the curse novel 2011 form 5

CHARACTERS

azreen

Main character of the novel. Studies in England. Happy to be away from her village. Did not have good relationship with her parents especially her father due to her defiant behaviour and tomboyish outlook. An outspoken and independent girl. Envious of her adopted sister, Madhuri. A helpful friend especially when she claimed responsibility for letting the bull run loose in order to save Mohd. Asraf’s skin. Caring for her sick mother and Old Lady. Intelligent as she managed to further her studies in the United Kingdom.

madhuri

A beautiful and polite lady. A submissive wife and daughter. Religious and good at reciting Quranic verses. Conservative compared to her sister, Azreen. Protective of her sister when they were young. A polite and caring daughter. Concerned about her sick mother.

Mohd asraf

A dedicated and popular teacher in a local school on the island. Independent since young. Good friends with Azreen while they were in school together. A caring grandson who is concerned about his grandmother’s well-being. Loves Madhuri and wanted to take her with him to Kuala Lumpur.

Saleh abdullah

Madhuri and Azreen’s father. Active and strong for his age. A stern father to Azreen since when she was young. Not on good terms with Azreen since the motorcycle accident which paralysed Azreen’s mother. A manipulative father who let Madhuri become Haji Ghani’s second wife in order to protect his interests. An egoistic person who could not accept Madhuri’s love affair with Mohd. Asraf and in the end killed Madhuri in a fit of anger at the rubber plantation.

Haji ghani

The village headman who fell for Madhuri and took her as his second wife. Neglects his first wife, Fathihah in the process. An influential man on the island. Hides the cause of his wife’s death in order to protect his reputation. Knows of Madhuri’s affair with Mohd. Asraf. A religious man.

siti

An obedient daughter of Pn. Kamsiah. She helps Mohd. Asraf to look after his grandmother while he looks for the medicinal plants. She is also a responsible girl as she warns Azreen about the mob that is lead by Mohd. Asraf to the Old Lady’s house. She is gullible as she likes to ponder over the gossips and rumours told by Normala, the village gossip.

Puan normala

The rumour monger of the village and her topic of interest is on Madhuri and how she died. She is sneaky and malicious when she coaxed Mohd. Asraf to confront the Old Lady, accusing her as the reason why his grandmother’s health deteriorates and she finally dies. She is also superstitious when she blamed the Old Lady’s visit to Mohd. Asraf’s house as the reason for the continuous rain.

Old lady

An educated woman as she has knowledge of herbal medicine to treat illnesses. Her house is always neat and situated by the hillside. She is a caring and concerned woman as she takes Azreen in and gives her food and shelter whenever she has fights and problems. She is also a resourceful person and she is a good cook and her recipes and secret ingredients are very much sought after.

Datin Sharifah & Datuk Zulkifli

Azreen’s rich foster parents whom she stayed with for two months foster programme. Datuk and Datin helped her financially in her studies in the UK. Even though she only stayed with them for a short period of time, she still maintains a good relationship with them. Even though they are foster parents, they treat Azreen as their own child. Azreen calls her Mak Cik which signifies their close relationship.

SETTING

On the whole, the setting initially revolves around London and moves on to a village on a small island off Langkawi and the house of Datin Sharifah and her husband in Langkawi

Some of the places mentioned in the story.

LONDON

Azreen furthers her studies in London

A VILLAGE ON A SMALL ISLAND OFF LANGKAWI.

Azreen’s house

- Azreen lives with his father, mother and Madhuri.

Madhuri’s room

- Azreen finds Madhuri’s photos are all torn in three parts. The room is also burnt down.

Nek’s house

- Mohd Mohd. Asraf lives with his grandmother.

The rubber plantation

- The scene where Madhuri’s body is found.

The farm

- Awang leaves the gate open and Mohd. Asraf gets the blame when the bull escapes.

The forest

- The Old Lady runs to the forest and settles in an abandoned wooden house after the villagers outcast her.

The school

- The school where Azreen studied during her secondary years. This is also where she gets acquainted with Mohd. Asraf.

Paddy field

- Salleh Abdullah finds Madhuri as a baby in the makeshift bed of rags and leaves.

The cemetery

- Madhuri and her mother are laid to rest here

THEMES

These are some of the themes found in the novel:

LOVE

The message of love is reiterated throughout the story. Parental Love: • Both Saleh Abdullah and his wife love Madhuri dearly like their own biological child. • Azreen’s inner conflict to garner her father’s love and affection. She always perceives the father as having greater love towards her sister, Madhuri. Forbidden Love: • Mohd. Asraf and Madhuri secretly loves each other that eventually led to Madhuri’s death. Unrequited Love: • Azreen had a crush on Mohd. Asraf during school days.

FORGIVENESS

Before the Old Lady draws her last breath, she advises Azreen to forgive others. When Azreen discovers that it was her father who murdered Madhuri, she felt no anger or resentment towards him.

VIOLENCE AGaiNST WOMEN

The story portrays how some men believe women to be the weaker sex and they are violent towards them. For instance, the Old Lady’s husband was abusive towards her and repetitively abused her. He hit and kicked her.

GENDER STEREOTYPING

Through the novel, gender stereotyping is portrayed through how females should behave. This can be seen especially through Azreen. For example, Azreen’s school friends start to cast suspicious eyes towards her when she behaves unlady-like. She plays hockey with the boys and even “laughs like a bunch of hyenas” with them. To them, as a woman, Azreen is not expected to be tomboyish and hangs too closely with boys.

