WEEK 6

This week, my classmates and I had gone through the whole week with discussion in our class together with Miss Syida. Our discussion is all about second short story that is "Mariah". "Mariah" is written by Che Husna Azhari. This story is very close to the polygamy tradition as it was portrayed very well in it. In this short story, the Imam married his second wife, Mariah, who is a widow. The marriage can help to protect Mariah that live alone. If Mariah meet with any kind of trouble, she has someone to accompany her rather than she face it alone.

Besides, the Imam is the only choice that suit Mariah's heart and desirability. However, I really dislike this story by the way of the Imam plan for another marriage. I'm sure that the word "marriage" only cross his mind without any strong purpose. Its doesn't make sense when the Imam decide to get Mariah to be his property after accidently saw Mariah's faces that similar to his ex-girlfriend. In addition, the Imam simply ask his first wife, Cik Yam, a permission in a romantic ways in order to make her blind of his persuasion.

Although Cik Yam seems to be willing to sacrifice for her husband to allow him marry again, but I know from the bottom of her heart, she cry silently. Then, her heart was broken slowly and she suffer a lot. Nevertheless, the Imam never think of Cik Yam's feeling whether she sincerely to be first wife or just do that to make him happy. The Imam can be considered as very selfish to fulfill his own wishes.

WEEK 5

This is week 5. Overall, all of us were exposed to the elements of the stories in Learning Class. Elements of the stories contain plot, character, characterization, setting, theme, POV, symbolism and irony. Some of the elements already known by me. Actually, I don't remember how to locate some idea to put it under symbolism and irony too. What I can define each element start with plot, is a sequence of actions or events which involves the characters in conflict. The basic components of plot are exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. Climax or conflict, I think it is the most important part of every story since it was in the highest level on the plot hierarchy. This part going to tell the reader how attractive, how interesting, how fascinating or how bored that every story. Second, character can be the human, animals, or fantasized beings that are created by the author to act within a story for the author’s purpose. Character has been divided into two. Such as protagonist and antagonist. Characters have round, dynamic, flat and static character and also can be two of it. It is both round and dynamic, round and static or flat and static. Afterwards, characterization can be clarified as the methods used by the author to create or reveal the characters in a story. Ordinary methods are by what character says or thinks, does, and what other characters say about the character. After that, setting is the place where and when the story takes place. Then, theme is the central idea or central message of the story. It indicates the fundamental ideas around which the author was writing. Moreover, POV is the prospective from which the story told. It consists of three third person. Likewise, symbolism is a symbol represents an idea, quality, or concept larger than itself. Lastly, irony is a device that develops meaning by putting together seemingly contrasting concepts or ideas. It is when we expect one thing but the opposite occurs. Irony occurs when there is a different between what is stated or believed, and what actually the truth is.

WEEK 4

Miss Syida gives brief explanation about History of Malaysian. Literature in Malaysia has several types such as legends, folktales, short stories, novels and poems. Legends are very close to historical which folktales tell about the nature, animals and moral values. Short stories and folktales are quite similar with each other, in order to give the reader some valuable moral value. Novels can be categorized in love, anthology, historical, or fiction. In addition, poem is piece of writing but it can be very compact, meaningful, and touching. There is 3 generation of literature writers in this country. Firstly, those who are above sixty. Secondly, for those who age between forty-five and sixty and lastly, those between thirty and forty-five. First generation is vividly remembered the era of the Second World War. They can be classifying as the golden group that rich with experienced. Then, second generation, the group of people that experienced the situation and condition through reading and listening to their parent stories. Third generation who are still too young. They’re not care much about the Colonial Era. The way of their writing is more to free writing and focusing on their surrounding. Other than reading short stories, we had been asked by our lecturer to watch a movie. The title is “Empire of the Sun”. This film conveys the situation in war. It takes place in Shanghai, China and the main character is a boy name Jamie. Jamie was there with his family, as his father work at this city. Japan conquered China and at the same time their family had to runaway from this war situation. At that time, Jamie was separated from his family and his new challenging life was begun. He must watch many kind of people that come from different background and personality. He had been through a long journey and experience many king of things. For instant, he had been sent to one terrible place with no enough food, drink, medicine and spaces to sleep. Everyday, he watched people die in terrible ways in front of his eyes. Meanwhile, he gets a new friend that is the son of the Japanese army. That’s help him a lot from being so lonely. He such a clever boy because he has the ability to communicate, understands and make friend with Japanese in order to survive. At last, Japan has lost in their war and Jamie found back his family in a dramatic scene.