mildly insane voices

To walk upon the soil once more.

2011-07-04T11:42:00.002+08:00

Let set the ashes
from destruction once so vain.
Death to Dust
and Dust to Dirt.
~
-after all-
Who can say
that the leaves aren't red
or white
or invincibly invisible,
When greenery lies between seasons.
~
The scenery will change
from season to season.
But true life lies in the hearts
of the ever-changing green.
~
So here simmers the passion,
(small and invisible)
But Undoubtedly Invincible!
~the hearts that stepped onto the path of no return~
For once you have seen the dance of the season thickets,
to look away is blinded...

[P.S.: hi everyone once more=) been busy with school, but being here brings back memories.]

What have artists become

2009-12-01T19:21:00.002+08:00

21 and a half
birds/bees/and butterflies
moving through the meadows of flowers.
Have you forgotten the nectar that awaits
sweetly between the petals.
Pink, Purple
make your pick.
Blue violets and black poppies.
Are you afraid what you seek does not lie
among this endless rainbow terrain?

The flowers will wilt
and plains will spread
to consume every rainbow that dares to live.
Have you not let them down?
Ran away upon enemy sights?
or simply
enjoying your spoils of fields out there
before all fields are consumed.

Pollen
passively
laying upon each flower,
simply waiting
To Be Let Down
...
BY YOU!!

At last?

2009-11-22T19:03:00.002+08:00

At last!The gates swing open and everyone rushes out to taste fresh air again.
Savouring my freedom,I step out of the walls of oppression,and wiped the soles of my shoes free of prison dust upon the first few patches of grass I could trample upon.Watching all my fellow companions soar away leaving behind the dust of their oppressed years.I watch as the once united levy of cell mates disbanded into the distant in horizontal stripes which faded into the distance.

Now all was still but the chirping of sparrows above.not many of them.But they all faded as the day grew old.and all was dark but the golden orange glow of headlamps surrounding the outer cast of the silence and emptiness of the prison walls,casting their warm glows of life on its vacant grounds now.Like a pea pod without peas now,everything was empty.

Now,many more days of freedom has passed.and now i stand outside the prison walls.Upon my room floor way back home lay a black and white shirt.Upon my shoulders here,lay a grey one.
-Stripped from the city a city man,plunged into war a soldier.
Left alive past the war has gone,
left a man lost in the city.-
Now I gaze upon the outer cast of silence.Voices and memories of my levy of cell mates,echoed through the empty walls of oppression,a language only I,out of the dead live environment,could hear.

My levy of prison mates-their voices lost forever.But yet I still see the stripes of their clothes,I can here their voices,I can feel enclosed in those empty walls...the memories left behind.

what tree?

2009-09-08T13:01:00.002+08:00

A single tree;

a lonely tree;

an only tree,

either,

upon a hill where no grass grows

in the center of a canyon;

impression on the land?

depression from the land?

-(Does it matter?)-

Widely spread,its branches breach

only through its own perspective.

Sprouting flowers,

for all its worth,

before they wilt,wither,and fade away-

-Never seen

(the flowers fade)

-Never witnessed

(silence said)

here upon unleveled land where no one goes

;

in a land where no one knows

the tree...

( ):hello?

2009-08-27T12:56:00.003+08:00

( ):(here i am)

_ _ _

( ):(i am here!?!)

_ _ _

( ): ! I AM H-

_ _ _

(system):{[The following message could not be sent]

- i am here...}

_ _ _

( ):*walks in front*" am I here?"

-silence.everything pauses-

_ _ _

( ):"hello?"hello.hello.hello.*echoes*

_ _ _

( ):"i-..."

_ _ _

(system):

you _ _

_ are _

_ _ THERE.

-silence-

_ _ _

Where have the roots gone....

2009-06-19T23:19:00.002+08:00

The tree remains there,above the surface,unable to see its roots below the surface.Yet it is reassured its roots still exist as its uptake of water is still present.Should the water stop flowing,where may i ask the roots have gone;leaving the tree behind.

MID-YEARS IS HERE

2009-05-06T00:59:00.001+08:00

Hey everyone, all the best for tomorrow's Lit paper and take it easy!

I KNOW THAT ALL OF US CAN DO IT! :)

Discuss how the authors in Island Voices use relationships to convey certain themes.-(25m)

2009-04-24T18:29:00.006+08:00

A group of a million,or a million groups of one each?

2009-04-12T00:44:00.004+08:00

Scampering,

in ignorance,of the world around,

with insolence,prepared to judge any unfamiliar face,

while indolent,to try to know for sure,

and with utmost arrogance,

lurking within each heart...

A stormy sea of egocentric individuals,

rushing to their lonely havens,

returning from their lonely office tracks,

with sports shoes worn-out,and not a pair of slippers from another...

Among the million of thick green leaves,

swaying,in every own rhythm,

upon a broad oak tree,

a speck of a single yellow leaf struggles to keep grasp on its branch.

One more change in the flow of wind,

and down it fell...through the patches of holes in in the otherwise full-green canopy.

Gliding...Spiralling,losing its way,

leaving behind the thick mess of leaves.

