Island Voices

Paper

• "You're a show-off, what's so grad about marble flooring and a swimming-pool?"(pg3)
• "I think she diliberately led me astray with her advice!"(pg6)

The Martyrdom of Helena Rodrigues

• "Georgie is such a good boy."(pg17)
• "I shall stay here with my mother."(pg18)

Sundowner

• "There's no need to keep calling me 'tuan', Aman.(pg21)
• "No doctor, tuan, but the bidan says Tijah is all right."(pg23)

Tanjong Rhu

• "The one at Tanjong Rhu. Don't you remember?"(pg32)
• The key to the altar, it's in a special palce."(pg43)

Eving Under Frangipani

• "In fact, you know, the fork originated from the Middle East and India. It was only introduced to Europe by the Venetians."(pg59)
• "I am so glad you've converted to Christianity. It would be such pity if Elaine couldn't have beef."(pg59)

Lee

• "Well you have to remember this is an Asian society."(pg88)
• "We didn't do anything. It was just for fun. What d'you want, an affidavit?"(pg103)

A History of Tea

• "You're always feeding me, looking after me."(pg 112)
• "A storm in the teacup."(pg119)

A Dream of China

• "After fifty years in Singapore, "home" for him was still Szechuan."(pg124)
• "Can you get me out of China?"(pg 137)

Release

• "You mean you didn't check to see if the blueprint was real?"(pg 143)
• "I'm going mad. I don't get enough sleep enough sleep. I haven't slept in days."(pg 145)

An Obituart for Fifth Aunt Come Late

• "She was my aunt but I didn't make it a point to be her niece."(pg 148)
• "We don't have a photograph of her."(pg 161)

Corridor

• "Who say I'm not happy?"(pg 164)
• "We are so scared leaving you alone at home, Mak."(pg165)

Mid Autumn

• " Mummy, Mummy, buy me that plastic Mickey Mouse lantern. It got battery light bulb. Wind no problem."(pg 177)
• "Idiots! Tell you to always keep it with you but you never listen."(pg179)

Hamid and the Hand of Fate

• "He always made sure he had enough in his wallet to satisfy her, going to the bank almost every week now."(pg201)
• The last time they met, she was distracted, in one of her mood."(pg202)

The Move

• "Perhaps I should take the pomegranate tree with me, she reflected. There is still time."(pg204)
• "she snapped off a branch of the pomegranate tree, wrapped some moist tissue around its base."(pg210)

Pastime

• "What kind of pastime do you have?"(pg216)
• What I told you is just a story."(pg220)

5 quotes from Off Centre

1. They are jealous... because I am special (Act 2, Scene 2, pg 55.)

2. I am strong. Nothing can...destroy me. (Act 2, Scene 2, pg 58)

3.Bapak beli epok-epok. go back eat. (Act 2, Scene 3, pg 70)

4. Eh, your boyfriend no balls ah? (Act 3, Scene 3, pg 96)

5. I must help him. Bapak... help him (Act 5, Scene 1, pg 113)

6 questions from Unravelling Off Centre

Q1. In your opinion, how key is the parent-child relatonship to Vinod's inevitable end?

It is very important to have a parent-child relationship especially when the child is sick. The child needs support from parents.
Vinod do not has a close relationship with his parents beacuase his parents ignored that he is mentally ill. They assumed that Vinod is trying to test their patience so that he do not need to go to university. This show that Vinod's parent only care for only interest and not Vinod. They want Vinod to achieve good result and have a good job, to be a lawyer. They think that Vinod can survive without the support from them but they are wrong. Vinod needs them to reassure him and love him. This show that one of the key that led to Vinod's inevitable end because his parent did not show care and concern when he needed it.
Vinod thinks that his parents think of themselves only and not at Vinod's needs of them in his life. The evidence is" after telling Saloma the truth about his parents, vinod became angry and off centre and he even tell Saloma that he is angry with his parent and not with the psychiatrists in Woodbridge. This show that Vinod do not trust people easily. He think that his parents are not there with him when he is in woodbridge because of their high status. Vinod's mother is chairperson of a corporation and his father is a judge. They do not want people to know that they have a mentally ill child as they work with people who are of high standard. This show that his parent rather think of their embarrassment than Vinod their own child who needs them when he is sick. Therefore this shows that Vinod do not have anyone else when he is in woodbridge as his parents is not there for him.
Vinod and his parents have different character. Vinods is the types who want physical contact when showing love like hug, however not his parents. Vinods think that his parents are cold that they do not want to show that they love him. Vinod do not experience physical contact from his parents that make him feels that he is alone and he had no one else. His parents do not care for him. Therefore when his parents do not care for him, he committed suicide at the end of the play.

