Reading and Reaction (From the green book)

Question 9 and 10

9. What is Mama’s opinion of her daughter at the beginning of the play? How does this view change by the end? In what way is Mrs. Carter responsible for this change?

At the beginning of the play, it seems that Mama’s has certain doubts of Florence living condition. She worries of her daughter’s welfare. In the end though, she believes that Florence is capable of handling herself. She decided to let Florence being independent on her own.We can see that somehow Mrs. Carter plays an important role in influencing this change because of her provocation and some hidden mockery or sarcasm  Mama's change her mind.

10. Although the play bears her name, Florence never appears on stage. In what sense is Florence nevertheless a character in the play? Why do you think Childress names the play for her?

In a sense, Florence is the one who 'move' this play. Meaning that, she is the reason that this play has a storyline. I think that Childress names the play for her because she is the main character although she doesn't appear in the play. Besides that, Childess names the play for her because it goes to show that a typical type of play or story often names after the important character.

JOURNAL ENTRY

11. Should Mama have confronted Mrs Carter directly? What do you think would have happened had she done so?

For me, there are two answers for the first question. First, she should confronted Mrs Carter directly as Mrs Carter needs to be told that her sarcasm and belittling of the negro people are offensive. Second, she shouldn't confronted Mrs Carter as this will only bring severe consequences onto her which also apply to my first answer.

CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE

In an analysis of Alice Childress's work, Jean Marie A. Miller says,"To Childress. however. the black woman is the most heroic figure to emerge in America." At the heart of Childress's plays, Miller notes, is an ordinary woman "whose life is eventful until circumstances force her to rise to the fullness of her strength." According to Miller, " the black woman not only transcends her own predicaments but often functions as a catalyst for change in those whose lives she touches." How does Mama fit this characterization?

We can actually relate what Miller describe about Childress towards Mama's characteristic. Mama character might be a mirror for Childress herself. Mama's life as we can see isn't that easy and she struggle to even pay for her rent. But because of this, she begins to fully show her strength as a woman by being very patient of the circumstances that befall her. On the other hand, her confident on her daughter surely will affect and mostly change the life of her daughter. her caring that we mustn't ignore is also shown when she nicely ask the porter of his welfare as if he was a family member.  

Group member:

 Darrel  

Lahung Wan

Afiq Azman

Mohd Irwandy

reflection

A Book Cover for Florence

After creating the cover for the play Florence by Alice Childress, you are now required to reflect on the following and put them in your respective blogs:

• What was my role in the designing of the book cover?
• Was my opinion taken seriously by the others? Why?
• What have I learnt from this task?

1. My role in the designing of the book cover was to define the illustration and the meaning behind the words. Also, I helped by contributing the picture to use on the book cover.

2. Yes, because the explanation of the illustration was convincing and the others were understanding of the my opinion.

3. What I learn was that the play was written because of the surrounding circumstances in that era. The pain and the suffering just because of the difference in skin color. Lastly, I learn that this play was one of the play that made Alice Childress recognizable.   

My thoughts on Drama

Drama (Task 1)

As we begin our journey at the start of 2012 of exploring the riches found in English Studies, it is important for you to think of what you intend to gain from this subject. I hope it is not a matter of merely doing well in your exam. Rather, I hope you will find that your love for literature will grow as you discover that this is not for the faint-hearted.

This semester, we will study two plays namely: Florence by Alice Childress; and King Lear by William Shakespeare. These plays may appear daunting to some but if you give due attention in class, you have nothing to fear.

For this week, you are required to blog on the following:

• Would I be willing to spend my money watching an excellent play/drama? Why?
• What do I expect from a good play?
• Do I feel comfortable to act in a play? Why? 

Yours truly replied:
        1. Yes, because of the satisfaction when coming out of the theater worth the money.    Also, the play or drama will be one of my sweetest memories.
        
        2. I expect that the actors perform or acts very well. What I mean is that the actors will try their best in giving life to their characters and thus touch the feelings of the audience.  Furthermore,the set and the props should be vivid in order to actually make the audience feels the play is realistic.