It then hit the ground,

settling upon a layer of two million leaves;

all forgotten,

all hidden,

beneath the shadows cast by the canopy,

each lay in silent torture,

dying...and awaiting its fate

to be trampled upon by the silent rustlings of hidden beings...

creeping as ghouls,

smashing every brittle leaf in the pile of spare parts.

...

Every leaf awaiting its lonely fate.

While the bright-green layer of leaves continue to sway above,

in every random direction...

2008 Literature Workshop: Interview with Author of ‘Off-Centre’

2009-04-06T22:21:00.004+08:00

Title says it all. I finally found the small notes I made during last year’s Literature Workshop when the previous 4E2 was interviewing Haresh Sharma on ‘Off-Centre’. We haven’t recapped the story since the start of this year so I hope this can actually help everyone refresh their memories if they have forgotten some things about ‘Off-Centre’…

(These notes are NOT in order. The sequence of the questions asked was jumbled up and I have forgotten most of the questions that were asked.)

What is the Symbolism of the Bird in ‘Off-Centre’?

Symbol of Freedom:

- Singing

- Flying, yet dangerous

Symbol of Oppression (Related to Saloma):

- Entrapment (cage)

- Trapped, yet safe

(Compare to ‘The Martyrdom of Helena Rodrigues’ in Island Voices. George is trapped by Helena, but is he safe?)

Magic Realism:

- Vinod enters Saloma’s room in his dream.

- Emily takes a clothes hanger in dream and died the next day.

**Note: Vinod and Emily’s deliberate likeness with each other.

What is the use of the Narrator in ‘Off-Centre’?

Narrator— the fracture in mental patients

(a friend/ positive consciousness)

- represents the character to audience (mental patients— awkward, eg: Saloma)

- idea of direct speech for Vinod and Saloma (eg: Vinod’s stand-up, trying to win audiences’ favour)

What is the significance of Emily and Razali?

**Metaphorical Characters

Emily:

- metaphorical ‘angel’

- dramatic character who empowers others

- shows sanity

- words like ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ (relates to impact) signify metaphorical personality

- turning point made for Vinod (appearance, after robbery, in dream/ tries to ‘heal’ Vinod after robbery)

- elements of Vinod in Emily

Razali:

- connection with Saloma (eg: Saloma ‘sings’ in her heart and he can ‘hear’)

- ‘guard’ related to ‘guardian’ (connection to ‘God’)

- ‘Narrator’ for Vinod (switches to and fro from ‘Character’ to ‘Narrator’)

What is the relationship between Vinod and Saloma? (***Compare and Contrast)

- Similar in ways of being a ‘mental patient’

- Difference in backgrounds (eg: education, family) (Relate to ‘Evening Under Frangipani’ in Island Voices)

- Vinod always ‘takes care’ of Saloma (earlier parts)

- Saloma becomes more independent, Vinod loses his ‘purpose’ (later parts)

- Saloma tries to help Vinod but unable to ‘save’ him

What do the songs in ‘Off-Centre’ represent?

- Songs used as transitional devices in play (*no specific representations)

- Dance: gives ‘freedom’ (eg: Vinod— fidgety, intense music results in death in the last parts)

“Give. Sympathize. Comfort.”— Emily’s attempt to impart (empower) it into Vinod to show his mind.

(Relate to Island Voices, lack of Community Spirit, too much Individualism)

Does Mak in ‘Off-Centre’ represent a part of the Society?

- Typical Singaporean of not knowing what to do. (Relate to ‘Corridor’ in Island Voices)

- Fragile character yet trying to be strong (eg: telling Saloma, she will take care of her)

- Pressurized trying to raise Saloma who had mental illness (Relate to ‘Release’ in Island Voices)

- Opposition to Saloma taking medicine but meant well

Structure of ‘Off-Centre’

Idea of film—

- Begins at Oasis Club Functions, Ends at Oasis Club Functions

(Structure mirror/symmetry of Vinod and Saloma)

No real beginning or ending—

- Sense of entering ‘Reality’ (Similar to Island Voices, Beginning and Ending of each story are open)

Scenes in Present— Chronological

Scenes in Past— Anti-Chronological

Climax of present and of the flashbacks— Meets in a single scene

- Breakdown for Saloma: Azman

- Breakdown for Vinod: Army

(Relates to Island Voices. Each main character finds their life going downhill after one single incident)

Metaphorical and Symbolism of places—

- Half-way house: Incompletion

- Void-deck: Emptyness

Conferment of the CHR Literature Prize Award upon Andre Alexander Rodriguez

2009-04-04T11:45:00.003+08:00

The Emperor of CHR Kingdom hereby decree the conferment of the Distinguished Royal Literature Prize Award on ANDRE ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ for excellent services to His Royal Highness, Emperor Hidetoshi Nakamura and for outstanding depiction of the cancer of materialism and realism that have spreaded throughout the kingdom in his poem entitled "The sound of the clinking coins". The poem was astounding real and moved the Imperial Tutor to tears upon realising the tragic fate of our material and greedy society.

The new recipient of the first ever CHR Distinguished Royal Literature Prize, ANDRE ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ shall hereby receive 4 ingots of gold and 5 acres of land. In addition, he shall hereby be knighted SIR ANDRE ALEXANDER RODRIGUEZ.

