NEWS BREAK

BY

MAX FATCHEN

38

Warm-up Activity

News Break
1. Have you done anything wrong?
________________________________________________________
2. How do you tell your parents when you have done something wrong?
________________________________________________________
3. Have you ever hid your examination marks from your parents or siblings?
___________________________________________________________________
4. Why did you hide your examination marks?
___________________________________________________________________
5. How did your parents react when you failed the examination?
___________________________________________________________________
6. How do you convey your examination results to your parents?
___________________________________________________________________
7. In your opinion, what is the meaning of News Break?
___________________________________________________________________
8. Why do you think the title of the poem is News Break?
___________________________________________________________________
9. Do you change your marks to avoid being scolded by your parents?
___________________________________________________________________
10. How do you feel when your parents meet and discuss with your teacher?
___________________________________________________________________
11. Who would you prefer to come to school to collect the examination results?
___________________________________________________________________
12. What did you get when you obtained good results?
___________________________________________________________________
13. What would you like to have for the good results you obtained?
___________________________________________________________________

NEWS BREAK
Now why so loving, darling,
And why the sudden kiss?
Youd help me with some little jobs?
For goodness sake, whats this?
39

Your face is clean for once, dear.

Your clothes without a crease.
You saved your luncheon money?
Will wonders never cease?
No dropping of your school books,
No shrieking, childish treble.
Today you are a lamb, love,
Where yesterday a rebel.
But surely youre some stranger,
No rage or hullabaloo.
Come closer, let me look dear,
Can this be REALLY you?
Now were you struck by lightning
Or were you stunned at sport?
Ah now I see the reason.
Youve brought your school report!

MAX FATCHEN

About The Author

MAX FATCHEN
40

Max Fatchen (1920-2012) was an Australian journalist and childrens writer. His childhood
times was spent on an Adelaide Plains farm at Angle Vale, Australia. Part of his High School
studies was done at home. He went to Gawler High School once in week to get his papers
corrected. Later he entered journalism as a copy boy and after five years was in the
Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, as a journalist with The
News and later The Advertiser. He began writing for children in 1966. His published works
include 20 books and poetry. Three of his books received commendation in the Childrens
Book of the Year Award. He wrote for children in the primary school group. His poetry is wellknown throughout the English-speaking world.

Summary Of The Poem

The child reaches home and he/she hugs and kisses the persona lovingly. He/ She offers to
help the persona with some little jobs. The parent is taken aback and wonders the reason for
this change. The child looks clean and the clothes are tidy. He / She had saved the luncheon
money. The parent marvels that the child does not drop the school books and displays a
quiet behaviour. The persona begins to wonder if the child is a stranger as there was no
anger or noise by the child. The parent looks at the child closely to make sure everything is
fine. Finally, the parent sees the school report that the child has brought home.

Elements
Poem

of The

PERSONA
1. The speaker is a parent who is puzzled to see the childs sudden change of behaviour.

TONE & MOOD

1. The tone of the poem is light-hearted and humorous.
2. The reader is filled with curiosity at the beginning of the poem but will most
certainly laugh
when they read the last sentence.

POINT OF VIEW
41

1. It is in the first person point of view.

SETTING
1. Time
2. Place

: No specific time frame is mentioned although it can be inferred

that the child
has just returned home from school.
: At home

THEMES
1. Parents responsibility
The child pretends to be good before showing the school report to his
mother. Parents play the role of boundaries setters. Children have to be
aware of certain boundaries thus knowing consequences to their actions. It
is good to change your attitude for the better; however, mere pretending
is meaningless. Being good and pretending to be good are of two different
matters. Parents have to make their children aware of this.
2. Creativity has no boundaries
The child is indeed creative. In order not to get a scolding from his mother,
he does all sorts of things to please her. Let your childs creativity flow.
However, the world is too overwhelming for a young child to bloom in his
own ways. Therefore, always be at his or her sides to provide support and
guidance.
3. Having an ulterior motive
The child in the poem is rather sly. He is behaving well for a reason. He
has brought home his report card which may contain bad grades. Since he
does not want to make his parents angry, he tries to win the parents heart
by being obedient.

