Notes for 1C and 1I

DEAR STUDENTS,
I WILL NOT BE AROUND FOR TWO DAYS (WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY). PLEASE COPY DOWN THE NOTES BELOW INTO YOUR LITERATURE EXERCISE BOOK.

THANK YOU
MR FAISAL

*Kepada guru ganti, harap dapat pastikan murid-murid menyalin nota-nota di bawah. Jikalau ada di antara pelajar yang tidak membawa buku seperti yang ditetapkan, sebarang buku latihan Bahasa Inggeris boleh digunakan.

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Character Analyses

Main Character:

JAMAL.

1. Irresponsible
He has no sense of responsibility. Although he is old enough to choose his own bride, he leaves the whole process of choosing a wife to his mother and sister. He also does not save even though his salary is small. Hence, when he needs money, in this case, for his wedding, he does not have enough to pay for the expenses.

2. Simple minded
He does not think about the future and the consequences of his actions. For example, he does not think about the future when he decides to get married.

He also does not think further when he decides to sell his personal belongings in order to raise money for the wedding. For example, he sells his Bally shoes without thinking that they would have made a statement if he were wearing them at his wedding.

3. Obedient

He accepts his mother's choice of a bride. He agrees with the plans that the women in his family lay out for him. He goes for all the dress rehearsals and he manages to sit through them without complaining. His attitude throughout is to be obedient and patient.

Just Joking!

Perhaps you are quite tired of reading serious Steinback's novel. Take a relief by reading these jokes...



Why wouldn't the Oyster give anyone his pearl?
He was shellfish!









What do you call a fish without an eye?
It is fsh!




Read more jokes here

Posted by: Cikgu Faisal M.F

'THE PEARL' by John Steinbeck - Chapter 6

Summary

Kino and Juana, with Coyotito, start walking towards the North. Kino, with his animal instinct, senses danger. As a result, they walk all night in the protection of darkness. In the daylight, Juana and Coyotito sleep, while Kino keeps watch. When Juana wakes, Kino sleeps restlessly for a short while. Upon waking, Kino senses danger; he sees three figures in the distance, two on horseback and one on foot. He realizes that they are inland hunters, trackers out to find him. These trackers are as sensitive as hounds and can easily find their trail. Panic stricken, Kino almost feels like giving them the pearl; but Juana makes him realize that they will kill him anyway, pearl or not.
Kino and Juana start running towards the mountains, seeking "the high place, as nearly all animals do when they are pursued." After a while he sees that Juana is tired; he asks her to hide while he goes ahead, but Juana refuses. Finally, they stop at a cave, and Juana and the baby go inside to rest. Kino goes to leave a false trail that he hopes will fool the trackers. The plan does not work, for the trackers rest close to the cave for the night. Kino decides he must attack and try to seize the gun. He tells Juana that if he is killed, she must stay hidden until the trackers move on. He then touches Coyotito's head and strokes Juana's cheek. Finally, he removes his white clothes, which would have disclosed him, and moves towards the trackers.
Kino crawls quietly down the mountain towards the stream by which the trackers are sleeping. When he is twenty feet away, Kino readies his knife for attack. Suddenly, a small cry is heard, and one of the sleeping trackers awakens. The trackers decide the cry comes from a coyote cub. One tracker raises his rifle to shoot if a coyote appears. As the rifle fires, Kino leaps at the gunman and stabs him. He swiftly attacks the second tracker, while the third runs away. Kino grabs the gun and fires at the fleeing tracker. Suddenly, Kino hears a horrible cry coming from the cave. Coyotito has been killed in the gunfire.
Kino and Juana return to La Paz. All the townsfolk come out to see them. Juana is carrying her shawl in which the dead body of her child lies. Both walk through the city without a word, but bitterness is etched on Kino. No one dares speak to the couple. They keep walking until they reach the beach. While wild music beats in his head, Kino takes the pearl into his hand. No longer does he see hope or goodness in its beauty; instead, he sees his ruined canoe, his burned hut, murdered men, and a dead baby. Kino offers the pearl to his wife, but she refuses. Kino raises his arm and flings the pearl back into the sea. They see it splash into the water, and Kino and Juana silently watch as it disappears below.