May SIR ANDRE hereby continue to serve the Emperor and the kingdom with passion and devotion and continue to bring glory to the Emperor and the kingdom of 4E2. God save the Emperor!

By order of the Imperial Office of Emperor Hidetoshi Nakamura

In the year of our good LORD 2009

There's Gotta Be More To Life

2009-04-04T00:08:00.004+08:00

There's Gotta Be More To Life-Stacie Orrico
I've got it all, but I feel so deprived,
I go up, I come down and I'm emptier inside,
Tell me what is this thing that I feel like I'm missing.
And why can't I let it go?

There's gotta be more to life...
Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me.
Cause the more that I'm...
Tripping out thinking there must be more to life.
Well it's life, but I'm sure... there's gotta be more.
(Than wanting more)

I've got the time and I'm wasting it slowly
Here in this moment I'm half way out the door.
Onto the next thing, I'm searching for something that's missing.

There's gotta be more to life...
Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me,
Cause the more that I'm...
Tripping out thinking there must be more to life.
Well it's life, but I'm sure... there's gotta be more

I'm wanting more! (Ohhh! Yeah!)

I'm always waiting on something other than this
Why'm I feelin' like there's something I missed?

There's gotta be more to life
Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me.
Cause the more that I'm... (More that I'm)
Tripping out thinking there must be more to life
Well it's life, but I'm sure
there's gotta be more to life

Than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me
Cause the more that I'm...
Tripping out thinking there must be more to life.
Well it's life, but I'm sure... there's gotta be more to life.

More to, more to, more to life.
(There's gotta be more to life) More to, more to, more to life.
There's gotta be more
More to life
------------------------------------
The reason why I put up the lyrics of this song, is because I feel we can relate it to the daughter in the story of Mid-Autumn.

"There's gotta be more to life than chasing down every temporary high to satisfy me."
Let's say Stacie Orrico was the daughter.
Surely these lyrics clearly shows that there's something missing in her life, something hollow that even the temporary high (high-paying jobs/success) cannot satisfy and give her that completeness. She just needed to do something that fills up that emptiness within her.

"I got it all, but I feel so deprived."
The daughter graduated from medical school with a degree but yet she feels something was lacking. Her parents sacrificed their time, their money just to give the best for their daughter's future but she ended up wanting to be a missionary in Uganda.
The daughter finally found the missing piece in her life which gives her completeness inside.

We can use the Maslow's Hierachy Of Needs to clearly define the highest level of completion which is, Self-Actualization. The daughter fulfilled the second top level before she decided to head to Uganda. That was when she discovered that there's gotta be more to life than chasing every temporary high. Stopping at the second level could not bring her the real joy in life. Money cannot buy joy, money cannot fill up the hollowness.

Her parents whereas do not understand this joy of "life-completion". Typical normal Singaporeans would only think that the second topmost level of the Hierachy is the most important of all and that would be the most satisfying thing in life, nothing more to it. (Then we can bring in the paper-chase issue in Singapore which causes this mentality) The mother thinks her daughter is crazy that the doctors' lifestyle held little appeal to her while doing missionary work held much appeal to her. Perhaps the mother do not know where the real contentment in life is from. All she knows is that money brings contentment, success brings contentment and that would be the best of the best, not knowing that actually such missionary work of helping others brings fulfillment in life. So, in a way, the daughter actually realizes what she really wants in life which brings her to the higher level of satisfaction.

-Evangeline(:

The speed of the sound of clinking coins

2009-03-31T22:00:00.007+08:00

The sanctuary of serenity,
disrupted!
not leaving a single shred of time for peace,
the race for mere survival rushes on.
The fast lost in meaning,
and the slow too slow to have time to question.
while the race furiously resumes.
who really wins then?!?

Drops of metal sharp

piercing through the paper green;

shredding its oppression

along with the value in oppression,

yet none have the courage that does defice,

to actually do so.

The speed of a clink,

bouncing off the floor,

turning heads and rising envy,

so that the greenery of the paper is seen within the eyes of civilians.

What will become of a soul lost in greenery;

wandering the forests unkind,

who savours greenery at an unhealthy level.

What will become...nothing...

...

He will live a life high in value,

yet totally worthless,

seconds.

hours.....

days...........

Weeks...............

YEARS..........................

Nothing will happen;everything shall be in order...

While the hand continues to tick,

and ticking on it shall...

Slowing with each tick...

The seconds pass by one by one...

Nothing will happen...

Ticking goes the hourglass,

of a hundred years ago...

The sound of dropping coins so sweet

The value of a dolar...

2009-03-31T21:44:00.003+08:00

Okay,this isn't compulsory and is completely voluntary.I'm just curious to find out how many people WILL sell their time for money and how much...

