Short Story Lotus Eater

Synopsis -

Thomas Wilson is a strange person. He is a former bank manager who wishes to only live for twenty five years. He has enough money to live until sixty. Wilson wishes to enjoy his life
amidst the beauty in The Island of Capri. But when his money finishes, he is not able to kill himself. He continues living in the cottage by borrowing money from his landlord. When he is told to leave the cottage, he attempts to kill himself. But he fails to do so and becomes ill. He is a changed person. His life becomes meaningless and he lives like a wild animal. In the end, he dies under the moonlight on the hillside.

Theme -

Making Decisions

The story involves the theme of making decisions. Decision-making is part and parcel of living. Everyone needs to make decisions in life, whether it is major or minor. Throughout the story, the idea of making decision and facing the consequences or the effects of the decision is notable. We
notice that Wilson makes various decisions throughout the story. However, he is not determined or courageous to make the most important decision in his life; to commit suicide. Wilson fails to make the decision to take his life. The decisions that Wilson makes are giving up his job, selling his properties, leaving London, wanting to live for twenty five years, and choosing the way he would like to live. However, he makes the wrong decisions and his life turns out to be meaningless, empty and miserable. He is a pauper in the end.

Responsibility

The theme of responsibility is also present in the story. People have responsibility towards their family and friends. In "The Lotus Eater" Wilson runs away from responsibilities.
He does not wish to take any responsibility and live a simple live, where he does not need to be responsible to anyone or any organisation. On the other hand, the other characters show their responsibility. Responsibility is not only confirmed to the self, but also is extended to family, friends, and organisations. Responsibility entails making the right decisions in life too.

Making Judgment

The theme of making judgment about someone based on the actions of the respective person or character. While the readers may be judgmental of Wilson, the writer or narrator is not judgmental at all. He does not impose his judgment on the readers or influence them. The writer is neutral and says that everyone is entitled to make his or her decisions in life. However, they have to face the consequences of their decisions and actions. The writer fears that Wilson intends to do some irrational act, but does not bother about it as it is Wilson’s life, and he has absolute control over it. Making judgment is an important aspect that runs throughout the story.

Life is precious

The theme also deals with suicide. It is not easy to end one’s life. The moral issue on life is; no one has the right to take his or her life. Life is the gift of God and it is precious. Wilson wishes to end his life after living for twenty five years or when he reaches the age of sixty. But, in reality it is impossible to end one’s life by limiting the span of life. Even Wilson is unable to end his own life, as he has planned and decided. The value of life is discussed in the story as one of the themes.

Character -

Thomas Wilson
- unrealistic about life (after attempting suicide)
- emotional/sensitive
- impractical (wishes to live only for 25 years)
- unwise and not far sighted
- irresponsible
- irrational
- insistent, adamant
- undetermined
- indecisive
- selfish, self-centred, loner, loser, reserved,
- easy-going, simplistic, unbothered
- not ambitious
- disillusioned
- dishonest

Writer /Narrator
- realistic/practical (down-to-earth)
- responsible
- contented with life
- curious, interested to know people and about their lives
- friendly
- certain about things in life
- determined
- not judgmental of other people’s characteristics or
behaviours
- an avid traveller
- sympathetic
- assertive

Assunta
-sympathetic
- helpful/ kind
- generous/concern/caring
- wise
- assertive
- friendly
- hardworking
-attentive

Writer’s or Narrator’s Friend
- friendly and likes to socialise
- educated
-well-mannered
- responsible
- concern/caring

Assunta’s husband
- Opportunist
- strict /stern landlord
- money-minded

Plot -

The Introduction or Opening Stage (Exposition):

The story unfolds with the writer’s /narrator’s friend telling him about Thomas Wilson. Wilson plans to die when he reaches the age of sixty. The writer is surprised and wishes to meet Wilson. The writer meets Wilson and learns about him and his strange intention. Very few people would make a decision like Wilson, whose approach to life is unrealistic. Wilson does not reveal what he intends to do with his life or how he is going to end it. The writer fears that he intends to do some irrational act, but does not bother about it as it is Wilson’s life, and he has absolute control overit.

The Rising Action Stage

Wilson has worked for a year to collect money and has bought an annuity (a kind of insurance policy) which would provide a yearly income to him on a regular basis. He plans to only live until his money finishes, when he reaches the age of sixty. However, When Wilson money finishes when he reaches the age of sixty, he continues to live. He borrows some money to continue living by telling landlord that his money would come soon. Wilson manages to live under such pretext for over a year. But he luck runs out, and his landlord tells him to leave if he does not pay his rent. Wilson is faced with a dilemma.

Climax

Wilson attempts suicide by starting a fire using charcoal in his bedroom while the windows are all shut. He is unsuccessful because he is not determined to take his own life. He has not made any major decisions for a long time so when it is time for him to make the most important decision; to take his own life. He is unable to do so.

The Falling Action Stage

He is alive but becomes ill. Both Assunta and her husband, take him to the hospital where his condition gets better. But, he is no more the same Wilson; he has changed. Assunta and her husband allow Wilson to live in a woodshed and they give him food. In return, he takes care of their goats and chicken. The woodshed is very uncomfortable to live in. It is extremely hot during summer, and on the other hand, freezing cold during winter. Wilson becomes a loner; he does not like to meet people. Wilson lives a miserable life. But, it is Wilson, who has chosen the manner to live. It is his choice of life.

The Closure or Ending

Wilson lives for six years in the woodshed. He dies on the hillside, on a night when the full moon appears. He dies overlooking the impeccable Bay of Naples.

Setting -

Setting in a short story refers to the place or geographical location where a story takes place. Setting also relates to a particular time that is referred in the story. Setting
includes the environment or physical space, the atmosphere or situation that causes an event to take place, and the socio-cultural contexts of the people involved or portrayed in
the story.

The story is mainly set in The Island of Capri, Bay of Naples, Italy before the 1900s and after that period (before and after the First World War). Apart from the island, the setting also includes London, where both the writer and main character in the story come from. The Island of Capri is a beautiful place and its beauty has mesmerised Wilson that he returns to the island. He plans to live there for twenty five years before he ends his life. Wilson arrives in the island when he is thirty five and only wishes to live until he is sixty. The writer visits the Island of Capri in 1913 where he sees Wilson. The writer lives Capri in 1914 for London, just before the First World War starts, and returns to Capri 13 years later.

The setting tells us about the people in the story based on their socio-cultural or economic activities. Wilson is an educated person who works in a bank as the manager. He does not work and just spends his time living a simple life. The writer is a traveller, and is visiting a friend in the Island of Capri. Assunta and her husband own properties, and rent their cottage to Wilson. Assunta manages the cottage by cleaning the place and also cooks for the tenant.


Moral Value -

1. It is important to appreciate the gift of life

The story teaches us to appreciate the gift of life. The gift of life is divine. As human we have a moral obligation to protect life and not to end it by committing suicide. Life is too precious and Wilson is unwise to want to end his life upon reaching the age of sixty. We must realise that it is important to live life to the fullest and not act as a coward by committing suicide.

2. It is important to have a vision in life

The story teaches us have a vision in life. Wilson’s life is
empty, meaningless and miserable. He fails to be a success in life. He ends up as a pauper, shuns away from people, living life as if he is a wild animal. The story teaches us that life would be meaningful if we have a vision or ambition. It is important for us to develop ourselves as knowledgeable individuals who are able to contribute to the betterment of the self, society and country. In Wilson case, he has worked as a manager, is well-educated and should be able to lead a meaningful life. But, he chooses to leave everything behind and become a rolling stone which gathers no moss. In the end, he ends up living a pathetic life, and his life is meaningless. The moral of the story is to be positive-minded and have a vision to be a success in life.

3. It is important to be practical

The story teaches us to be practical and learn to solve problems carefully. There is a need for us to be realistic in life. It is important for a person to be educated, get a decent job and contribute to the betterment of society. This is the reality of living in a society. We cannot isolate ourselves and live life alone. No man is an island, thus we need to be part and parcel of society. Wilson behaves strange, living on his own, away from people and later, he avoids people. It is very impractical. It is important to know what is happening around us, living a meaningful and practical life.

4. The importance of being responsible From the story we learn about responsibility. It is important to be responsible. Throughout the story, Wilson is irresponsible. He is not a very responsible person as he wants to live a meaningless life and is willing to end his own life. A responsible person will not be thinking of isolating himself. Moreover, a responsible person will not be thinking of committing suicide. Wilson is also not responsible as he cheats his landlady into believing that he will be getting some money soon. He borrows money from his landlord and does not repay him. He tries to kill himself by starting a fire inside the cottage. Instead of taking care and protecting the cottage, he behaves like an arsonist. From the incidents in the story, we learn that responsibility is an important virtue. It is trait that shows that a person is disciplined and can be trusted.

