot.com/

Points weather short or long are all easily understood as they are all done neatly and makes alot of sense unlike other blogs which makes no sense at all. Points given includes detailed evidence and examples from the stories like Tanjong Ruh in the first post on 24 Jan.

Brennan: http://lit-44-2010-brennan.blogspot.com/

Points stated are all understandable whichever way you see it. They are all supported with evidence which are relavant to the points which makes it even more understandable. Points are done neatly and in an orderly maner due to the tables used to indicate points which links to people or situations.

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posted by PeArLyN @ 6:07 PM 0 Comments

stories revealing the thinking of an older generation...

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

1st story : Mid- Autumn

In the story Mid-Autumn, the author, who is the mother, is known as the older generation in the story and so is her husband. When her daughter was still a child, she worked hard to earn money to pay for her daughter's education as she wanted her daughter to be able to study at any university that she wanted.After her daughter graduated from medical school, she was very happy as her daughter could accomplish what she could not do which was to become a doctor and earn lots of money and find a good husband. Both she and her husband expected her to be a doctor and earn money but when she told them that she did not want to be a doctor but to be a missionary in Uganda instead, her husband scolded their child and said that she was ungrateful as she did not want to look after him but look after niggers instead, even though he did not do anything for her when she was a child. It goes to show that older generation of singaporeans in the story Mid-Autumn plan for their child's future without asking or even telling them in the first place and expects them to do what they want them to do. Thus, showing that they are expecting alot from the younger generation of singaporeans. I have gained new insights that the thinking of older generations and teenagers are very different as us younger generation as they expect alot from us while we only want to do waht ever pleases us.

2nd story : Evening Under Frangipani

In the story, Evening Under Frangipani, the mother is known as the older generation in the story. The mother does not like the relationship betwen Elaine and Prakash just because Prakash is of a different class from her and the mother is of higher class. Its means that she wants her daughter to marry someone who is of their same class or higher and not someone who is as low class as Prakash. This shows the thinking the mother has as an older generation of Singaporeans. This also reveals the mindset of older generation of Singaporeans in Singapore. I've gained an insight that singaporeans from older generation, example our parents, have a different set of thinking from teengaers as they still have the mindset of older generation.

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posted by PeArLyN @ 5:13 PM 3 Comments