Personally,as for me,i guess it really depends;if i continue to reside within a society as materialistic as such,I'm afraid i will definitely have no choice but to conform to the materialism itself.The way i see it,our society is one that demands materialism.It is impossible to hover above the water,so what choice is there but to TRY to stay afloat within the water itself?Therefore,there really isn't much choice but to conform to the materialism.By now,perhaps many are thinking "What about moving out of the society at hand?"Well,aren't all societies trying to reach the standard of economic significance,especially in the form of physical value?How long will you keep running from GLOBALIZATION...You can run but you can't hide.Society is often unkind to those who flow upstream,like it or not,especially in our society,the social value of an individual is measured in paper.And if everyone has the standardised high value,what would the value of even a high flyer's achievements be then?Do comment people,it is either wisdom or foolishness to savour the actual realised freedom of speech,but it is indeed regrettable to regret your actions.

Traditions are gone?

2009-03-21T10:04:00.006+08:00

I was having Chinese remedial the other day, and my chinese teacher said something like
this "Mr Lee Kuan Yew said that the most important language for us now is Mandarin and English. Dialects can wait."

Dialects are actually our own tradition language; if we're to "wait", won't we forget about
it? As language is a tool for us to communicate with people everyday, once we have
formed a habit of using English or Mandarin, we will tend to use lesser dialects and as a
result, it is being forgotten. Have you forgotten about your tradition?
Many or all young people are so influenced by the language they are taught in school
that when they get home, some are unable to communicate with the elderly because
they do not know their "traditional language" anymore. It may even seems strange to
them. Back to Island Voices, several stories eg. Sundowner, Tanjong Rhu and Evening
Under Frangipani deals with the lost of tradition.

In Sundowner, Das said that the bidan is a traditional and untrained midwife and it is
something from the past. Whereas Aman, he believes in the midwife and cannot break
the tradition of it. Das himself has also forgotten about his own tradition in the story.
He was brought up in Singapore but he's behaviour is nothing like a Singaporean.

In Tanjong Rhu, Edward's mother prays and talks to her late husband and clucks to
chickens. She cannot forget her husband and holds on to tradition. For eg. She
insisted on using real candles until it nearly set the altar on fire then she switched
to electircal light bulbs. There is a part where it says Edward switched from a day's
usage of English to Cantonese, feeling tongue-tied and even shy. (pg30) And on
pg 36, it says he's tongue seemed stuck and unable to curl around the syllables
which seemed almost unfamilliar when he wanted to talked to his father. This
shows that he spoke too much English and had forgotten to perform traditional roles.

Lastly in Evening Under Frangipani, Elaine thinks marriage is not important for
women to be "perfect". She thinks that every individual has he's own rights to
pursue what they want in life and develop their full potential as humans. In the
past, marriage is essential for women and to produce the next generation for
the male family. For Prakash, he wants to get married and have his own kids.
Elaine doesn't want to carry on with the tradition.

I think traditions are important for us. It is the "roots" of our lives and it is how we're
formed. They must not be left behind because of modernity. :)
forgotten because of modernity

Irony of paper

2009-03-14T21:23:00.003+08:00

We use paper to gain paper.

Eg- In order to gain educational certificates, we need money to pay for tuition fees, school fees.

Maslow's Hierachy Of Needs

2009-03-11T23:42:00.006+08:00

Abraham Maslow came up with this theory accurately describing many realities of personal experiences.The hierarchic theory of needs set up consists of 5 basic levels.

Firstly,there are the Physiological Needs.
Oxygen., food, water, and a relatively constant body temperature are the strongest needs as they would come first in the search of saisfaction should a person be deprived of all needs.

Secondly, there are the Safety Needs.
These needs become active when all physiological needs are satisfied
and are no longer controlling thoughts and behaviors.

Thirdly there are Needs of Lov, Affection and Belongingness
Maslow states that people seek to overcome feelings of loneliness and
alienation.This involves both giving and receiving the above mentioned.

Next comes the Need for Esteem.
This becomes dominant when the other 3 levels are met. Humans have a need for a stable, firmly based, high level of self-respect, and respect from others. When these needs are satisfied, the person feels self-confident and valuable as a person in the world. When these needs are frustrated, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless.

Last but not least comes the Needs for Self-actualization.
self-actualization is only activated when all of the foregoing needs are met.
Maslow describes self-actualization as a person's need to be and do that which the person was "born to do." "A musician must make music, an artist must paint, and a poet must write." These needs make themselves felt in signs of restlessness. The person feels on edge, tense, lacking something, in short, restless. If a person is hungry, unsafe, not loved or accepted, or lacking self-esteem, it is very easy to know what the person is restless about. It is not always clear what a person wants when there is a need for self-actualization.
Maslow believes that the only reason that people would not move well in direction of self-actualization is because of hindrances placed in their way by society.

with reference to The Search for Understanding by Janet A. Simons, Donald B. Irwin and Beverly A. DrinnienWest Publishing Company, New York, 1987

Literary Devices

2009-03-06T20:20:00.003+08:00

Literary devices refers to specific aspects of literature, in the sense of its universal function as an art form which expresses ideas through language, which we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze. Literary devices collectively comprise the art form’s components; the means by which authors create meaning through language, and by which readers gain understanding of and appreciation for their works. They also provide a conceptual framework for comparing individual literary works to others, both within and across genres. Both literary elements and literary techniques can rightly be called literary devices.

