LITERATURE

Practice 1

Based on one novel above, discuss one of the themes in the story. Provide evidence from the text to support your answer

     The novel that I choose is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The story is about the mysterious death of Azreen’s adopted sister, Madhuri, and how Azreen goes through everything to find out the truth behind the death. The theme that I would like to discuss here is gender stereotyping.

     In the novel, gender stereotyping is presented through how females should behave. This can be seen especially through Azreen. For example, Azreen’s school friends start to give suspicious eyes towards her when she behaves unlady-like or tomboyish.  She plays hockey with the boys and even “laughs like a bunch of hyenas” with them. To them, as a woman, Azreen is not expected to be tomboyish and hangs too closely with boys.

      In conclusion, Azreen’s unlady-like behaviors have created sense of discomfort among the people around her. This is an example of how gender stereotyping is presented in the novel.

Practice 2

Write about a character that you find most interesting. Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

      The novel that I choose is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The story is about the mysterious death of Azreen’s adopted sister, Madhuri, and how Azreen goes through everything to find out the truth behind the death. The character that I find most interesting in the novel is the old lady.

      The old lady is an educated woman as she has knowledge of herbal medicine to treat illnesses.  Her house is always neat and situated by the hillside.  She is a caring and concerned woman as she takes Azreen in and gives her food and shelter whenever she has fights and problems.  She is also a resourceful person and she is a good cook. Her recipes and secret ingredients are very much sought after.

     In conclusion, the old lady is the most interesting character in the novel. She is an educated woman, neat person, kind-hearted and a good cook too.

Practice 3
Write about a character that you dislike in the novel. Support  your answer with evidence from  the novel

The novel that I choose is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The story is about the mysterious death of Azreen’s adopted sister, Madhuri, and how Azreen goes through everything to find out the truth behind the death. The character that I dislike in the novel is Puan Normala.

I dislike Puan Normala because she is a rumour monger. She is the one that spread the rumour about Madhuri and how she died. Puan Normala is also superstitious. She blames the old lady’s visit to Ashraf’s house as the reason for the continuous rain. Furthermore, she is also a mean and malicious person. For example, she provokes Mohd Ashraf to confront the old lady by accusing the old lady as the reason why Ashraf’s grandmother’s health is getting worse. Because of that, Ashraf burns down the old lady’s house in anger, and causes the old lady to die in the fire.

As conclusion, the character that I dislike most in the novel is Puan Normala because she is a rumour monger, mean and malicious and also a superstitious woman.

Practice 4
Write about a moral value you have learnt in the story. Support your answer with evidence from  the novel

The novel that I choose is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The story is about the mysterious death of Azreen’s adopted sister, Madhuri, and how Azreen goes through everything to find out the truth behind the death. A moral value that I have leant in the story is bravery.

This value is shown by Azreen. First, even as a young girl she takes challenges and tries to prove to her friends that the Old Lady is not an evil witch. When she is yelled at for entering the Old Lady’s house and destroying her vegetable garden, Azreen bravely defends herself. In fact, she returns the next day and repairs the trampled garden. Her action wins the Old Lady’s heart.

The second evidence is when Azreen bravely takes the blame for Mohd Asraf in the bull incident. She demonstrates courage. The same bull later injures her mother’s leg causing her to paralyze. She was blamed and scolded by her father as well as the villagers. She bravely endures that and never tells anyone of what really happened.

The third event that displays her bravery is when she tries to tackle the angry people who are about to attack the the Old Lady. When the Old Lady’s house is in fire, Azreen tries to rescue the Old Lady but at the end she has to be rescued by her father. When the Old Lady dies in the tragic fire, she confronts Mohd Asraf like a wildcat.

Finally, towards the end of the story, she finds out the secret that her father has been keeping. She confronts her father about Madhuri’s murder until he is forced to confess about the truth.

As conclusion, bravery is the moral value that I have learnt through Azreen. For me, Azreen is very brave to confront people whom she knows have done wrong to others. At the same time she is very brave when defending herself and the people she loves.

Practice 5

Which event would you like to change in the novel? Give reasons for your choice with close reference to the text. (15 marks)

The novel that I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann.

The event that I would like to change would be Asraf being responsible for the death of The Old Lady from the forest. Many terrible things happened in this story, such as Madhuri’s death Azreen’s mother becoming paralysed and Madhuri and Asraf’s affair. There was a lot of secrecy, gossip, and hypocrisy in the village in a community of people.