MORAL VALUES
1.
2.
3.
4.

We must be aware of the changes in the way people think and act.
We must try to behave well at all times and not only on certain circumstances
We must be brave to face the consequences of our actions instead of giving excuses.
Parents should try to understand their children if they hide their reasons for behaving
differently.

LITERARY DEVICES

42

1.

Metaphor
The persona uses metaphor to describe the behaviour of the child.
E.g: Today you are a lamb signifies innocence and obedience.
Where yesterday a rebel signifies disobedience and defiance.

2. Symbol
Your face is clean symbolises the child looking sweet and lovable.
Your clothes without a crease symbolizes the child standing upright
and obediently waiting for his mother.
3.

Imagery
Now why so loving, darling, and why the sudden kiss gives the image
of a loving son hugging a very surprised mother.
no rage or hullabaloo gives the image of a noisy crying child throwing
tantrums.

4.

Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sound in words that are close to
each other.

E.g: Now why so loving , darling

5.

Alliteration
Alliteration occurs when a series of words repeat the same consonants
or sounds.
E.g: .....clothes without a crease , surely youre some stranger.

6. Hyperbole
An outrageous exaggeration used for effect.
E.g: Now were you struck by lightning is an exaggeration of the
mothers feeling with regards to the reason for the change in his
behavior.

Paraphrase Of The Poem

STANZA 1

43

Now why so loving, darling,

And why the sudden kiss?

MEANING
The persona is greeted with a kiss and hug from the child. The child also helps the
parent with household chores. The parent is puzzled with this change of behaviour.

STANZA 2
Your face is clean for once, dear.
Your clothes without a crease.
MEANING
The parent is surprised to see that the childs face is clean and the clothes are neat
without any wrinkles. The child also did not spend his lunch money, which is
unusual.

STANZA 3
No dropping of your school books,
No shrieking, childish treble.
MEANING
The child did not drop the school books. The child also did not scream or show and
outburst of anger. On that day, the child acts innocent and gentle. This contradicts
the previous day where the child was rebellious.

STANZA 4
But surely youre some stranger,
No rage or hullabaloo.

MEANING
The persona begins to wonder if the child is a stranger. The child did not show any
anger or make any noise. The persona wants to take a closer look at the child to
confirm the identity of the child.

44

STANZA 5
Now were you struck by lightning
Or were you stunned a sport?
MEANING
The parent wonders if the child has been struck by lightning or hit during a game.
Then, the parent finds out the truth about the childs improved behaviour. The child
has brought home the school report.

45

Literal Meaning
The persona finds it hard to understand the sons change in behavior. He is like
a different person. He hugs and kisses her and offers to help her with some
work. He looks clean and tidy for a change and he has even saved his luncheon
money. The persona is further surprised by the boys quiet behavior, not his
usual boisterous self. He does not even throw down his school books. Unlike his
usual rebellious self, he is a gentle as a lamb. It dawns on her that she might be
talking to a stranger. She wonders if he was involved in accident and had hurt
his head. The reason becomes obvious when she notices his school report in his
hand.

Figurative Meaning
There are different categories of people with different types of behaviour. In
general, we expect people to be their normal self or behave in the same way all
the time. We feel save as we know what to say or do. However, people do
change their behaviour once in a while. They may change due to circumstances
or for personal reasons.
When a person who is usually cool and collected becomes loving and caring, we
wonder about their motives. A person who does not usually lift a finger to help
and suddenly offers to help do the chores will cause eyebrows to be raised. An
untidy person who begins to take care of his appearance or a spendthrift who
begins to count the pennies will raise doubts about his motives. A boisterous
and unruly person who turns meek, polite and respectful may make us doubt his
sincerity.
We may query as to whether they are for real. Do they have an ullterior motive?
Eventually, he or she will show his true colours and the actual reason will be
revealed. Be alert to these changes of character and act accordingly.