Short story Sound Machine

Synopsis-

Klausner is a crious person who want to know what goes around him. His curiousity
cause him to invent thing and carry out experiments to learn about the mysteries
that surround him. He is particularly interested in the different type of sounds,
tones and vibrations. He invent a sound machine to help detect both low-pitched
and high pitched sound that are inaudible to the human ear. He take out his
invention to the garden to test it He alaso takes out his invasion to the park to
to further test it. Klausner want his doctor, who is skeptical of his invention
to know that it is possible to use his machine to hear sounds that cannot be heard
by the human ear. He gets the doctor to go to with him to the park. But things do
not turns outs as he wishes. His own action causes the sound machine to be smashed
to pieces and the doctor gets to see the darker side of his patient, who is also
his friend

Summary -
Klausner works on his invention
Klausner goes into a shed in the garden at the back of the
house. In the shed there is a black box which is three feet
long. It is in the shape of a child’s coffin. The box is on
the wooden bench, with wires, batteries and small tools that
are sharp.
Klausner works on the box. There is a mass of wires which are
of different colours and silver tubes. He takes the paper
beside the box and examines it carefully and works on the box,
moving his fingers among the wires. He tests the connection of
the wires and refers to the paper on and off. He does this and
checks each of the wires. This goes on for about an hour.
Klausner twiddles the three dials on the front of the box
while noticing the movement of the mechanism that is inside
the black box. He speaks to himself softly as he continues to
work with his fingers moving inside the box. He is in deep
concentration which shows the urgency of him wanting to finish
whatever he is doing.
His doctor visits him
As he is working, the door opens and Scott, who is his doctor,
walks in. He wants to check on Klausner’s throat but Klausner
says that his throat is fine. But the doctor wants to check
his patient’s throat anyway. Klausner resists by telling him
that his throat is quite cured.
The doctor notices that Klausner has his hat on and the black
box. He is curious about the box and asks Klausner whether he
is making a radio. The doctor remarks that the inner parts of
the box are intricate. The doctor says that the invention is a
frightening thing to him.
Klausner is evasive. He explains that the box has to do with
sound. He goes on telling that he likes sound. The doctor
becomes even curious and wants to know what the inside of the
box does.
Klausner explains about his invention
Klausner has difficult in explaining in the beginning. Then he
explains that the theory is very simple. The human ear is not
able to hear all the sounds, especially sounds that have high
pitch and low pitch. The human ear is unable to hear a note
with more than fifteen thousand vibrations a second. He
explains further that a dog is able to hear the sound of a
high-pitched whistle while humans are unable to.
Klausner tells the doctor that the higher the notes get, it
becomes difficult for human to hear them. The succession of
the notes can multiply to the point of infinity or eternity.
Klausner believes that there is a whole world of sound that
the human ear cannot hear. This world of sound is within the
human’s hearing capacity and provides various possibilities.
Klausner thinks that the sounds that the human ear cannot
detect may be the creation of a new exciting music which is
indeed powerful.
The doctor is skeptical
The doctor is still not convinced that it is possible to hear
all the sounds. He remains skeptical. Klausner gives an
example of a fly on a roll of copper wire which is on the
workbench. The fly may be producing sounds that the human hear
cannot detect. The sound may be of a whistle, a bark, a croak,
or the fly is simply singing a song. The fly has a mouth and a
throat. It is not impossible for it to produce sounds.
The doctor smiles and asks Klausner if he is going to find out
about it. But, Klausner does not stop in trying to convince
the doctor. He goes on sharing his experience. Klausner says
that he has made an instrument that is simple to find out if
there are sounds that are not heard by the human ear. He has
detected many peculiar sounds using the instrument, which he
has not been able to hear before. He is curious to know where
the sounds come from and what creatures are producing them.
The doctor asks Klausner whether the machine on the table is
able to help detect the sounds. Klausner replies that the
machine probably would. He is going to try the machine again,
as he has not been lucky so far. He has made some changes to
the machine so that it is able to detect sound vibrations that
are too high-pitched for the human ear. It is able to
transform the high-pitched notes to sounds that are able to be
detected by the human ear. It functions like a radio when it
is tuned.
The doctor is still unclear on the function of the machine.
Klausner explains that by adjusting the machine to a certain
frequency, the squeaking of a bat at about thousand vibrations
a second can be heard. It is possible to hear the sound with
the sound machine and distinguish what note it is. The doctor
looks at the strange box and asks Klausner if he is going to
try it at night. Klausner says he would try it at night and
the doctor wishes him good luck. The doctor looks at his watch
and says he has to leave. He thanks his patient for letting
him know about his invention. He says he would want to know
the outcome of Klausner’s invention.
Klausner tries out his invention
Klausner continues to work on his invention and wishes to try
the machine. He takes the sound machine out into the garden
and puts it on a small wooden table. He fixes the earphones to
connect them to the machine. He is uncertain the machine would
work and has to console and encourage himself.
He sees a woman walking down the garden and she is carrying a
flower-basket. Klausner adjusts the knob of the sound machine.
When he moves the knob the needle moves across the dial. He is
able to hear a low sharp sound at irregular intervals in his
earphones. Besides the low sharp sound he hears the humming of
the sound machine. Klausner feels a strange feeling that his
ears are away from his head, and each of his ears is connected
to his head by a thin wire. He feels the wire acts like a
tentacle.
Klausner hears something
Klausner suddenly hears a piercing shriek which is
frightening. He looks around to see if the person who has
shrieked is around. He only sees the woman in the next door
garden. He feels that is definitely not her who has shrieked.
The woman is cutting yellow roses which she places in the
basket. He hears the sound again. The sound is not made by
human. The shriek is not only sharp and short, but it is also
very clear and cold. Klausner is curious and searches where
the shriek comes from. The only person in the place is Mrs.
Saunders, his neighbour. He notices her snipping the stem of a
rose using a pair of scissors. He hears the shriek again. The
sound is heard the exact time the stem is cut.
Klausner observes what happens
Klausner calls out for Mrs. Saunders in a shrilling voice
which shows his excitement. His voice is not only high but
also loud that she is shocked. He asks her to cut another
stem. Mrs. Saunders is reluctant at first but gives in by
snipping the stem of another rose.
Klausner asks her to cut the stem of the flower again so that
he is able to hear the frightening shriek. He asks her not to
cut any more of the stems of the flowers. He tells her that
her action of cutting the stems of the rose flowers cause the
flowers to scream terribly. He knows that Mrs. Saunders is not
going to believe him. He asks Mrs. Saunders if she knows the
flowers scream and she replies that she does not.
Klausner tries to convince her that the flowers scream at a
very high pitch. He tells her that he hears them scream when
she cuts the stems of the flowers. He questions her if she
knows that the flowers go through as much pain as a person’s
wrist is cut with a garden shears. Mrs. Saunders runs back
into the house.
Klausner learn more through his experiment
Klausner tries to learn more from the incident. He gets a
small white daisy and pulls it both upward and sideways. His
action causes the stem to snap. He hears a soft high-pitched
shriek. He repeats the action with another daisy. The same
thing happens and he knows it is a shriek. But he is not sure
if the shriek is an expression of emotion. It appears just
like a cry which is neutral, and is without emotion. Klausner
is still puzzled.
It is getting dark. Klausner takes the box from the table,
keeps it in the shed and goes into the house.
Klausner goes to the park to try out his invention
In the morning, he takes out the box from the shed and heads
to the park. He looks around and spots a beech tree. He places
the box next to the tree trunk and goes back to get an axe. He
swings the axe at with all his might at the tree trunk aiming
at its base. It is a strong blow and as it lands on the tree
trunk, he hears a peculiar sound. It is different from the
sound he has heard previously.
Klausner contacts the doctor
Klausner feels sorry to see the cut on the tree trunk which he
has caused. He tries to close the cut. He returns home
hurriedly and contacts his doctor, Scott. He requests
persistently for the doctor to come. While he waits for the
doctor many ideas come across his mind about what would happen
to crops, vegetables and fruit trees if they are cut. Klausner
is very confused.
Klausner wants the doctor to hear the sound
The doctor appears and Klausner takes him immediately to the
park to hear the sound. They reach the beech tree where
Klausner has left the sound machine. The doctor asks Klausner
why he has brought the machine to the park and Klausner
replies that he needs a tree and there are no big trees in his
garden. The doctor wants to know why Klausner has brought an
axe to the park. Klausner says that the doctor would know soon
the purpose of him bringing the axe to the park.
Klausner does it again
He asks the doctor to put on the earphones, which the doctor
willingly does. Klausner gets ready to strike the tree with
the axe and lands a second blow. He feels the ground move
beneath his feet as if the roots of the tree move beneath the
ground, where he is standing. The doctor and Klausner see what
is happening above them in the tree. The doctor shouts to
Klausner to run quickly. The doctor has removed the earphones
and runs fast to escape from the falling branch.
The sound machine is smashed
Klausner stands motionless and just stares at the falling
branch. But he escapes in the nick of time. The branch falls
on the machine and smashes it into bits. The doctor exclaims
in relief that Klausner is safe. It has been a close one and
it almost causes Klausner his life.
Klausner wants to know what the doctor hears
But Klausner is not bothered about it. He is more interested
to know if the doctor hears anything when he lands a blow on
the trunk of the tree with the axe. The doctor replies that he
hears nothing and that he is not sure of what he has heard. He
thinks that it is perhaps the sound of the branch giving way.
Klausner gets impatient and continuously asks the doctor to
describe the sound. The doctor is not pleased with Klausner
asking him what he has heard over and over. He tells Klausner
that they better leave the place.
Klausner shows his ugly side
Klausner asks the doctor to stitch the gash he has caused to
the tree with the axe. He is holding the axe in his hand. The
doctor feels threatened. But he tells Klausner he cannot
stitch through wood. Klausner tells him to apply iodine
instead. The doctor feels it is unreasonable to apply iodine
on the cut on the tree trunk. But he has to give in as
Klausner is tightening his grip on the axe. He agrees to paint
the cut with iodine. Klausner observes the doctor doing it
still holding on to the axe.
Klausner makes more demands
Klausner tells the doctor to apply iodine to the other cut on
the tree. The doctor does as he is told. Klausner steps near
the tree to get a closer look at the two wounds on it. He
wants the doctor to come again the next day and have a look at
the two wounds on the tree. He also wants him to apply more
iodine. The doctor agrees to come back the next day and apply
iodine if there is a need for it.
Klausner and the doctor return
Klausner feels happy and drops the axe to the ground. The
doctor approaches him, holds his arm gently and says that they
better leave. They walk back to the house.

Theme-

Obsession
The theme of obsession is highlighted in the story. The theme
of obsession relates to one’s inner desire to do sometime at
all expense, or without thinking about others’ well-being.
Klausner shows that his obsession to invent the sound machine,
test it and prove that it is able to detect sounds, tones and
vibrations has no limits. He is so obsessed to try out and
make the machine work.

Irrationality
The theme of irrationality is also present in the story.
Klausner actions and behaviours relate to doing things without
thinking logically. There are a number of incidents that show
irrational behaviours in the story. Klausner behaves very
irrationally when he gets excited and also because of his
obsession. He overreacts when he is facing a particular
situation. Irrationality clouds judgment as is presented in
the story through the actions of the characters.