The Old Lady used her knowledge of medicinal plants to help heal Asraf’s grandmother. He was the one who asked her to help and because he was Azreen’s friend, the Old Lady tried her best. Things were going well when, all of a sudden, his grandmother died. When that happened, Asraf became insanely angry and was convinced by the villagers who believed that the Old Lady was a wicked witch. He was certain that the Old Lady had killed his grandmother.

Asraf went with a group of angry villagers to the Old Lady’s house in the night. They waved their torches threateningly and shouted angry words. While the others stayed away from the house, Asraf went to the door. He was not afraid because he had visited the house before.  He was beginning to kick the door down when Azreen arrived and fought with him. In the struggle, his torch fell and the house caught fire. Azreen ran into the burning house to try and save her, but the Old Lady was trapped and died in the fire.

This was a tragic turn of events which need not have not have happened at all. Asraf was a teacher, and he should have been able to think rationally and control his anger. The Old Lady had been misunderstood all her life and it was sad that she died so tragically. Only Azreen seemed to understand that the Old Lady was a good person.

Above is the event that I would like to change in the novel.

Practice 6

Write about a character you feel sorry for in the novel. Give reasons for your choice with close reference to the text.(15 marks)

The novel that I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann.

In this novel the character that I feel sorry for is the Old Lady. She was a misunderstood woman with a sad past. She died tragically in a fire.

The old lady was a tall woman with grey hair who lived alone in a house in the jungle. The villagers had cast her out of the village, branding her as an evil witch after she killed her abusive husband. Only Azreen was brave and kind enough to befriend the lonely woman.

The Old Lady told Azreen about her tragic past. Many years ago, she had been a modern and educated young woman who married a man from the village. She was well-known for her healing skills and her herbal concoctions. However, the villagers were unaware that her husband was constantly drunk, and verbally and physically abusive towards her. During one incident, he slashed her on the neck with a broken bottle. However, she hid the real cause of the injury from the villagers. One day, as she defended herself from his vicious attack, she reached for a kitchen knife and stabbed him. The police investigated her story and released her, but the villagers labelled her a husband-killer and a madwoman. She left the village but had no money to leave the island, so she made her home in a deserted house in the jungle.

For many years, the Old Lady did not enter the village or have anything to do with thevillagers. However, Azreen persuaded her to go to the village and examine Asraf’s grandmother, who was very ill. The Old Lady prepared a medicinal herbal tea for Asraf’s grandmother who seemed to recover. However, the villagers were angry that the Old Lady had entered their village , for they were superstitious and believed that her presence would bring them ill fortune. When Asraf’s grandmother passed away, the angry villagers blamed the Old Lady and went to her house with torches. Azreen tried to stop Asraf from breaking down the door but, during the struggle, Asraf dropped his torch which rolled towards the wooden house and set it on fire. The Old Lady was trapped under a pillar and could not escape, despite Azreen’s desperate efforts. She urged Azreen to leave her and, with her dying breath, told Azreen that she had to learn to forgive.

I feel very sorry for the Old Lady who had suffered so much during her youth, only to meet such tragic end in her old age. She was a kind lady who was unfairly treated and ostracised all her life. Even though the villagers had threatened her harshly, she still went to the village to help Asraf’s grandmother. This act of kindness led to her tragic and unnecessary death. The Old Lady is indeed a tragic character I feel sorry for.       

 Practice 7

What value have you learnt from the novel? Explain your answer with close reference to the text. (15 marks)

The novel that I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann.

A value that I have learnt is the importance of friendship. This is illustrated by the friends in Azreen’s life who supported her and helped her throughout her life.

 Azreen was good friends with the Old Lady who lived in the jungle. The villagers disliked the Old Lady and labelled her a witch and a husband killer. They feared her and belived that she could cast evil spells and curses on the village. However, Azreen did not listen to the villagers’ superstitious gossip and decided to befriend the Old Lady. Azreen went to the Old Lady’s house whenever she felt that she needed to be away from her harsh father and often asked her for advice. The Old Lady always interested in Azreen’s studies and her experiences in London. The Old Lady later confided the tragic story of her past to Azreen and counselled her on the importance of patience and forgiveness. Azreen stood up for the Old Lady and defended her against the villagers’ angry accusations of causing the death of Mohd Asyraf’s grandmother. Azreen even ran into the burning hut to save the Old Lady but she was unsuccessful as the Old Lady was trap under the pillar. As the Old Lady was dying she told Azreen the importance to forgive.

