Introduction to Language and Culture Essay

Words: 1998
Pages: 8
Open Document
ANALYZING A LITERARY WORK
PART ONE
Select a Malaysian short story in English. Try to obtain an overall sense of what happens in the story. Then, concentrate on identifying who it happens to (the protagonist), who or what stands in the protagonist’s way or presents a conflict (the antagonist), and the key incidents of the plot.
Complete the following plot summary:

Title of story : After the War
Author : Anwar Ridhwan (Translated by Ungku Maimunah Tahir)
1. Who is the protagonist of the story? Masitah.
2. Indentify the antagonist(s). Jali, son of Masitah.
3. Quote the exact lines in the story which introduce the point of conflict. ‘You love him more than us.’ Sumi ventured to say for both her sister and herself. ‘Because …show more content…
As she resumed her walk home, a man she didn’t know stood before her. Masitah wanted to cry out but the man covered her mouth tightly. She didn’t know how long the man had been there.

From that point onwards, Masitah’s burden began. Though Anwar Ridhwan did not really tells us what happened after that incident, but by Masitah’s memory and how she puts her feeling into words gives us a clear vision of her feelings towards Jali, the son she had with another man. Does Masitah love this child? Is there hate towards him or only painful past that every time she looks at her son, it reminded her of the tragic incident that had happened to her. In the middle of the story, when Masitah heard her daughters talking to Jali, his deep and sonorous voice pierced her heart because she remembered that voice was the same one with the one she heard that particular morning. The morning that had caused all these burdens. The burdens that she had to bear all her life.

But it was Jali’s voice that pierced her heart. A deep and sonorous voice which could transport her mind to a particular incident.

Her burdens became worst when she found out that she was pregnant three months after that particular incident. Referring to the author’s background , we know that during that time and even now, bearing a child out of wedlock is a sin and shameful act. Masitah did not have the courage to tell her husband about the incident. She just kept quiet all those years. Budin,
Show More

Related Documents: Introduction to Language and Culture Essay

Survivor Skills By Malcolm Friedman Analysis

In the introduction to “Survivor Skills: Authenticity, Representation and Why I Want to Teach Reality TV,” published in The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy, May Friedman, Associate Professor of Social Work at Ryerson University, argues that there is merit in conducting a class that utilizes low culture to facilitate in the education of critically engaged students. Friedman uses her experiences of watching reality television to validate the creation of a course that analyses…

Words 793 - Pages 4

Argentina: Argentina and International Business Essay

Argentina Introduction Argentina has a population of 33 Million with an ethnic composition of 85 percent European descent, primarily Spanish or Italian. Indians, mestizos (people of mixed Indian and Spanish ancestry), and blacks together make up the remaining 15 percent. The Republic of Argentina is a democracy for now, but has had a long history of military power. Spanish is the official language, although many people speak English, Italian, or other languages. Argentine Spanish is heavily…

Words 1601 - Pages 7

How To Write An Essay

Society and Culture Assessment 1 week 3 Sarah Sneesby Writing an essay for the social sciences can be daunting. There are many aspects one must consider in order to produce a successful social science essay. The aspects of academic language, structuring an essay and the importance of research will be explored throughout this essay. When writing an essay for the social sciences it is important to address the aspect of academic language and writing. Academic writing means to use formal language instead…

Words 869 - Pages 4

HUMN 124 Boas Paper

HUMN 124 – In Class Paper: Boas Although a stable culture may sound appealing to most, progress is actually found within an unstable culture. Stability is dependent upon the isolation of a culture. Habitual behaviors are kept tradition being passed on throughout generations. But instinctual behaviors are the common ground between all cultures, such as our basic needs to survive. The introduction of another culture destabilizes both allowing for progress and innovation through their differences…

Words 473 - Pages 2

Things Fall Apart Essay

would include the introduction of Christianity, the English language, and the new governmental rules of the white men. In Okonkwo's life their religion…

Words 1008 - Pages 5

rap and rock Essay examples

to develop skills in speaking, writing, listening, and critical reading, and to build competence in research, analysis, and argumentation. 4 s.h The Interpretation of Literature Foreign Language Courses in this area provide students with speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in a second language. 16 s.h First-Year Chinese: First Semester Interpretation of Literature Students focus on the major genres of literature and increase their abilities to read and analyze a variety of texts…

Words 465 - Pages 2

Maata Inuit People Analysis

settlement introduces the english language and other unique things to Maata and the Inuit people, it is actually tearing away the strong connections of their community. Maata and the Inuit community are introduced and force-feed the ways of the white people, or “Qallunaat” in Inuktitut, instead of practicing the ways of her own Inuit people. First and foremost, the youth of Maata’s community are all obligated to go to a residential school and learn the english language from their teacher Mr. Sanders…

Words 693 - Pages 3

Essay about Project 1

difficulties with essay writing.’ Discuss the statement above in the light of the ideas and research reviewed by Linn (2009) and Harris (2010). Wang Tianyu Student Number: 149037543 Date: 08/08/2014 Project Tutor: Alice NUMBER words: 840 Introduction Undeniably, it is common that numerous international students are likely to study in UK. Whereas, the fact is that a mass of students cannot adapt to the academic circumstance in UK, especially academic writing style. When they start their academic…

Words 811 - Pages 4

Beowulf Vs Gilgamesh Essay

"baked clay tablets" (“Introduction” 2), the method of recording stories at the time. On the tablets are "cuneiform characters" (“Introduction” 2), one of the first techniques used to write, cuneiform meaning "wedge-shaped" (“Introduction” 4). The language Gilgamesh is written in is "Akkadian, an ancient Semitic language" (“Introduction” 4) that few people at the time knew because most were illiterate. The estimated time that Gilgamesh was written was "1700 BCE" (“Introduction” 6), making it the oldest…

Words 415 - Pages 2

Notes On English

Financial Management (9) 28 E103 Fixed Income Securities (1) 31 E106 Fixed Income Securities (2) 33 C306 Fixed Income Securities (3) 35 C207 Fixed Income Securities (4) 32 D405 Introduction to Business (1) 26 C127 Introduction to Business (2) 30 C307 Introduction to Business (3) 38 D404 Date /Time Subject No. of Students Venue 17 Dec 2013 (Tue) Afternoon Session Accounting for Non-Business Students (1) 44 C123 Accounting for Non-Business Students…

Words 3112 - Pages 13