Creativity
The story relates to the theme of creativity. Creativity is
the ability to bring into existence something that is
non-existent. Klausner invents a sound machine based on his
own creativity. He has a very imaginative mind, and is also
very observant. Creativity does not come out of thin air, but
through hard work as Klausner proves, through his experiments
and observations. Klausner is able to be very creative because
of his obsession too.

Being Judgmental
In the story, the two characters are judgmental of Klausner.
The theme of making judgments is evident. Judgments are made
based on Klausner’s physical appearance, his behaviours,
emotions, reactions and perceptions of the world. Mrs.
Saunders thinks Klausner is peculiar and has become crazy. She
is afraid of him. Similarly, the doctor also forms judgments
about Klausner and thinks that Klausner is silly and even to
the extent of being crazy.

Nature
The theme also deals with nature especially to take care of
nature. Klausner cuts the tree trunk at two places and he
wants the doctor to either stitch the wound or apply iodine.
The moral issue is to protect nature. Klausner tells his
neighbour not to snip any more stems of the flowers. He does
not want to hear the shrieks of the flowers anymore. It is
frightening and it is also a painful experience. Klausner’s
actions show that he loves nature as shown through his
thoughts on what would happen to plants, vegetation and trees
when they are cut.

setting-
The story "The Sound Machine" involves a few places such as a
house, a wooden shed, Klausner’s garden, his neighbour’s
garden and the surrounding areas, especially a park. The
setting provides information on the time the events take
place. The story takes place in a warm summer evening, at
night and in the morning (6 a.m.) in a residential area.
The setting tells us about the people in the story based on
their socio-cultural or economic activities or what they do in
their everyday life.
Klausner is curious, imaginative and creative. He likes to
carry out experiments to learn more about the world around
him. He is an inventor who works in the wooden shed all by
himself. Mrs. Saunders is Klausner’s neighbour; she has a lot
of flowering plants in her garden. Klausner is a doctor and
treats Klausner. He is a professional with medical background
and is very assertive. He makes house-calls, as and when the
needs arise.

character -

Klausner
- authoritative, assertive
- emotional/sensitive
- impractical
- loves nature
- responsible, harmless
- irrational /obsessed/confused/nervous/undecided/crazy/mad
- insistent/ persistent/demanding
- determined/focused
- selfish, self-centred
- inquisitive /imaginative / intelligent/intuitive
/curious/observant
-funny, acts childish in a way
-gets very excited, hysterical

Scott
- realistic /practical /rational
- responsible
- fearful /uncertain/worried
- tactful
- assertive ( needs proof or evidence to accept something)
- not easily convinced (does not accept anything easily)
- determined
- feels insecure, helpless (Klausner is holding an axe in the
hand)
- sensitive
- cooperative
- compassionate

Mrs. Saunders
- cooperative
- focused
- sporting
- carefree
- calm
- not easily convinced

Moral value - Moral Values
Moral values are important. The story teaches us some moral
values.

1. It is important to appreciate the gift of life
The story teaches us to appreciate the gift of life. The gift
of life is divine. As humans we have a moral obligation to
protect life and to take care of it. Klausner loves nature and
wants to learn more about the sounds plants make. He carries
out a few experiments and learns that plant or nature is also
valuable just like life. Plants and trees too undergo pain and
let out a scream when they are hurt or cut. Klausner wants the
doctor to attend to the tree which he has cut with the axe. He
orders the doctor to stitch the wound or apply iodine. The
plants and trees are treated valuably. The story teaches us to
appreciate the gift of life.

2. It is important not to be too obsessed in life
The story teaches to be realistic in life and not to be too
obsessed in life. Klausner gets carried away because of his
obsession and behaves very irrationally. He shows his weakness
of letting his emotions control him. This can be seen when he
overreacts and frightens his neighbour. He also behaves very
irrationally when he demands the doctor to listen to what he
says. He threatens the doctor through his actions. We learn
that obsession is able to cause the downfall of a person.
Klausner is too obsessed with what he does that he does
realise that he has caused the branch of the tree to fall. It
nearly causes him his life, but the sound machine is
destroyed.

3. It is important to be practical and act rationally
The story teaches us to be practical and learn to solve
problems carefully. There is a need for us to be realistic in
life. It is important for a person to be able to handle
situations even under trying conditions. This is the reality
of living in a society. In the story, there is a valuable
lesson; it is important to be practical and act rationally at
all times. There is a need for us to find solutions to
problems by thinking rationally and practically.

4. It is good to be creative and have a vision in life
The story teaches us to be creative and be far-sighted in
life. It is good to be creative and innovative, especially if
one’s invention can be useful to mankind. Being creative also
requires a person to be responsible and act rationally.
Similarly, it is important to have a vision in life to be able
to contribute for the betterment of the individual, society
and nation. We can become a good and useful citizen who is
selfless and well-respected by all.

Short Story Drover's Wife

Synopsis -

The drover’s wife is left all alone to take care of her children, while her husband goes droving to earn a living. She has four young children to take care. A snake enters the house and the drover’s wife has to be extra careful and kill the snake before it causes any harm to her family. Snakes are known to have caused deaths to both animals and humans. The drover’s wife needs to protect her children at all time, as the snake is hiding in the house.

Theme -

Responsibility

The theme of being responsible is shown throughout the story. Responsibility is shown through the actions and behaviours of the characters. The drover’s wife is a responsible wife and mother. She is responsible for the safety of her children. Tommy is also responsible and shows this trait through his behaviours and actions.

Love For The Family

The theme of love for the family is present throughout the story. The drover loves his family and has to go droving to support his family. The drought has brought ruin to him and he has to go droving to earn a living. The drover’s wife loves her family very much and is prepared to be on her own to take care of her four children while her husband goes droving. The theme of love for the family is shown through her behaviours and actions. Her family comes first, and thus, she is willing to face any challenges. Similarly, Tommy too, loves his family and wants to protect them. He tries to be the man of the house.

Life is precious

The theme also deals with life and death. Life is precious and needs to be protected. Four innocent and precious lives would be lost if the drover’s wife fails in her duty as a protective mother. A relative’s son has lost his life because of snake-bite. The theme deals with the value of life. Life is precious and need to be protected, especially at times when there is danger or evil.

Protecting the Younger Generation

The elder generation needs to protect the younger generation. This is one of the themes in the story. The protective mother takes the all precautions to safeguard her children from the evil snake, which is capable of killing the innocent children, alligator and even the mother. The mother protects her children as she wants them to be safe.

Being brave to face challenges in life

The theme of bravery in facing challenges in life is highlighted in the story. The drover’s wife is an independent person. She looks after her children while her husband goes droving. There are many challenges that the drover’s wife faces. She has to raise her children in a place that is far
from neighbours. She has no one to turn to in case of trouble. She has to face the challenges in life, on her own. Her actions and behaviours show that she is brave in handling any situations. Tommy and Alligator are also brave as shown through their behaviours and actions.

Plot -

The Introduction or Opening Stage (Exposition):

The story unfolds with the description of the land and the drover’s family . The drover’s wife is the only adult in the house and she takes care of four children. They are very young children who are playing in the house.

The Rising Action Stage

One of the children yells, when a snake is seen in the house. The cheerful atmosphere changes and the drover’s wife fears the unexpected would happen. Alligator, the drover’s dog, which is big and ferocious, tries to get the snake, but it disappears into the crack in the slabs. The drover’s wife knows that the snake is dangerous. She brings her into the kitchen and prepares the table in the kitchen as the bed for her children. She watches over them all night long. There is fear in the drover’s wife.The drover’s wife waits patiently the whole night for the snake.

Climax

She uses the club and hits the snake. Alligator pulls the snake out again. She continues to hit the snake. She hits the snake on its head and crushes it. The Drover’s wife throws the mangled snake into the fire.

The Falling Action Stage

She put on more firewood and watches as the snake burns. The boy and alligator watch the snake burn too. The drover’s wife pats the dog and the dog becomes tame back.

The Closure or Ending

Tommy hugs his mother and declares that he will never go droving.

Setting -

The story “The Drover’s Wife” is set in the vast bush land of Australia. Only a few trees and some stunt, rotten, apple trees that grow in the bush. The houses are located far apart as the nearest neighbour is located some nineteen miles away from the drover’s residence. The drover’s wife is the only adult taking care of her four young children. She is a housewife, who takes care of the children on her own.

The setting tells us about the people in the story based on their socio-cultural or economic activities. The drover is an ex-squatter, who goes droving, moving from place to place droving sheep. The people relied on livestock, such as sheep for a living. The drover’s brother come to supply monthly provisions, and kills one of the drover’s sheep to give her the meat, and takes the rest for providing the provisions. The drover’s wife is an independent woman, and reads “The Young Ladies’ Journal”.

Part of the setting also includes their dog. Alligator, which safeguards the family from dangers, is a snake-dog. There are animals especially snakes that could harm or kill the family members.

Character - Character

The main character in the short story is ‘The Drover’s Wife’ whose name is never mentioned in the story. The other characters (minor) are:

- Tommy (son, who is the eldest among the children)
- Alligator, the snake dog protecting the family from
danger

What we can tell about the characters

The Drover’s Wife
-authoritative
- protective
- caring
- loving
- responsible, hopeful
- rational
- realistic/practical (down-to-earth)
- innocent
- helpful, hardworking
- determined, brave,
- worried/nervous/troubled/ frightened
- hardworking
- assertive, wise, careful in making decisions
- supportive
- anxious to see her husband

Tommy
- helpful
- concern
- determined
- excited
- growing to be matured in thinking
- eager
- brave

Alligator
-faithful
-brave, fearless
-selfless
-determined
-excited
- eager
-protective
-fierce, ferocious
- hates snakes

Moral Value -

1. It is important to appreciate and protect the gift of life

The story teaches us to appreciate and protect the gift of life. The gift of life is divine. As humans we have a moral obligation to protect life. The snake in the story is depicted as evil, and can kill the innocent children. Life is too precious and need to be protected at all time. In the story, the drover’s wife is a caring and loving mother who protects her children from harm and death. It is important to appreciate and protect the gift of life.

