SPRINTING FORWARD WITH ENGLISH :ACTIVITIES FOR THE CURSE by Veronica SomasundramNoName of activityProcedureNotes

1Curse! It rightCard game (Characters and plot)

1. Students divided into groups of 4 each2. The 4th person is the leader who will control the game, check the correct answers, make sure others members do not cheat 3. The other 3 will hold 8 cards with pictures of characters and 1 which is the CURSE card4. The deck sentence card (B) is kept in the middle overturned5. To start:i. The leader will overturn the 1st deck sentence card (B). The CURSE card is for students who do not know the answer and wants a pass.ii. Others will have to put down the picture that corresponds to the deck sentence cardiii. The game goes on till all 8 cards are completely used OR the CURSE card was not used at all

This game can be adapted to suit the number of students.

For this game to be successful, teachers will have to make at least 30 sets of cards

2Bridging the Gap(Plot)1. Students divided into groups of 4 each2. Each group is given an extract from the story and a single question 3. Each group answer the question and present it to the class4. Teacher does not given the correct answer but instructs students to find out for themselves

3Matching Game(Characters)1. Each group given pictures (5 characters), names and sentence strips2. Students just mix and match the sentence, picture and name3. Teacher gives the corresponding answers

For extremely weak students

4Azreens mystery messages(Themes)1. The themes are presented in a coded form2. Students work in groups to decode to get the theme3. First group to decode the theme will get a prize

5Word Search(Moral values)1. The values are given by the side of the word search2. Students locate the vales given by striking out in the grid provided

6Jigsaw themes(Themes)1. Teacher cuts out the text 9make your own jigsaw puzzle)2. Laminate it so that it is stiff3. Allow students to make a jigsaw puzzle and then write out the themesFor average and weak students

CURSE!DECK A

DECK B

The village headman fell in love with the beautiful village girl and took her as his second wife.She was murdered and her body was found in the jungle.This is the young lady who was studying in England and had to return because her sister had been murdered.

He dwells in a lot of supernatural beliefs and wears a talisman round his waist.He was in love with the girl who was found dead in the jungle.This is the village gossiper. She is very superstitious and enjoyed gossiping.She lived in the jungle and had knowledge of herbal medicine to treat illness.A stern father who had not forgiven an incident which left his wife paralyzed.She is very spiteful and superstitious. She wanted Azreen to leave the village blaming her for the curse.

She made Azreen promise that she will remember all that she was taught and learn to forgive.He was looking after his sick grandmother whom he loved very much.He saw her singing at the village kenduri and fell in love with her.He saw Madhuri and Asraf embrace each other in the jungle.He saw Madhuri and Asraf embrace each other in the jungle.

BRIDGING THE GAP You wont believe me, but Im telling you the truth. I saw her, hissed Puan Normala. It was no accident. It was murder. Listen to me and keep this in mind. This is just the beginning. The woman chuckled nervously. But Puan Normala continued. Laugh if you like. Youll soon see. Were all cursed.

Why was Puan Normala so certain that they were all cursed?

There was a thick envelope sticking out from the stack of books. She pulled it out. There was a stain on the envelope that appeared to be coffee. It was a prospectus from a university in Kuala Lumpur.

What was in the envelope?

We met for the last time that day at the rubber plantation. I wanted to leave immediately but she asked to wait for another month. She wanted to break the news gently to your parents first.

What did the girl in the story want to do?

As she stepped into the house and closed the door behind her, she shivered. Who was it she saw outside the window? It was too dark to tell and she had only seen it from the corner of her eye to be very sure.

Why did she shiver?

His men had covered the whole thing up. They made the neighbors believe that it had been an accident. Was he right to do that?

What did the men do?

MATCHING GAME

MOHD. ASRAFMatch the names to the characters

SALEH ABDULLAH

PUAN NORMALA

AZREEN SALEH

MAHDURI SALEH

OLD LADY

HAJI GHANI

Reuse the pictures in the card game (Curse it Right!)

Azreen mystery messages?Azreen received a few messages but they were in codes. Can you help Azreen decode the mysterious messages?