Literary elements refers to particular identifiable characteristics of a whole text. They are not “used,” per se, by authors; they represent the elements of storytelling which are common to all literary and narrative forms. For example, every story has a theme, every story has a setting, every story has a conflict, every story is written from a particular point-of-view, etc. In order to be discussed legitimately as part of a textual analysis, literary elements must be specifically identified for that particular text.

Literary techniques refers to any specific, deliberate constructions or choices of language which an author uses to convey meaning in a particular way. An author’s use of a literary technique usually occurs with a single word or phrase, or a particular group of words or phrases, at one single point in a text. Unlike literary elements, literary techniques are not necessarily present in every text; they represent deliberate, conscious choices by individual authors.

“Literary terms” refers to the words themselves with which we identify and designate literary elements and techniques. They are not found in literature and they are not “used” by authors.

Allegory: Where every aspect of a story is representative, usually symbolic, of something else, usually a larger abstract concept or important historical/geopolitical event.

Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds within close proximity, usually in consecutive words within the same sentence or line.

Antagonist: Counterpart to the main character and source of a story’s main conflict. The person may not be “bad” or “evil” by any conventional moral standard, but he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself.)

Anthropomorphism: Where animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people, such as by walking, talking, or being given arms, legs, facial features, human locomotion or other anthropoid form. (This technique is often incorrectly called personification.)

Blank verse: Non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter.

Character: The people who inhabit and take part in a story. When discussing character, as distinct from characterization, look to the essential function of the character, or of all the characters as a group, in the story as a whole.

Characterization: The author’s means of conveying to the reader a character’s personality, life history, values, physical attributes, etc. Also refers directly to a description thereof.

Climax: The turning point in a story, at which the end result becomes inevitable, usually where something suddenly goes terribly wrong; the “dramatic high point” of a story. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of structure; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself.)

Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story. The outcome of any story provides a resolution of the conflict(s); this is what keeps the reader reading. Conflicts can exist between individual characters, between groups of characters, between a character and society, etc., and can also be purely abstract (i.e., conflicting ideas).

Context: Conditions, including facts, social/historical background, time and place, etc., surrounding a given situation.
Creative license: Exaggeration or alteration of objective facts or reality, for the purpose of enhancing meaning in a fictional context.

Dialogue: Where characters speak to one another; may often be used to substitute for exposition.

Dramatic irony: Where the audience or reader is aware of something important, of which the characters in the story are not aware.

Exposition: Where an author interrupts a story in order to explain something, usually to provide important background information.

Figurative language: Any use of language where the intended meaning differs from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. There are many techniques which can rightly be called figurative language, including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, verbal irony, and oxymoron.

Foil: A character who is meant to represent characteristics, values, ideas, etc. which are directly and diametrically opposed to those of another character, usually the protagonist. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself.)

Foreshadowing: Where future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before they happen. Foreshadowing can take many forms and be accomplished in many ways, with varying degrees of subtlety. However, if the outcome is deliberately and explicitly revealed early in a story (such as by the use of a narrator or flashback structure), such information does not constitute foreshadowing.

Hyperbole: A description which exaggerates, usually employing extremes and/or superlatives to convey a positive or negative attribute; “hype".

Iambic pentameter: A poetic meter wherein each line contains ten syllables, as five repetitions of a two-syllable pattern in which the pronunciation emphasis is on the second syllable.

Imagery: Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery. Also refers to specific and recurring types of images, such as food imagery and nature imagery. (Not all descriptions can rightly be called imagery; the key is the appeal to and stimulation of specific senses, usually visual. It is often advisable to specify the type of imagery being used, and consider the significance of the images themselves, to distinguish imagery from mere description.)

Irony: Where an event occurs which is unexpected, in the sense that it is somehow in absurd or mocking opposition to what would be expected or appropriate. Mere coincidence is generally not ironic; neither is mere surprise, nor are any random or arbitrary occurrences.

Metaphor: A direct relationship where one thing or idea substitutes for another.

Mood: The atmosphere or emotional condition created by the piece, within the setting. Mood refers to the general sense or feeling which the reader is supposed to get from the text; it does not, as a literary element, refer to the author’s or characters’ state of mind. (Note that mood is a literary element, not a technique; the mood must therefore be described or identified. It would be incorrect to simply state, “The author uses mood.”)

Motif: A recurring important idea or image. A motif differs from a theme in that it can be expressed as a single word or fragmentary phrase, while a theme usually must be expressed as a complete sentence.

Onomatopoeia: Where sounds are spelled out as words; or, when words describing sounds actually sound like the sounds they describe.

Oxymoron: A contradiction in terms.

Paradox: Where a situation is created which cannot possibly exist, because different elements of it cancel each other out.

Parallelism: Use of similar or identical language, structures, events or ideas in different parts of a text.

Personification (I) Where inanimate objects or abstract concepts are seemingly endowed with human self-awareness; where human thoughts, actions, perceptions and emotions are directly attributed to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. (Not to be confused with anthropomorphism.)

Personification (II) Where an abstract concept, such as a particular human behavior or a force of nature, is represented as a person.

Plot: Sequence of events in a story. Most literary essay tasks will instruct the writer to “avoid plot summary;” the term is therefore rarely useful for response or critical analysis. When discussing plot, it is generally more useful to consider and analyze its structure, rather than simply recapitulate “what happens.”