Q2. ''Vinod's high expectation of himself caused his downfall'' To what extent do you agree with the analysis of Vinod's predicement and tragedy?
I agree to large extent with the analyis of Vinod's predicement and tragedy. Vinod do not received love from his parents, tranformation from Saloma and loss faith in God
Vinod's parents are not with Vinod when they are the one that supossed to be with him .whenever he needs them. His parent ignored his exitence. His parents ignored his exitence because Vinod's ignored them when they want to sent him for overseas studies. Since them his parents ignored him. They think that it will be the best for him but they are wrong because they are not thinking of Vinod. They think that Vinod is trying to get away from studying. Vinod do not has the love from parents which makes him think that his parents do not show care and concern.
Saloma's transformation at the end of the play also caused his downfall. In the beginningof the play, Saloma is a shy girl who is scared to talk to the audience and scared of Vinod at first. Vinod do not expect that Saloma can find her centre back while he become more off centre. He thinks that off centre people cannot find his or her centre because they will be look down by the mojority.
The other resons that led him to his downfall is he loss faith in God. He finds that God is playing trick on people instead of helping them whenever they seek help from Him. He say that whenever he asked help from God, He will give hime rain. That is the reason why he gave up on God and thinks taht God do not exist. Instead, he turned his faith to music. Before he die, he listen to music thinking that the music will help him.
Q3. Discuss the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.
Saloma changes a lot, from a shy girl to one that survive from her mental illness. She started changing when she was able to reasons out with her mother in act 5 scene 2.
one of the reasons that change her was when she met Emily at the halfway house. Emily gave her mantra" I am strong, nothing can destroy me. She uses the mantra seriously which makes her thinks that the mantra is really powerful. By using this mantra, she turn out to be stronger than Vinod at the end of the play.
the other resons is that Vinod withdrew himself from the reality whicj makes Saloma to face the reality by herself for the first time. As for this while, Saloma can face the world because Vinod is there for her. When Vinod do not want to meet her, her has to stand on her own.
The other reasons is Saloma eats medicine. She believe that medicine can cure her from her mental illness. Even though her mother do not allow her to eat medicine but she still eat because of Emily that asked her to eat and not throw away. These are the reasons for Saloma's tranformation at the end of the play

Q4. ''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 assessment.
I do not agree with this assessment because Razali appeared in middle of the play and not at the beginning of the play. It is because Saloma and Vinod are mentally ill form the start of the play. However, Razali can be to a certain extent that he is to the key to the plot of off centre. it is because Vinod really believe him as he called him 'bapak'. He do not has a father figure in his world, believe that Razali is somehow is father. Razali may be a minor charater in the play but he plays a big impact on Vinod and Saloma because both of them do not a father figure and they want him to be their 'father'. This shows that Razali plays a role in Saloma and Vinod's life.

Q5. ''Datta, Dayadhvam, Damyata'' mean to Give, Sympathise, Control.'' How did the major character in the play exert control in their environment and or their live? Support your answer
The major characters like Vinod exert control by his intelligence because of his literature. His friends in the university uses or photocopied his literature essay as a modal answer. However, it is does not show his control that much because there are other people who can do that. It happened only after he met Saloma. He can show off his 'control' over Saloma because Saloma is not highly educated. Her highest education that she had attended is VITB while Vinod has been to university. Vinod thinks that he can show off his intelligent to someone that is lower of him. Vinod thinks highly of himself when he can do that.

