My Father Growing Old
What do the father’s daily routines show about his life?
His life is quiet and a bit lonely.
Why do the kids in school call the speaker “kiasu”?
Because the mother makes the child study and prepare too much.
What subject scores does the parent complain about in the poem?
Math (80) and Chinese (82).
Who are the three characters in the play Don't Know, Don't Care?
Mother, Son, Grandfather.
“Her smile is the sun.” What device is this?
Why does the son feel “more and more a stranger” to his father?
The son lives far away/overseas and their relationship has weakened over time
Why does the speaker’s uniform make him look “cartoon”?
It’s too big because the mother bought it a size larger.
What does the parent do when the children show their results?
Scolds them and calls them names like “Peabrain” and “Cretin.”
What is Son's name?
Ryan
“The flowers bowed their heads in the wind.” Which device is used here?
Personification
Why can’t the son say “I love you” to his father on the phone?
He finds it hard to say deep feelings, especially from far away.
How does the poet show the mother wants her child to succeed in studies?
She gives extra textbooks and tuition in many subjects.
Why does the parent want the children to do more exercises and tuition?
To make sure they get very high marks (A-star grades).
What book does Son recall from school, and what lesson does he draw from it?
Flowers for Algernon — that caring and empathy matter more than intelligence alone.
What device is seen in “Sally sells seashells by the seashore”?
Alliteration
Why do they talk about “smaller daily things” instead of their real feelings?
It’s easier and less awkward than saying what they truly feel.
Why does the child get teased with the name “Hospital Nostrills”?
Because the mother makes him take too many pills and vitamins.
How does the poet show that the parent is over-stressing the children?
The parent talks about “brain damage from too much work” and pushes them during holidays too.
What truth does Grandfather demand to know from Mother in Act Three?
Whether he is going to die.
The dove represents peace. What literary device is this?
Symbol
What does the phone call “expiring” at the end of the poem remind us about life?
What literary device is that?
That connections and life itself don’t last forever.
Personification
What is the main message of the poem about the mother’s love?
The mother’s love is caring but also too much, making the child seem “kiasu.”
What is the main message of the poem about education and parenting?
It criticises pushy parents who care too much about grades, not the children’s feelings or well-being.
In the Epilogue, what modern issue does Son highlight about relationships in the digital age?
Communication has increased through technology, but real human relationships have weakened.
“I’ve told you a million times to clean your room!” Which device is at work?
Hyperbole