A
List out all the main characters that have played role in this short story.
1. Ah Ma
2. Mr Li
3. Ying, Mr Li daughter
4. Helen, Mr Li wife
Describe Li's mother (Ah Ma).
1. A gentle lady who has came from tough time.
2. Has her son love, as her son always takes her to office so she can see Tanjung Rhu.
3. Wants love and care.
Describe about Ying's characteristic.
1. Young and modern
2. Kind and understanding
3. Loves her grandmother deeply
4. tried to bulit bridge of relationship between her grandmother and her father.
Describe Mr Li characteristics.
1. Caring man
2. Loves his mother
3. Torn between believing the age old custom and modern ways.
Describe about Helen.
1. Enjoy Tea parties with friends.
2. Always displeasure Mr Li.
Describe the time duration that the short story took place.
It is set in the recent past and could apply to the present times too.
The short story written based on whose point of view?
It is written in the third person point of view. We see everything through Mr. Li’s eyes and perspective.
What type of Language been use in this story to reflect the storyline?
1. Simple and clear language been used for the reader easily understand the storyline.
What type of Style been used in this story to reflect the storyline?
The writer uses flashback to project the mother's thoughts and feelings.
Describe one themes based on the short story.
What is the tone and mood of the story.
2. Anxiety and Nostalgic.
Physical setting
It is set in Singapore. The family is fairly affluent as Mr. Li is a shipyard owner although at one time, he was living in a hut in Tanjung Rhu.
Social Setting
Mrs. Li has tea parties with her friends, a social practice of the rich where rich cakes and perfumes feature. The son is studying in Cambridge while the daughter is going to New York soon. The house, the altar and their lifestyle reflect their wealth and position in society
In your opinion, why didn't Edward tell the truth about the binoculars he bought for his mother?
) He could be embarrassed to admit how much he cared for his mother.
2) He did not think his wife would understand why he bought the binoculars for his mother.
1. What was it that had been pulled down thirty years ago?
It was his father's shipyard.
Do you think Mr Li's mother understood the use of binoculars? Why do you say so?
No, i don't think so. She was told the binoculars could be used to see very faraway places and in her min it meant that things that can be seen in the distance even if they do not exist anymore.
They were spoken by Ying and she was speaking to Mr Li.
Explain the situation that brought this up.
Mr Li was waiting for AhMa to take her to the office and Ying was trying to make Ah Ma cut short her praying session by taking over from her. But Ah Ma would not hear of it. She refused to be hurried.
Where is Mr Li?
In the family altar room.
If you could change one part of the story,which would you change? Justify.
the hospital scene
1.Would ask her mother a question about his childhood and she would be able to answer him. "After that, she would tell him where she hide the key.
2. If he had the key to the drawer, he would be able to continue ancestral worship and free from guilt.
What does the locked drawer symbolize?
The locked drawer symbolizes the traditional values that Ah Ma upheld and which her son does not understand.
If you were Mr Li, what would you do in this situation?
Why is he looking for joss sticks?
He wants to burn some joss sticks for his ancestors like his mother used to do.
Based on the short story, Tanjong Rhu, tell one of the social issues portrayed in the story.
-Generation gap: the young and the old approach certain issues in life differently.
. Between Mr Li and his mother, between mother and granddaughter.
. Mr Li adopts modern ideas and ways.
. His mother is conservative and holds on to her beliefs and custom strongly.