Answer Script for Aspects in the Novel (THE CURSE)

Answer script for aspects in the novel (the curse – lee su ann) The module contained short tips and suggested answer in answering the question

about selected novel. It contained the model answers for novel

THE CURSE by Lee Su Ann.

NUR IZZATI ABD SHUKOR

ABOUT THE NOVEL

An Indian boy found Madhuri’s death body in the rubber estate. A few moments

later, her husband, Haji Ghani went to the scene. At London, the main character, Azreen

Saleh, Madhuri’s sister heard about the news. She quickly return to Malaysia and

postponed her examinations. Her foster parents, Datuk Zulkifli and Datin Sharifah fetched

her at Langkawi Airport and brought Azreen to her village which is located at one of the

island near Langkawi. Her mother had lose her memories and even her own daughter she

can’t remembered. Azreen neighbour, Puan Normala kept talking rumors about Madhuri’s

death. Azreen father, Saleh Abdullah scolded her when she brought her mother to the

graveyard. Her mother supposed not to know about Madhuri’s death as she had an

Alzheimer sickness. Azreen later met Mohd Asraf, her crush when she was at school and

they had a little talk before they separate to go home. Azreen found that her sister was not

accidently died but she was murdered when Azreen pay a visit to the Old Lady’s house. At

school, rumors about Madhuri’s death still in the air as Puan Normala’s daughter, Noor

kept talking about it. Her classmate, Siti was exhausted about it. Everyday Azreen will

flashback her childhood memories with Madhuri. Even she had a feeling on dislike

Madhuri, but there’s a feeling that make her and Madhuri be one. A few days later,

Azreen’s mother died peacefully in her sleep. Azreen received a letter from Julian. In the

letter, Julian placed Madhuri’s letter for Azreen. Azreen threw the letter and when she came

back the letter had disappeared. There’s also a mysterious figure kept following Azreen and

many strange things happened. Her chicken either was thrown in front of her house with

broken neck. The Old Lady died of fire accidently by angry Mohd Asraf as her

grandmother passed away after the Old Lady treated her. One after one secrets was

revealed to Azreen related to Madhuri’s death. Azreen then discovered that the real murder

of her sister was her own father, Saleh Abdullah after the mysterious figure who was

actually Madhuri’s real mother pointed her to her father’s parang. Saleh Abdullah died of

heart attack when Madhuri’s real mother went to him in purpose to kill him. Azreen went

back to London and felt more like home there. The end of autumn and the next season will

mark a new life for Azreen.

THEME

I studied novel The Curse by Lee Su Ann in Form 5 for SPM 1119

question in paper 2. Theme is the main massage that the novelist wants to

tell us.

Firstly, the theme for this novel is love. There are three types of love

that can be found in this novel; parental love, forbidden love and

unrequited love. For the textual evidence, we can find the theme of

parental love when Salleh Abdullah and his wife love Madhuri like their

own biological daughter. The evidence for forbidden love is when the

relationship between Madhuri and Mohd Asraf ends with Madhuri’s death.

Next, we can find the theme of unrequited love from the event Azreen felt

disappointed when Mohd Asraf prefer Madhuri than herself even she and

Mohd Asraf knew each other much longer.

Secondly, the novelist tells us the theme of gender stereotyping. For

the evidence, Azreen behave unlady-like and played hockey in the boys’

hockey team. She also laughs with them like a bunch of hyenas. As for the

result, we must behave like what we should be.

Lastly, there is the theme of forgiveness in this novel. For an

example, we can see this theme through the event of the Old Lady’s house

accidently burned by angry Mohd Asraf. Azreen rushed inside the house to

rescue her but the only thing that the Old Lady advised her is to forgive

who wronged her like she did.

CHARACTER (mostly the question asked you to describe a character that you like)


question in paper 2. Characters are the role player in plotting events in the

novel. There are two types of characters; protagonist and anatogist.

Character that I like is Azreen Salleh.

Azreen is the main character of the novel. She is an intelligent girl.

For the evidence of this statement, she managed to further her studies in

London. Next, Azreen is a loyal friend. For an example, she took the

blame for letting the bull escape in order to save Mohd Asraf’s skin.

