TANJUNG RHU

SUMMARY
This short story is about a successful man who forgets
his roots as a kampong boy and only realises the
importance and how much he misses it after his
mothers death.

PLOT
Exposition
Mr Li is 63 years old. He is a wealthy, successful,
modern businessman. He works in an office located on
the 18 floor above Shenton Way. From his office
window, he could see Tanjung Rhu. He lives with his
wife, Helen, daughter, Ying and mother. His son is
studying at Cambridge University.

Rising action

One day, Mr Li bought the binoculars for his mother because

she did not want to do the operation for her cataracts. He
told her that she could see things in a distant and his mother
wanted to see Tanjung Rhu. He promised to bring her to his
office the next day. Before going to his office, his daughter,
Ying quarreled with his mother because she wanted to help in
the worship but the grandmother did not allow her. This is
because she did not know the right way to do worship. After
the grandmother had complete the worship alone, she followed
Mr Li to the office.

Climax
When they were at the office, Mr Li tried to show his mother
the big ships in the harbour through the binoculars. However,
his mother saw young Mr Li walking barefoot on the beach
searching foe crabs and see herself was walking beside him.
After Mr Li took away the binoculars from her, her smile
disappeared.

Falling action

Mr Lis mother became very sick and was admitted to the

hospital. She was so weak that she could hardly open her eyes.
When Mr Li visited her, his daughter tried to force open the
grandmothers eyes. Mr Li talked to his mother, she could
recognize but could not talk more. Then she reminded the key
to the altar that was hidden in the special place. Without
knowing where the was, Mr Li assured her that the key was
safe.

Resolution
After her mother has passed away, Mr Li needed the joss
sticks to worship his parents. However, he could not find the
key to the altar as he did not know where the key was. So he
left the altar room.

Characters
Mr Li
- Responsible- when he take care of his old mother.

- Rich and successful- Mr Li is a 63 years old successful

businessman in Singapore.

Ying
- Impatient- She argues with her grandmother as she wants
to help in the worship.
- Disrespectful- she tries to open grandmothers eyes when
she lies on the hospital bed.

Mr Lis mother
- Old- she is an old woman who has 9 children, 34
grandchildren and 17 great grandchild
- Loyal- she is very loyal to her late husband that she often
worship him at the altar.

Helen
- Materialistic- Mr Lis wife enjoy a rich life by spending time
with her friend in the big house.
- Inconsiderate- she makes fun of her husband in the front of
her friend for buying the binocular for his mother.

THEMES
Loyalty to ones family
Mr Lis mother is very loyal to her husband. She worship him
frequently. She keeps the small wine, cups, gold sheets,
candles and joss sticks carefully in the top drawer of her
special desk. She does not forget her duty to serve her
husband even though he is dead

SETTING
1)
2)
3)
4)

Mr Lis big house

Mr Lis old house in a hut
The hospital
Mr Lis office

MORAL VALUE
1) We must be responsible to take care of the old people.

2) We should respect the old people.

3) We must be loyal to our family.

LEAVING
SUMMARY
Aloo and the narrator are the youngest children in the singleparent family. Their oldest siblings have all left home. Their
mother is a widow who have raised five children on her own.
Aloo wants to study medicine not agriculture. He harbours the
ambition to go to America to study. He writes to some
American university hoping to get a scholarship. When a wellknown American University offers him a scholarship, Aloos
dream looks set to come true. However his mother says that
she cannot afford to send him to America. Aloo is very upset.

Mother seeks advice from Mr Velji, a school officer. He tells

her that getting scholarship is good for Aloos future. He also
cautionsher that she may lose him if she lets him go so far
away. Seeing her sons disappointment, mother decides to let
her son go in the end.

PLOT
Exposition
After Aloos sister, Razia married and leaves home. Their
mother sells her shop and they move to Upanga, a remote part
of town. She wants her two youngest children to have a better
life instead of helping in her store.

Rising action
Aloo spends time with Mr. Datoo, and ex-teacher at their local
school who move to America and returns for a visit. Aloo
starts dreaming about going to study in America. He writes to
American Universities to apply for a scholarship. A famous
university offers him a scholarship.

Climax

Mother says that there is no money to send him to America.

She accuses Aloo for being a disloyal son for wanting to leave
her. Aloo is very upset.

