Sing to the Dawn - Minfong Ho

This novel teaches us about being determined in our lives

Based on the novel that you have read, discuss how the value of determination is
shown in the novel. Support your answer with close reference to the text.

The novel that I have studied is Sing to the Dawn by Minfong Ho. This is a story about
Dawan, a young Thai village girl who faces problems as she wants to further her education in the
City. She is the daughter of a paddy farmer who wins a scholarship to study in the City. The
character who shows determination is Dawan.

Firstly, Dawan shows her determination when she went to her cousin Nois house to ask
about City life. She walked three kilometers to Nois home in an effort to ask her to convince her
stubborn father to let her go to study in the city. However, Noi and Ghan do not want to help her
to convince her father to let her study in the city school. Noi warns her that the City would do
more harm than good but she is determined to see it for herself. This clearly shows her
determination to fight for her rights and to pursue her studies in the City.

Secondly, although Dawans father does not allow her, Dawan is determined not to let
this golden opportunity slip away. Besides, when her father tells her that she cannot do
anything with a fancy education, she pleads with him to give her a chance and believe in
her dreams. She compares herself to a caged bird and persuades him to give her a chance to
fly and see the world as well as learn new things. She convinces him that she too can help the
people in their village and perhaps her country. Eventually, her father relents and lets her go.
This clearly shows her determination to fight for her rights and to pursue her studies in the
City.

Thirdly, Dawan also meets the head monk to help her convince her father. Dawan shows
her determination when she makes him listen to her reasons for wanting to study in the City. She
tells him that she wishes to find a new system to help the poor farmers own their land and she
also wants to help the sick people. She wants the head monk to tell her father she won the
scholarship and it is her right to study in the City. However, the head monk refuses to listen to
her as he does not want to change the norm in the society. He also discouraged her by telling
nobody can stop suffering and nothing lasts in this world. Dawan tells the head monk people
may have tried to bring about change and failed but she still wants to try. This clearly shows her
determination to fight for her rights and to pursue her studies in the City.

Based on all the reasons above, it is cleary shown that Dawan is a determined person.
 Sing to the Dawn - Minfong Ho

This novel teaches us about being determined in our lives

Based on the novel that you have read, discuss how the value of determination is
shown in the novel. Support your answer with close reference to the text.

The novel that I have studied is Sing to the Dawn by Minfong Ho. This is a story about
Dawan, a young Thai village girl who faces problems as she wants to further her education in the
City. She is the daughter of a paddy farmer who wins a scholarship to study in the City. The
character who shows determination is Dawan.

Firstly, Dawan shows her determination when she went to her cousin Nois house to ask
about City life. She walked three kilometers to Nois home in an effort to ask her to convince her
stubborn father to let her go to study in the city. However, Noi and Ghan do not want to help her
to convince her father to let her study in the city school. Noi warns her that the City would do
more harm than good but she is determined to see it for herself. This clearly shows her
determination to fight for her rights and to pursue her studies in the City.

Secondly, although Dawans father does not allow her, Dawan is determined not to let
this golden opportunity slip away. Besides, when her father tells her that she cannot do
anything with a fancy education, she pleads with him to give her a chance and believe in
her dreams. She compares herself to a caged bird and persuades him to give her a chance to
fly and see the world as well as learn new things. She convinces him that she too can help the
people in their village and perhaps her country. Eventually, her father relents and lets her go.
This clearly shows her determination to fight for her rights and to pursue her studies in the
City.

Thirdly, Dawan also meets the head monk to help her convince her father. Dawan shows
her determination when she makes him listen to her reasons for wanting to study in the City. She
tells him that she wishes to find a new system to help the poor farmers own their land and she
also wants to help the sick people. She wants the head monk to tell her father she won the
scholarship and it is her right to study in the City. However, the head monk refuses to listen to
her as he does not want to change the norm in the society. He also discouraged her by telling
nobody can stop suffering and nothing lasts in this world. Dawan tells the head monk people
may have tried to bring about change and failed but she still wants to try. This clearly shows her
determination to fight for her rights and to pursue her studies in the City.

Based on all the reasons above, it is cleary shown that Dawan is a determined person.