CodeassessABCDEFGHIJ

Message codeHIJKLMNOPQ

CodeassessKLMNOPQRST

Message codeRSTUVWXYZA

CodeassessUVWXYZ

Message codeBCDEFG

Message 1NVVKVCLYLCPS

Message 2MHJLJOHSSLUNLZ

DPAOJVBYHNL

Message 3MHKNBCLGLZZ

Message 4MLHKVMMAL

BURUVDU

Congratulations! You have helped Azreen uncode the mysterious messages. What are the messages about?

WORD SEARCH

There are five strong values surfaced in this novel. Do a word search and discover them

ADVBYTKLSX

GCONCERNZM

FNAQMSIEHL

GMCRAREWDO

HFDEITFJEI

PGMSDNUNLC

EOBPVEGJIL

REUOLBRHGF

SARNOAQNEB

IMESZVFBNP

SRZIQNAECD

TOJBVCPMEO

EZAIBHIJCR

NSFLDERUQM

THCIEMDZRT

ZOITVZCTUP

FQXYLRDALB

DILIGENCECARINGPERSISTENTCONCERNRESPONSIBILITY

JIGSAW THEMES

This story has moral values that enable the reader to learn many lessons of value. One of the moral values that I have learned is family relationship that must be built on thrust and understanding. Azreen knew that her parents favored Madhuri whom they considered the perfect daughter. Although Azreens relationship with her father was estranged, she did not show hate for him. From here I learn that Azreen never disliked her parents even when she found out the truth. She still respected them and helped them do the household chores. The lesson here is family live and understanding based on trust and respect for what parents have given you.

Another moral value that I learned is never allow anger to take over or make you do things that you will regret later. Mohd. Asraf was extremely angry with the Old Lady and blamed her for his grandmothers death. Azreen tried to reason with him but his anger was clouded with anger and grief. This resulted in him and the villages burning down the Old Ladys hut and she died of smoke suffocation. Even in her dying moment the Old Lady advised Azreen to forgive and be strongTeachers to make their own puzzle

The Curse by Lee Su Ann

Veronica Somasundram SM La Salle, KK 2011

SYNOPSIS

The curse is about a girl named Azreen, her parents and sister, Madhuri. Azreen , who is a strong headed individual is studying in London but had to take leave from her studies when she received news about her sisters death. She is not told about the cause of her sisters sudden death and is curious about it. She hoped her aunt or uncle would reveal some information on it when they picked her up from the airport, but, they did not utter a word about it. When she reached home, her sisters body had been brought to the cemetery. Azreen overheard a village gossiper, Pn. Normala talk about her sisters death. She claimed that her sister had been murdered and Madhuri had bled white blood.Upon her return, Azreen discovered a few truths about her family, people and herself. First she finds out that her sister had been in love with Asraf, and she planned to elope with him and divorce her current husband Hj. Ghani. Second, Awang the village shaman had actually caused the accident in which her parents were involved in and caused her mother to become paralyzed. Azreen, had been living with guilt as she thought that she was the cause of her mothers paralysis. Third, she learned that Mahduri is actually her adopted sister and the crazy woman is Mahduris biological mother. Fourth and finally she discovers that Mahduri was accidentally killed by her father.There is one woman whom Azreen had turned to for emotional support. She is the Old Lady living in the abandoned home in the jungle. Azreen learned a lot from the wise old woman. One of it was the willingness to forgive. However, the wise old woman died in a fire initiated by the villagers and by Asraf. Mohd. Asraf was angered because his grandmother had died and blamed the Old Lady for his grandmothers death. Infact, he was the one who approached the Old Lady for her help in curing his grandmothers fever.

In the end, Azreen returned to London to complete her studies. She has learned a valuable lesson during her short break at her little village on Langkawi island. She stood up for what she believed in and also leaned to forgive others and to look ahead.

SETTINGThe story is based on happenings in a village on the island of Langkawi. The familiar village scenes and ways of life include gossip, fear, hardship and enemies of the jungle. The early setting of Azreen in England depicts the immigrant concepts and life as a foreign Malaysian student.