2. It is important to be responsible

The story teaches us to be responsible. Being responsible is a universal value. Everyone needs to be responsible. In the story we learn about responsibility through the actions and behaviours of the characters. The drover’s wife is a responsible wife and mother. She is responsible for the safety of her children and goes to great length to make sure the snake does not harm or kill her children. Tommy too is responsible and tries to be the man in the house, to protect the family from the evil snake. Similarly, Alligator protects the family members from the snake and helps to pull the snake out for the drover’s wife to kill it.

3. It is important to be practical and act rationally
The story teaches us to be practical and learn to solve problems carefully. There is a need for us to be realistic in life. It is important for a person to be able to handle situations even under trying conditions. This is the reality of living in a society. In the story, the drover’s wife acts practically and rationally. The snake is a symbol of evil, it is possible for it to cause serious harm or even kill the children. The Drover’s wife waits patiently throughout the night to kill the snake when it comes out from its hiding place. The story teaches us that it is important for us to find solutions to problems by thinking rationally and practically.

4. The Need for Proper Planning to Overcome Problem
The story teaches us that we need to be prepared to face any problems or challenges. It is important to plan properly to solve a proper. Proper planning is important and makes it easier for us to solve a problem. In the story, the drover wife plans to protect the children by taking them out of the house. She gets them to be together and stand near the dog-house. She does not want to take them into the house. She places two small dishes near the wall to lure the snake out. She gets them into the kitchen. She prepares the table in the kitchen as the bed for the children to sleep. She sits down beside it and watches out for the snake, throughout the night. She gets Alligator to be on the floor to look out for the snake. In the end, she kills the snake by hitting it and throwing the mangled snake into the fire. She adds more firewood to burn the snake to death. Her actions and behaviours show that proper planning is important for success.

Poem There's Been a Death in the Opposite House

Subject -
The subject of the poem relates to death. It is an important subject as everyone has to face it in one way or the other. Every human being has to face death.

Theme -

- The realities in life
- Dealing with death
- Customs and traditions

The realities in life

The persona knows that there is a death in the opposite house by the way people behave and through his past experience. He faces the realities of life as a member of the neighbourhood
or community. There are a few things that relate to the realities of life which involve death. The members of the community in the poem are neighbours, doctor, children, minister, mourners, little boys, milliner, the undertaker (man of the appalling trade). All these people are part of the scenery or setting portrayed in the poem. The persona realises that they are part of his immediate environment and represent the realities of life. In a society, the doctor is a respected
person who is qualified to pronounce whether a person is dead or alive using his knowledge of medicine. Similarly, the minister is the person who performs and takes charge of the prayers for the dead person. The milliner has a job to do, and the man of the appalling trade is needed for the preparation of the coffin and funeral services. All these people have a special role to play when someone dies. The mourners are also people who may be relatives, friends, neighbours, or others who come to pay their last respect to the deceased.

Dealing with death

In the poem, one of the themes is dealing with death. The persona knows that one of his neighbours is dead. He sees a mattress thrown out from the window and children hurrying by.
He knows that the children are wondering if the dead person has died on the mattress. He has undergone similar experiences as a boy. The persona knows that neighbour go in and out of
the house to pay their last respect to the deceased. He also knows that it is not necessary to make known that a person is dead in the community, as there are ways to know it. The doctor is around and when he leaves, the minister arrives to see the family; the milliner and the man of the appalling trade do their part to get on with the funeral. Similarly, the funeral procession would take place, and the mourners and others would be around. This is how people deal with death in the neighbourhood, as seen through the eyes of the persona. He shares his experience with the audience.

Customs and Traditions

The poem also highlights the theme on customs and traditions. Customs and traditions are part and parcel of a society or community. In the poem, it is a custom for people to pay respect to the dead person. It is also a custom for the minister to visit and offer prayers and words of comfort to the family. In a traditional society that in portrayed in the poem, the funeral procession is important. It is a tradition in Western societies to wear black or dark attires when attending a funeral service and burial. Thus, the use of the words ‘dark parade’ refers to this tradition.

Moral Value -

The poem teaches us to deal with death in a rational way, by understanding it. Death is inevitable, and everyone has to face it in one way or another. The persona accepts death as being part and parcel of life.

The poem reminds us that there is nothing that would last forever. Nobody is immortal. Everyone is destined to die one day. It is a kind of life philosophy. Understanding death is important, and is part of the process of growing up. In the poem, the persona has a different idea about death when he was young and wondered whether the dead person actually died on
the mattress that was flung out through the window. Now, he views death differently because he has grown up and is matured to understand things better.

The poem also teaches us to think about the importance of preserving and practising customs and traditions. Customs and traditions are part and parcel of the human dimension. We are identified as a member of a society or community when we practice the customs and traditions. Besides, it is a way of life. The persona shows how the people value customs and traditions. The minister visits the deceased; the mourners come to pay their last respect to the deceased. The funeral procession would go on, and people would be dressed according to the situation or circumstance.

There is another moral value that shows the important of cooperation and feeling of togetherness. The neighbours are around to pay their respect to the person who has died. Similarly, the mourners are there for that purpose too. The milliner and the man of the appalling trade do their job, and the funeral procession would take place. Moreover, there is no need for any official announcement that someone has died. The news spreads easily with people able to get the cues that there’s been a death in the opposite house or in the neighbourhood. The coaches would arrive soon bringing people to attend the funeral. All this shows that the people are very cooperative and have the feeling of oneness. It is important for us to be cooperative and have the feeling of belonging to a community or society.

Poem Sonet 18

Subject -

The poem relates to the beautiful nature of this wonderful person, his beloved. The subject of the poem is the everlasting love and beauty of a person who the persona deeply loves and admires. The beauty of summer is not as great as the beauty of his beloved. The persona reveals his deep love for this person, who is extraordinary and will be immortal in the poem forever.

Theme -

- The positive and negative aspects of nature (summer)
- Eternal beauty of a person
- Wondrous love

The persona tells that summer which symbolises warmth and brightness is short and brings uneasiness and discomfort. The sun, for example, is too hot at times during summer, and at
other times it is dim or dull, and gives a gloomy effect on life. The wind during summer is strong or rough and does not bring much comfort to one. The rough winds shake off the bud of flowers and fewer flowers are around.

The persona finds the summer of his love, truly an everlasting beauty. The love of his life is greater than the summer and is for eternal. While summer is just an experience for a short period, the beauty of his love, lasts forever. Her beauty has no end, the summer of his life, which he experiences through his wondrous love is forever.

While summer may just be a point in time, his beauty will live on forever whenever someone reads the poem and discovers the true beauty of his love.

Moral Value -

The poem deals with eternal love and appreciation of a beautiful person. We learn to appreciate beauty. We also learn to appreciate nature, as nature has both its strong and weak points.

The poem reminds us that there is nothing that would last forever. The beautiful person that is compared to summer is said to last forever, as long as men read and appreciate the poem. The poet teaches us to appreciate poetry to understand the messages that the poet wishes to convey to the readers.

The poem also teaches us to think about life and death. Life is a mystery to be lived, while death ends everything. But the beauty of the persona’s beloved lives forever and there is no death for her. The poem acts as a document of history which keeps the persona’s love alive over periods of time, and allows his beloved to live forever. She becomes immortal and her eternal summer lasts forever.

Poem Monsoon History

Subject -

The subject of the poem is recalling the past. The persona connects with the past with nostalgic feelings.

Theme

- Appreciating nature
- The realities of life
- Understanding oneself
- Cultural richness
- Family unity and strength

Appreciating Nature

The poem provides a vivid picture of nature, which are the presence of creatures that are full of life, and the natural phenomena such as the monsoon. Nature has both its strengths and weaknesses.

The Realities in Life

The persona faces the realities of life especially during the monsoon where the situation reflects uncertainty. The monsoon brings thunderstorm and rain, the atmosphere becomes moist.
This is the reality of life in Monsoon History. One has to face this reality. There are also uncertainties in such a situation. Natural phenomenon in the form of the monsoon is in
control and there is rolling darkness. The poem provides a realistic picture of what happens during the monsoon.

Understanding Oneself

One of the themes of the poem also relates to understanding oneself. The persona reflects on the things that have happened in her life to understand herself better. She reflects on the
cultural aspects of her life and identity. Identifying oneself with one’s cultural practices and family is important. Through this poem a person is able to understand oneself better.

Cultural Richness

The poem highlights cultural richness. Traditions and customs are part of the culture practised by the people portrayed in the poem. There is a rich cultural heritage that needs to be
safeguarded from generation to generation. The poem provides some of the cultural practices such as the Nyonya-Baba tradition of wearing sarong and the burning of silver paper for the death. The pantun is also part of their culture. The poem shows that people are identified through their cultural practices.

Family Unity and Strength

The theme of family unity and strength is also highlighted in the poem. Family plays an important part in the poem. The family is the pillar of strength that protects the persona.
The unity in the family is also a strong force in the poem. This force is able to keep the family unit safe and sound from the dangers of the outside world. The family and the home is
the inside world which represents warmth, security and meaningfulness. Family unity and its strengths are able to keep the dangers and uncertainties of the outside world away.


Moral Value -

The poem teaches us to appreciate nature. The earth is rich with plants, animals and insects. We should learn to live together or co-exist. The forces of nature should also be understood as nature has its own way. The monsoon is a period of uncertainties but when it is over there is tranquility. Everything becomes calm and normal. This is the natural cycle of life. We should learn to live life by understanding the wonder of nature, even at times of uncertainties.

The poem teaches us to understand ourselves better, especially to learn about our background or roots. It is important for us to discover our true self by looking back at the past and to
better equip ourselves for the future. Life is a journey and it is important for us to identify ourselves with the society from which we come. The persona shares her rich cultural
experiences with the readers and from the poem we know that there are customs and traditions that need to be kept close to the heart. Understanding our rich traditions and cultural practices would make us understand ourselves better and make us realise who we are.

The poem teaches us to deal with situations in a rational way, by understanding the situation well. It shows us that life is not a bed of roses. There are realities in life that we have to face. The poem teaches us to be confident in life and be truthful. There is a cycle of life which means there is bound to be ups and downs in life. Thus, we learn the importance of being realistic and
practical.