Datin Sharifah and Datuk Zulkifli also supported Azreen with their warm and sincere friendship. They had taken Azreen in as a foster child and Azreen regarded them as her own aunt and uncle. They made it possible for Azreen to leave the village and fulfil her drams to study in London. Datin Sharifah and Datuk Zulkifli also picked up Azreen at the airport when she returned for Madhuri’s funeral and offered her their support.

Azreen was also very comfortable with her friendship with Julian Ng. He offered his help when he heard about Madhuri’s death and wrote a letter to Azreen offering his support. He also stayed back after his exams to give support to Azreen.

Above are the evidences that show the many friendships that Azreen experienced in her life.

 

Practice 8

Write about two contrasting characters in the novel. Explain your answer with close reference to the text. (15 marks)

The novel that I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann.

            The two contrasting characters in the novel The curse are Azreen and her sister, Madhuri. They had the sae upbringing but they had very different personalities. Ultimately, their lives took very different paths.

            Azreen was Saleh Abdullah’s younger daughter. She was short bespectacled and fiery-tempered while her elder sister Madhuri was four years older and was charming beautiful and charming. Although they were good friends when they were younger, Azreen had a love-hate relationship with her sister. Azreen felt that her parents and friends unfavourably compared her to Madhuri. Madhuri was constantly praised for her charm and beauty while Azreen was never able to gain similar approval from her parents.

            Azreen was stubborn and forthright and did not hesitate to speak her own mind. She even joined the boys, hockey team and took part in a silat-cum-boxing match, which shocked her friends at school. Azreen was also an independent thinker and did not allow her parents or friends to influence her thoughts or actions. She befriended the Old Lady even though the villagers called her a witch and a husband killer. With the help f her foster parents Azreen went abroad to pursue her studies and when she was in London Madhuri died.

            In contrast Madhuri was gentle and ladylike. She had a talent for sewing and making handicrafts and had a lovely voice that was admired even by the village headman. She also gave al-Quran lessons to the village children. Madhuri was happy with village life and did not aspire to leave it, unlike Azreen who left the village to live with her foster parents. Madhuri was also a filial daughter who followed her parents’ wishes and married the village headman.

            Although Azreen and Madhuri were very different in looks but they were both loving daughters. Above are two characters that are contrasting in the novel.

 

 Practice9

 Which is the most memorable event in the novel? Give reasons for your choice with close reference to the text. (15 marks)

The novel that I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann.

A memorable event that had occurred when Azreen found out the truth about her sister’s birth.  Azreen always felt that she had been compared unfavourably to her sister  Madhuri, who was four year older. Madhuri had been the pretty, charming one who the villagers praise and Azreen on the other hand is short tempered and felt that she never live up to her sister’s achievement.

It was a great shock to Azreen when Awang the bomoh revealed that Madhuri was actually adopted by Azreen;s parents when she was a baby. Azren was more shocked when Awang told that Madhuri’s mother was still alive. This was a memorable event in the novel as this was deeply-guarded secret that Azreen did not realise.

The story behind Madhuri’s adoption was a sad story. Mahduri’s biological mother was beautiful whose husband had left her when Madhuri was a baby. She was worried and had no money so she had to neglect her baby who was Madhuri. She would leave her baby for hours in the paddy field while she search for some scraps to survive. Saleh Abdulah found the baby in a terrible condition, nearly dying from thirst and neglect. Therefore he decided to bring the baby home to his wife. Together they decide to keep her. Madhuri’s mother disappeared for many year but Awang the bomoh spotted her again soon after Madhuri’s death.

Awang’s conversation with Azreen about Madhuri’s real mother was a memorable event because, from that point, Azreen began to understand the reason behind many strange events. Azreen realised that the woman whom she taught was Madhuri’s ghost was actually Madhuri’s mother who was lurking around the house and who had left a dead chicken outside Azreen’s house. The truth behind Madhuris’s birth would ultimately lead Azreen to the truth behind Madhuri’s death.

Above are the evidences that show an important event which is memorable.