Essay Questions for Practice

Q1. In your opinion, how key is the parent-child relationship to Vinod's inevitable end?
In my opinion, Vinod's parents are too engrossed with their career and disagrees to the fact that their son, Vinod, is mentally ill. Vinod's parent however does not even care about him. This causes their parent-child relationship to be affected. Vinod felt that his parents don't love him anymore and thus he feels left out. This also causes Vinod to be depressed and caused him to get even mentally ill-ed. In this case, i believe that with parent's support in life, things are able to change for the better. In fact, it can even cure Vinod. Sadly however, in this case, Vinod's parents doesn't even pay any attention to Vinod. They even believe that Vinod is a normal child and wants him to live normally like how normal people live, work, educate themselves. Therefore, this does affects the parent-child relationship which causes Vinod's inevitable end.



Q2. '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 this analysis of Vinod's predicament and tragedy to a large extent. Vinod does have high expectations of himself. One of the example would be not wanting Saloma to be a normal person. Whenever Saloma decides to do something a normal person would do, Vinod will always disagree towards it and will always think negative. For example, Vinod would usually say, " We can never be normal Saloma ". In this case, Vinod would soon be frustrated towards Saloma and therefore, causes a certain argument. In other words, this argument causes Vinod to be frustrated with Saloma therefore caused his downfall. As Vinod is well educated, he thinks that the pills do not cure them from their mental illness. Instead, he thinks that the pills make them worse because when he takes the pills, he starts to shiver. As a result of not taking the pills, his mental illness worsen in time and this is what led to his death. This shows how Vinod's high expectations of himself caused his downfall.



Q3. Discuss the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.
At the starting of the play, Saloma is a shy and is an introvet. She believes in being quiet and obedient. Whenever a stranger talks to her, she would give that silent treatment. The reason why she wouldnt want to answer because she knows that she is 'special'. In other words, she is mental. To Saloma, being a mental patient is embarrassing as people thinks different about them. The community thinks that mental patients or ex-mental patient cannot and can never be normal. One of the actual reason  for Saloma's transformation in the play is because of Vinod. Vinod has always been there for Saloma. For example, Vinod believes that Saloma is a lost kitten and that he should take good care of her. Because of Vinod, Saloma changed to become better. Due to Vinod's depression, it has helped Saloma to develop her own solutions to their problem. In addition, Saloma soon realises that these are the problems she faced. Therefore, the encouragement she gave to Vinod, she herself took her own advice. Overtime, she managed to get a job. This shows that she is working herself up to a normal person as possible. On the other hand, Emily also helped Saloma. She gave her encouraging words like, " Thay are jealous because i am special. ". This sentence helped Saloma be more confident of herself and to prove to others that even a mental patient has its own special features.


Q4. " Through a minor role in the play, the character Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre." To what extent do you agree with this assessment?
I agree with this assessment, ' the character Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre ' to a certain extent. The character Razali acts as the 'parent' for both Saloma and Vinod. He cares for both of them just like a parent they needed. Without the character Razali, both Saloma and Vinod doesn't and won't feel protected. This may lead to their depression once again. Moreover Vinod and Saloma see the character Razali as their 'bapak' or in other words, guardian.This caused them to lose their trust in Razali.With Razali, Vinod and Saloma felt like they still had hope to get accepted by society, but because of the robbery all of that changed. Vinod felt like there was nobody to protect him. Although not much is said about Razali in the play, he plays a key role to the plot of off centre because his character is introduced in the climax of the play. However, there is a question on every student's mind. This is to know does this character 'Razali' really does exist? Or is it just according to Saloma and Vinod, the mentally ill? This will still remain as a question.