The poem teaches us to uphold the rich traditions and cultures that are present in society. These practices distinguish us from one another but they are a source of diversity in cultures and practices. The Nyonya-Baba culture that exists in Malacca in specific is a unique culture that has a significant place in Malaysia. The poem also shows the aspects of the cultural practices and traditions that show harmony, just like the harmony found in the pantun. We should preserve the rich cultural practices of the peoples of Malaysia. Our cultural diversity is our strength.

Another lesson that we can learn from the poem is about family unity and strength. In our society, family plays an important part in preserving traditions and inculcating positive values. The family plays a role in shaping the individual to be a member of the society or community. In the poem, the outside world is unsafe and unpredictable. However, the family is a place to seek refuge and harmony. In the poem the family is housed in a home, which is warm, secure and meaningful. The strength of the family provides the persona with the security and care. The persona is able to have a meaningful childhood and to cherish it because of her family. The unity in the family is a strong force in the poem.

Poem - Tenggang

Subject -

The subject of the poem is about travelling to explore the world and in the process discover one’s strengths and weaknesses. Si tenggang's journey and experiences are a wealth of knowledge for him and his people.

Theme -

The theme of the poem relates to the general idea or ideas running throughout the poem. A poem may have one or more themes depending on the subject of the poem the persona deals
with and the experiences and feelings the persona undergoes. There are several themes in the poem "si tenggang’s homecoming". The themes are:

Discovery

The poem provides a vivid picture of the world through the eyes of the persona. The persona’s journey is not just a physical journey of the outside world but also journey into the self, to discover the real person inside him. The persona discovers both the worlds. In the end, he is glorified to have discovered himself through his travels. The theme of discovery is present throughout the poem. The journey is a journey of discovery.

The Realities in Life

The theme of facing realities in life is present throughout the poem. The persona faces the realities of life especially through his travels to different places in the world. The persona steps into the real world and realises that there are various cultures and languages that people throughout the world possess, which make them unique. The persona sees the challenges that he faces and the challenges in the future as realities that one has to face. His travels provide him with valuable lessons to understand the realities of life.

Understanding Oneself

One of the themes of the poem also relates to understanding oneself. The persona reflects on the things that have happened in his life to understand himself better. He reflects on his travels and how his journey has made him to become a person who is different. His travels have broadened his mind and he is more confident of himself. The journey has made it possible for him to discover himself. Thus, he is able to understand himself better.

Being positive-minded

Being positive-minded is also a theme in the poem. The persona shows that he is positive-minded. He views the challenges in life as opportunities to broaden one’s mind and be
knowledgeable. He has a vision in life. The persona’s journey has made it possible for him to renew his outlooks on life. He is a changed person as his experiences through his travels
have made him to be open to changes and be more confident of himself. The theme relates to being positive and optimistic in life.

Being proud of one’s roots, culture and tradition

The theme of understanding and being proud of one’s roots, culture and tradition is also present throughout the poem. The persona understands that it is important to be proud of one’s roots, culture and tradition. The persona is still the same person who knows his identity and has a strong sense of belonging towards his people, culture and tradition.

Modesty

Modesty or having the virtues of being humble is another theme in the poem. Modesty relates to learning to be humble and showing respect. The persona enriches himself through his travels but he is modest.

Loneliness

The theme of loneliness is present in the poem as the persona feels lonely and alienated during his travels abroad. He misses his family members especially his wife.

Independence

Independence or self-reliance is also a theme in the poem. There is a personal struggle by the persona to be free. There is a joy in the persona that his travels have enabled him to
find himself and be free.


Moral Value -

The poem teaches us to be positive-minded and have a vision in Life, if we are to succeed in life. The persona’s journey has made it possible for him to renew his outlooks on life. He is
a changed person as his experiences through his travels have made him to be open to changes and be more confident of himself. The poem teaches us to look at life positively and be optimistic. Being positive and optimistic are important in life. These qualities would enable a person to overcome difficulties and obstacles, especially if one is willing to work hard and be responsible. The persona is a person who has a vision in life. He wishes to better himself and be a better
person, who has a brighter future in life.

Patriotism

The poem teaches us to be patriotic and to be loyal to one’s country. The persona travels abroad to seek knowledge and to learn about life. Although he is away from his country he still thinks of his country, people, culture and tradition. He is still the same person with a new outlook on life. We must be patriotic and be loyal to our King and country.

Understand ourselves better

The poem teaches us to understand ourselves better, especially to learn about our background or roots. It is important for us to discover our true self by looking back at the past and to better equip ourselves for the future. Life is a journey and It is important for us to identify ourselves with the society from which we come. The persona shares his rich travel experiences with the readers and from the poem we know that there are customs and traditions that we need to keep close to the heart. Understanding our rich traditions and cultural practices would make us understand ourselves better and make us realise who we are. The persona says that it is important to do things in accordance with the wisdom of our ancestors. It is necessary to understand cultures and see things in broader perspectives.

Be realistic and practical in life

The poem teaches us to deal with situations in a rational way, by understanding the situations well. It shows us that life is not a bed of roses. There are realities in life that we have
to face. The poem teaches us to be confident in life and be truthful. There is a cycle of life which means there is bound to be ups and downs in life. Thus, it is important that we be
realistic and practical in life. Moreover, we should learn to face the changing world in a matured way. We should not cry over spilt milk or be skeptical in life. We need to be brave to face the many challenges in life. Learn to appreciate one’s roots, culture and traditionThe poem teaches us to uphold and appreciate the rich traditions and cultures that are present in society. There are many different cultural practices in this world that we need to understand and appreciate them. We should not be judgmental about the differences found in other cultures, as there is strength in diversity especially in cultural practices and traditions. We are living in a multicultural society which provides us with great cultural richness. These cultural
practices of the peoples of Malaysia and other parts of the world distinguish us from one another. However, these cultural practices are a source of diversity, especially within the Malaysian context. We should preserve the rich cultural practices of the peoples of Malaysia. Our cultural diversity is our strength. The poem also teaches us to value one’s roots or ancestors, to understand ourselves better.

The value of family

Another lesson that we can learn from the poem is about the value of family. In our society, family plays an important part in preserving traditions and inculcating positive values. The family plays a role in shaping the individual to be a member of the society or community. The persona thinks about his family members as he knows that family means a lot to him.

Universal values and virtues

We learn about universal values and virtues through the poem. Values such as being courageous and confident are important in Life. Similarly, values such as being tolerant, humble, trustworthy, responsible, honest, independent or self-reliant, and humble are also important in life as these values and virtues help us to become a better person.

Poem IF

Theme -

Lesson on life

The theme of the poem is lesson on life.

Life is a journey that is full of uncertainties. It is best that one is prepared to face the challenges in life. The persona advises his son to look at life critically and not take everything at face value.
He has to distinguish between good and bad. There are important things that the persona wants his son to understand about the nature of life. The persona’s advice is a lesson on life, and how best to handle situations by upholding good principles and virtues.

Making important decisions in life

The poem deals with making important decisions in life. Decision making is an important aspect in life. Every one faces a situation in which he or she has to make a very important decision that would affect his next course of action. In the poem, the persona advises the son to make the
right decisions in life by weighing the pros and cons.

The realities in life

The persona explains that life is not a bed of roses. As such, it is important to face the realities of life. One has to go through the ups and downs of life. There are many obstacles that one has to overcome especially as a lone or solo traveller in the journey of life. One can be distracted by many things. This is one of the themes in the poem. The persona’s advice shows that one has to understand the realities of life and act accordingly. This is the reality in life. There are instances in life when one has to make a decision from the number of possibilities or alternatives,
based on one’s wisdom.

Facing challenges in life

One of the themes of the poem also relates to facing challenges in life. There are many challenges in life. The poem shows that the persona’s explains what is in store for his son in life. He wishes his son to equip himself with good qualities and virtues to face the challenges in life. He wishes for his son to be fair-minded, positive-minded and be optimistic in facing the challenges in life. Risk-taking is part of facing challenges in life. There are many uncertainties in life as indicated by the persona. Being optimistic helps one face the challenges in life.

Understanding oneself

The poem also highlights the theme of knowing oneself. It shows that the persona wishes for the son to understand himself better. He wants his son to know about his strengths and weaknesses, so that he is able to handle any situations. The persona advises the son to know that there are elements within a person that can destroy a person. These are the negative qualities that a person possesses such as day-dreaming, being selfish, evil-minded or disoriented. It is best that one understands oneself to triumph in life.

Forward-looking

The poem highlights the theme of forward-looking. The persona wishes for the son to be forward-looking. It is important to have a meaningful life in future as a person with the right
set of mind, personality and above all, good virtues.

Being positive-minded

Being positive-minded is also a theme in the poem. The persona wants his son to be positive-minded. The persona views life with optimism and wishes for his son to be successful in life
by being positive and picking up values and qualities that make him become a good person. The theme relates to being positive in life.

Modesty

Modesty or having the virtues of being humble is another theme in the poem. Modesty relates to learning to be humble and to show respect. The persona advises the son to be moderate in
life. Modesty also relates to having a balanced-life and not be egoistic.

Good versus evil

The theme of good versus evil is throughout the poem. In the final stanza, there is triumph when goodness overcomes evil or bad qualities that a person possesses.


Moral Value -

The poem teaches us to be positive-minded in life, if we are to succeed in life. The poem teaches us to look at life positively and to adopt qualities that reflect positive thinking. These qualities would enable a person to overcome difficulties and obstacles in life.

Understand ourselves better

The poem teaches us to understand ourselves better, especially to learn about our strengths and weaknesses. It is important for us to discover our true self. The persona wishes the son to avoid having negative qualities and to pick up qualities that project goodness, discipline and good behaviours. Life is a journey and it is important for us to identify ourselves with the society from which we come. There is a need for a person to identify himself as a member of the society to which he belongs and behave according to the norms. By understanding ourselves better we will be a useful citizen and be of service to the people, society and country.

