Oxford Fajar

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

Meaning of Stanzas

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.


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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.
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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.