Point-of-view: The identity of the narrative voice; the person or entity through whom the reader experiences the story. May be third-person (no narrator; abstract narrative voice, omniscient or limited) or first-person (narrated by a character in the story or a direct observer). Point-of-view is a commonly misused term; it does not refer to the author’s or characters’ feelings, opinions, perspectives, biases, etc.

Protagonist: The main character in a story, the one with whom the reader is meant to identify. The person is not necessarily “good” by any conventional moral standard, but he/she is the person in whose plight the reader is most invested. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself.)

Repetition: Where a specific word, phrase, or structure is repeated several times, usually in close proximity, to emphasize a particular idea.

Setting: The time and place where a story occurs. The setting can be specific (e.g., New York City in 1930) or ambiguous (e.g., a large urban city during economic hard times). Also refers directly to a description thereof. When discussing or analyzing setting, it is generally insufficient to merely identify the time and place; an analysis of setting should include a discussion of its overall impact on the story and characters.

Simile: An indirect relationship where one thing or idea is described as being similar to another. Similes usually contain the words “like” or “as,” but not always.

Speaker: The “voice” of a poem; not to be confused with the poet him/herself. Analogous to the narrator in prose fiction.

Structure: The manner in which the various elements of a story are assembled.

Symbolism: The use of specific objects or images to represent abstract ideas. This term is commonly misused, describing any and all representational relationships, which in fact are more often metaphorical than symbolic. A symbol must be something tangible or visible, while the idea it symbolizes must be something abstract or universal. (In other words, a symbol must be something you can hold in your hand or draw a picture of, while the idea it symbolizes must be something you can’t hold in your hand or draw a picture of.)

Theme: The main idea or message conveyed by the piece. A theme should generally be expressed as a complete sentence; an idea expressed by a single word or fragmentary phrase is usually a motif.

Tone: The apparent emotional state, or “attitude,” of the speaker/narrator/narrative voice, as conveyed through the language of the piece. Tone refers only to the narrative voice; not to the author or characters. It must be described or identified in order to be analyzed properly; it would be incorrect to simply state, “The author uses tone.”

Tragedy: Where a story ends with a negative or unfortunate outcome which was essentially avoidable, usually caused by a flaw in the central character’s personality. Tragedy is really more of a dramatic genre than a literary element; a play can be referred to as a tragedy, but tragic events in a story are essentially part of the plot, rather than a literary device in themselves. When discussing tragedy, or analyzing a story as tragic, look to the other elements of the story which combine to make it tragic.

Tragic hero/tragic figure: A protagonist who comes to a bad end as a result of his own behavior, usually cased by a specific personality disorder or character flaw. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself.)

Tragic flaw: The single characteristic (usually negative) or personality disorder which causes the downfall of the protagonist)

Verbal irony: Where the meaning of a specific expression is, or is intended to be, the exact opposite of what the words literally mean. (Sarcasm is a tone of voice that often accompanies verbal irony, but they are not the same thing.)

***GET A B4, GET A CHALET*** ;)

The story of the Wise Old Man

2009-02-28T20:30:00.005+08:00

The Wise Old Man is known by his true name as Melvyn. When he was a young man, he was called Melly. He signs his name as *HaoJie*. He is a retired adventurer who has recently settled down in his house in SiewMai Village, opposite LorMee Bank. During his younger days, Melvyn was a famed hero, saving countless lives and fighting back the dark forces of Suganthiran.

Melvyn, after years of adventuring the World, has settled down in SiewMai Village, where he initially lacked funds to purchase a decent house. However, after single-handedly masterminding the LorMee Bank robbery, Melvyn's intentions and values are the subject of much speculation. The Wise Old Man was born in Sotong Village many years ago. During his time there, he performed numerous deeds that were considered heroic by the youth of the time. According to legend, one of his more memorable actions was painting of himself on the wall of the SoonKueh Temple in the southern part of the town. When he turned 15, the age at which children of that time advanced to adulthood, he turned down a prestigious offer to study amongst the monks of BengKueh and decided to travel the world before settling down.

He spent many years travelling Kopi'O, visiting many lands and performing countless memorable actions. One of the first areas he visited was the mines outside of Teh'O, where some of the oldest dwarves still remember his aid in their war against a rogue tribe of trolls that threatened to destroy the city. Shortly after leaving the dwarves, he travelled into the eastern mountains, where a now-disbanded mountain tribe told of an invincible warrior who wielded a powerful staff, which later became a walking stick for the old man. Some time after leaving the mountain tribes he traveled to OngKueh, where he taught the natives of certain herbs that would aid them in combat. He also ventured into AngGuKueh Dungeon, which few people at the time dared to enter. Afterwards, he advised the locals to charge any adventurer who wished to enter the dungeon.