46

47
arvels that he does not drop his (5)__________ and he displays a quiet behavior, there is no (6)__________ as he like a

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words or expressions from the

poem.

Practice 1

Practice 2
Match the words with the pictures given.

1.

Loving

4.

Sudden kiss

2.

Little jobs

Clean

3.

6.
Dropping

Lamb

48

Practice 3
Match the words with the suitable meanings.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

49

Practice 4
There are 10 words used in the poem that are hidden in the word maze below. Find
them, underline and write the words in the space provided.

L
O
V
I
N
G
D
R
S
H

V
C
X
Z
S
G
J
L
K
D

D
A
R
L
I
N
G
S
C
R

B
N
W
M
P
W
Q
A
E
O

T
M
O
N
E
Y
F
B
A
P

C
Y
N
U
I
O
E
P
S
P

L
G
D
H
J
L
K
L
E
I

E
F
E
D
F
A
C
E
W
N

A
Q
R
H
K
M
N
B
Z
G

N
S
S
D
L
B
M
V
C
X

1. Feeling, showing or indicating love and affection.

2. A dearly beloved person.
3. Free from dirt, stain or impurities.
4. The emotion aroused by something awe-inspiring, surprising.
5. The official currency, coins and negotiable paper notes.
6. A sweet, mild-mannered person.
7. The surface of the front of the human head.
8. to feel or express strong unwillingness or repugnance.
9. To come to an end.
10. The act of falling.

50

Practice 5
Unscramble the words from the poem. Match them with the appropriate meaning.

WORDS
1. ndsenut

MEANING
a) a line or mark made by folding, pressing, or

2. acees

crushing something (such as cloth)

b) a strong feeling of anger that is difficult to

3. ddesun

control
c) a written statement of a student's grades
that is

4. iekrgshin
5. nggtihnli

given to the student's parents

d) an innocent, weak, or gentle person
e) formal lunch that occurs as part of a
meeting or

6. petorr dcra

for entertaining a guest

f) happening, coming, or done very quickly in
a

7. unceohnl

way that is usually not expected

g) the flashes of light that are produced in the
sky

8. tlereb
9. mbla
10. egra
11. sreeac

during a storm
h) the highest range of sounds used in music
i) to make a loud, high-pitched cry
k) to stop happening; to end
l) to surprise or upset (someone) very much
Adapted from Merriam Webster Dictionary

1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________
6. ______________________________________________________________
7. ______________________________________________________________
51

8. ______________________________________________________________
9. ______________________________________________________________
10. ______________________________________________________________
11. ______________________________________________________________

Practice 6
Find words in the poem that have the meanings below. Complete the crossword
puzzle with the words.
1

4
5
6

10

11

12
13

14

15

Across
2. a person who is defiant
5. see
8. hit
9. noise

Down
1.
3.
4.
6.

anger
mid-day meal
fresh
wrinkle

52

11. shocked
14. explanation
15. put aside

7.
10.
12.
13.

screaming
affectionate
stop
chores

Practice 7
Based on the poem and the pictures, what differences can you find?

TODAY

Child loves
towards his
mother.

Childs face is
clean.

Child does not shout or

53
behave childishly

Practice 8
List the differences in the childs behaviour after he obtains the school report.

54

The child was defiant like a rebel

yesterday.

The child drops his school books on

the floor.

The child never helps with the house

chores.

The childs clothes are crumpled.

The child was himself yesterday.

Practice 9
List the childs actions that made the parent suspicious.

55

Oh no! I
got my
report
card.

Practice 10
Write True or False for the following statements.

