SECTION B: LITERATURE COMPONENT (POEM)

Note: A big thank to Madam Catherine Grey Kaling and Miss Priscilla for the sharing of idea and advicess. Compliment to Teacher Siti Nor Falisha, Mr. Mohana Ram Murugiah and Teacher Nuha for the sharing of notes and questions.

Blogs: http://teachernuha.blogspot.com/ http://englishvibes.blogspot.com/ Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/sitinorfalisha

PREPARED BY MOHD ASRAF MD ISHAK SMK KEMABONG, TENOM, SABAH.

SECTION B: LITERATURE COMPONENT POEMS

FORM 1 FORM 3 POEMS FORM FORM1 FORM 2 FORM 3 POEM THE RIVER BY VALERIE BLOOM MR NOBODY (AUTHOR UNKNOWN) I WONDER BY JEANNIE KIRBY HEIR CONDITIONING BY M.SHANMUGHALINGAM A FIGHTERS LINES BY MARZUKI ALI LEISURE BY WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES PMR TIPS
1. Poems: - open ended questions - 2 questions 3 marks 2. Students must learn and understand the elements of: - the persona - the meaning of every difficult word or phrase - the meaning of every line - themes - moral values / lessons / messages - the expressions used - tone and mood 3. Answer could be lifted from the extract or could be paraphrased. 4. For YES / NO question, marks are given for a relevant reason which is related to the poem. For Example: Do you enjoy reading the stanzas? Give a reason. (The River, 2 marks) Answer: Yes, I enjoy reading the stanzas. (1 mark) The river is personified like a man. (1 mark) 5. There may be a personal response question. You have to give your opinion or feelings about the issued raised in the poems. For example: If you were the grandfather, what would you say to the grandchild? (Heir Conditioning, 2 marks) Answer: I would tell him life was happier during my time. (1 mark) I was contented with the basic necessities in life. (1 mark)

SIMPLE NOTES FOR POEMS FORM 1 FORM 3 (PART 1)

POEMS THE RIVER (FORM 1) SUMMARY 1. The river is always moving from one place to another through valleys and hills. 2. When it twists and turns, it looks like it is dancing along. 3. The river makes bubbling and musical sounds, which echoes in the village. 4. The river keeps many things on its bed. 5. The river can be dangerous where it may cause soil erosion and floods. When it floods, people drown. 1. The poem is about a common situation in the house. 2. When anything goes wrong, we blame others. 3. Nobody admits to doing them and nobody knows who did them. So, we say, Mr Nobody did it!. 4. Mr Nobody is an imaginary person who is strange and quiet. 5. He walks in and out of the house silently doing all the mischievous things but is never caught. 6. Nobody admits to it and nobody takes responsibility for it. The culprit remains silent. 7. When chores have to be done in the house, nobody wants to do them. 8. We just wait for somebody else to do it. SETTING 1. Setting of Place: in the countryside where there is a river. 2. Setting of Time: the present time. PERSONA 1. The persona or speaker is probably a teenager or a young adult. 2. The persona is an observant person. 3. The persona compares the flow of river at different stretches with different types of people he/she knows. 1. The persona is probably a parent or any other person who is used to handle all the daily chores in the house. 2. The persona is a practical person. 3. The persona notices the happenings in the house.

MR. NOBODY (FORM 1)

1. Setting of Place: in a house. Things are broken, dirtied, misplaced and thrown about. 2. Setting of Time: across time can be in the past or in the present.

POEMS I WONDER (FORM 2)

SUMMARY 1. The persona admires nature and its beauty which is all created by God. 2. The persona wants to know the answers to a lot of questions such as why the grass is green and how the birds build their nests. 3. The personas father does not answer the questions. 4. Perhaps the personas father does not know the answers of the questions. 5. Like the persona, we too should stop and look at the wonders of nature around us.

SETTING 1. Setting of Place: in the outdoors where the persona observes nature in its many forms. 2. Setting of Time: starts with a bright day, continues through a clear night, then during a storm and ends after the storm. 1. Setting of Place: the grandparents home or the grandchilds home. 2. Setting of Time: modern times (the present time).

PERSONA 1. The persona is a young child who is intelligent , observant and curious about nature. 2. The young child is amazed by the wonders of nature and asks questions of things about nature. 3. The child is puzzled why adults will not answer his/her questions.