Q6. There are there different reaction to the minority/off centre in the play: fear, pity and acceptance. Contrast the three and explain the answer.
The minority fears of the majority because they look own on them because the minority cannot look after themselves. Example when Vinod is working with Mr Chow, the other employee do not dare to ask Mr Chow for salary. Like Ah Seng, he was insecure and lack of confidence to speak wit Mr Chow. The mentally ill employee cannot resign because they know that there will be no one who wants to hire them. Only Mr Chow who wants to employ them because of certain reasons. Saloma who was also fear of the majority at first. She asked Vinod why the audience is staring at her. The other example is when Vinod ask Saloma to eat restaurant. She also ask Vinod why the waiter is staring at her.
The minority feels pity because there are not a lot of people who understand them. Example Saloma's mother, she does not understand Saloma. She cannot accept that her own child is mentally ill while Saloma herself can accept that herself is mentally ill. They feels pity because they do not get what they want. The majority thinks that the minority does not hve these kind of feeling.
The minority feels the acceptance from the majority is little. The majority cannot accept their existance. Example Mr Chow who accept ex-patient because he want the comunity to know that he is doing a good deed.

literature discussion 3

Q1. 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 of profound purposes? What are these purposes?

I think the respective authors use these traditional Chinese rituals for profound purposes. The authors in both stories are trying to tell and show other people that these are Chinese traditions. The Chinese believe that by eating paper dissolved in drink protection and improve on their health. Even after their ancestors passwd away, they will burn paper money so that the dead will have money to bribe the guard of hell so that they will not suffer there and burn paper house so that the decease will have a house to stay in the other world.

Q2. Would you yourself , as a modern young Singaporean, see the relevance of such cultural rituals in your society as necessary still are hindrance to the progress and enlightened?

Being a modern young Singaporean, I think such cultural rituals are still necessary because the to every such race or religion, such rituals are very imporatant as we need to pass down to the future generation so that the cultural rituals will not vanished just like that. The older generation will always tell the younger generation not to forget the cultural rituals.

Q3. 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 a person especially an elderly one.

I think the elderly in Singapore are out touch with the contemporary world because they do keep in touch with the technology. But not all of the elderly are totally out of the contemporary world as nowadays, some of the elderly are also using mobile phone and other things if they are willing to learn how to use it. Mrs li thinks that she can just forget about the contemporary world and just stay with the past.

Q4. 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 habits?

Looking back is not a bad or a good thing to do. People learn from the past so that in the future they will not make the same mistake. Looking back also sometime give people to remember back happiness moment of their live. In the story Tanjong Rhu, Mrs Li really remember the past clearly. She dooes not want to let go of the past because she believe that her son forget had forgotten his past. It can become a negative habits when a person live with his/her past and does not want to move on. It will den become a negative habits.

literature discussion 2

Q1: Choose two stories that reveal the thinking of an older generation of Singaporean. What new insight have you gained from such a revelation

Story: Evening under Frangipani
In the story, Evening under Frangipani, Elaine's mother is very particular about Elaine's relationship with Prakash. Since Prakash comes from different class from Elaine, her mother does not knowledge their relationship. This day, it rather rare to still to find parents who have the mindset as Elaine's mother. This proves to the fact that the generation thinks differntly than teenagers. With this, it is likely that both mother and daughter arguments. Evidence can be found at page 58 and 59. It conclude that older generation have a different mindset. From this revalation, I've realized that older generation who are our parents, thinks differently from us, teenagers. They will still thinking from olden days.

Story: The Move.
in this story, Madam teo do not wish to move house because the house have memorable memories about her famliy and her a husband. but her son, tommy wants to throw the thing that he thinks that is useless or unwanted. this shows that the older generation really treasure the things but the younger generation do not. when they want they will keep but when they do not want they will throw away. the older generation prefer sons to daughters because sons carry the family name. from this revalation, I've realized that the older generation are sentimental

literature discussion

Q1: How is motherhood presented in any two stories in the collection?

Story : Mid-Autumn

In the story Mid-Autumn, motherhood is presented when the mother bought lantern for her daughter. Evidence found in page 177 of the book. This goes to show that the mother really cared for her daughter as the daughter really wanted a Mickey Mouse lantern instead of the candle lantern which she initially wanted to buy for her daughter. It also concludes that there is motherhood in the begginning of the story. Another example of motherhood would be the mother paying for all her daughter's education which includes, tuition, ballet, art and piano fees. Evidence can be found in page 180. This adds to the fact that the mother loves her daughter and wants her to do well in the future. In all, motherhood is presented in a way that the mother really wants whats best for her daughter.