BELIEF IN THE SUPERNATURAL

The villagers seem to believe in supernatural. For example, many villagers call upon Awang, the village shaman to avert disasters. In another instance, Puan Normala tries to convince the villagers that the village is cursed since Madhuri’s blood is white.

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

The villagers are puzzled about how Madhuri died. However, no one actually investigates the incident which is covered up well by Haji Ghani and his followers. In another instance, the villagers assume that the Old Lady is an evil witch that can turn anyone into squirrels or rats. Due to this assumption, the villagers outcast the Old Lady.

VALUES

These are some of the values found in the novel:

CARING

Madhuri shields her sister, Azreen, from being punished by her father. Madhuri helps Azreen to mend their mother’s favourite rattan basket which Azreen broke while collecting durians.

STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN

Being persistent in getting to the truth is highlighted especially through Azreen. She refuses to believe that Madhuri’s death was merely an accident. She finds clues that complete the puzzle.

RESPONSIBILITY

Azreen repairs the trampled bed of vegetables and brings back fresh vegetables and seeds to replace the ones destroyed vegetables that belong to the Old Lady.

DILIGENCE

Azreen diligently repairs the trampled bed of lady’s fingers outside the Old Lady’s house.

CONCERN

When Azreen refuses to eat her dinner after being caned by her father and scolded by her mother, Madhuri consoles and coaxes her to eat. Mohd. Asraf advises Azreen not to reveal about Madhuri’s death to her sickly mother who assumes that Madhuri is still alive.

BRAVERY

When Encik Mohan and his sons harshly reprimand Mohd. Asraf for carelessly letting their bull escape, Azreen braves herself to come to Mohd. Asraf’s defence. She tells them not to blame Mohd. Asraf without any evidence.

LOYALTY

Shows her loyalty to her friend Mohd. Asraf by taking the blame calmly and bravely for the accident that involves her dad and mum.

PERSISTENCE

Madhuri and Azreen continue working on the rattan basket in their bedroom. Even when their parents return home, they excuse themselves quietly and forgo dinner to weave a new basket to match the original in their dimly lit room.

THOUGHTFULNESS

Mak Cik Sharifah and her husband, Azreen’s foster parents, leave behind two throw pillows from their car for Azreen to sleep on in her mother’s house. They are also thoughtful enough to leave her two bottles of water, some fruits and a bag of disposable toiletries.

HELPFUL

Siti obliges to help Mohd. Asraf take care of his sick mother while Mohd. Asraf goes out to get some traditional medicine. Siti keeps an eye on the sick woman whom she is quite fond of.

LITERARY DEVICES

SIMILE

A simile is a figure of speech comparing two unlike things, often introduced with the words "like", "as", or "than".

Examples :

• …Pn.Kamsiah’s eyes bulged out like a toad’s…p.11
• …and growled like some rabid dog…- p.23
• Fingers pointed, harsh words were spoken and friends avoided her like a leper. p.104
• His eyes burned wildly like the fire on his torch. - p.199
• “People swarm around you like flies to a garbage can. Like maggots to rotten meat” – p.38

METAPHOR

Examples:

• Especially that rotten durian neighbour of yours… p.23
• …with the leaky- mouthed neighbour…-p.171
• …her father’s steely eyes…-p.222

PERSONIFICATION

An inanimated object is personified by attributing human traits and qualities to it.

Examples:

• …the black taxis whizzing past… - p.3
• The plank beneath her feet creaked… - p.80
• …whose muscular biceps flexed menacingly…- p.93
• …it gripped his heart like a vice…-p.227

ONOMATOPOEIA

Words that sound like the objects they name or the sounds those objects make.

Examples:

• …the wheels of the suitcase screeched as she…-p.2
• The plank beneath her feet creaked…p.80
• There was a rustling of leaves…-p.219
• …words echoed boomingly in her head…-p.222

HYPERBOLES

Hyperboles are figures of speech that are exaggerated in order to create emphasis or effect

Examples:

• .… girls fell for him left and right… p.41
• Argh I’ll be dead if the teacher finds out… p.91

POINT OF VIEW

The point of view is the ‘eyes’ through which a story is seen and told. The reader will learn about the story through an outside voice, the narrator.

In the novel ‘The Curse’, the author has used the THIRD PERSON OR OMNISCIENT point of view. He even narrates the story using dialogues.

TONE OF VOICE

Attitude of a character or a piece of writing.

Serious, mysterious, sadness, reflective, regret, emotional, humorous, envious,

IMAGERY

Imagery is the use of words or phrases that appeal to the five senses- sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. These words create mental pictures in the minds of the readers hence making a piece of description more ‘alive’ and memorable.

Examples:

• She sat up and stared at the rising sun that glowed orange and vermilion. – p.205
• Sunlight danced through the leaves above – p. 206
• The shades of the trees now left them and the glare of the morning sun blinded him for a while.- p.213
• Somewhere nearby a church bell chimed and a red double-decker bus went whizzing by.- p.231
• The sweet smell of jasmine caressed her senses, lifting a weight from her soul.- p. 229
• Azreen felt warm tears rolling down her cheeks. Her skin felt cold and clammy even under the hot afternoon sun.- p. 226

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