The Wise Old Man kills an intoxicated Dwarf, presumably for pestering him and offering him unwanted food.He later travelled into the LorMaiKai Desert, where he lived amongst the MeeHoonKueh people for some time. He travelled to many of the desert cities, including CharSiew and DaoSar. He also studied the mysterious pyramid to the south of the KuehBeng Camp. He would never speak about what he discovered in the pyramid, and it troubles him to this day. The Wise Old Man is known to have fought the LiuLian Queen in that time. In one adventure, he rescued his peasant from an avalanche.
After countless adventures, Melvyn travelled back to BengKueh to complete his studies. Even on BengKueh he found excitement, when he ventured into the demon-infested dungeon beneath it. At one point, he was offered admittance to the Temple Knights. Only many years later, after many more adventures, did he finally retire and settle down in SiewMai Village. After completing his adventures, he began to feel bitter that he had not been adequately "rewarded" for his deeds, as he was forced to live in relative squalor. He thought that it was within his right, therefore, to reward himself, and uses this justification for his crimes. His most notorious act was the robbing of the local bank, killing several people in the process. One of these unfortunate victims, a tomboy named Goldilocks, dropped a bowl of porridge. His telescope, which pointed to the bank prior to the robbery, is currently pointing towards the BockGua Tower. In the SiewMai Times, the Wise Old Man confirms, after defending his morally dubious recent actions, that he is indeed planning an assault there, despite his denials to the paparazzi, and that the reason for doing so is that he is "short of brain juice these days" and that an excursion to the Tower could " solve my problem permanently." Yet, the Wise Old Man, despite all his power and skill, also admits he is reluctant to launch the attack, for
his plans are " not yet finalized."

The Temple Knights, realizing how dangerous he is, are currently monitoring him, and have labelled him as an ultraviolet archangel threat. The LorMee Bank , the guards of SiewMai Village, and many of the locals are also monitoring him closely, though he does not seem to be worried about this. Despite this and obvious proof of his crimes, the authorities of YeungGakDau have, as of yet, made no attempt to bring him to justice.

The Wise Old Man has a few unique books on his bookshelf which guests can read. One, the book on chickens, is about the legend of the Evil chicken, while the strange book has personal notes which mention that he is running out of cash. He also has numerous tinderboxes in his house. His house also includes a model aeroplane and unique, gold-trimmed plastic armour, which, according to the strange Book, he had trimmed with some of his stolen money.

Despite his bitterness, Melvyn in old age still does enjoy the occasional trip to foreign lands. He has travelled far and wide. He's recently visited areas such as the Otah Mountain. The only happy moments which he had was the many adventures that he had.

The greatest irony that bore the greatest gift of all

2009-02-28T09:39:00.006+08:00

my story to the ticket for my head being intact :p

If an apple was to be the size of our world,how would we seem like to the heavens above?If cruelty was to be the size of a house,how small would kindness be?

People everywhere seem to be blinded by this thing called money,or power,that all traces of kindness seem to be gone,sucked away from the earth by the vacuum people call power.In this society we live in,or for some,in classes we study in,where people go all out to get the latest gossip.We are very similar to "the martyrdom of helena rodrigues" . Everyone is interested in money,thinking that it may give them happiness,and thus sacrificing everything for money,even their sanity,like what tay soon did in the story "paper" . Nobody paused to think whether it is worth it to throw all traces of sanity away just for a little power. Its not even part of us.In this way,we have become george and aloysious,submitting to helena,which symbolises money and lose all traces of kindness or sanity. Is it really worth it? I've asked myself this question countless times that its hard now to erase that question.

However,there are the few people who haven't succumbed to the rat race,to the all-consuming virtue of money and power that have really made the world a happier place. For in a world of push and shove and of insult and hurt,the people who hadn't succumbed to the race,be it in classrooms or society are indeed the silent heros. They never fail to extricate people from the web of realism power weaves.That's why the saying i feel that the saying " With power comes discrimmination and responsibility " is true.For a class,"power-grubbers" have to provide more and more gossip to feed the class.This power is like a life,u've to keep feeding and feeding it till it grows and grows,something like a malay toyol,if you really think about it. You get power with a price,by losing bit by bit of yourself to the gossip and what the new "different" girl did when deep down,you know you're not that different.It's how you choose people to see you as. In society,you have to constantly show people the power you possess through material demands,condos,credit cards and whatnots. I've seen people go through the fight against power and money and it's not nice. Why make life so difficult when deep down,you know its the things in life that doesn't require money that makes life life.

At some point of time,people would have experienced the sting of rejection power brings,fiends being "stolen" away by a web of hypocrisy people weave,being discrimminated in class just 'cos you're different or just the natural process of drifting apart..

However,with discrimmination,it also comes with a test,a test of true friendship that may either make or break you,i've seen and experienced the touch of loyalty that really makes someone's day.The warm glow of loyalty that touches someone and leave rainbows where storms had been previously. Therefore,i can state now that its the greatest irony of all,the power-chasing when power is not actually part of us that we sacrifice so much for, that gave rise to the greatest gift of all that is loyalty. People who hasn't been touched by the green,all-consuming demon called power that still has their souls,that still has their sense of friendliness intact that u start to feel the warm,soft glow of loyalty there.The feeling that it'll protect you,without expecting anything back,the feeling of pure friendship love that supports and encourages,that provides you the calm when your seas are haywire.the knowldege that it'll keep you strong, like how alloys allow metals to be inextricable because there's a bond so strong that other metals can't displace it.Loyalty is in that display,that no matter what others say about your friend,there'll be a commitment there no matter what.That is the soft glow of friendship and loyalty and when it touches you,it's the best sense of happiness that anyone,no matter how cynical,will feel .