HEIR CONDITIONING (FORM 2)

1. This poem is in the form of dialogue between a grandchild and his/her grandparent. 2. This poem compares: a) the olden time and the modern time. b) the older generation and the younger generation. 3. In the first stanza, the grandchild: a) asking how is life in the olden days. b) wonders how the older generation lived without modern inventions like air conditioning and faxes. c) thinks life is easier now than before.

1. In Stanza 1: - The persona is the grandchild. - He/she asks his.her grandparent simple questions about life. 2. In Stanza 2: - The persona is the grandparent (either grandfather or grandmother). - The grandparent answers the grandchilds questions.

POEMS HEIR CONDITIONING (FORM 2)

SUMMARY 4. In the second stanza, the grandparent replies that: a) life was simpler in the olden days with no modern gadgets. b) people feared God and they did not destroy nature and environment. c) life was hard but people were happier. d) they did not have environmental problems like pollution and traffic jams. e) people in modern generation are greedy and materialistic. They are not afraid of God. f) people in modern generation destroy nature and environment. g) people in modern generation have easier life but unhappy and stressed. 1. This poem is a monologue. 2. As a freedom fighter, the persona fought for his countrys independence. 3. He sacrificed his life for freedom. 4. He was wounded and wheelchair-bound. 5. He is old, tired and weak. 6. His country is facing many challenges and threats like corruption. 7. He cannot fight anymore because he is old. 8. Nobody will listen to him. 9. He thinks the young people are easily misled and he is disappointed with their attitude.

SETTING

PERSONA

A FIGHTERS LINES (FORM 3)

1. Setting of Place: most probably in a village. 2. Setting of Time: the present time.

1. The persona is a former freedom fighter. 2. The poem is written in the first person.

POEMS A FIGHTERS LINES (FORM 3)

SUMMARY 10. He wants the younger generation to fight like them for freedom. 11. He tells them to: a) be brave and unite. b) speak up for their rights. c) fight to protect their country. 1. The poem tells us that: a) we rush through life and have no time for leisure. b) we are too busy with our worries and responsibility so we have no time to enjoy the beauty of nature. c) observing the beauty of nature is a good thing. d) we have no time to see simple things in nature like the animals, plants and rainbows. 2. Life is meaningless if we do not take time to admire and enjoy the beauty of nature. 3. Our working bodies is like a motor which needs rest to reduce stress and to work efficiently. 4. We need time to rest and reflect. 5. The best way is to slow down and make time to observed and enjoy the simple things in nature.

SETTING

PERSONA

LEISURE (FORM 3)

1. Setting of Place: in a village (or in the countryside) 2. Setting of Time: the present time.

1. The persona is possibly the poet himself. 2. The persona is a reflective and perceptive person. 3. The persona mentions that in todays hectic life, we forget to take a break to simply enjoy life and nature.

SIMPLE NOTES FOR POEMS FORM 1 FORM 3 (PART 2)

POEMS THE RIVER (FORM 1) SUMMARY 1. Man and nature. 2. Nature can be beneficial and destructive. 3. Challenges in life MR. NOBODY (FORM 1) 1. Responsibility. SETTING 1. We must appreciate nature for example rivers. 2. We must remember that nature, like the river, can be useful and it can also destroy. 3. We should face problems in life positively. 1. We must be responsible for what we do. 2. We must always tell the truth. 3. We must do our jobs or chores responsibly. 1. We must appreciate the wonders of nature. 2. We can learn many things by observing and asking questions. 3. We must hunger for knowledge just like children do. 4. We should be grateful that God has created nature and natural phenomena. PERSONA 1. Stability is important in life.

1. We must have the courage to admit our wrongdoings. 2. Only cowards do not have moral strength to admit their mistakes.

2. Honesty. 3. Family life.

I WONDER (FORM 2)

1. The wonders of nature.

1. Learn to observe and to appreciate nature. 2. Be thankful to the one who is responsible for such beauty.

2. Learning by observing and asking questions. 3. Thirst of knowledge. 4. Belief in God.

POEMS HEIR CONDITIONING (FORM 2)

SUMMARY 1. Being materialistic. 2. Man and nature. 3. Greed 4. Being contented.

