SET 1

1. Read the extract from the short story Tanjong Rhu. Then answer the questions.

Edward, she said, crossing her legs, come and join us?

He refused, and was just turning away, when she noticed the binoculars he was holding,

And asked what they were.

Oh, these, he said. I bought theme today. For the children. He could not think of
anything better to say. (p.20)

a) Who does the pronoun us refer to?

b) Why do you think Edward or Mr Li refuses to join them?

c) In your opinion, why didnt Edward tell the truth about the binoculars he
bought for his mother?

d) What does this incident reveal about the relationship of these two characters?

2. Writing Task HOTS

a) If you could change one part of the story, which would you change? Give reasons
for your decision.

b) Describe a character in the short story Tanjong Rhu who displays an admirable
quality.

SET 2

1. Read the extract from the short story Tanjong Rhu. Then answer the questions.

There was one drawer which would not open. The joss sticks, he thought,
must be in there, with all the things that were most important to her. He
pulled again at that drawer, harder this time, but it stayed shut. And then
he realized that she always kept it locked. And he did not know where she
hid the key. (p.35)
a) Where is Mr Li?

b) Why is he looking for joss sticks?

HOTS c) What does the locked drawer symbolise?

HOTS d) If you were Mr Li, what would you do in this situation?

2. WRITING TASK HOTS

a) What is the most important lesson you can learn from the short story Tanjong Rhu?
Based on the lesson you have learnt, what changes would you make in your life?

ANSWER KEY FOR SET 1

Question1

a) Mr Li/ Edwards wife and her friends.

b) He dislikes these kind of womens social gatherings.

c) He could be embarrassed to admit how much he cared for his old mother./ He did not think his
wife would understand why he bought the binoculars for his mother.

d) Mr Li and his wifes relationship is not very good.

Question 2

a. (Suggested answer)

The part of the story I would change is the scene at the hospital. Mr Li would ask his mother the
question about his childhood and she would be able to answer him. After that, she would tell him
where she hid the key to the drawer. I think that this would give the story a more hopeful ending.
Mr Li would not have to live with so many regrets. He would be able to revisit his memories of his
happy and carefree childhood. If he could be honest about his background and who really is, he
would be a happier man.

If he had the key to the drawer, he would be able to continue the traditional practice of
ancestral worship. This, too, would free him of guilt because he would be able to do what he
knows his mother would want him to do. Changing this part of the story would lead to a happier
ending.

b. Ah-Ma is a person who is honest about her humble background and enjoys the simple life. She
is a mother of nine children, grandmother of thirty-four and great-grandmother of seventeen. Her
children, like Mr Li, her eldest son, are grown-up, independent and successful. She has every
reason to be proud and to enjoy the success of her children. Yet, she prefers to rear a few
chickens in her sons garden, and ten to the family altar. She shuns material gifts. Her happiness
is based on her memories of the carefree days in a hut on the beach when her husband was still
alive. Her character is admirable.

ANSWER KEY FOR SET 2

Question1

a) In the family altar room.

b) He wants to burn some joss sticks for his ancestors like his mother used to do.

c) The locked drawer symbolizes the traditional values that Ah-Ma upheld and which her son
does not understand.

d)(suggested answer) I would call a locksmith to open the drawer for me.
Question 2

a. The most important lesson I can learn from the short story Tanjong Rhu is respect for elders.
The main character, Mr T.W.Li, is a successful businessman who has little time and patience for
the old ways of his culture. Yet, he is a filial son who respects his mother and tries his best to
please her. He buys a pair of binoculars for his mother so that she would be able to see more
clearly. He respects her wish to have a family altar. He teaches his daughter Ying to treat her
grandmother with greater respect. I think this value is important in our culture.

b. I would be more conscious of how I treat the elders in my family. I would remind myself to be
more patient when I do not see eye to eye with an elder and I would speak respectfully to them
at all times.

SET 3
Refer to the extract from the short story Tanjong Rhu of your anthology Leaving No Footprint
and answer the questions that follow.

But mother, that was pulled down thirty years ago!

You said those see-far glasses could see far away, Ah Wah, she said.

Oh! Mother, he sighed You dont understand.

It was beginning to get dark. Its all right, I dont need those glasses of yours,
she said. I can see Tanjong Rhu just fine. Behind my eyes, thats how I can still
see it.

Page 23

Questions 1-2

1. What was it that had been pulled down thirty years ago?

2. Do you think Mr. Lis mother understood the use of binoculars? Why do you say so?

Questions 3-4

Sorry, this is going to take a long time!

