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POEMS, SHORT STORYS AND DRAMA NOTES (SPM)
POEMS: IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP (LATIFF MOHIDIN)
MEANING (OVERALL)
STANZA 1:-
They returned home at dawn and headed for the stove. Their clothes were soaking wet and tattered. Their bodies were covered with scratches and wounds. Yet, they did not display any signs of being worried.
STANZA 2:-
They were out in the flood the whole day and night. They were surrounded by dead animals and parts of trees that had been destroyed by the flood. They searched desperately for their son’s albino buffalo but were unable to find it.
STANZA 3:-
They were born into poverty and difficulty, but they do not complain about their suffer. Instead, they sit in the kitchen, cracking jokes while smoking cigarettes.
SETTING
The setting of the poem is in the house.
THEMES * Stoicism in life * Family love * Acceptance of way of life
MORAL VALUES * We should learn to accept problems in life with a positive outlook. * We must attempt to face and solve problems. * Failure is part of growing up. * Do not despair in the face of failure.
POEM: HE HAD SUCH QUIET EYES (BIBSY SOENHARJO)
MEANING (OVERALL)
STANZA 1:-
The man portrays himself to be a quiet, sincere person who is unhappy in life and he pretends to be in need of a person who will give him happiness. The woman, of course, does not realise his insincerity and deception. She is taken up by his appearance of seeming calmness despite his sadness. She feels sorry for him.
STANZA 2:-
‘If’ is a strong word because it implies a feeling of regret. After all, if the woman had only listened to good advice, she would not have had to undergo the present heartache. Also, it is a stern warning (‘never to compromise’) to the woman and all women too, that it is unwise to get emotionally close to ‘pleasure-seeking’ men who just want a good time. Never compromise. If she had been careful she would not have had to suffer now, emotionally. Their relationship has now
POEMS: IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP (LATIFF MOHIDIN)
MEANING (OVERALL)
STANZA 1:-
They returned home at dawn and headed for the stove. Their clothes were soaking wet and tattered. Their bodies were covered with scratches and wounds. Yet, they did not display any signs of being worried.
STANZA 2:-
They were out in the flood the whole day and night. They were surrounded by dead animals and parts of trees that had been destroyed by the flood. They searched desperately for their son’s albino buffalo but were unable to find it.
STANZA 3:-
They were born into poverty and difficulty, but they do not complain about their suffer. Instead, they sit in the kitchen, cracking jokes while smoking cigarettes.
SETTING
The setting of the poem is in the house.
THEMES * Stoicism in life * Family love * Acceptance of way of life
MORAL VALUES * We should learn to accept problems in life with a positive outlook. * We must attempt to face and solve problems. * Failure is part of growing up. * Do not despair in the face of failure.
POEM: HE HAD SUCH QUIET EYES (BIBSY SOENHARJO)
MEANING (OVERALL)
STANZA 1:-
The man portrays himself to be a quiet, sincere person who is unhappy in life and he pretends to be in need of a person who will give him happiness. The woman, of course, does not realise his insincerity and deception. She is taken up by his appearance of seeming calmness despite his sadness. She feels sorry for him.
STANZA 2:-
‘If’ is a strong word because it implies a feeling of regret. After all, if the woman had only listened to good advice, she would not have had to undergo the present heartache. Also, it is a stern warning (‘never to compromise’) to the woman and all women too, that it is unwise to get emotionally close to ‘pleasure-seeking’ men who just want a good time. Never compromise. If she had been careful she would not have had to suffer now, emotionally. Their relationship has now