SETTING 1. We must no be materialistic. 2. We must value and care for nature such as trees and rivers. 3. We must not be greedy. Greed brings problems. 4. We must be contented with what we have. 1. We must be patriotic and show our love to the country. 2. We should be united to be strong. 3. We should do our duty to our country. 4. We must sacrifice to fight for our countrys independence. 5. We must have the courage to speak up against deceit. 1. We must rest and relax to work better. 2. We must observe and enjoy the beauty of nature. 3. We must appreciate nature. 4. We should not work all the time with no rest.

PERSONA 1. Progress comes with a price. 2. Our heirs will inherit a bleak world if we continue with our current ways.

A FIGHTERS LINES (FORM 3)

1. Patriotism. 2. The importance of unity. 3. Duty towards country. 4. Sacrifice for independence. 5. Courage.

1. Life is full of challenges. 2. Society must be free of corruption. 3. People should be united and fight for justice.

LEISURE (FORM 3)

1. The importance of leisure.

1. People should make time to relax and enjoy life. 2. Maintaining a balance in life.

2. The beauty of nature. 3. Appreciation of nature. 4. Working without rest.

A FIGHTERS LINES
STANZA / COUPLET STANZA 1 LINES I am old and worn MEANING I am old and tired. Who is I in this line? I = an ex-soldier / a former soldier / a former freedom fighter / a war hero. Based on the first stanza, who do you think the persona was? He was a former soldier who fought for the independence of his country. Why is I tired? He had fought really hard for his countrys independence Why is the persona old and worn? He is tired as he has fought for independence. I am weak Why is the persona weak? The persona is weak because he is old and tired he was badly injured from the war he became disabled from the war Why do you think the persona has lost all his strength? Because he is old and tired. I had suffered a lot of difficulties when I fought for the countrys independence. The persona explains that the war for independence sacrificed many lives. What were the sacrifices that the persona had to make? The persona had to sacrifice his youth, strength, soul, energy and was separated from his loved ones. Give the line from the poem which tells us that freedom has a price. (Nyatakan baris drpd. puisi yg. memberitahu kita bahawa setiap kebebasan mempunyai harga) The line is have forced sacrifices that know no name or life.

and have lost all my strength

sufferings and the history of the fight for independence have forced sacrifices that know no name or life

STANZA / COUPLET STANZA 1

LINES and the history of the fight for independence have forced sacrifices that know no name or life from the wheelchair of the rest of my days

MEANING What happened to all those people who had fought for independence? They had lost their lives. wheelchair = the persona is weak and crippled. What does the word wheelchair tell us about the persona? He is a disabled person. What does the word wheelchair symbolises? The word wheelchair symbolises the personas disability. Which line shows the physical condition of the persona? The line from the wheelchair of the rest of my days. I am weak and crippled. I do not have energy and strength to contribute to the country as much as I want to. Give 2 phrases to indicate that the persona is old and weak. a) I, body and energy crushed b) and have lost all my strength c) I have no more voice The persona realises that the threats faced by his country are now a different nature. What kind of challenge did the persona face when he was young? He had to fight for his countrys freedom from the coloniser like the British, the Japanese army and the Communists. What kind of threats or challenges does our country face today? Corruption / The abuse of power / Moral decay / Hedonism Why do you think the persona said these times are too big a challenge? He is old and unable to do much.

STANZA 2

I, body and energy crushed see and cannot do much

these times are too big a challenge

STANZA / COUPLET STANZA 2

LINES for the remnants of my crippled years

MEANING Even though the persona is worried about the challenges faced by his country, he is too old and weak to do anything. What it means by for the remnants of my crippled years? It means that the persona does not have much time left. The net of deceit disturbs and worries the persona. What does the phrase the net of deceit refer to? It refers to corruption / abuse of power (salah guna kuasa/rasuah) / bribery (rasuah) / dishonesty (ketidakjujuran) / lie (penipuan) / betrayal (pengkhianatan) What disturbs the persona now? Dishonesty and corruption. The younger generation must be unite and brave in order to defend the nation from enemy and threats. Younger generation must stand up for justice and freedom that they have inherited. Based on the last two stanzas, who do you think the persona ask to wake up? The young people / The younger generation. What is means by And erect a wall of people? It means that everyone in a nation needs to be united. I am old and weak. I do not have the energy to speak. The younger generation must speak for their rights. What does the line It is you now who should speak! refer to? It refers to the younger generation/ It refer to the young people.

the net of deceit spread everywhere disturbs me

STANZA 3

In the name of justice Wake up and form ranks sons of our ancestors Be brave And erect a wall of people Stand up heirs of our freedom

STANZA 4

I have no more voice' It is you now who should speak!