Be realistic and practical in life

The poem teaches us to deal with situation in a rational way, by understanding the situation well. It shows us that life is not a bed of roses. There are realities in life that we have to face. The poem teaches us to be confident in life and be truthful. There is a cycle of life which means there is bound to be ups and downs in life. Thus, it is important that we be realistic and practical in life. Moreover, we should learn to face the changing world in a matured way. We should not cry
over spilt milk or be skeptical in life. We need to be brave to face the many challenges in life.

Never give up or be in despair

The lesson that we can learn from the poem is never to give up or become despair. We should not be losers but withstand defeat, and look for ways to overcome our weaknesses. We need
to work hard to attain victories. This can be done if there is a great desire to win in our heart and mind. The poem teaches us about the strength of will power, positive thinking and to be optimistic. It is an important lesson in life as will power is a great force in a person which is able to steer him or her to rise to the occasion and be successful. Life is not a bed of roses, so we need to face the challenges in life with the right attitude and by possessing noble qualities.

Universal values and virtues

We learn about universal values and virtues through the poem. Values such as being courageous and confident are important in life. Similarly, values such as being tolerant, humble, trustworthy, responsible, honest, independent or self-reliant, and humble are also important in life as these values and virtues help us to become a better person. The persona wishes for his son to be someone who has the right values, principles and virtues. He wishes his son to be a. dignified person, who values time and uses it wisely. These values, aspirations and aims in life are important to make a person understand the meaning of living in a community or society.

Poem Road Not Taken

Subject -

The subject of the poem is making important decisions in life. The lone traveller has to make an important decision to continue his journey.

Theme

- Making important decision in life
- The realities in life
- Facing challenges in life
- Understanding oneself
- Forward-looking

Making important decision in life
The poem deals with making important decision in life. Decision making is an important aspect in life. The persona faces a situation in which he has to a very important decision that would affect his next course of action. In the poem the persona is a traveller who comes a across two diverged roads. He has to choose the one that would take him to the right destination. The persona makes the decision after weighing the pros and cons.

The realities in life
The persona faces the realities of life as a solo traveller. There is no one he can turn to for help or to assist him to make decisions. This is one of the themes in the poem. The persona realises of his immediate environment and knows that the situation is a real one. He is faced with a problem. There are two options or alternatives available but he can only choose one. This is the reality in life. There are instances in life when one has to make a decision from the number of possibilities or alternatives.

Facing challenges in life
One of the themes of the poem also relates to facing challenges in life. There are many challenges in life. The poem shows that persona is willing to face challenges in life. He is willing to make decisions that are risky. Risk-taking is part of facing challenges in life. There are many uncertainties in life as indicated by the persona but as a traveller at the cross-road of life, he is willing to take challenges to achieve his goals. Being optimistic helps face the challenges in life.

Understanding oneself
The poem also highlights the theme knowing oneself. It shows that the persona knows himself very well especially his strengths and weaknesses. He is willing to make a vital decision and face the consequences of his action. The persona is confident in making decisions.

Forward-looking
The poem highlights the theme of forward-looking. The persona as a traveller is a forward-looking person. He looks forward to the future even without knowing what the future holds. The
persona is also optimistic towards the future.


Moral Value -


The poem teaches us to deal with situations in a rational way, by understanding the situation well. It also teaches us to make important decisions carefully. The persona shows that it is important to weigh the pros and cons before solving a problem or making an important decision.

The poem highlights positive values that are important to succeed in life. It teaches us to be forward-looking, optimistic, and far-sighted. We need to be focused as life is a journey and we are all travellers. Thus, we need to make the right decisions in life.

We learn the importance of being realistic and practical in life. When we make decisions from available options we have to be careful as we have to face the consequences of our actions. It teaches us to be brave in facing the challenges in life and to make decisions carefully as some decisions in life are risky. Risk-taking is part and parcel of challenges in life.

The Pearl Theme

The Pearl’ is a novel which shows the power of hope in people.

Kino sees a larger meaning to life after discovering the pearl. The pearl is a symbol of hope. Kino knows that his family would be able to look forward to a brighter future. He is able to bring his family out from the clutches of poverty and sufferings. Kino wants his son Coyotito to be educated: to go through formal education and be knowledgeable. Kino visualises a great life ahead: fine clothes, necessities and luxuries. Throughout the story, the power of hope, makes the people look forward to life. Kino is very hopeful that he will be able to break away from all the miseries, sufferings, and uncertainties he and his family face. The theme of hope runs throughout the story and drives Kino to believe that success is within reach. The feeling of hope is overwhelming in the novel.

The theme of despair is also evident in the story.

Despair relates to the feeling of hopelessness. It is the feeling of losing all hope and seeing the end to the meaning of life. The main characters, Kino and Juana despair towards the end of the story. They are hopeless as they bring their only son Coyotito, lifeless back to La Paz. Juana’s hysterical cry is none other than the cry of death. Their hope is crushed. The meaning of life is blurred as they realise that their precious child is dead. The pearl which Kino hoped would bring meaningful change and success, becomes meaningless. The feeling of despair makes them decide to throw the pearl back into the sea. Kino is not able to secure a bright future for his family. The feeling of despair marks the end of the story.

The theme of good versus evil is found in most novels.

The actions of the characters in the novel allow the readers to distinguish between good and evil. The protagonists (Kino and Juana) represent good. They are simple people, who have over time undergone hardships, but lead an honest life. Kino, Juana, Juan Tomas, Apolonia, and their neighbours are innocent people who depend on the sea for fish and pearl. They work hard and live in a close-knit community. On the other hand, the doctor, pearl buyers, attackers and trackers are evil-minded people. They belong to a race of people who have taken advantage of Kino’s people, for centuries, causing great sufferings and miseries to them.

They are selfish and self-centred.

They want the pearl as they know it is valuable. The doctor wishes to own the pearl for his own selfish needs. He longs to live in France, where he would be able to do as he wishes. He is too materialistic. He treats Coyotito and offers to safeguard the pearl for Kino. But, he has his own evil plans. The pearl buyers are evil as they try to cheat Kino by offering him very low prices for his pearl. They conspire to cheat the poor fisherman knowing that he is innocent. The trackers are merciless killers. They represent evil. They set out to track and even kill Kino and his family. Evil minds cause Kino and his family to suffer. Intruders attack Kino to get the pearl. They damage his canoe and burn his brush house. Kino and Juana become homeless and flee the village as fugitives.The pearl is also a symbol of evil. The pearl brings all the miseries to Kino and his family. Juana warns Kino that the pearl is evil. It will destroy them but Kino sees the pearl as a means to a bright future. In the end, Kino realises the pearl is evil and knows that it is better to get rid of evil than to keep it with him, and throws the pearl back into the sea. Kino does not give up easily. He does not accept the pearl buyers’ offers. He defies them and plans to go to the capital to sell his pearl. Kino fights an intruder who tries to steal his pearl. Kino kills a man in self-defense. He also kills three evil trackers who are out to get him and his family. All these actions show that good overcomes evil.

Greed is seen as a negative quality in people.

There are a number of characters in the novel who are greedy. The doctor, the pearl buyers, the attackers and the trackers are greedy. The doctor is greedy to want someone else’s possession. He is self-centred and does not want to treat Coyotito because Kino cannot pay him for his service. He pretends to treat Coyotito with evil plans in his mind. He wants the pearl and offers to keep it safely for Kino at his place. The pearl buyers are greedy to want someone’s fortune and conspire to cheat Kino. They are only interested in the pearl as they know its true value. The attackers, who attack Kino, are out to get his pearl. They want the pearl for their own evil purpose. The trackers look for Kino and his family with one thing in their mind: to get the pearl. They will not hesitate to kill anyone in their way.The actions of the above characters are driven by greed. The doctor wants to live a great life in France and is materialistic. The pearl buyers are desperate to cheat Kino because of greed. Greed makes these people behave cruel,irrational, inhuman, irresponsible, selfish, and good deeds are drowned in the pursuit of fortune.

The theme of struggle for survival and freedom is also evident in the novel.

Kino's people are poor, suppressed and do not have many opportunities in life. They work hard to make a Decent income. Many of his people are beggars too. They belong to the lower socio-economic group. Thus, they do not have formal education and have to depend on others to get information or know about important matters. Kino and his people are innocent. They work very hard but are not able to escape from their miseries and sufferings. This has been going on for centuries. Kino's people are not able to enjoy better things in life. They live a simple and primitive life. Thus, the struggle of the people to have a better life for them and future generations are highlighted in the novel.The theme of survival and freedom runs throughout the story. Kino struggles to make it in life. He knows that education would bring changes to society. He wishes to move away from the older order of life. The older order of life makes him and his people trapped without having better opportunities. He wants the future generation to have a better life and enjoy greater freedom. Kino’s struggles are symbolic of the struggles of his people for survival and freedom. The answer to their sufferings and uncertainties is wealth. The pearl which Kino finds is the answer to the problem. Kino sees a greater meaning to life: a brighter future and freedom. He wants his son to be set free from all the sufferings he and his people are undergoing. But, he is not able to get them out from the cycle of life: He is not able to free his family. His struggles have no meaning in the end.

The Pearl Synopsis

Synopsis

Kino and his family live in the fishing village. Kino looks for pearls to support his family. Kino and his people are treated with disrespect especially by the rich. Kino feels humiliated and he is troubled. He is determined to find a solution to all the problems that he and his family face. He dives to search for a pearl that would reshape his life and that of his family. The answer to his miseries is found. Kino finds the greatest pearl in the world. He starts to see hope in his life and dreams of starting life all over with his new found treasure. But, the pearl brings him and his family only more misfortune and miseries! Kino and Juana find themselves at the crossroads of life and they are hunted by people with greedy ambitions and evil minds. The pearl has brought out the worst in man! Kino and Juana are on the run to escape evil. The pearl is now the root of their entire problem. Kino needs to make up his mind whether to keep the pearl or get rid of it for good. He makes up his mind and throws the pearl back into the sea. Kino loses everything, his home, his only son and hope. Kino's dreams are shattered and the pearl is no longer with him. He and Juana must face the realities of life.