ADDITIONAL THEMES- Conflicts of a young adolescent girl in accepting the realities of life- The demands of a community where one is forced to conform to- Leaving a harsh environment and coming back to it- Friendship and loyalty- Learning to forgive- Learning the truth and accepting it- Having a fearless natureBy:Veronica SomasundramSM La Salle, KK

QuestionsTHE CURSE by Lee Su Ann1. Who is your favorite character in the novel you have studied? Give a reason for your choice using information from the novel.2. Describe the theme of courage in facing challenges in life and explain why you feel this is a theme in the novel3. Describe two moral values that you have learned from the story The Curse by Lee Su Ann4. Novels often show joys and sorrows in life. Show how this is true in the novel you have studied.5. Choose a character you dislike in the novel you have studied. Give reasons for your dislike using information from the novel.6. The actions of some characters teach us what we should not do. Choose any character in the novel you have studied to show this.7. Describe any hardship or difficulty a character faced and she/he overcame it in the novel you have studied.8. Did you like the ending of the novel you have studied? Give reasons using information from the novel.9. Chose a character who you think is brave in the novel you have studied. Give reasons for your choice using the information from the novel.10. Novels expose the reader to different people in life. How is this evident in the novel you have studied?11. What about life did you learn in this novel you have studied? Use information from the novel to show this.12. The novel you have studied has many themes. Choose two of the themes that interest you. Give reasons as to why it interests you.13. The main character faces difficulty in the novel that you have studied. How have these difficulties helped the character become a better person?14. This novel has exposed the reader to many events of fear. Choose an incident that expresses fear and elaborate.13. Describe an event/incident that is happy or sorrowful. Explain why you think the event is happy or sorrowful.

Questions to ponder on?

1. List the superstitious beliefs recorded in this story

2. List down the irony found in this story

3. List down what Azreen had discovered from her trip back to her village

4. List down Azreen conflictsi. internal

ii. external

Short questions

Chapter One1. Where was Azreen Saleh when she received the news about her sister?2. Was Azreen sad to return to her village? Why?3. Who is Julian?4. Why didnt Azreen want Julian to know that she was returning to her country?

Chapter Two1. Why did Azreen stare at her food on her flight?2. How much older was Madhuri to Azreen?3. Why did Azreen despise her sister?4. Why did Azreen grip her napkin in anguish?5. Describe how the happier days were between Azreen and Madhuri?

Chapter Three1. Who was Pn Kamsiah angry with? Why?2. Did Pn Kamsiah like Pn Normala?3. What was it that Pn. Normala told Pn. Kamsiah about?4. Who were at the airport to pick Azreen up?5. Who were Datin Sharifah and Datuk Zulkifli to Azreen?

Chapter 4 (*)1. Why is it that going to funerals was a regrettable phenomenon?2. How did Siti know Madhuri?3. Why were there tense moments at the funeral upon Azreens arrival?4. List the gossips that was going on during the funeral5. Who sponsored Azreen studies overseas?6. Who was the woman sitting on the rocking chair?7. Summarize chapter 4

Chapter 5 (*)1. Why was Azreen kept awake the whole night?2. Why was Azreen uncomfortable in the village?3. Whom did Azreen meet outside the mosque?4. Who is Awang? What did he wear round his waist? Why did he wear it?5. What is the incident that took place in this chapter?6. What is the name of the farm owner?7. Why did Azreen take the blame for Asraf?8. Why did Noor call Siti puteri suci?9. Where did Azreen go to after having lunch with her father?10. What did Azreens classmates dare her to do?11. What do you think of Azreen being daring enough to approach the Old Ladys house in the jungle?12. Who finally told Azreen about Mahduris actual death?13. What is wrong with Azreens mother?

CHAPTER 6(*)1. What did Awang substitute the chicken with?2. What did Awang see inside his pot of gruel?3. Name two things Awang saw in the jungle that day?4. Who revealed the truth about Mahduris death to Azreen?5. Who is Puan Fatihah?6. What could she do very well?7. Why was she jealous of Mahduri?8. How was Haji Ghani attracted to Madhuri?9. Why did Azreen feel a chill when she found Mahduris photos torn systematically into three parts? Who do you think did it?10. What does the Old Lady reveal about her past life?11. Why does the Old Lady make her home in the jungle?12. Why is Azreen close to the Old Lady when everyone keeps away from her?