Possible Questions:
1. Explain one value that you have learned in this poem. (Wilayah Persekutuan Trial) The persona appeals the young people to be brave and stand united. In doing so, they can fight what they want. 2. Identify one phrase that indicates the persona is tired and weak in the poem. (Wilayah Persekutuan Trial) The phrase and have lost all my strength. 3. What did the persona fight for? (Perlis, Pahang and Penang Trial) The persona fight for his nations independence. 4. What lesson have you learnt from this poem? State two (nyatakan dua). (Perlis Trial) a) We must be patriotic to our country. b) We must be loyal to our country. c) We should be united to be strong. d) We should carry out our duties to our country. e) We must be brave and courageous to fight for the countrys independence or freedom. f) We must maintain/uphold peace. g) We must maintain/uphold freedom. h) We must maintain/uphold harmony. i) We must fight for our rights. j) We must be courageous to do what is right. k) We must fight against corruption. l) We must speak up against injustice. 5. State two themes that you found from this poem. Pick any two themes from the notes given above. 6. Suggest two ways to show your love for the country? (Pahang and Penang Trial) a) Fight for the country. b) Buy Malaysian product. c) Respect the flags (Hormat bendera) d) Raise the flags during celebration of Independence Day. e) Celebrate Independence Day. f) Sing the National Anthem (Lagu Negaraku). g) Stand still when the National Anthem is palying. 7. Who are the sons of our ancestors? (Selangor Trial) The younger generation / Youth / The young people / Present generation. 8. How did the persona loss all my strength in Stanza 1? (Selangor Trial) By fighting for independence/fighting for freedom. 9. What does the word you in the last line refer to? (Terengganu Trial) The younger generation / Youth / The young people / Present generation.

10. Why does the persone feel helpless? (Terengganu Trial) a) He is disabled. b) He is old and worn. c) He lost all his strength. d) He is weak. 11. From stanza 1, we could say that the persona is now a weak and ___________ person. (Negeri Sembilan Trial) Old. 12. From stanza 3, state two things that the persona wants the younger generation to do. (Negeri Sembilan Trial) a) be alert / be patriotic / be united b) be brave / be confident / be just and fair 13. What does the title A Fighters Lines speak of? Patriotism towards ones country. 14. The persona has not lost his spirit despite his age and condition. Why? The persona has made a lot of sacrifices. He would not want the sacrifices go to waste. 15. Give one thing that the persona had to do when he was young? When he was young, he fight in the war. 16. Based on the first stanza, who do you think the persona was? He was a former freedom fighter who fought for the independence of his country. 17. From the second stanza, give a reason why the persona cannot do much? He cannot do much because he is crippled and too weak. 18. In stanza two, which words show that the persona is alert and aware of current social problems? The words disturbs me. 19. Use a sentence or phrase and summarise the personas wish in Stanza 3. Stay united and fight for justice. 20. How does the persona feels about the younger generation today? They need to be aware of the deceit around them. 21. Give two messages that the persona wants to convey. a) We should love for our country. b) We should be brave and united. 22. What would you do if you were the persona facing such a challenge? I will not give up but continue to face the challenge until I had succeeded.

23. Which line in the poem tells you the persona has sacrificed his youth and strength to fight for his country? have forced sacrifices that know no name or life 24. State one phrase in the poem that shows the persona is helpless? a) I have no more voice' b) I, body and energy crushed c) and have lost all my strength 25. Based on the poem, what one appeal is made by the persona? He appeals to young people to fight for justice. 26. Give a reason why he makes the appeal. It is because the net of deceit spreads everywhere. 27. State two things the persona asks his listeners to do. The persona asks his listeners to show their courage and speaks up for the sake of justice.

LEISURE
STANZA / COUPLET COUPLET 1 LINES What is this life if, full of care, MEANING What is the purpose of life if full of worry (because too busy with work & problems) What it means (maksud) by full of care? It means our life is full of worries and responsibility. We do not have time to pause and admire the nature around us. Busy people do not have time to stand under the trees Just like sheep and cows which graze in the fields. They just stand and stare at their surroundings. What cows and sheep do in the field? They are grazing. Busy people do not see squirrels hide their nuts in grass when they pass through the forests. What does the word wood refer to? (Apa yg. dimaksudkan dgn. perkataan wood?) The woods refer to the forest or the jungle. What do squirrels feed on? Nuts. Where do squirrels hide their nuts? They hide their nuts in grass. Busy people do not have time to see the rivers sparkle in the sunlight. Why do you think the streams look like stars at night? Because the water catches the sunlight and sparkles like the stars twinkling in the sky. In the day, the rivers look like stars at night. Explain in your own words the line Streams full of stars, like stars at night. The rivers are sparkling like stars shining at night.