The Pearl Moral Value

Moral Values

Moral values are important in life. Moral values readers make judgments on which actions are right or wrong based on certain virtues, qualities and principles. These virtues are universally accepted. Honesty is a virtue which is upheld by all societies. There are many other positive qualities that would help us become a better person. Looks at some of the moral values found in the novel below:

Honesty

Being honest is important as it shows one’s character. There is a saying that honesty is the best policy. These are not mere words as people who are honest are highly regarded by everyone. In the story, Kino and Juana are honest to each other. They speak the truth and are god-fearing people. Juan Tomas and Apolonia are also honest. They do not cheat or steal from others to prosper. From Kino and Juan Tomas, we learn of many who have cheated these poor people in parting with their pearls. In the past, these people have even employed agents to sell their
pearls in the capital. But, the agents cheated them and they never heard of them nor saw their pearls again. From the actions of the characters especially Kino and Juana, we learn the value of being honest.

Trust

Trust is important in a person’s life. We need to be trustworthy so that people will have high regard for us. In the story, Kino trusts Juana, Juan Tomas and Apolonia. He trusts his people and knows that everyone is interested in him and his family’s well-being. The people are united and they are together. When Coyotito is stung by the scorpion the neighbours gather in front of Kino’s brush house. Similarly,they follow Kino and Juana to see the doctor to treat Coyotito. The element of trust is very important when we live as a society. Kino knows that he can trust his people.However, things change after Kino finds the pearl and people become envious of him. In the story, Kino takes his pearl to La Paz, the pearl trading centre to sell his pearl. He does so because he trusts the people. However, Kino realises that they are trying to cheat him and defies them. Kino starts to be suspicious of people especially when he has a strong hunch or a feeling deep inside him. Juana trusts her husband and follows him to the mountain to escape evil men. She trusts Kino as her and Coyotito’s saviour. Even when Kino asks her to use another trail and escape from the trackers, while he misleads the trackers, she refuses to do so. She knows she can trust Kino to safeguard her and Coyotito. We learn from the actions and thoughts of the main characters the importance of trust.

Bravery

Being brave to face the challenges that confront us is a positive quality. We need to be brave in order to act in the best possible way. In the setting of the story, the people depend on the sea to make a living. They go out to the sea to catch fish and also dive into the sea to look for pearls.Going underwater by holding one’s breath is not easy. It requires skills and one needs to be brave. Kino is a brave man who has great stamina. He can hold his breath for more than two minutes underwater. Kino is brave. He faces the intruders and attackers, putting up a fight. In self-defence, he kills one of his attackers. He also kills three trackers knowing very well that they are out to kill him and his family. Kino shows that he is a brave man throughout the story. It is difficult to make important decisions in life. Kino makes some important decisions because he is brave to face the consequences of his actions. He is willing to keep the pearl even though he knows for sure that evil eyes are prying and malicious individuals are out to rob him of it. Even after being attacked twice, losing his canoe and house, Kino wants to fight back. He is brave to travel to the capital to sell his pearl. This action is seen as defying the older order of life. Kino is brave to break away from his ‘life-trap’, knowing that his family needs a better future. Juana is also brave. She acts fast in deciding to flee the place. She shows that she is a brave woman. When Coyotito is stung by a scorpion, she sucks at the wound to try to get the poison out of his body. She does not fear her life and risks it to save her baby. She makes a brave move by trying to throw the pearl away, knowing very well that Kino disapproves of such an intentions. We learn about bravery from the actions of the characters and their reactions to situations.

The danger of greed

While greed is seen as a theme in the story and how it leads to evil actions, it is also seen as a moral lesson. Greed shows its ugly face throughout the story. It is because of greed, the desire to be rich and great, that people resort to evil ways causing others to suffer and be miserable. In “The Pearl” we see the downfall of a man and his family. Kino loses everything because of others’ greed. Kino loses his livelihood, brush house, canoe, and is forced to flee from people who are out to kill him and his family. Kino also loses his future. The greatest loss for Kino is the death of Coyotito, who he wishes would be educated and be his family’s hope for a greater meaning to life. But, Coyotito is shot accidentally when he is mistaken as a coyote pup by one of the trackers. Greed is seen through the actions of the doctor, pearl buyers, attackers and trackers. The neighbours become envious of Kino. Everyone wish to own the pearl and make a fortune out of it.The doctor agrees to treat Coyotito because he is driven by greed. He has his own evil plans in place. Greed also drives the other to be cunning, malicious, intolerant, selfish, calculative, insincere, possessive and violent. Greed is the cause for men to turn violent and attack Kino. It causes people to kill. It brings great hardships, sufferings and miseries to Kino and his family. In the end, it causes Kino to be aimless and lose the meaning of life. We learn that greed leads to one’s downfall.

The Pearl Language

Language
Writers/ authors use language to make the story more interesting. They use language to engage the readers’ senses and imagination. Writers/authors use different styles to present stories and to make the situations dramatic or realistic. Style refers to the unique features of a written piece of literary work, which differ from other literary works. Writers use a style which allows him or her to make the narration, description, explanation, recount and presentation more effective for the readers to appreciate the literary works. In the novel “The Pearl” the author uses the following figurative language (words, phrases or sayings which provide a mental picture, and often give different meanings from the usual use). The author also uses imagery (words, phrases or expressions) which works on our senses. Our five senses are engaged through the use of particular imagery and we, as the readers, feel the experiences, as if we too are part of the experience or events. The author also relies on the people’s traditions and socio-cultural experiences to make the story interesting. The use of songs is an interesting way of getting the readers to have a unique experience. There are a number of songs that play in the minds and hearts of the native Mexican-Indians. There are songs of the family, the music of the enemy, music of the pearl, dark music, music of evil and ancient magic to safeguard from evil. Song and music play an important part in the lives of these people. This is the belief of the people. The song of family is that of peace and harmony. It shows that everything is calm and positive. The song of the enemy or evil refers to some form of warning that something bad would happen. The song of the pearl is a mixture of both good and evil. When Kino dives to look for pearls and find the great pearl, the song of the pearl is of hope. This changes as the story develops and the song of the pearl becomes a sign of evil. The use of songs and music playing in the minds and hearts of the people make the story unique compared to other stories. Type of Songs What the Songs Symbolise Song of familyUnity, strength, peace, harmony, calmness Song of the enemy or evilWarning, danger, uncertainties, disasters Song of the pearl (good and bad) Hope, future, fortune, security, happiness Evil, harm, disasters, fatality, meaningless Let us look at how the author uses language to make the narration both interesting and effective. The author uses day and night to show the different between good and evil. The beginning of day is positive and shows hope. The attacks on Kino, the murders and all evil happenings take place at night.- “…only a pale wash of light in the lower sky…” (Page 1) - “The ants were busy on the ground…” (Page 3) - “And they began this day with hope.” (Page 39) - “…and the devils that haunt the night…” (Page 66) Some of these words or phrases, and sentences are used to make comparisons. Words such as ‘as’ and ‘like’ are used to make comparisons. The author uses figurative language: The comparisons are made with reference to animals: colonial animal, purring of a kitten, chickens, the circling of wolves, the hover of vultures. “…grey oysters with ruffles like skirts on the shells.” (Page 16) “A town is like a colonial animal.”(Page 21) “And the music of the pearl rose like a chorus of trumpets in his ears.” (Page 24) “The song of the family came from behind him like the purring of a kitten.” (Page 29) “He scattered the old women like chickens.” (Page 34) “He must break out of the pot that holds us in.”(Page 38) “He felt the creeping of fate, the circling of wolves, the hover of vultures.” (Page 49) “ He was an animal now…” (Page 60) “ The killing of a man was not so evil as the killing of a boat.” (Page 60)“ The trackers whined a little, like excited dogs on a warming trail.” (Page 71) Language is also used to show emphasis and to make readers experience the circumstances. Look at the following phrase and sentences. “…the thousand washings of his clothes and set them down as poverty people.” (Page 8) “I am a doctor not a veterinary.” (Page 11) “The pearl was ugly; it was grey, like a malignant growth.” (Page 87) Words are also used to create the mood (feelings: sad, excited, gloom, hope, success etc.)The words are used for a purpose: to make the reader undergo the experiences. Let’s look at these phrases: “The stars still shone…” (Page 1): to show that there is hope, a new day is coming. “…hear the evil music of the enemy.” (Page 5): to show the feeling of fear. “…rich, and warm and lovely, glowing and gloating and triumphant.” (Page 19): to show the sense of hope. “…he could see dream forms” (Page 19): to show a feeling of achievement.

The Pearl Character

Characters in the Novel

Kino
- The head of his family
- Juana’s husband
- Coyotito’s father
- Simple person ( lives the life of an ordinary fisher and pearl-diver)
- No formal education (possesses knowledge of the world; good swimmer and diver, knows the environment well, able to single out poisonous trees and trees that bring misfortunes).
- Intuitive/ instinctive (has a sense of feeling of good, evil and mystics)
- Firm believer of God (religious), respects the church and priest
- Protective, caring, contented with life, forward-looking (visionary)
- Enduring, strong, focused, brave, honest, hopeful, determined, diligent
- Suspicious, secretive, rebellious, hard-headed, confused, disillusioned, emotional, impatient

Juana
- Faithful and obedient wife, homemaker,
- Helpful, responsible, warm, loving and caring, hardworking, brave, thoughtful
- Does not complain, supportive, respectful, sincere,patient, brave, consoling
- Selfless (Does not worry of own health and safety when she sucks scorpion’s poison from Coyotito’s shoulder).
- Knowledgeable in ancient magic, and herbal medication
- Assertive of situations
- Accepts husband as head of the family and follows instructions
- Intuitive and senses evil in the pearl ( forewarns Kino)
- Defies Kino and attempts to throw pearl into the sea.
- Innocent and forgiving
- Religious and God-fearing
- Source of strength to Kino

Coyotito
- Kino’s and Juana’s baby boy
- Suffers a great deal throughout the story
- Source of hope for Kino and Juana
- Innocent
- Killed accidentally
- The bond between Kino and Juana

Juan Tomas
- Kino’s elder brother
- Acts as adviser to Kino
- Helpful, tolerant and wise
- Religious and always reminds Kino to be extra careful
- Supportive of his brother, Kino
- Responsible, protective, assertive, resourceful

Apolonia
- Juan Tomas’ wife
- Helpful, tolerant, responsible, caring, understanding, emotional
- Supportive of her husband and Kino’s family

The Doctor
- Educated, knowledgeable
- Selfish, irresponsible, cunning, self-centred, greedy, inconsiderate
- Materialistic, has his own ulterior motive to treat Coyotito

The Priest
-Knowledgeable in religious matters, spiritual adviser and leader
- Cunning, has ulterior motive when visiting Kino
- Reminds Kino to be generous and charitable towards the Church

The Pearl Buyers
- Pearl traders in La Paz
- Conspirators ( cheat Kino by telling him that his pearl is worthless and offer low prices)
- Materialistic, selfish, greedy, cunning, insincere, crooks

The Trackers
- Inland hunters, cold-blooded murderers
- Hunt Kino and his family (for money)
- Skilful trackers (they can track people or animal by examining tracks, marks, or other clues)
- Dangerous, cunning

aku dah xnk simpan dalam komputer aku dah The Pearl ni, so aku nk bagi r kat sape2 yang nk!

