Lit Device #1
What is the literary device here?
"Tastes like strawberries on a summer evenin'"
Imagery
What literary device(s) is found here? + Analyse its effect.
MOTHER: "I have to go back, I have to go back to the hospital."
Repetition of "I have to go back" shows that mother is panicking as she fears she may have dropped Grandfather's medicine along the way.
How would you describe Mother's feelings when she said:
SON: It's fine. He's already feeling better.
MOTHER: For now, yes. What about tonight when we're all sleeping? What about tomorrow?
Impatient, frustrated, stressed
Name one conflict Mother has with Son.
Possible answers:
- Mother wants Son to focus on his studies, but Son wants to help look after Grandfather too.
- Son wants to help look after Grandfather, but Mother wants Son to ignore Grandfather's illness.
- Mother wants Grandfather to be looked after at the hospital, but Son wants Grandfather to be looked after by their own family.
What mobile application is Son using to call his online friend?
Skype
What is the literary device here?
"Treasure, that is what you are"
Metaphor
What literary device(s) is found here? + Analyse its effect.
MOTHER: "But... Pa... you don't need to know so much..."
Ellipses to show Mother's hesitation. She does not want to divulge Grandfather's illness to him as she fears he might worry too much.
How would you describe Son's feelings in the following interaction:
MOTHER: Mother Tongue?
SON: ...
Guilty, embarrased
Name one conflict Grandfather has with Mother.
Possible answers:
- Grandfather wants to be independent, but Mother wants to look after Grandfather.
- Grandfather wants to know about his illness, but Mother refuses as she does not want Grandfather to worry about his health.
What is the title of the book Son studied in school about a low IQ man who becomes smart after a laboratory experiment on a mouse?
Flowers for Algernon
What is the literary device here?
"Your eyes whispered, 'Have we met?'"
Personification
What do you call the type of speech when a character addresses the audience directly by himself?
Monologue
How would you describe Son's feelings when he said:
SON: Aww... so schweet...
Amused
Name one conflict Son has with Grandfather.
Possible answers:
- Grandfather wanted to talk to Son to get to know him better, but Son wanted to talk to his friend online.
- Grandfather wants to help Son speak Mandarin fluently, but Son does not put in effort to learn his Mother Tongue.
- Grandfather wants Son to sing like when Son was younger, but Son feels embarrassed to sing.
What is Son's name in "Don't Know, Don't Care"?
Ryan
What is the literary device here?
"Cry me a river"
Hyperbole
What literary device(s) is found here? + Analyse its effect.
SON: For the first few weeks he was fine. He had his routine. Every morning he would wake up... When I got home, Mummy would be ready to leave for work. (slight pause) Then he got worse.
The stage direction of "(slight pause)" creates suspense before Son's reveal that Grandfather's health got worse, which shocks me as an audience.
How would you describe Mother and Son's relationship in Act 3 Scene 3?
Harmonious, trusting, supportive
Name one internal conflict that Mother has.
Possible answers:
- Mother wants to look after Grandfather, but she herself is overwhelmed with work.
- Mother feels overwhelmed with looking after Grandfather and her work, but she does not want Son to help.
What is Son's brother's name in "Don't Know, Don't Care"?
Jonah
What is the literary device here?
"Well, good for you
You look happy and healthy, not me"
Irony / sarcasm
SON: You always break \
\ MOTHER: Don't you start...
The slash "\" indicates how mother interjects Son when he teases Mother about her rebellious childhood days. Their playful interaction shows that they have reconciled their previous conflicts, where Mother would interrupt out of anger instead.
How would you describe Son and Grandfather's relationship in Act 1 Scene 1?
Distant, indifferent, distrustful
Name one internal conflict that Son has.
Possible answers:
- Son wanted to help Grandfather when Son heard Grandfather groaning in pain, but Son decided to follow Mother's instructions to stay away instead.
In the Epilogue, what flower does Son mention to symbolise "remembrance, a celebration, of those close to us whose lives have ended"?
Sunflower