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.