Iroquois : The Girl Who Was Not satisfied With Simple Things

In the story, the girl finds herself to good for anyone.  Her mother helps her to find many good and descent men, but she rejects.

Her pride gives her a big problem.  When a very handsome young worrior comes to propose, without further consideration and ignores her mother's advice, she accepts the worrior's proposal.

Her stubbornness pay off, when she finds out that her husband is not an human but serpent disguised in human form.  She is so regret because does not listen to her mother.

Her stubborness despite ruined her but also helped her.  She doesn't want to be defeated.  With Heno's help, she runs away as fast as she can.  Finally she manages to escape from those serpents.

Becoming A Woman by Hilary Tham

When I was twelve, my mother initiated me
into the mysteries of becoming a woman
with a pound of rice-paper, the unadvertised
kind made from stalks and leaves, the stubble
after the harvest.

She taught me the art of crumpling,
stretching, folding the sheafs into
a likeness of Modess-factory-rejects.

               "You will bleed
at a special time of the moon."
she told me.  "use these
to reserve modesty and the secret
of your femaleness."

Her mother's way she passed to me
with the few words she had received
at her initiation.

Each full moon I cursed the tides
within my body.  I abandoned
tradition's rice-paper.

I have forgiven the moon since
our children came, spores of sunrise
in their newborn hands.

This poem is suitable for seondary school especially for teenager.  Even primary school year 9 to 12 suitable to appreciate this poem.

"Becoming A Woman" by Hilary Tham depicting a girl dilemma in her journey to become a woman.  At this period girls usually feel anxious and curious about her physical change.  From this poem, girls able to experience that it happens to every girl and they should appreciate what God had created for them.

As boys, the poem able togive them opportunity ti appreciate sacrifice of a woman, especially their mother.  Without their mother 'bleed every full moon' they wouldn't exist in this world.  And they should understand that how every mother thankful to the 'bleed of each month' when they holding their own children.

Poems by Erica Jong

For My Husband

Erica Jong's poem, "For My Husband" just as her many other works, is lustful and provocative.

In her poem, "For My Husband", she potrayed herself unfaithfulness towards her husband.  Even though she married, she still thinking of other man while her husband besides her.  This showed in line 'I have taken other men into my thoughts'.

She also a men hunter.  From the poem, she thinks of men from all parts, which she attracted.  Each man has his own attractiveness.  She loves to appreciate each man uniqueness. This showed from the line 'I have taken other men into my thoughts since i met you.'

Thus, she doesn't feel bond with marriage.  She still able to do what she desire but stayed in her marriage.

Her boldness of view showed that a woman has the same ability to appreciate other gender as men always do.

Conflict in Ovid's Metamorphosis 'Pyramus and Thisbe'

The conflict of the story 'Pyramus and Thisbe' is their parents forbid their steadfast love.

This story setting is in Babylonian society.  In Babylonian society, parents have the absolute legal control of their children while they're growing up.  Parents have the right to choose spouses for their sons and daughters and even had the right to sell them.  Hence, it is very normal that parents of Pyramus and Thisbe forbid and disapprove their relationship.  For their parents, the love of Pyramus and Thisbe is threatening their superiority as their parents.

In today's society, everyone is free to choose their spouses but we still have many relationship problems, such as, divorce.  In the past, when marriage failed, parents was to be blamed because almost every marrige was an arranged marriage.  Then, starting to evolve 'laissez-faire love' where everyone should be given chance to choose their spouse.  But the rate of divorce in the world still increasing every year. Therefore, we should do serious consideration before getting into a relationship to avoid catastrophe occurred.

Fable Written by Kwan

The Naughty Boy Named Amir


Once there was a naughty boy named Amir. He liked to bully children smaller than him. He also lied to his parents that other children bullied him.

One day, Amir's teacher came to his house and visited his parents. His teacher, Miss siti, told Amir's parents what Amir did in the school. Amir's parents did not believe his teacher. But Miss Siti brought pictures that showed Amir bullied, hit and scolded other children. Actually the teacher had stalked Amir for a long time to collect these evidence.

Amir was so afraid. He apologised to his parents and promised to repent. His parents loved him so much, so they believed him.

The next day, Amir went to school and saw his friend, Damia, was eating a delicious cake. He cannot resist himself. He went towards Damia and grabbed the cake. Quickly he put the cake into his mouth and ate it. Damia cried and complaint to Miss Siti.

Miss Siti was so furious. She told Amir's parents. They were so disappointed at Amir. He was grounded for one week.

One day, Amir's mother made him a packet of delicious 'nasi lemak' with 'sambal' and fried chicken. He was so happy. Suddenly, a big boy named Ahmad, passed by and saw Amir's delicious 'nasi lemak'. He grabbed Amir's food and ate it. Amir cried and complaint to his Miss Siti. But Miss Siti laughed at Amir and said " Are you joking? Who dare to take your food? Now go to your class. Recess is over."

Amir was so upset and helpless. He told his parents what happened in school. Again his parents laughed at him and said "Are you lying again? Who dare to take your food? Now go do your homework."

Amir was so disappointed because nobody believed him. He felt so sorry to the children he bullied. He cried alone in his room.

So, the moral of the story is remember to keep your promise, if not, nobody will believe you again.

The Son Of The Turtle-Spirit

This folktale depicts an asian conservative minded of an asian woman. This folktale is suitable for students to explore the conservative and dilemma of a woman in the past.

The maiden in the folktale is a faithful wife. Even though she knows her husband is a turtle spirit, once a woman laid with a man even only for one night, she will recognised him as a husband for life. That was the principle of the conservative woman in the past.

The maiden doesn't blame the spirit turtle cheating her. She still delivered the spirit's son. She carries the responsibility of a wife even though her parents despise her husband. She collects the bones and remains of her husband. She puts it beside her bed until she delivered her baby. It is very important for the deceased to have someone taking care of its remains.

Because her parents reject her son, so she has to take care her son on her own. The maiden still do everything she can to provide the best for her husband and son. When she knows about the rich man and the grave seeker proposition to her son, she asks her son to put her husband remains in the dragon's mouth instead the richman's grandfather's remains.

Folktale

Before we explore in-depth about folktale, we better understand what is the meaning of folktale.  There are a few definitions we can use as references:

A folktale is a fictitious story told to amuse the listeners.  Usually the story taken place far-off time and place.  These stories feature kings and princesses, giants and dragons, fairies and sorcerers and magical objects and animals kingdom. (www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibition/Folklore/english/.../contesintroe.htm)

Besides that, folktale can defined as a story or legend handed down from generation to generation.  Folktale often explain something that happens in nature of convey a certain truth about life.  (www.mce.k12th.net/indians/reading/what_is_a_folk_tale.htm)

Folktales are very good teaching moral values among children.  Folktales are usually short and easy for children to read.  There are some famous Malaysia folktales,such as; The Story of the Coconut Tree, Sang Kancil and Pak Mandir.