Falling action
Mother goes to Mr Velji for advice. He confirms that the
scholarship is a great opportunity for Aloo. After thinking
about it, mother relents and finds money to send Aloo to
America. Before giving in, she makes Aloo promises not to
marry foreign wife and stay away form bad habits.

Resolution
Aloo writes home from London where he has stopped to visit
an old schoolmate. The letter reveals his fascination with the
foreign land.

CHARACTERS
Aloo
Obedient dutiful child

 Ambitious
Determined

Mother
Strong and independent
Responsible mother
Possessive mother

Narrator
Understanding
Caring
Observant

Mr Velji
Helpful

SETTING
The story opens in a small town in Tanzania, in a less populated
area called Upanga. The family has moved there from Kichwele
Street which was later called Uhuru Street. There are only a
few houses in Upanga and it adjoins a forested area. The
sound of insects, small animals and the wind rustling leaves are
in sharp contrast to Kichwele Street where the sounds were
of vehicles in a busy street

THEME
Leaving and letting go
Loneliness and sadness
Having hope for the future

MORAL VALUE
1)
2)

We should be obedient especially to our parents

We need to respect peoples decision

THE RUBBISH
DUMP
SUMMARY
The rubbish dump is set near an international airport in
Malawi. Joey is a small boy who loves the planes that land and
take off near his home. He spends much of his free time at

the airport watching the panes and passengers. There is a

large rubbish dump near his house, and Joey makes friend
with Mazambezi. This old man collects the rubbish from the
airport and brings it to the rubbish pit. Mazambezi gives Joey
a toy plane. Joey keeps this a secret from his mother because
she has forbidden him to go near the rubbish dump. The
friendship between Joey and Mazambezi is strengthened as
they discover that they both love the planes and the world
which they reveal, through the rubbish the planes leave
behind.

PLOT
Exposition
A boy named Joey sat on the ground, playing with a small toy
car. After a moment, he put down the car with a smile and
began to sing. Then came a louder noise. Joey stop singing,
continue and stopped again.

Rising action
Joey met Mazambezi- the rubbish collector. Mazambezi was
bringing in the rubbish from the airport. Which meant it is

now too late for Joey to go to the airport. He liked to watch

the passengers in their expensive clothes getting off the
plane. It was hard to live next to an airport but Joey didnt
mind because he loved the noise.

Climax
Joey got a toy plane from Mazambezi. He wass too afraid so
he ran home as fast as he could. Near his home, he hid the toy
plane under his shirt. He wass afraid that his mother would
knew about the toy plane so he lied to his mother and told her
that he was sick.

Falling action
He was brave enough to go and meet Mazambezi. He thanked
that old man for giving him that toy plane. They went to the
rubbish dump together.

Resolution

Joey starts to realize that Mazambezi is a nice person. He get

really closed to Mazambezi and he also often visit the rubbish
pit to hang out with Mazambezi.

CHARACTERS
Joey
Curiosity- he wants to go to every countries ; he wants to
know about the rubbish collector

Mazambezi
Kind- he gave Joey a toy plane he found from the rubbish
that he had collected
Hardworking-

he

collects

rubbish

from

the

airport

everyday.

Father

A drunker- he gets drunk every time he comes home from

work.

Mother

An irritable person- scolded Joey for lying

SETTING

The rubbish dump

Joeys home

Airport

THEME
- A boy who has a desire to know about aeroplanes
- The strength of friendship

MORAL VALUE
We should not underestimate people that we dont know
well

CARDBOARD
MANSION
SUMMARY
This story tells the story of Dadi-Ma who lives with her
grandson in a flimsy shanty house in south Africa. She
has a hard life, coming to South Africa from India as a
young woman, and losing her husband and three of her
sons to tuberculosis. She moved to Port Elizabeth to look
after her youngest son, Sonny, and his sickly wife. The
birth of Chotoo, her grandson, brings new meaning to
Dadi-Mas life, and she becomes the centre of his world,
especially after the death of his mother. Sonny is
imprisoned after a fight, and Dadi-Ma can no longer pay
the rent. She looks back to a happier time, when she lived
with a friend near Durban, in a house with fruit trees in

the garden. Dadi-Ma decides to return to her friend in

Stanger, and give her grandson a healthy lifestyle she
wants for him. She takes Chotoo to Durban on the train
but the city has changed, and the house where she lived
with her friend has been pulled down.

The story ends with Dadi-Ma falling ill, while Chotoo

realises that things will never be all right again.

