Stanza 1 The ________________ of the house have just returned home at ______________. Their wet clothes are torn and their arms and legs are covered with scratches and wounds. They walk to the stove in the kitchen. Though it has been a rough day, they do not appear unhappy.
Stanza 2 The people of the house had been out in the _________________ for the past 24 hours. They were looking for their sons albino buffalo, which they never found. As they __________ in the floodwaters, they saw __________ of destruction, such as dead animals and parts of trees.
Stanza 3 The persona observes that though these people were born into hardship, they never complained nor did they allow it to get them down. Instead they took the situation in their __________ and even had time to sit around the kitchen making jokes and enjoying a smoke.
Elements of the Poem
Setting Place A ___________ village where life is simple and the people live in hardship and _____________. A flood has just occurred causing destruction to ______________ and crops. The scenes take place out in the flooded village and inside the house (kitchen).
Setting Time Set in the past. The scene could also be in the present in the more remote areas of the country. The poem opens with dawn when the family returns home and is now relaxing in the kitchen. They have spent the entire previous day and night in the floodwaters searching for a buffalo.
Persona The persona is one who has visited or lived with the _________ folk he is describing. He is observant about attitudes, appearance, habits and the culture of the people. The persona is sympathetic. He understands and admires the villagers for their positive and _____________ attitude as they ____________ on despite their troubles.
Oxford Fajar Themes A flood drama and its effect These poor villagers seem to be ___________ to the drama and disaster of floods. However, the persona observes how they had to brave the horrendous flood in the water all the time as well as ___________ the sight of bloated carcasses and tree bark chips floating around them. After a whole night in the water, their clothes are torn and they are physically wounded. However, they ____________ and cheerfully resume their daily routine despite the damage and loses _____________ in the flood. Poverty and hardship On a wider perspective is the ______________ problem of poverty in the rural community. It seems to be an endless cycle of want and suffering which has been accepted and endured as their permanent lot in life. They suffer physically (their limbs marked by scratches, their legs full of wounds) as well as emotionally and mentally (desperately looking for their sons albino buffalo, in the water all the time between bloated carcasses). Born amidst hardship, they knew no other life and grew up without a sigh or complaint. Optimism and courage in adversity The village folk remain happy and hopeful despite their difficult lives. After the flood, they go home and return to their normal routine of cooking, cleaning and socializing. In fact, they are cheerful as they joke while rolling their cigarette leaves. These qualities of courage, _____________ and optimism in _____________ impress the persona.
Message Be resilient and persevere during difficult times The villagers were strong and resilient during and after the flood disaster. Hence, we too must be courageous during ________ and persevere, for good always comes out of a ______________ hopeless situation. Be optimistic in the face of challenges Life is filled with challenges. We should not do nothing and feel sorry for ourselves when we face a problem. If we have a positive attitude, the challenge will be less ____________ and easier to manage. Hopefully, we will also take positive action to solve the problem or improve the situation. Hardship and suffering build character All of us experience some form of hardship or suffering in our journey through life. If we are positive, courageous and persevering during hardship, we will gradually become emotionally and mentally stronger. Challenges, hardship and suffering help to build our character.
Oxford Fajar Moral values Courage Courage in times or trials is a value to be encouraged. Here, the villagers who have been used to natural disasters soldier on despite the physical hurt and emotional _______ they have endured. In fact, they are cheerful as they resume their daily duties. Resilience and perseverance Both mental and emotional strength are important if we are to persevere in life which is often ___________ with challenges. If we are resilient and able to stand up and remain ___________ in difficult situations, we will be better equipped to walk the long and _____________ journey of life. Compassion The persona observes the courage and positive attitude of the villagers in the face of disaster. He ___________ in us a feeling of compassion for the poor, flood _____________ villagers. Hopefully, this feeling of compassion will ___________ into positive steps to help ____________ the _____________ of disaster victims.
Tone and Mood Sympathetic The persona is sympathetic towards the people in the poem. At the same time, the persona admires the rural folk for their positive attitude and perseverance despite their hard life. Reflective The mood of the last stanza is reflective. Like the persona, we are moved to _____________ our own actions and reactions in the face of challenge. Perhaps the poem also helps us to look at life differently.
Language and Style The poem is written in free verse and has three irregular stanzas. The poet uses simple but effective language to ___________ his message. Contrast, imagery and good diction (accurate choice of words) are used to bring his poem to life.
Contrast Between the villagers scratched and wounded limbs and their facial expressions that do not betray feelings of despair or hurt. Although they have been hurt physically, they do not allow it to affect them emotionally, as life must go on. However, this emotion contrasts with their desperation when they were looking for the missing buffalo. Between the cold weather, chilly flood waters and the heat from the stove and their warm fellowship as they enjoy a cigarette. Oxford Fajar Between two types of destruction caused by the flood, the big (bloated carcasses) and the small (chips of tree barks).
Imagery Vivid descriptions of the villagers in torn, ____________ clothes with scratched all over their bodies. The images associated with a flood dead floating carcasses, broken tree parts, heavy water/rain. The picture of villagers relaxing in the kitchen after a days work leisurely smoking and talking. Diction In stanza 1, the adjective soaky implies that the villagers were drenched to the skin. Their torn clothes were _____________ to their _________, bruised bodies, marked by scratches and full of wounds. In stanza 2, horrendous flood allows the reader to visualize that the flood was _______________ in its destruction. The adverb desperately shows how ________________ the famers were looking for their sons albino buffalo.