CHAPTER 7(*)1. How long did it rain for?2. Why were there hardly any tears from Azreen and her father when they found her mother dead?3. Who attended the funeral?4. What was Azreen doing in the room before it caught fire?5. Why did Azreen shiver as she stepped into the house and closed the door behind her?6. What does azan mean?7. What charm did Puan Fatihah duel in? Why did she do this? Is this against the Islamic teachings?8. Give two reasons why Haji Ghani took a second wife?9. Why did Puan Fatihah lose consciousness in the jungle?10. What was Mohd. Asraf worried about?11. Why was Mohd. Asfar close to his grandmother?12. What subject did Mohd. Asraf teach?13. What is the first piece of evidence Saleh Abdullah found?14. Where did he find it?15. Why was he angry when he found it?16. What did Saleh Abdullah do?17. Who witnessed what he did?18. What was the Old Lady puzzled when she saw Puan Fatihah stumbling and hurrying away?19. Who visited the Old Lady? What did the Old Lady do?20. What lesson did the Old Lady learn from being alone in the jungle?21. What lesson did the Old Lady learn from her mistakes?22. How did the Old Lady feel once she had forgiven the long grudge she kept?23. Why was Azreen close to the Old Lady when the whole village were afraid of her?24. Why did Mohd. Asraf go looking for the Old Lady?25. What form of medication did the Old Lady use to cure sick people?26. Where could these ingredients be found?

CHAPER 9 (*)1. How did Puan Kamsiah feel about the Old Lady?2. Why did Puan Kamsiah regret sending her daughter to help look after Mohd. Asrafs grandmother?3. What name did the village people give the Old Lady?4. What did Azreen find on Mohd Asrafs desk?5. When was the mailing date on the envelope?6. Who did Azreen write to? What was the content of the letter?7. Why didnt Haji Ghani want to eat Puan Fatihahs elaborate breakfast feast?8. Was Puan Fatihah disappointed or angry? Quote the word that explains her feelings?9. Why couldnt Siti come over to look after Nek the next morning?10. Why did Azreen go home?11. Who was the intruder in Azreens home? 12. What did Azreen find out from the intruder?13. What was Azreen accused for?14. What was the first sign of the curse?15. Who came to rescue Azreen from the mob?16. What did Asraf thank Azreen for? 17. What was the present for both of them?

CHAPTER 10 (*)1. What was different between Azreen and her father that evening?2. Why did Siti come to see Azreen?3. What did Azreen do after being informed by Siti?4. Summarize the incident Siti was involved in?5. What were the Old Ladys dying words?6. Who helped Azreen?7. What did Azreen do to Mohd. Asraf?8. What did Mohd. Asraf reveal to Azreen?9. Summarize Awangs confession.10. Summarize page 215-217 to find out Haji Ghanis story.

CHAPTER 11 (*)1. Why was Azreens head feeling heavy as she hiked up to her house?2. What did she find out about Madhuri?3. What frightening experience did Madhuri encounter before reaching home?4. What was the pontianak trying to do?5. What was the white blood actually?6. Who killed Mahduri?7. What happened to Saleh Abdullah? Summarize page 223-228.

CHAPTER 121. What did Azreen visit before returning to England? What did she do there?2. Why did Azreen feel a weight being lifted from her soul?3. What did Azreen see behind a tree? Who was it?

(*) asterisk marks the important chapters in this novel

AnswerQ1. Who is your favorite character in the novel you have studied? Give a reason for your choice using information from the novel.Characters play an important role in novels as they add flavor to the plot . In the novel The Curse by Lee Su Ann, Azreen Saleh is my favorite character for many reasons.Firstly, Azreen Saleh is brave and loyal to her friend Asraf. She was willing to take the blame for Asraf and to save him from being beaten by the owner of the farm in which he worked. Asraf was blamed for leaving the gate to the bulls yard open and the bull was missing. The owner and his sons were about to beat Asraf up, but, Azreen intervened and admitted that she left the gate open. Clearly, this incident reveals Azreens braveness and loyalty to defend a friend by taking the blame. Her loyalty is remarkable and this is why Azreen is my favorite character in this novel.Besides this, her fearless nature can also be applauded. In one incident before she leaves for her studies, she is challenged to disturb the Old Lady of the jungle. Her friends and she believed that the Old Lady was a witch and could harm anyone who came within her reach. Azreens fearless nature is revealed here when she befriended the Old Lady and both became good friends in the end.