3. Who said these words and to whom were they spoken?

4. Explain the situation that brought this up.

5. Based on the short story, Tanjong Rhu, write one of the social issues portrayed in the story.

ANSWER KEY FOR SET 3

1. It was his fathers shipyard.

 2. No, I dont think so. She was told the binoculars could be used to see very faraway
places and in her mind it meant that things that can be seen in the distance even if
they do not exist anymore.
3. They were spoken by Ying and she was speaking to Mr. Li.
4. Mr. Li was waiting for Ah Ma to take her to the office and Ying was trying to make Ah Ma
cut short her praying session by taking over from her. But Ah Ma would not hear of it.
She refused to be hurried.
5. one of the social issues is generation gap : the young and the old approach certain
issues in life differently
- Between Mr Li and his mother, between mother and granddaughter
- Mr Li adopts modern ideas and ways.
- His mother is conservative and holds on to her beliefs and custom strongly

A. Differentiate the character traits of the characters in the short story,
Tanjong Rhu.

Mr T.W.Li Ah Ma (Mr Lis Mother)

1
2
3
4
 5
6
7
8
9
10

B. Based on the character traits below give evidence from the text.

Mr T.W. Li Evidence

1 Tolerant

2 Filial son

3 Patient

4 Meticulous

5 Strict

6 Respectful

Ah Ma (Mr Lis Mother) Evidence

1 Traditional

2 Good Memory

3
Old fashioned
4
Strong determination
5
Refuse to accept changes
6
Proud
Suggested answers:

Mr T.W.Li Ah Ma (Mr Lis Mother)

Successful businessman Traditional thinking
Happy family life Strong religious beliefs
Close relationship with the mother Meticulous
Modern in his ways and ideas Strong determination
Tolerant Good memory
Meticulous Old fashioned
 Patient Proud of her son success
Filial Refuse to accept changes
Strict Proud and refuse to admit ill-health

Respectful Loving
Suggested answers

Mr T.W. Li Evidence

1 Tolerant Does not interfere with his mothers way

2 Filial son Made sure funeral of mother is done in the right way
3 Patient Waits for mother to finish prayers although he had to leave
for the office.
4 Meticulous Keep track of number of ships every day by counting
5 Strict Does not entertain disrespects from the young
6 Respectful Talk softly to the mother although disagree with her ways.

Ah Ma (Mr Lis Mother)

1 Traditional Values Chinese tradition of ancestor worship

2 Good Memory Can recall the childhood of Mr Li well.

3 Does not believe in having eye operation

Old fashioned
4 Refuses to allow Ying to do the praying
Strong determination
5 Clings to the past
Refuse to accept changes
6 Proud Refuse to admit ill health
INSTRUCTION: Analyze the sample below

With close reference from the text, choose a theme from Tanjung Rhu.

The short story I chose is Tanjung Rhu by Minfong Ho. A prevalent theme in Tanjung Rhu is Kindness and
love are more important than material possessions This means that even though people say that money, wealth
and fame is important, there are more important things and values that are more important, that are kindness and
love, because, at the end of the day, those two are what make life worth living. In Tanjung Rhu, this theme is
shown through the relationship between Mr Li and his mother, Mr Lis failure to open the drawer in the Altar
Room and Yings error.

Firstly, this is shown through the relationship between Mr Li and his mother, Ah Ma because Mr Li thinks that
he needs to work hard and give material wealth to his mother. This is evident in him asking Ah Ma to go up the
18th floor of his office, a symbol of his success. He also tries to make Ah Ma see the extent of his success by
making her see the view through the binoculars.Nevertheless, Ah Ma, refusing at first to see through the
binoculars, finally concedes but only sees the past memories of her happier time at the beach with her young
son, Mr Li. This proves that Ah Ma only values the past as it was when they were happier and had a closer
relationship. To Ah Ma, binocular and the 18th floor office are nothing compared to her son. This valuing of the
past by Ah Ma proves the theme that Love and Kindness are more important than material possession.

Secondly, this theme is shown through Mr Lis failure to open the drawer. He thinks that he had done enough
for his mother, that by just letting her live with him and making sure she lives well, he has done enough and is a
filial son. But he ignores his mother so much that he dose not even know where Ah Ma puts her joss stick at the
Altar Room and that he does not even have the key to the drawer where she puts important stuff for praying
means that he has failed as a son. What Ah Ma needed was just his love and kindness, and his care and
attention, and he did not give her that. His failure to open the drawer is a reflection that all his succes and
material possessions do not make him a good son.

Lastly this theme is shown through Ying, Mr Lis daughter. Ying also mistakenly thinks that she cares enough
about her grandmother that she often argues with her concerning the praying ceremony. She misunderstands that
Ah Ma is a traditional person and keeps urging her to change the wax candles into electric candles and also to
let her do the praying ceremony even though she does not know the proper way to do so. Ying here also falls
mistakenly into the trap that material possession is better-she urges Ah Ma to pray quickly so Mr Li could go to
work faster and to use better, safer electric candles. In the end, she does not get the love and care she wants
from her grandmother just because she thinks what she values more are better.

In conclusion, the theme Kindness and love are more important than material possessions are shown though
the dynamic of Mr Li and his mothers relationship, Mr Lis unsuccessful try of opening his mothers important
drawer and Yings misunderstanding of what is important for her grandmother.