56

1. The boy greets the mother with a kiss lovingly.

2. Normally his face is not clean but covered with smudges.
3. He has used up all his pocket money for lunch.
4. As usual, he throws down his books and screams.
5. His clothes look smooth but are covered with mud.
6. His behavior is comparable with a gentle docile lamb.
7. His normal behaviour is to act like a rebel and throw his books.
8. The child usually saves his pocket money.
9. The children normally listens to his parent.
10. The child has got excellent results.

Practice 11
Match the expressions below with the correct poetic devices.

57

Assonance
No rage or hullabaloo

..surely youre some

stranger

Symbol

Image
Your face is clean

Simile
Now why so loving, darling

Alliteration
Today you are lamb

Practice 12
Complete the following sentences with the correct words from the following pairs of
words that rhyme.

58

1.
I saw mother gave father a _________________ before he left for work
______________ morning.

2.
The secretary prepared a ________________ of the ________________ for the teacher.

3.
It is _____________ that the price for this bag too _______________ for me.

4.
If you can keep your shirt smooth without a _______________, mother will
______________ nagging at you.

5.
The _____________ I am going to London is because it is winter, the cold
_______________.

6.
My little cousin is such a _______________ and the pitch of his scream is
_______________ that of his little sister.

Practice 13

59

Fill in the blow out spaces with the items indicated in the rocket.

1. How
would the
parent
react after
knowing
the real
reason?

2. What is
the real
reason for
the childs
changes?

3. List two
changes
in the
child.

Practice 14
60

Imagine you are the mother of the child. What would you say to your child
when you received his/her report card?

HOTS

______________________

R______________________
e p o rt C a rd
______________________
w it h g o o d
______________________
r e s u lt s
______________________
______________________

______________________

______________________
______________________

R______________________
e p o rt C a rd
w it h p o o r
______________________
r e s u lt s
______________________

Practice 15
61

Imagine you returned home with a bad report card. Describe things that you will do to
cheer up your mother or father. Why do you do so? Use the pictures to help you. HOTS

62

CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Test Yourself . . . . .
1. Who is the poet?
_______________________________________________
2. How many stanzas are there in the poem?
_______________________________________________
3. Do you think the title is suitable for the poem? Why?
_______________________________________________
4. What is the main idea of the poem?
_______________________________________________
5. State one moral value that you have learnt from the poem.
___________________________________________________________________
6. Do you like the poem? Why?
___________________________________________________________________
7. Describe the poem in one word.
___________________________________________________________________
8. How is the poem related to your own life?
___________________________________________________________________
9. Suggest two ways to avoid yourself from being scolded by your parents.
i. __________________________________________________________________
ii __________________________________________________________________
10. If you are a parent, what would be your reaction when your childs behaviour
improves suddenly?
___________________________________________________________________
11. Do you think a sudden change of attitude could save yourself?
___________________________________________________________________
12. Do you think the child will continue with his good behaviour after showing his report
card. Why do you think so?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

PT3 PRACTICES

Practice
Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

63

Now why so loving, darling,

And why the sudden kiss?
Youd help me with some
little jobs?
For goodness sake, whats
this?

(a) Where did the situation occur?

______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) What did the boy do when he met his mother?
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(c) What was offered by the boy to his mother?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(d) What was his mothers reaction after hearing the offer from his son? Provide the textual
evidence for your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

Practice

Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

Your face is clean for once, dear.

Your clothes without a crease.

64

You saved.

(a) What happened to the sons face?

______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) How can we prevent our clothes from creases? Provide two suggestions.
i.

HOTS

___________________________________________________________________
ii.

___________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

(c) Do you think the child presented the report card to his father or his mother? Provide
HOTS
reasons to support your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

Practice
Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

No dropping of your school books,

No shrieking childish treble.
Today you.

65

a) What is meant by the phrase No dropping of your school books ?

_______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) How differently does the boy behave?
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(c) State the literary device used in line 3.
____________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(d) Give two examples of how a child would behave in order to be called a rebel.

i.