by : Puan Zariah bt. Zainal

'THE PEARL' by John Steinbeck - Chapter 5

Summary

Kino wakes up in the dark and sees Juana leaving the house. Realizing what she is trying to do, Kino rushes behind her and wrenches the pearl from her hand just as she is about to throw it into the water. Kino is so incensed at her actions that he hits her hard; she falls into the shallow waves where he kicks her. When he finally controls his rage, he is disgusted with his behavior; he turns to go home alone. On the way, he is again attacked. He slashes out at his attacker with his knife, but he is shoved to the ground and searched. The pearl rolls out of his hand.
In pain, Juana drags herself out of the water and heads home. On the way back to the hut, Juana sees the pearl lying on the ground. She also spies two figures on the ground ahead. She rushes forward and sees that one of them is Kino, now stirring; the other figure is a dead man with a knife planted through him. At this sight, she immediately knows that she and Kino will never again regain the simple peace that they had before finding the pearl; their lives are changed forever due to its evil effects.
When Kino gains consciousness, his first thought goes to the pearl, which he thinks is lost. Juana calms and placates him, showing the found pearl. They both realize that Kino has killed a man, and they must flee. All future thoughts must be on saving themselves. They hide the dead stranger in the brush. Then they quickly pick up Coyotito and rush to the canoe, only to find it with a great hole in the bottom. As the music of evil plays through his head, Kino is filled with rage, but is helpless to do anything about it. The family returns home to find their hut in flames. They go to the house of Kino's brother and implore him to hide them. The village assumes that they have died in the fire.
While Kino and Juana hide, Juan Tomas passes the rumor that his brother must have drowned in the sea since no bones were found in the ashes. He then gathers provisions, which can be taken by Kino and Juana when they finally escape. When he is asked about the pearl, Kino now admits that it is evil, but he is not ready to dispose of it, for "this pearl has become my soul . . . If I give it up I shall lose my soul." Before the moonrise, Kino and Juana, with Coyotito and the pearl, take their leave and head North.

by : Puan Zariah bt. Zainal

Who is Steinback J.?

On this day in 1947 John Steinbeck's The Pearl was published, to coincide with the release of the film version. Steinbeck developed his "parable" from a traditional Mexican folk tale, and in such a way as to guarantee it a permanent position on the high school curriculum, but some biographers interpret it in a more personal way. (read more about Steinback here)

Posted By: Pn. Zariah Zainal

THE PEARL' by John Steinbeck - Chapter 4

Summary

At the beginning of this chapter, Kino decides to sell his pearl. By early morning, every individual in the town comes to know about his decision. The pearl buyers sit in their offices, anticipating the arrival of Kino. People, over their breakfast, imagine what they would have done if they had found the pearl.
Kino and Juana prepare themselves and Coyotito in their best finery (which is still shabby), for they feel this is a very important day, almost as important as the day Coyotito was born, and set out to sell their pearl. As usual, the entire neighborhood follows them in a procession. When Kino enters the office of the first pearl buyer, he is playing tricks with a coin, symbolic of his greedy trickery and dishonesty. He inspects the pearl, deems it worthless, and offers a thousand pesos for it. Kino is not discouraged. Then the pearl buyer calls in three other buyers. All the dealers declare the pearl to be worthless and hope that Kino will fall for their age- old ploy and sell it for a meager amount. To everyone's surprise, Kino refuses to give in and asserts that the pearl has great value. He then declares that he is going to the capital to sell his pearl.
Back home, Kino feels frustrated and isolated, for "He had lost one world and had not gained another." Kino is no longer comfortable with his simple, primitive world, for he dreams of wealth and an education for his son, things that will buy his way into the modern "civilized" world. Ironically, Kino is cautioned about this civilized world by Juan Tomas, his older brother, but Kino refuses to give in to fear. During the night, however, Kino is attacked for the second time. Juana again pleads to her husband to destroy the pearl, but Kino's will is hardened. He tells her that the next day he plans to go to the capital and sell the pearl.

By : Puan Zariah bt. Zainal

'THE PEARL' by John Steinbeck - Chapter 3

Summary

The news that Kino has found the greatest pearl in the world spreads quickly around the town. Everyone thinks greedily about the pearl and selfishly wonders how it can be of personal benefit. The news reaches the priest, who immediately starts thinking about how the money could be spent on the repairs needed for his church. The news reaches the shopkeepers, who look at the men's clothes that have not been selling well and hope that Kino will come to buy some. The news then reaches the doctor, who realizes that the pearl's owner is the same person who has earlier come to him. He quickly amends his way and says, "He is a client of mine.