Q5. " Datta, Dayadhvam, Damyata " 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.
One of the major character in the play which exert control in their environment or their lives would be Emily. Emily is a good friend of Saloma. She helps Saloma gain her confidence by giving her some encouraging words like, " They are jealous.. because i am special ". In this case, it helps Saloma be more confident and not be afraid of the community. Even though Emily is also a mental patient, Saloma does feel comfortable around her. Another major character in the play would be Azman. Azman appears to be the 'bad' person in the play. He enjoys being around with Saloma as he thinks that Saloma would be fooled by his actions. People like Azman are the ones that makes the mentally ill patients feel scared of the society. They happen to force people to do something they wouldn't want to. On the other hand, as for Saloma's case, it helped Saloma to be more cautious and prepared for such cases. On a negative point of view, it did affect Saloma to suffer depression.


Q6. Based on the text Off Centre, discuss how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.
Peer acceptance as well as family support are vital to social status and mental well-being. Other than taking the medicine needed, mentally ill patients also needs peer acceptance and family support. As for Vinod's case, due to his lack of family support, it leads him to depression. His parents believes that he can be a normal child. According to Vinod's parent's point of view, Vinod should be educated and get a career. Vinod's parents doesn't happen to accept the fact that their child is mentally ill. As for peer acceptance, mentally ill people like Saloma and Vinod needs a friend to support and give encouraging words in order to lead their happy life and not suffer from depression or eventually gives up in life. Emily, as a true friend of Saloma, it did help Saloma in many ways. She gave encouraging words to Saloma and it did work. Saloma gained confidence in life and look how she leads her life now. At the end of the play. we can see that Saloma is on her way to recovery as she has taken the pills and the determination and the support from her peers and her family. Unike Vinod, who at the end of the play, he commited suicide. Vinod felt like Saloma had abandoned him so he felt alone as Saloma was the only person there for him, he had no one else to go to except for Saloma. That is why Vinod committed suicide. This shows how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well being.

Island Voices

Paper
" You're a show-off, what's so grand about marble flooring and a swimming pool? " - pg 3
" They thought fondly of their shares  - going to be worth a million all together soon " - pg 4


The Martyrdom of Helena Rodriguez
" tasks into which Helena had bullied him " - pg 12
" Just in case you brought anyone home, dear " - pg 11


Sundowner
" Apprehension crossed Aman's face " - pg 22 
" No doctor tuan but the bidan says tijah is alright " - pg 23   


Tanjong Rhu
" things you can buy, i do not need " - pg 30
" I know i have everything i need ' - pg 30


Evening Under Frangipani
" Elaine clapped and cheered his triumph " - pg 57
" thinking of strong dark hands gripping golden-green pomelo " - pg 84


Lee
" Are you my dad ? " - pg 85
" Tell her not to push the home-motif too much, okay? " - pg 99


A History of Tea

" So who's your Eurasian girlfriend? Whats the matter, Chinese not good enough for you? " - pg 109

" A storm in a teacup " - pg 119

A Dream of China
" The sad sly eyes, lost the watery hold they had gained on my sympathy " - pg 123
" Can you get me out of China? " - pg 137


Release
" Why do you always speak for someone else ? " - pg 143
" She saw the man emerge from the shadows, wiping the spanner " - pg 148


An Obituary for Fifth Aunt Come Late
" Oh sorry, oh sorry, I'm very clumsy " - pg 149
" She was my aunt, but i didn't make it a point to be her niece " - pg 149


Corridor
" Who said i wasn't happy at home? " - pg 165
" You don't know those plants. You don't know what they need " - pg 171


Mid-Autumn
" I hoped she would appear on the doorstep - surprise! But no " - pg 176
" The soldiers hacked through doors, spraying splinters across the room. " - pg 177


Hamid and The Hand Of Fate
" Hamid is such a good boy " - pg 195
" So what could he do, but be sabar " - pg 194


The Move
" Ma, you're not taking those footstools " - pg 204
" To her it didn't feel short at all " - pg 210


Pastime
" OK, this is also a story, you understand? " - pg 217
" It's a hobby, a pastime. It's not a real life " - pg 220

5 Memorable Quotes From Off Centre

1. " Everything is so void "
        Act 2, Scene 3 ; pg 63

2. " Who needs the Singapore education system? "
       Act 2, Scene 1 ; pg 53

3. " We are strong. Nothing can destroy us! "
       Act 3, Scene 3 ; pg 95

4. " They are jealous.. because I am special "
       Act 2, Scene 2 ; pg 54

5. " Eh, your boyfriend coward ah? "
       Act 3, Scene 3 ; pg 96

Island Voices 2

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION :

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 for more profound purposes? What are these purposes?
The authors use these traditional Chinese rituals for more profound purposes. For example, they eat paper dissolved in drink to get what they wished for. They heat the paper, and put it into water and drinks it. While drinking it, they will wish for something they want. Secondly, they burn the joss-sticks in order to pray for good health, wealth and prosperity among family and others. Thirdly, they also burn paper money and houses. This is beacause, they would want to send the money to the dead ancestors so that they would be rich there with a comfortable shelter to live under. 

Q2. Would you yourself, as a modern young Singaporean, see the relevance of such cultural rituals in your society as necessary still, or are a hidrance to progress and enlightened thinking? In conclusion, i think that such cultural rituals in the society are just a hidrance to progress. The reason behind this is mainly because, burning of paper money produces alot of smoke. Therefore, it pollutes the air. Secondly, before burning the paper money, the paper money is first being created using paper. This shows that, it wastes paper and we are not sure if the prayers do work or not. Furthermore, once they burn paper money under the HDB blocks, they tend to dirty the place with ashes and candles. This proves that they dont clean up after that. Lastly, burning or joss-sticks. It is rather bad for health. Espeacilly when there are small children around. They are being forced to inhale the smoke that is produced. Joss-sticks are also made of wood, therefore, it does waste trees. 

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 that a person, espeacially an elderly one, can want?
I think the elderly in Singapore are out of touch with the contemporary world. Most elderly dont have the latest technology. Even if they have, they wouldnt know how to use them. For example, computers. Elderly do not know how to use them. Besides, some elderly dislike the way teenagers are these days. Teenagers nowadays have freedom mainly because their parents are not strict like the old times and are busy with their work. For old Mrs Li, she still practices incense for her late husband. Mrs Li doesnt move on. She still want to live in her past. She should move on. In this case, nowadays, people dont use incense for people who passed away anymore. Therefore, Mrs Li should always look on the positive side.

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 is become a negative habit?
Usually, looking back at the past is unhealthy. It brings back both happy and sad memories. Looking back at the past may also be a good thing as it kills boredom and helps us learn from our mistake and not repeating it again. However, for Mrs Li, it is very bad because she doesnt even let go of the past. If possible, she even want to live in her past. All she cares about is her late husband. She doesnt look forward to the future unlike her children who are facing challenges.

Literature Assignment 2

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

Stories:
- History of Tea
- The Move

The history of tea is about an older generation who find different races hateful and he or she was frighten of them. It is because he or she did not understood the races and the religions clearly, plus there were some of the information which against the race which had influenced the old generation. Therefore, the old generation usually disagree with her/his children to marry with a person with different race. The evidence from the story is at page , Beverly had a marriage with a gentleman. However, when her parents discovered the identity of that gentleman as a part of the Jewish. They decided to let Beverly to think again at first. This showed the conflict between different religion because there were lots of people from old generation found Jewish greedy and evil, but actually, Jewish were not.

The story The Move is about a grandmother being rather sulky when she was not allowed to bring alone her one and only pomegranate tree to a new house. Being in the older generation, most grandparents would sulk as though they are being left alone. In this case, it is rather normal for the grandmother to sulk when she was not allowed to bring along her pomegranate tree and doesnt want to move out of teh house. Not to forget she also sulks because her things are being thrown away. The evidence from the story is on page, 205, that says, "The old lady was vaguely irritated for the first time. It's always the plants that get left behind. Why?" This concludes that she is rather dissappointed with her children.