We have no time to stand and stare. COUPLET 2 No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows.

COUPLET 3

No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

COUPLET 4

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like stars at night.

STANZA / COUPLET COUPLET 5

LINES No time to turn at Beautys glance,

MEANING Nature is personified as a beautiful woman who is glancing and dancing. What is nature compared to (dibandingkan kepada apa?) Nature is compared to a beautiful woman who is dancing. Busy people do not have time to admire the changes (movement) of nature. When a woman glance or dance, she will move parts of her body. When nature changes, it is like a beautiful dancer. What does the persona means when he says And watch her feet, how they can dance? People are too busy to admire the changes of nature. Busy people do not have time to watch the changes in nature. When nature changes, it is like a womans smile that starts from the eyes and spreads slowly to the mouth. It is a sad life / Life is meaningless Which phrase (frasa manakah) in the poem means life is meaningless? The phrase A poor life. If we do not have leisure time.

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

COUPLET 6

No time to wait til her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began.

COUPLET 7

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

Possible Questions:
1. What does the woods in Stanza 3 refer to? (SBP Trial) Forest. 2. List two activities of leisure mentioned in the poem. a) Stand beneath the boughs. b) Watch the squirrels c) Enjoy the beautiful stars at night. d) Enjoy nature. (SBP Trial)

3. What word in the poem means branches of trees? (Melaka Trial) Boughs. 4. Why are streams full of stars in broad daylight? (Melaka Trial) This is because of the reflection of the sunlight in the streams.

5. State two themes that you found from this poem. Pick any two themes from the notes given above. 6. What is the poem mainly about? The poem is mainly about asking us how to be too busy in our life until we do not have time to admire nature. 7. What can the persona see while in the woods? Squirrels hiding their nuts in the grass. 8. What does the persona mean when he says a poor life this if, full of care? We should be living a miserable life if our life is filled with worries and responsibilities. 9. Give two suggestions how we can find the time for leisure? a) Take breaks on weekends and evenings b) Arrange time for leisure during the holidays. 10. What it means by leisure? Leisure means free time when we do not worry about our duties. 11. Which word in Couplet 1 means anxiety? The word care 12. Have you ever stopped to smell the flowers? Why? Yes, because smelling flowers makes me relaxed. OR No, because I have no time as I have so many things to do. 13. What does the poet remind people to do? He wants people to relax and enjoy life and nature. OR He reminds people to stop worrying and enjoy the nature around us. 14. Name two natural elements mentioned in the poem? a) Streams b) Stars 15. In Couplet 5, what does the word Beauty represent? Nature. 16. In Couplet 5, what does the word Beauty compared to? A graceful dancer.

17. Do you enjoy the environment around you? Why? Yes, I do because I am surrounded with lush greeneries that are soothing to the eyes and relaxing to the mind. 18. Name two things that the persona says people have no time to do. a) To relax under the tree. b) To notice simple things. c) To see the changes in nature. 19. Why does the persona urges people to relax and enjoying nature? So their life will not be meaningless. 20. Give two benefits (kelebihan/kebaikan) of taking the time to stand and stare. a) Rest and relaxation. b) Enjoy the beauty of nature. 21. What does the phrase stand and stare in Couplet 1 mean? Relax and observe nature. 22. Why do people find it hard to stand and stare? They are too busy in their work. They cannot take time to relax. 23. What do you think the persona means when he said that we would lead a poor life? We are so busy with work that we have no time to admire nature. This shows that we are missing out on something in life. 24. What does the persona keep asking us to do? The persona keeps asking us to take time to appreciate our surrounding. 25. Why is it important to have leisure in life? So that we are not too stressed out in our life. 26. Suggest one way that you can do when you have your leisure time. OR Suggest one activity that you would like to do during your leisure time. a) Reading b) Surfing the Internet c) Listening to music d) Playing computer games e) Helping parents f) Walking in the park as it is quiet and I am able to reflect my life in silence.

~ To be continued ~