AnswerQ2 Describe the theme of courage in facing challenges in life and explain why you feel this is a theme in the novel

The themes of courage is made very transparent in the novel The Curse by Lee Su Ann. The two characters that reflect this theme is The Old Lady and Azreen Saleh.The Old Lady was out casted by the villages and forced her to live in isolation in the jungle. She had married a young man from the island and had lived in the centre of the village. She was beautiful, modern and educated young maiden who slowly adapted and became very involved in the villages activities. She was known for her special cures for flu and fever.She became an enemy of the villages when she killed her husband who betrayed their marriage. The Old lady was forced to leave the village because of this.Her courage can be seen through her being able to show courage despite being an outcast. She learned to accept her status even when the villages considered her a witch. They accused her of being able to cast spells and bringing bad luck to the village. This did not stop her from helping those who came to her for help.Mohd. Asraf came to her for help because he was desperate for his grandmothers illness. The Old Lady was courageous enough to help Mohd. Asraf despite the villages spitting and forbidding her to help Asrafs grandmother. She was strong enough to take this challenge and help others. She took all the challenges and advised Azreen to face up challenges also.This is how the theme of courage has motivated to face up to challenges in life through the old lady and Azreen.Azreen also showed tremendous courage in this novel. She took the challenge to face the Old Lady when she was still in school. Despite being told that the Old Lady was a witch that lived by herself and she was harmful to anyone coming close to her, Azreen was not afraid. She was dared by her friends and she took it up. Her courage is seen here and eventually she and the Old Lady became good friends.

AnswerQ3 Describe two moral values that you have learned from the story The Curse by Lee Su AnnThe story The Curse by Lee Su Ann has moral values that enables the reader to learn many lessons of value. One of the moral values that I have learned is family relationship must be built on thrust and understanding. Azreen knew that her parents favored Madhuri whom they considered the perfect daughter. Although Azreens relationship with her father was estranged, she did not show hate for him. From here I learn that Azreen never disliked her parents even when she found out the truth. She still respected them and helped them doing the household chores. The lesson here is family live and understanding based on trust and respect for what parents have given you.

Another moral value that I learned is never allow anger to take over or make you do things that you will regret later. Mohd. Asraf was extremely angry with the Old Lady and blamed her for his grandmothers death. Azreen tried to reason with him but his anger was clouded with anger and grief. This resulted in him and the villages burning down the Old Ladys hut and she died of smoke suffocation. Even in her dying moment the Old Lady advised Azreen to forgive and be strong.The two values being family relationship is built on trust and understanding and never allow anger to take over you is what I have learned in this story.

Answer

Q 13 Describe an event that is happy or sorrowful. Explain why you think the event is happy or sorrowful?sorrowful event

The story, The Curse, tells of the death of Madhuri and the reaction of the villagers to the incident. Azreen, Madhuri's sister returned home from London to the village to mourn the loss of Madhuri. Azreen found her father sullen and more distant from her while her mother was delirious and lost in her own world. There were no attempts to investigate the cause of the death although there were rumours of murder and talks of it being a curse on the village. The superstitious feelings were enhanced by the presence of a vampire-like figure in the village and the witch in the jungle.The so-called witch in the jungle was the Old Lady, an outcast of the village whom Azreen had befriended. The sorrowful event is the fiery death of the Old Lady when her house was burnt down. Azreen had persuaded her to help cure Mohd Asraf's grandmother. But, unfortunately the grandmother died after a short recovery. Mohd Asraf goaded by some of the villagers went and attacked the Old Lady's house. The house was set on fire, albeit accidentally and the Old Lady was burnt to death.This was a sorrowful incident because the Old Lady was Azreen's friend and confidante. Azreen used to seek her company when she felt unhappy about her estrangement with her family. The Old Lady was her haven from the villagers who did not approve of her rebellious ways. She gave Azreen some good advice.With the loss of the Old Lady and her family, Azreen felt the village was no longer her home.

Happy eventAlthough the whole story is plagued with many sorrowful events, there is one event that is happy. This is the time when she went to the Old Ladys house after the fire incident. Azreen was waiting for the Old Lady outside her house drenched and cold. The Old Lady took her into the house and handed her a sarong and towel to dry herself. She fell asleep shortly and awoke to the good smell of curry and a warm stove.It is here Azreen happiness can be recorded because the warmth, love and care of the Old Lady is recorded. The Old Lady is the only one who gave her this. In my opinion, with her mother dead, no fathers love and affection and perhaps blamed for the fire, Azreen happiest moments were with the Old Lady. The reason Azreen refused to go home that night is because her home if filled with emptiness, but, at this moment when she needed some form of support was what little the Old lady could offer. I feel this is Azreens happiest moment.