         3. No, because i am not good at acting something than doing something for real. anyway i am better off being a crew for a play because i have pretty good skills in handling the technical part of the play behind the scenes.

An overview

Nearing the end of my first semester, it seem to me that English Studies is a subject of its own specialty. For me, an interesting subject such as this should be conveyed how my lecturer taught me. He teaches with enthusiasm, and always entertain us with his smooth jokes. from all of the short stories, I can conclude majority of them have a tragic ending. Well, truthfully it all end up either dead or in a sad condition, I must say that maybe some of the writers of these short stories are sadistic or pessimistic. Maybe they just like making gloomy endings. For me though, there is one short stories that stand out the most. Lamb to the Slaughter. Why? because the irony in the story. It is conveyed in a very funny way and most of all the storyline as it is as interesting as watching a movie For the poem, much thinking are needed in order to comprehend even just one line from them. But, as it is poems are very interesting especially when they have layers of layers of deep meaning from them. Challenges us to think much more creatively. Overall, it is a good subject. Not to be a suck up, but this subject is one of the subject that I look forward to when in class other than social studies.
                                     

my first day at school

Unforgettable Moments in School (Blogging Task)

After reading the poems First Day at School and School Over, you might see yourself as a naive child on your first day at school or a teen student who did not find joy being in school. Whatever your memories are, they have in one way or another shaped you.

For your blogging task, you have to think back to any moment in school which you find blissful or traumatic. You can express yourself by:

• writing a poem
• singing a song, composed by you
• drawing a picture

the first step
the first smile
the first of many

of the heavy bag
of the heavy hopes of parents
and of the heavy responsibilities
there to shoulder

happy
describe all
to the first encounter
to the first  boy
to the first girl

as such to be happy
from Miss Rafeah presence
her grace
her voice
and her smile
as enthusiast to teach

the first
as it is
the happiest of them all..

the jade bracelet answers

1.             What is the relationship between Mrs Wong and Mrs Lee?

             They are good neighbors

2.             Is Mrs Wong a filial daughter? Give threereasons.

            Yes, the evidence is she faithfully takes care of her mother for years. Secondly, she didn’t even whine or complaint especially when her mother refuses to eat the broth that she had made. Thirdly, she paid whatever price just for her mother’s coffin even though she knows it will be cremated after that.

3.             What is Ah Kow's real name? How is he related to the dying woman in the short story?

             Fok Kee, he is the son of the dying woman.

4.             Why is Sam Poh Tong mentioned in the short story?

Sam Poh Tong is mentioned in the story because it is the cave temple where Siew May grandmother was sent to prepare for her death.

5.             What do you think the jade bracelet symbolizes? Give your reasons.

             The jade bracelet symbolizes wealth and nobility. This is because the bracelet was a         valuable item that grandmother intended to give to Siew May. Also, it was considered to be an heirloom which should be inherited by a male heir.

6.             Do you think Siew May is naive? Cite your reasons with quotations.

             Yes, this is shown when Siew May cry ‘I want to go home…Grandmother will be waiting alone!’ She was feeling homesick and asking for things that was not actually possible and considering she was still a child, she doesn’t really understand what was really happening.

7.             Did Siew May get the jade bracelet in the end? Why?

                          No, because her mother gave it to her uncle as she sensed that a male heir is much      more deserving.

8.             Do you like the story? Why?

             No, this is because the ending wasn’t very satisfying as the bracelet was given to other person and not Siew May.

birthday

English studies                                                                                                                         1/8/2011

1.     1.  Does the protagonist have a name?

No, because there is no name stated there from the author to address “she” in the story.

2.       

           2.Who birthday is this?

It’s the protagonist birthday. The “she” in the story.

3.     

             3. How Chinese culture did helps to make you understand more?

The Chinese culture had shown me that respect for the elders are very important. Furthermore, the Chinese also believe in arranged marriage.