Azreen is also a brave girl. For the evidence, Azreen bravely enters the

burning house of the Old Lady’s in order to rescue her but she didn’t

make it. In other event, Azreen bravely took the blame for letting the bull

escape and cause the accident of her parents. Lastly, Azreen is a

responsible girl. For an example, she repaired the trampled bad vegetables

of the Old Lady. She also brought fresh vegetables and seeds.

Note:

The questions on character often asked you to describe the characteristics of the character. Since the

marks for this section is 15, make sure you gave the characteristics and its’ evidence at least 3 and

above. The question also sometimes will ask you about the protagonist, anatogist, character that you

dislike and other that related to it. When the question asked about the bad character, describe their bad

characteristic only. It is the same as you describe the good character.

Tips:

If the question asked you to describe the character that you like, describe only the character’s GOOD

CHARACTERISTICS.

SETTING

i) TIME


question in paper 2. Time setting is the time that an event occurs.

Firstly, there is an event occur at day time. For example, an event the

Indian boy found Madhuri’s death body. From this, we knew that the

Indian boy was actually working in the rubber estate on the time he found

Madhuri’s death body. Next, there is also an event that occurs at night.

For an example, the event Azreen saw a face in her late sister’s window on

the time she about to close it. She went out to investigate but she found

nothing. When she went inside she found that Madhuri’s room was on

fire. Lastly, the time setting is raining days. For the evidence, Azreen’s

mother died on the fifth day of the falling rainy days.

ii) PLACE


question in paper 2. Place setting is the place where an event occurs.

Firstly, the place in this novel is Azreen’s house. For evidence,

Azreen, Madhuri, Salleh Abdullah and his wife live in this house. There

are many events that occur in this house such as Azreen’s mother died

peacefully in her sleep, Azreen flashback her childhood memories with

Madhuri repairing their mother broken basket and the revealing of the real

murder of Madhuri by Salleh Abdullah. Next, the rubber estate is the

crime scene in this novel. For the examples, Madhuri’s death body was

found here by an Indian boy and there’s also the event where Awang

revealed the secret of Madhuri’s relationship with Azreen’s family to

Azreen. Lastly, there is the Old Lady’s house in this novel. For the

evidence, Azreen often went to her house for comfort, Mohd Asraf came

for help in case to find Nek’s medical herbs and the Old Lady died in fire

that burn her house accidently cause by angry Mohd Asraf.

iii) SOCIAL (this question never pop up in any SPM question yet)


question in paper 2. Social setting is the type of people in a story or novel.

Firstly, the novel reflects the social of educated people. For an

example, Azreen managed to continue her studies in London. In other

event, the Old Lady knows a lot about herbs and medicine when she tries

to help cure Nek. Next, there is the social of rich and kind hearted people.

For the evidence, Azreen’s foster paents, Datuk Zulkifli and Datin Sharifah

supported Azreen’s finance to study at London. They also gifted Azreen’s

mother a wheelchair to help her move much easier than before. Lastly,

rumors monger is also a social setting that can be found in this novel. For

the example, Puan Normala love to separate rumors. Her favorite topic is

Madhuri’s death and how she dies. Like her mother, Puan Normala

biological daughter Noor also loves to tell the rumors about Madhuri in

school. All of the rumors make her classmate, Siti exhausted about it.

VALUE


question in paper 2. Value is the good deed that we should follow and

practice in our daily life.

Firstly, the novelist sends us a massage about value of responsible.

For an example, Azreen repaired the trampled bad vegetables of the Old

Lady. She also brought fresh vegetables and seeds. Next, there is also the

value of loyalty and brave. For an example, Azreen shows her loyalty to

Mohd Asraf when she bravely took the blame of escaped bull in order to

save Mohd Asraf’s skin that finally caused an accident of her father and

mother. There is a value of thoughtfulness in this novel too. For the

evidence, Azreen’s foster perents, Datuk Zulkifli and Datin Sharifah leaved

two pillows from their car, two bottles of water, some fruits and a bag of

disposable toiletries for Azreen to sleep at her mother’s house. Lastly, the

novel reflects the value of stand with what you believe. For the textual

evidence, Azreen refuses to accept the death of Madhuri was an accident

but it was actually a murder. She tried find the clues that related to

Madhuri’s death and revealed many secrets that was kept away from her.