2. Choose five links and write comments of 50-100 words about the content of the blogs. (Not design/ pictures/ layout) You must identify yourself.
1. Nuraini
2. Mardiana
3. Kelly
4. Pei Shuan
5. Jummirah

Island Voices

Q1. How is motherhood presented in any two stories in the collection?
Stories : - Release
- Tanjong Rhu

In the story Release, it explains about the importance of motherhood. In this case, Eileen loves her baby. If Eileen doesnt care about her baby, the baby would continue crying all day long. Eileen is having alot of pressure taking care of her baby. Espeacially with such neighbours that are inconsiderate. If Eileen doesnt have such neighbour, she wouldnt have so much trouble stopping her baby from crying. Therefore, this tells us that motherhood is present in the story, Release.

In the story Tanjong Rhu, it talks about a mother and the son. The son is insisting the mother to wear binoculars in order to see Tanjong Rhu which is far away from Mr Li's office. From here, the mother refuses to wear such therefore, a conflict arises. Mr Li didnt understand the mother ; doesnt attend to her needs.

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.
Stories : - The Move
- Mid Autumn

The story The Move is about moving into another house. The grandmother wants to bring along her antique things with her. However, her daughter doesnt want her mother to bring along her antique things as there wouldnt be any space. Besides, to her mother, these antique things mean alot to her; espeacially her pomegranate tree. This is what her daughter doesnt understand about her. The pomegranate tree has alot of meaning towards her.

The story Mid Autumn is about a mother having a conflict with the daughter. The daughter wants to be free, therefore, she wants to follow her own dreams which is going to Uganda. Even though her parents disagrees to her, she refuses to listen to them. Therefore, a conflict between them rises. When her daughter went to Uganda, he mother patiently waited for her beloved daughter to go back home to her.

Q3. With reference to suitable stories, discuss how far change is show to be either welcomed, or
feared.
Stories : - Corridor
-Evening Under Frangipani

After the murder took place, the family decided to go back home. From there, the family felt there was a little change as the neighbour slightly opened their window. In this case, it means something. The reason is because, before the family went for their holiday, the neighbours would always shut their windows close. From this, i can tell that the family is being welcomed home by their neighbours.

Evening Under Frangipani is a story which told us about a huge change of that specific person. In this case, The main role, Prakash was a nervous person who did not dare to pass his interview. However, after Eliean broke up their love. Prakash beome stronger instead of become weaker. Nevertheless, it is unfortunatly that Elaine love the person named Mike instead of continue the love with him.

Q4. How are young people and their ideals reprsented in two stories in the collection ?
How far do you agree with these people?
Stories : - The Move
- Evening under Frangpani
The move is a story about a daughter who wants to move into another big house. Therefore, doesnt care about her mother who wants to bring along the pomegranate tree. The daughter wants a larger space for her daughter to live in. This is eventually her goal, to have a suitable life for her children
Mid autumn is about a daughter who wants to help to help other people who are in need. For example, going to Uganda. This is her goal. To help other people in need and doesnt even care about her family's/ Parents wish. Her parents disagrees towards her decision on going to help other people rather than her own family.

-Nuramirah

Release

Story: Release

Conflict	· Conflict : (internal) Eileen’s desire to complain to the neighbours and the habit of ignoring the situation. The evidence is, “tried as hard as possible not to notice anything about her neighbours”. The disturbance has made her take actions like when she decided to call up the SPCA to complain about the situation. (pg 144-145)
Climax	Eileen decides to call for help from the SPCA and the police. This is where the suspense and curiosity of the reader enters. We would feel excited as we would want to find out what happens next.
Resolution	Open ended We didn’t know what happens to the dogs that it became quiet in the neighbourhood. And, how would the new neighbours react to Elaine’s actions.

Characters

Elaine	Sensitive (gets angry easily, pg 141) Caring (gentle with children, pg 143-144)
Philip	Sarcastic (about the laundry, pg 141) Easy going (gives in alot , pg 141-142)
Neighbours	Disrespectful (rude to Elaine) Inconsiderate (leaves the dogs by themselves)

Most interesting segment:

I believe the most interesting segment in the story is when the kind gentleman offers to help Elaine. I wonder what he did that made the puppies quiet. This makes me curious as it wasn’t stated in the story. It also makes me wonder if there may be something bad about that guy as,’ what he did to the puppies’?