I am treating his child for a scorpion sting". Finally, the news reaches the pearl buyers, who start calculating how they can land the great pearl at a low price. The whole town is filled with an evil envy over Kino and his pearl.

Kino and Juana, of course, are oblivious to all of these reactions in the civilized world. They are simply happy to be alone and bask in the thought of their newfound treasure. But friends and family surround the couple. When Kino is asked what they plan to do with the money (assuming he will sell the pearl for a large sum), his first priority is legally marrying Juana in the church. This privilege has been denied him because of his poverty. He then dreams of new clothes, a fine harpoon, and even a rifle. Most importantly, he will provide for his son. Coyotito will have plenty to eat and nice clothes; he will also have an education and learn to read. Kino knows the written word will help his son break out of the primitive world into a "magical" civilized existence.

The priest arrives and Kino hears the "Song of Evil" in his head, suggesting that Kino understand the hypocrisy that is entering the hut. The priest reminds Kino to thank God for his treasure. He also mentions that Kino is named after a great man, and hints that Kino will also become great. He finally reminds Kino of his duty to the church, ironic words spoken by a man who has refused to marry Juana and Kino. The priest departs after offering a blessing and praising Kino for his intention of marrying Juana in the presence of God.

After the neighbors go back to their own houses, Juana starts preparing their dinner. Kino feels the warmth and security of his family and hears the "Song of the Family". He stands looking out of the doorway and realizes that there may be forces out there ready to destroy his happiness and that he must be ready to fight. Kino's world is now different. Having a thing of value to others has led him to be fearful for the first time.

As he is thinking, he sees two men approaching him, the doctor and his servant. The doctor now offers his help. Kino, filled with hatred, rebuffs his help, but the doctor uses his medical knowledge and Kino's lack of it to make him realize his ignorance, and so, Kino lets him in. The doctor examines the child and places a capsule in the baby's mouth. He leaves and promises to return in an hour. Juana and Kino wait for any reaction in Coyotito. Realizing that the pearl is still in his palm, Kino buries it in a hole in the corner of the hut. After a while the baby starts having stomach muscle spasms and becomes flushed. The doctor returns, treats Coyotito again, and behaves as if he has cured the baby. On hearing about the pearl, the doctor acts as if he is very concerned about its safety but covertly watches Kino's eyes which revert back to the place where it is concealed. When the doctor leaves, Kino is again assailed with doubts about the pearl's safety and changes its hiding place. He admits to his wife that he is now afraid of everyone.

That night, while he is sleeping, Kino hears the "Song of Evil" in his dreams. Then he hears rustling sounds in his hut. He leaps up with his knife to attack the intruder, stabs him, and is hit in the head himself. Juana wakes up and swabs the blood from his forehead. Juana now wants Kino to destroy the pearl, for it is causing problems, but Kino is adamant about keeping it. He is certain that he can buy an education for Coyotito with the Pearl; that knowledge, in turn, will buy them freedom.

The chapter ends with the roosters crowing and the waves breaking. Kino takes his pearl from its hiding place to admire it. Juana and he smile at its beauty and again feel hopeful.

by: Puan Zariah bt. Zainal

'THE PEARL' by John Steinbeck - Chapter 2

Summary
The second chapter opens with a description of the natural world that Kino inhabits. There are crabs, lobsters, eels, sea horses, and poison fish in the gulf waters. Pigs and dogs wander on the beach in search of food. It is a world resplendent in beauty; but it is also an environment where only the fittest survive.
After leaving the doctor's house, Kino and Juana walk slowly to the beach. Kino strokes his canoe, which is his symbol of security. The canoe has been passed down from his grandfather to his father before him, and it provides him the means of supporting his family. It is his most prized possession. Juana places Coyotito on a blanket in the canoe. She then wades into the water, gathers some brown seaweed, makes a damp poultice from it, and applies it to the baby's shoulder. Then, Kino and Juana slide the canoe into the water and paddle to an oyster bed. Kino, who is weighted down with a stone, starts diving in search of pearls. Kino selects a few large shells. He then notices a very large oyster, which, before it closes down, reveals a pale, ghostly gleam. Kino picks it up and surfaces. In Juana's presence, he opens the smaller oysters before opening the large one. As he pries open the large oyster, he finds inside a great pearl, "perfect as the moon, as big as a seagull's egg." Its iridescence, shape, size, and sheer beauty make both Kino and Juana hold their breaths. They know it is the most perfect pearl in the world. At the same moment, Juana looks at the baby and notices that the swelling has subsided. Kino's emotions overflow; he lets out a joyous shout, which makes the other pearl divers race towards him