Finally she discovered that the real murder of Madhuri is her own father,

Salleh Abdullah.

Tips :

Write at least 3 values and its evidence. It’s okay if you fully describe the events.

PLOT (question : explain what had happen in the exposition of the novel)


question in paper 2. Plot building consist exposition,rasing action, climax,

falling action and resolution. Exposition is the part beginning of the novel.

The exposition begins with the event an Indian boy found Madhuri’s

death body in the rubber estate. Next, the main character of the novel,

Azreen Salleh receives the news of her sister’s death and postponed her

studies in London to return home. Her foster parents, Datuk Zulkifli and

Datin Sharifah fetched her at the Langkawi Airport and brought Azreen to

her home. When she reached home, she didn’t make it to pay the last

respect for her sister. Puan Normala, the rumor monger keep talking about

Madhuri’s death with a group of women. When she saw Azreen, she told

about Azreen’s past to the women. She also told that Azreen is a rude and

unrespect girl and due to that her parents pay more attention to Madhuri.

Azreen entered her room and Datin Sharifah followed her. Azreen forced

Datin Sharifah to tell her what exactly had happed but Datin Syarifah

refused. Lastly, Azreen brought her sickly mother, whom suffering the

Alzheimer to the graveyard. Her mother supposed not to know about

Madhuri’s death. Her father, Salleh Abdullah was angry with her and

asked her to bring her mother home. Azreen refused but Datin Syarifah

offer herself to bring Azreen’s mother home.

Note:

1) Exposition : the beginning of the story

2) Rising action : the part of the plot where conflicts start to appear

3) Climax : the middle part of the story ; the part where the important events happen

4) Falling action : the part of the plot where one by one the conflicts solved

5) Resolution : the ending of the story

LITERARY DEVICE


question in paper 2. Literary device is the way the novelist writes the

sentences in their writing. There are many literary devices can be found in

this novel.

Firstly, there are similes. For an example, from page 104, “Fingers

pointed, harsh words were spoken and friends avoided her like a leper.’’

and in page 199, “His eyes burned wildly like the fire on his torch.” Next,

there are also the literary devices of onomatopoeia. For the evidences, “The

plank beneath her feet creaked..” in page 80 and from page 222 “…words

echoed boomingly in her head…”.Lastly, there are metaphors in the novel.

The examples are in page 23, “Especially that rotten durian neighbour of

yours…” and “…her father’s steely eyes…” from page 222.

Tips :

Literary device is the way the novelist writes the sentences in their writing. For this

question, you need to remember the page and its sentences. It’s enough to remember only

3 types of literary devices. Give 2 evidences to strengthen your literary devices.

IMAGINARY


question in paper 2. Imaginary is the verbs for things that were used in

writing to give the verb for their opposite such as human’s verb to non-

living things.

Firstly, one of the imaginary is in page 206 “Sunlight danced through

the leaves above”. From that, we knew that sunlight actually can’t dance.

The novelist gave the sunlight a verb of human to make her writing even

interesting to read. Next, “The sweet smell of jasmine caressed her senses,

lifting a weight from her soul.” in page 229 is one of the imaginary. In this

sentence also content the verb of human. “Caressed” was done by hand or

human because smell is a thing that we didn’t see but know it is there.

Lastly, there is imaginary in the sentence “Azreen felt warm tears rolling

down her cheeks. Her skin felt cold and clammy even under the hot

afternoon sun.” from page 226 too. Tears are non-living things. The

novelist used the word “rolling” to describe the movement of tears from

the character.

Tips :

Write as many as you can. The key to score is remember the sentences and its’ page.

DO YOUR BEST IN

SPM 2013 DEAR

FRIENDS !!

SINCERELY DELIGHTFUL WRITTER, NUR IZZATI ABD SHUKOR

PAHANG SPM 2013 CANDIDATE

Documents

Answer Script for Aspects in the Novel (THE CURSE)