Hai.... Form 5 eris.... Tinggal kenangan je.... :'(

ni aku amik dari blog kawan aku, nama nya Zalika a/p Hashim :) tapi aku edit r sket2..

Ahli jawatnkuasa tertinggi dlu ekk..

Abdul Majid -
err..seorg yg blurr..mgkin.. sebab ade ciri2 spongebob n ronaldinho sket..klakar..kdg2 je...hurmm..wlaupn dia ni ketua tingktan tapi hampeh! bukan di cari cikgu, cikgu yang cari die.. nasib hang lah anna..haha..mmbe2 pompuan aku melabelkn dia ni as ketua tingktn yg useless..
aku stuju gak r ..

Nur Atikah -
slh seorg of membe aku yang rekod gne henfon paling kejap! alik2 hilang..pnolong tingktn..duduk depan aku..seorg yg kabut gak..bila ckp..suara tu xleh nk d'slow kn same cam izati jacob....haha..ngan die aku boleh r bluetooth lagu2 indie nie...sebab..Tika ni BUDAK GIGS!haha..

Safia - Err..dia ni gempak sikit...pandai..PANDAI GILE2 r! setiap kali exam dia ni msti dpt 10A..n dpt no 1..dia ni ok..bendahari..duduk dpn Haziqah..ada la sifat2 kesengalan dlm diri dia..tapi sikit je..

Nur Farizan -
Setiausaha kelas?xpnh wat keje pn..masa awl2 tahun tu..ade r sikit2 keje dia wat..dia ni seorg yg kuat dating! hari2 mau dating bersama bf dia yg leh dikatakn sebagai yang amik 21 subjek 2..haha..dia ni oklaa..kaya?boleh la..

Haziqah -
ok..dis girl mmg hampeh..wat keje sparuh jln..haha..ni la dia makcik tuu..seorg ketua keceriaan..kelas kita da cukup ceria ke ziqa?erkk..satu persoalan...seorg yg gile...mulut xberhenti berckp..apa2 pn..dia ni lah yg slalu wat kelas jd kabut..minat kat ANK ABDULLAH CHE!!! lu pk r sape budak 2!hehe..tapi hati still kat Hariz kn??

Shukree -
shuk ketua kebersihan..ala..tapi dia ni pn wat dunno je bila kelas bersepah2 dgn sampah..agak pemalu ngan pompuan cam hafizah n haziqah?budak ni slalu j sakitkan hati membe ngan kate2 yang suke ati mak bapak die je nak cakap! cotohnya-- die pnah cakap shasha ni syaitan merupai manusia n lagi 1 die puji gigi majid comel??? :p

Girls
Bannu -
Hotstuff babe..kegilaan plajar2 lelaki yg beragama Hindu..LOL! mempunyai pelbagai fashion rambut..kejap2 tocang 2..kejap2 ponnytail..ape2 je la Bannu ekk..ko tetap hot .. sampai haritheran pu mlekat kat ko!!!

Hafizah S -
boleh diibaratkn as Perempuan Melayu Terakhir cz sikap dia yg lemah lembut..sopan..ceh..Hafizah ni kire ok..baik n susah nk dgr dia ni menjerit or marah2..haha

Nurul Syazwani -
alep kate.."Wani tip top"..haha..bg aku..wani ok je..rumah 3 tgkat acond ade 8..ceh..mentang2 pak ajis tu kontraktor...! wani...jenis yg setia kawan..wlaupn kawan2 dia n dia berlainan kelas..mereka tetep SEHATI SEJIWA..

Mathilashini -
betul ke aku spell name dia?tggi wo ini minahchi..dia ni jenis yg lurus sikit..org yg xcomel pn dia kate comel..pelik tol pompuan ni..

Siti Hajar - Melayu+Chinese..korg leh teka mcmne muka dia kan??cute la gak..baik..pandai..er..kedekut n ssh nk wat die lpe yang kte berhutang ngan die. tru btul die ni.

Zalikha Nashuha -
anak pak cik hashim yang mniage sebelah kedai mak aku tme bazaar ari 2..... die ni??? ntah r. bajet hot je... hehehe.... bada die? cam pamela bai...

Nur Amirah -
aku respect bdk ni, membe2 die sume ske wat bising n kepcoh kepoh. t die tetap cool..... :) aku kenal minah ni dah lame, dari skola rendah lg...... d skola yg krang nilai komersialnye. SK MERBAU S*MP*K.

Nurul Izzati -
ala..same gak mcm Haziqah dia ni..dia ni bajet sket..bila time exam..suka call org tnya "eh..ko da blajar da?ko blajar ape je?KO ADE SOALAN SPO?"...bila org tny dia balik..dia akn jwb.."eh..aku xblajar lg la..malas.." padahal dia da abz bace 1 buku!bajet tol minah ni...!'Izzati - minah ni pandai mcm Safia..Dia ni mcm berlumba2 dgn Safia untk menjd yg terbaik..zati yg ni sengal n gila2 sikit wlaupn pd luarannya dia ni mcm sopan2 n ala2 Prempuan Mlayu Terakhir..tapi gila2!

Nur Liyana -
minat anime..aduyaii.........Naruto?Heh..papelaa.. SEORANG YANG AKU TAKUT NAK TGUR.... tambah2 ble die ngah main chess. ni pun dari skola rendah yang same gak. dari aku darjah 4 smpi skang! mesti 1 klas.

Ashmira - minat anime gak..a lil bit poyo..hehe..shh..............!status ngan abu bakri unknown!

Hafizah H - err..dia ni...eii..ntah la..bila dia da minat seseorg tu..dia akn sedaya upaya nk goda seseorg tuu wlaupn da byk kali diberi nasihat..wattever la ko..

Nur Syuhada - minah ni..if x tepuk bontot org sehari xsah! sakit la wey!! tapi aku x pnah kna, jeles betu!!

Nitya - aku xtaw mcmne minah ni leh score physics n chemistry..zaty kate dia ni ank murid ksygan teacher Sheila..haha..ingt aku kesahhh ke??

Boys

Muhd. Ifazrin Akashah a.k.a shasha -
gila..cara ckp dia leh wat org gelak..cool..dia ni xcepat mrh n xpnh marah pon..senyum je bila org marah dia..blur sikit la mamat ni macam spongebob yang aku cakap 2..

Safwan Nabil a.k.a fly -
salah seorang yang telah bertaubat dari hentai! tahniah!

Abu Bakri a.k.a abe - ceh..pengerusi kelab pmbimbing rkan sebaya..ok..low profile.. mase spm memanjang je kat rumah aku...

Muhd. Nahfiz a.k.a unta -
ngee..tinggi..pengerusi kelab bola keranjang..bajet hot kdg2 kate bdk pompuan r.. mamat ni rekod gak sebab ade jari kaki yg terpanjang antara kitorng.

Haritheran -
Haziqah kate hari ni mcm KLCC kat saujana ni..haha..bg aku..Hari macho di hati bannu....dgn janggut dia n org kate dia ade skandal dgn zaty..wakaka...! btl ke???

Muhd. Izzat Firdaus a.k.a ijat -
dia ni ada dgn xde..same je..suka ponteng..lg2 kelas English..dunno why..budak gigs gak.. x sempat nk knal nga die sgt.

Ahmad Fakhri Syahmi a.k.a Fakh -
Digelar "amad" oleh Haziqah..amat setia kpd awexxnya..haha..hingga sanggup cari pasal with ktorg dsebabkn awexxnya itu..ape2 pn.. korang dah bebaik kn>

Tamilmani a.k.a tamil -
Nazirul kate tamil ni husband zalikha?.....ade ke dia kate yg cicakman tu berguru dgn dia..pape la tamil..janji ko bahagia..

Muhd. Syazwan -
nilah aku. ske berdating time waktu lapang. ngan sape??? ade r....

Wan Muhd. Alif -
Emo nk mmpos kate geng zalika..cepat terpengaruh..syg kat gf dia yg tggi lampai tuu..dari Kelantan..ngee..mak Zaty kate muke alep ade sikit2 mcm Anuar Zain.. aku tgk xde mirip langsung.

Yuhinesan a.k.a macha -
pengawas yg ade skandal dgn Atikah..cinta sama atikah..wakakaa...macha2....mamat ni pnah operate jantung.... tp still boleh menng olahraga :P

Ahmad Nazirul a.k.a sepet -
melayu..tapi muke mcm cina abz r..! seorg prngawas yg berwibawa..eceh2..dapat anugrah ape ntah hari tuu..boleh dikatakn ada skandal dgn Syuhada..hehehhhhh

Syed Ozal Zakaria - Ketua Pengawas..duduk blakg aku..hobi tatkala boring..NYANYI..n mintak cermin kat zalika cz nk tgk rambut dia...ozal..plz la jgn nyanyi lg..................................! wat kna kutuk je oi.....

Fariz a.k.a apexx - punya hati kpd wani..err...43D aku rase??