by : Puan Zariah bt. Zainal

'THE PEARL' by John Steinbeck - Chapter 1

Summary

The novel begins at the break of dawn. Kino wakes up and sees his wife Juana already at her chores of watching the baby and making breakfast. Kino takes the time to play with his dog and watch the hut. It is a picture of familial contentment. Suddenly, a tiny movement near the baby's hanging box draws attention. A scorpion, with its tail sticking out, is poised, waiting to strike the infant. Kino waits with baited breath, and Juana prays. Soon Coyotito moves, and the scorpion falls on his shoulder, stinging him. Kino immediately kills the scorpion, but the harm is already done. Juana tells her husband to go and bring the doctor. When the neighbors say he will not come, the couple takes the baby into town to see the doctor. As they travel, neighbors join them, and they all believe the doctor will refuse to treat the baby of such a poor man.
Kino knocks on the doctor's door and the neighbors stand by and watch. A native servant opens the door, and Kino explains what he needs. When the servant explains the situation to his master, the doctor inquires if the Indian man has enough money to pay his fee. Kino can only offer some worthless pearls as payment, so he is turned away with his son Coyotito. The neighbors quietly take their leave, and Kino, in anger and frustration, pounds on the gate.

Just a personal thought...

July this year is the time for Malaysians to welcome the arrival of ‘His Royal Highness King of the fruits’ (KOF). Read more

Novel 'The Pearl' - setting

The story is set in a small Indian - Mexican fishing village community.

The locations found in the story are:

The ancient city of La Paz is situated on the southern end of the Baja Peninsula, a narrow peninsula separated from the mainland of Mexico by the Gulf of California. The wealthier Spanish-Mexicans in the town are professional people, like the doctor. The poor Indians work as servants in town. La Paz had once been a great pearl trading centre but it has a corrupt system. The town is compared ta a colonial animal because its organisation is like the organic system in an animal. News travels very fast in the town. It is modern with 'brick and plaster walls'.

posted by : Zariah Zainal

The New Seven Wonders

Do you all know that there are new Seven Wonders now?
They are:

1. Chichén Itzá, Mexico
2. Christ Redeemer, Brazil
3. The Great Wall, China
4. Machu Picchu, Peru
5. Petra, Jordan
6. The Roman Colloseum, Italy
7. The Taj Mahal, India

For more information, visit this website http://www.new7wonders.com

A poem

THE CURSED AND THE CURSER

They kill our brethren,
We curse them,
They invade our land,
We curse them,
They take our wealth,
We curse them,
They attack our holy land,
We curse them.
They give us pots of core-ruptious honey,
We glad,
They give us their unsewn clothes,
We glad,
They tell us their lullaby,
We sleep,
They give us their prickly heaven,
We enter,
From the heaven we see,
They kill our brethren,
We curse them,
but wait, remember the honey?
We quiet.
They invade our land,
We curse them,
but wait, remember the clothes?
We quiet.
They take our wealth,
We curse them,
but wait, remember the lullaby?
We quiet.
They attack our holy land,
We curse them.
but wait, remember the heaven?
We quiet.
There where we will stay,
There where we will wait,
forever...In the heaven
where red rivers flow beneath,
In the heaven mighty them created,
from our wealth they robbed,
from our long lost strength,
from our knowledge that we forget,
from the ancient script that we deny,
from our past unity,
let it be written in our future diary.

Composed by: Mohd Faisal Farish Ishak
Time: 1.00 a.m-while my children were sleeping soundly.
Date: July 26, 2006-while the children of Palestine and Lebanon couldn’t sleep.