______________________________________________________________

ii.

______________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

Practice
Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

But surely youre some stranger,

No rage or hullabaloo.
Come closer, let me look, dear,
Can this be REALLY you?

66

Now were you struck by lightning

Or were you stunned at sport?
Ah now I see the reason
Youve brought your school report!

(a) What did the boy not do to be regarded as a stranger by his mother?
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) Why did the mother say Now were you struck by lightning. ?
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(c) Why did she call the boy to move closer to her?
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(d) When the persona understands the reason for the sons strange behaviour, how do you
think she feels? Give a reason for your answer.
HOTS

i.

Feeling:
______________________________________________________________
(1 mark)

ii.

Reason:
___________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)

Practice
Read the poem carefully and answer the questions.

No dropping of your school books,

No shrieking, childish treble.
Today you are a lamb, love,
Where yesterday a rebel.
But surely youre some stranger,

67

No rage or hullabaloo.
Come closer, let me look, dear,
Can this be REALLY you?

(a) In the first stanza, how is the childs behaviour today different from that of yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(b) But surely youre some stranger. Why does the child appear to be a stranger?
______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(c) Why does the poet capitalise the word REALLY?
_______________________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
(d) What does this poem show about human nature? Justify your answer.

HOTS

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

Activity 1
Imagine you are the child. You feel worried about your poor results. In about 50 words,
write an email to your parents apologizing for your results.

68

Activity 2

ROLE PLAY
Create a dialogue describing the conversation between the mother and the child
based on what you understand in the poem. Act it out in class.

Activity 3
69

Debate
Divide the class into groups A and B. Conduct a debate on Should report cards
should be given to parents. Provide reasons why report cards should or should not
be given to the parents.

Activity 4

DESIGN YOUR OWN REPORT CARD

How would you want your report card to look like? Design your own report card that
you like. Be creative in your design.

Activity 5

A TO Z Game
Lets play the A-Z game for News Break. The teacher writes alll the alphabets on the
board. Students complete the alphabets with words from the text. After that, choose
five words and create your own sentences using the words.

Answers

Practice 2

Practice 1
1. lovingly
2. some little jobs
3. for goodness sake
4. without a crease
5. school books
6. shrieking, childish treble
7. no rage or hullabaloo

8. stunned at sport
9. reason
10. school report

1. clean
2. Dropping
3. lamb

70

Practice 3
1. Rebel Go against/disobedient
2. Lamb mild mannered, gentle
3. Clean very tidy
4. shrieking screaming/squealing
5. Luncheon money spend money for
lunch break

Practice 4

4. little jobs
5. sudden kiss
6. loving

1. Loving
2, Darling
3. Clean
4. Wonders
5. Money
6. Lamb
7. Face
8. Rebel
9. Cease
10. Dropping

Practice 5
1. sudden- happening, coming, or done very quickly in a way that is usually not
expected
2. crease- a line or mark made by folding, pressing, or crushing something (such as
cloth)
3. luncheon- formal lunch that occurs as part of a meeting or for entertaining a guest
4. cease- to stop happening; to end
5. shrieking- to make a loud, high-pitched cry
6. treble- the highest range of sounds used in music
7. lamb- an innocent, weak, or gentle person
8. rage- a strong feeling of anger that is difficult to control
9. lightning- the flashes of light that are produced in the sky during a storm
10. stunned-to surprise or upset (someone) very much
11. report card- a written statement of a student's grades that is given to the student's
parents

Practice 6
Crossword (Find the word)
Across
2. rebel
5. look
8. struck
9. hullabaloo
11. stunned
14. reason
15. saved

Down
1.
3.
4.
6.
7.
10.
12.
13.

rage
luncheon
clean
crease
shrieking
loving
cease
jobs

Practice 7

71

YESTERDAY

TODAY

Not loving her mother

Childs face is dirty
Child shouts and behave childishly
Child never helps with the house chores

Child loves towards his mother

Childs face is clean
Child does not shout or behave childishly
Child helps to do some little house
chores
Child brings back the school report

Practice 8

The child was himself yesterday

Practice 9
1. The child kisses the parent.
2. The child did not throw the school
books.
3. The child offers to do some chores
around the house.
4. The child is clean.
5. The child has saved his pocket money.
6. The child's clothes look neat and tidy.