PLOT
Exposition
Throughout their journey to Stanger, Dadi-Ma reminisced
how she used to live in Stanger with her good friend,
Ratnadevi. She hopes that she could stay with her at Stanger.
She felt that moving there is the right move for Chotoo to
breathe clean air and just to run free.
Rising action
When she arrived in Stanger, everything is so different. The
market and the bus stop that she used to use before were no
longer there. In the bus, Dadi-Ma asked a woman direction to
Ratnadevis house. She is surprised to see that the house is no

longer there and is replaced with big mansion.

Climax
Dadi-Ma sat in front of a big house that is used to be
Ratnadevis house. She sat there for a while because she is so
tired she felt some pain her body.

Falling action
Knowing that Dadi-Ma is the only family that Chotoo has, he is
worried for Dadi-ma and he knew then that things would never
be all right again.

CHARACTERS
Chotoo
A kid that doesnt like to be left behind
Obedient dutiful child

Dadi-Ma

Loving

Protective over her grandchild

Sonny

An abusive father

Unresponsible son and father

A drunker

SETTING

The little shanty home

In the bus

Under the tree

THEME
The strength of family bonding
A kid who loves her grandmother very much.

MORAL VALUE
1)

We should appreciate what we have in our life

2) We should loving and respect each other

Flame
Summary

Nimei received a letter from her ex lover, Hsu Peng after

seventeen years telling his attention to visit her and her
family. Due to that, Nimei thought Hsu Pengs intentions are
to seek revenge because Nimei got married to other guy or
simply because Hsu Peng want to get together again with her.
Therefore, Nimei work hard to make her life more better
than past as she didnt want to that Hsu peng see her life
nowShe start to go exercise everyday and arrange and garden
to appear more presentable to Hsu Peng. At the end of the
story, Hsu didn't show up instead of ordering two soldiers to
bring the parcel and the container oil to her that eventually
broke her heart which had already filled with expectation.

Plot
Exposition
Nimei received a letter from her ex lover, Hsu Peng after 17
years of getting married which stir up excitement in Nimeis
feeling

Rising Action
She started to take care her appearance more and her house
by doing some exercises, dyeing her hair, putting down a brick
floor for her yard and bought two large pot of wild roses

Climax
Nimei achieve her target by asking Director Liao for her
husbands promotion which makes her felt more confidence to
meet Hsu Peng

Falling Action
During the expected visiting day, Hsu Peng didnt show up but
sending a parcel and oil container through his subordinates.

Resolution
Nimei felt disappointed and resentful because Hsu Peng
literally get his revenge by breaking up with her.

Characters
Nimei
thick and roundish body
fat face
wore glasses
grey hair
Bossy

 obedient,

Hsu Peng
High army commissioner
Nimei's ex lover
have grudge against Nimei
Jiang Bing
Loves Nimei
Nimeis mother
Old school

 loves her son-in-law

Conflict

Conflict between Nimie and her

mother
-Nimie loves Hsu Peng but her mother forces her to marry
Jiang Bing

Conflict between herself

-Nimie is confused why Hsu Peng wants to see her after 17
years

Theme

Love flame
Nimei towards Hsu Pengs love was concealed since
Nimei had to marry Jiang Bing, but now the loves
flame reignite for Hsu Pengs letter.

Setting
Place
Central Hospital
Peace Avenue
Nimeis House
Snake Mouth

 Lake
School Playground

Time
Tuesday Afternoon
Autumn
Five-thirty in the evening

Moral Value
Be thankful for what you have
- Nimei was never pleased with her husbands
unchanging economy, therefore, she always treat him
poorly despite of having a happy family, she still
hope to reconcile with her ex lover making effort
just to bring old memories back.

In The Mountains
Summary
It is about a woman in her thirties, Pritam who escaped from
her home a few years before because of family issues. She
lives in a rough stone house on a Himalayan mountainside. As
the years went by, she took less care of herself and her
appearance became rougher and shabbier. She lives a simple
life on the mountain and her family visits her once a year.
When Pritams mother saw her, tears fell from her eyes,
partly for what her daughter has become and partly for the
happiness of being with her again. Pritam hid the fact that she
was moved by her mothers tears by speaking roughly to her
and urging her to sit down. She poured a cup of tea for her
mother, which was too strong for her. Hence, she could not
enjoy the tea. Then, they started arguing about various things
including Pritams friend, Doctor Sahib. Pritams mother did
not dislike Doctor Sahib, but disapproved of him. The next
morning, Doctor Sahib came to visit Pritam and her mother.