Story : Paper

In Paper, mother asked Tay Soon and his wife not to play with stocks, they did not heed the advice. The evidence found in page 3 of the book. This shows that mothers really knows what's best for their childrens. They regretted not listening to the mother only when the stocks start to crash. This concludes that even though Tay Soon was rude to his mother, his mother still bothered to advice him. Another situation happened at the end of the story when Tay Soon passed away. Despite being treated badly, Tay Soon's mother still bought him his 'dream house'. She paid for all the funeral expenses. Evidence found in page 9 of the book. Conclusion is, mothers still wants what's best for their child even if they were treated badly. This proves that motherhood is presented in the stories.

Q2:Select two stories in which there is conflict between parent and child and show how far there is some resolution of these differences at the end of the story.

Story: Lee

In the story Lee, both internal and external conflicts were shown. Internal conflict happened when Li Wen's dad picked her up from the airport. When they were in the car, her father was thinking so bad of what to say to Lee. Evidence found in page 87 of the book. This proves that there is conflict in the story Lee. Besides that, external conflict is also shown when Lee's dad found her in his bedroom with a guy. They were in bad terms for two weeks. Evidence found in page 103. There was a resolution to the this story is a complete resolution.

Story: Corridor

In this story,external conflict is shown. The daughter thought that her mother is not happy at home so her daugher bring her for a holiday in Jakarta. In the hotel, a conflict occur. The daughter ask her mother try to be happy because she had spent a lot for the trip but her mother said that is happy even through she do not want to follow them to go shopping. The evidence found in page 164 -165. This show that a simple conversation can even lead to a conflict. The resolution of this story is open ended.

Q3: With reference to a suitable stories, discuss how far change is shown to be either welcomed or feared.

Story: The Move

In this story, Madam Teo is a sentimental person. She cannot let go of her past. She insisted of bringing her things along. Her son advised her that she cannot bring all her things espeacially the pomegranate palnt because the plant is huge. She wants to bring it along the palnt have been with her for long time since her granddaughter , Melissa and Florence were born. Her son, Tommy said that the new place do not have big corridor like their old house.The evidence found in page 204. In the end, she only snapped off a branch off the plant and put in a moist tissue hoping that one day that there will be a sapling of the promegranate plant.The evidence found in page 210. She took a branch of the plant so that the memories will not go away even through the origanal plant is not with her. The change of this story is that at last Madam Teo can accept the fact that she has to move on to the future and do not need to stay with the past.

Q4: How are young people and their ideals presented in two stories in the collection? How far do you identify with these young people?

Story: Mid Autumn

In this story, the daughter thinks that after she become a general practitioner, she can forget about her parents. She wants things to go on her own way. She wants to go to Uganda to be the general practitioner.

Story: Release

Conflicts
External conflicts

• Eileen and neighbour ( Eileen feels frustrated when her neighbour cut down her guava tree down, pg 141)
• Eileen and her neighbour’s dog( her neighbour’s dog keep barking at night that make her feel frustrated, pg 143)
• Eileen and her husband (she angry with him because he does not bother with the neighbour who Eileen thinks that they are making trouble, pg 143)


Internal conflict

• Eileen with herself (she cannot tolerate with her neighbour’s dogs. She decided to call the SPCA, pg 144)


Climax Eileen cannot tolerate her neighbour’s dog that keep barking the whole day and called up the SPCA but the SPCA say that they cannot do anything because the dog is not being abuse. (pg144)

Resolution Ironic resolution
I thought the problem will be solved but the man makes noises because of the thudding of the spanner.




Characters

Eileen
• She is friendly( approached her neighbour to say ‘hi’, pg 139)
• She is unreasonable(she is angry with her husband because her husband keeps speaking up for other people, pg 143)

Eileen’s husband, Philip
• He is sarcastic ( he tells his wife not to forget to take his suit from the laundry the moment she put down the phone with a sarcastic tone, pg 141)
• He is nonchalant( he does not care with his wife complaining about their neighbour, pg143)
• He is workaholic( he bring his work at home to prepare his director’s meeting, pg 143)
Neighbour
• She is rude( the way she ask her worker about Eileen when she saw her walking toward her, pg 139)


The most interesting segment is when Eileen saw a man in her neighbour’s house. She asked him nicely to move the kennel the other corner. The man agreed to move the kennel to the other corner without hesitation. It means that the problem is solved Only that he asked for tools from Eileen to starts his work.