After
The child is obedient like a lamb today
The child does not drop any of his school
books on the floor
The child helps to do some little chores
The childs clothes are neat without any
crease
The child is like a stranger today

Practice 11

Before
The child was defiant like a rebel
yesterday
The child drops his school books on the
floor
The child never helps with the house
chores
The childs clothes are crumpled

10. False

1. image
2. alliteration
3. symbol
4. assonance
5. simile

Practice 10
True
True
False
False
False
True
True
False
False

Practice 12

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

kiss,this
report,sport
clear,dear
crease,cease
reason,season
rebel,treble

Practice 13

72

1. i. The parent might scold the child for getting poor results.
ii.The parent would ask the child to study harder for the next exam.
(Accept any logical answers)
2. i. The child had brought the school report home.

ii. The child might be afraid to show the report to the parent.
3. i. The child kisses the parent.

ii. The child is not throwing tantrum.

Practice 14

Report Card with good results:

Good job dear
Well done
Congratulations on your
excellent results
Continue your hard work

Try harder dear

You can do it dear
Stop playing around in school
Focus on your studies

Report Card with poor results

73

Practice 15
1. Make my mother or father laugh/doing jokes- to reduce my parents level of stress/to
make my mother happy.
2. Give presents to my parents- to say thank you for still believing in me/make them happy
3. Do house chores- to make my parents happy/ to show that I am sorry
4. Cook dinner/lunch- to show that I am sorry/ to make them happy

PT3 PRACTICES
Practice 1
(a) The situation occurred at the front of the house.
(b) The boy gives the mother a hug and a kiss lovingly.
(c) He has offered to help his mother with some little jobs.
(d) The mother is very surprised. It can be found by the line, For goodness sake, whats
this?
Practice 2
(a) His face is clean for once.
(b) i. He must have stayed quietly at school
ii. He must did not run or play very much.
(c) Any suitable answers are acceptable.
Practice 3
(a) Normally he thrown down the book on the floor.
(b) He does not throw his books and he does not scream and shout.
(c) The literary device is simile.
(d) i. The boy kicks up a fuss about having too much work at school.
ii. The boy cries that he is not going back to school anymore.

Practice 4
(a) He did not throw tantrums or create a fuss
(b) It means he was hurt in some way or other. She says this because she is totally unable to
understand the change in the boys behaviour.
(c) She wants to have a better look to make sure he is her son.
(d) i. Feeling :- She must have felt relieved.
ii. Reason :- She feels this way because this is what she expects him to do hoodwink
her with his good behaviour for possibly a poor school report.
Practice 5
(a) He was defiant yesterday but obedient today.
(b) The child did not show his bad temper like yesterday.
(c) The poet capitalises the word to show the mothers high degree of bewilderment.
(d) Humans are sometimes pretentious people; in order not to get scolded for getting bad
result, the child behaves extremely well in front of his mother.

REFERENCES:

1.

Choo, J. (2015). Lets Score In Literature: Selected Poems, Short

Story and Novel (Tingkatan 1). Petaling Jaya, Selangor: Penerbit
Ilmu Bakti Sdn. Bhd.

2.

Leela, C. & Rukumani Devi, M. (2015). An Easy Guide to Literature

Component: Poems, Short Story and Graphics Novel (Form 1). Shah
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Sadler, R. K. & Hayllar, T.A.S.

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Tan, C. (2015). Understanding New Literature: Selected Poems,

Short Story and Graphic Novel (Form 1). Bandar Baru Bangi,
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Seri