They sat outside in the garden. Doctor Sahib told Pritams

mother the story of how the roof of his shack collapsed
because of heavy snowfall last winter. He also told Pritams
mother about how they were alone together during the winter,
because Doctor Sahib did not have a place to stay. That night,
Pritam could not sleep well because she felt hot. In her
nightdress, she opened the door and went out. She noticed
that Doctor Sahib had not turned off his lights. Therefore,
she decided to go down to see what was going on. She saw
through the window that Doctor Sahib was still awake and
reading at his table. She knocked on the glass, which made
Doctor Sahib jump. She went over to the door and opened it
and entered. At first, Doctor Sahib stared at Pritam, shaking
and afraid but when he was no longer surprised, he felt happy
to see her. Doctor Sahib told Pritam about the story he was
reading, and how everyone lived many lives and each life
shapes their fate in their current lives. After listening to
Doctor Sahib speak rubbish until the next morning, she
opened the door and went back to her home. That same day,
she prepared food for her family. They arrived in three cars
in front of Pritams home. Pritam rushed out of the kitchen

with a red face and untidy hair and welcomed everyone,

including Sarla and her husband Bobby.

Pritam had not met Bobby for eight years. Soon they began
eating, and Pritam went round putting more food in their
plates. Pritam had not changed her clothes and her face was
red and dirty from the kitchen. Because of this, her mother
became angry. Her mother did not want Pritam to be like a
servant to her family. Her mother got angrier and went to lay
down in the bedroom. Pritam entered and offered to bring
some food for her mother. Her mother rejected and then
argued with Pritam about Pritams visit to Doctor Sahibs
house. Her mother had been awake the night before and
noticed that Pritam had gone out. They were shouting and
Pritams mother told Pritam to shut the door. Then, Pritam
revealed that Doctor Sahib used to go to kitchens of the
restaurants and ask for food before he came to live on the
mountainside. Next, Pritam ran out of the room and out of the
house and climbed a path to a flat piece of ground and lay
down. Bobby went out of the house shortly after and joined
her though he took a while to climb the path. Together, they
talked and drank, and Pritam told Bobby about Doctor Sahib.
When the conversation ended, Pritam climbed down the path

and went into the house, where her family were pleased to see
her. Pritam went into the bedroom to see her mother.

Pritams mother told her that she wanted to stay with her,
and not follow the family to Simla. Pritam tried to convince
her mother to go, but her mother resisted her. She then went
outside and told the others that her mother was staying. They
did not argue for long and wanted to leave as quickly as
possible. As they drove away, once they reached the corner,
Pritam threw three stones which each hit the roofs of the
three different cars. Pritam threw another stone towards
Doctor Sahibs shack, and it landed on the roof with a loud
noise. Doctor Sahib went out and Pritam called Food. He
waved happily back and proceeded to climb the path, which he
climbed as easily as Pritam did.

Plot
The plot of the story begins when Pritam argues with her
mother about Doctor Sahib, when they first met each
other. Pritams mother did not dislike Doctor Sahib but
disapproved of him because he was dirty and shabby.

Characters & Characteristics

Main Characters
Pritam

hot-tempered

enjoys cooking

proud

rude.

Pritams mother

Patient

Loving

old.

Minor Characters

Doctor Sahib

Polite

loves reading.

Bobby

deceitful

Conflict

When Pritam went round putting food on the plates of

the family members, her mother got angry because she
was like a slave to them. She went inside the bedroom
and lay down, trying to shut the noise from outside.
Pritam offered to bring food for her mother, but her
mother rejected and started arguing with her about
Doctor Sahib again.

Themes

A womans friendship with a poor man

The family struggles between a mother and her daughter

Setting

On a mountainside in the Himalayas.

Moral Values

We should not be judgemental towards others. For

example, Pritams mother disapproves Doctor Sahib
because he was dirty but in truth he was poor.

We should love our family members. For example,

Pritams mother still wants to stay with Pritam, even
though she was being rude to her.

English Folio
(Literature Form 4)
Name: Nor Natasya Bt Amli Mahfuz
Class: 4 Ibnu Rusyd
Teacher: Sir Taufiq

Leaving
No
Footprint
-Stories from Asia-

Changing
Their
Skies
-Stories from
Africa-