im sorry if my post has provoked a few nerves,im just expressing my thoughts online in a lit blog,where i believe it's supposed to have freedom of speech :)

Twisted Happiest Moment

2009-02-27T23:47:00.003+08:00

She was a quaint doll that sat on the top shelf of my great grandmother’s display cabinet as she seemed to stare down at me. Raven hair in long curls and enchanting blue eyes made of glass beads; I was mesmerized by the little doll who was dressed in white. To this day, I still remembered how much I had loved to admire her as she sat daintily in her red miniature armchair, her oddly bright eyes shining. I knew that I could never have the lovely doll, for she was an antique worth a fortune equivalent to the posh bungalow my great grandparents had owned.

The doll was handmade by my great grandfather, who had the talent of making the finest dolls, to be given to my great grandmother as a wedding gift. Since then, the doll was kept in the display cabinet to be admired by all, until my cousin had announced her wedding plans. It was then decided by my great grandmother that the doll was to be given to my cousin as a wedding gift, the same way she had received it when she had gotten married with my great grandfather. I was quite envious, but nevertheless happy for my cousin.

It was only a few months later that I heard the news of my favourite uncle was injured. He had fallen down the stairs and twisted his ankle, but the story behind it was rather far-fetched. It seemed that the maid had the intention to steal the valuable doll and panicked when she heard that it was going to be given away, my uncle explained, his chapped lips twisted in a silent sneer.

The next day, however, my uncle was found murdered along the deserted roads of the private housing estates. The very doll that I had loved as a child was seen daintily sitting beside his corpse, her white dress slightly ruffled but without scratches and permanent scars. No one knew the cause or the reason for his sudden death, at least that was what everyone in the family wanted me to believe. In spite of their efforts to keep the truth under wraps, I overheard the insensitive gossips of my uncle’s friends and acquaintances during his funeral.

My favourite uncle, who had always shown me magic tricks and takes me out to play on certain weekends, turned out to be a gamble addict and had debts to clear, thus, his plausible reason for stealing the doll. Despite the awful rumours, I was strangely neither shocked nor surprised, as if a part of me knew it from the very beginning

I now sat in the living room of my recently deceased great grandmother, stiffly sipping the tea I was served with. The same pair of glass eyes seemed to stare down at me from the top shelf of the display cabinet as it always did, but I never once looked back at it after my uncle’s funeral. The happiest moments I spent gazing at the doll had now been replaced with a creeping dark presence that made my blood run cold whenever I looked at it.

I officially admit, this an exaggerated version of the original ‘story’. My favourite uncle did NOT die! I merely added some drama to the whole thing so it wouldn’t be boring -_- and about the doll, it really creeps me out now that I’m older and all <_<…

comment/essay on -Insert title here-

2009-02-27T21:44:00.003+08:00

(its alright....dont worry,and i didn't consider it a waste of time...)

The author of the story titled "-Insert title here-",Tan Xin Hui,tries to use a variety of methods in order to create a tense atmosphere and convey certain themes.In my comment,i will attempt to examine the different methods used to create the atmoshpere,as well as the themes conveyed.

First of all,she uses the superior to not only be the figure to inflict stress,but also to play as the oppressor.She creates a distance from the superior by choosing not to mention any personal connections to him;even leaving out the name of the superior so that the reader is unable to relate to him and feels more empathy to chu than to the superior.
The superior also appears to take the position of a "dictator"when he appears unreasonable to chu by rejecting her work.This "dictatorship"is further exagerated with the fact that Tan Xin Hui chooses to include the extreme amount of effort and complication faced by chu in order to submit the piece of work.

To the majority of modern youth,just to stay back in school itself is considered inconvenient,but when this inconvenience is combined with the exaggeration of staying back until 9pm,the sense of being extremely unreasonable is created.This also contributes to making the superior emotionally distant from the reader;and depicts the "employee and employer" relationship between chu and her superior.

Through the factors used to depict the distant relationship between chu and her superior,the author conveys the theme of the lacking relationship between the individuals of the modern society.

Tensity is created when Tan Xin Hui writes about the fustrations that chu experiences when writing her assignment.When chu is shown to be staring at the blank piece of paper,and when symbolism is used in the quote "cracking her brains but to no avail" to exaggerate her efforts in vain,a sense of fustration is created when the youth reader puts him/herself into the familiar position of being forced to write an assignment but not being in the correct mind-set to do so.This fustration is combined with the nine o'clock deadline to increase fustration as well as input a sense of fear into the reader.

The sense of loneliness is also being forged in the story.This happens when the story begins with chu being caught in her own thoughts and also hugging the pillow in a very savoured manner.This sense is further supported when chu wears a T-shirt with the text "Leave me alone!" imprinted on it.Tan Xin Hui also chose not to mention any other characters in the story other than the superior and chu's mother who only appears in a short portion of the story.These factors of loneliness also contribute to making the atmosphere of the story tense.

When chu wishes to be left alone yet felt lonely,a contradiction is made and the sense of irony is created.This sense of irony is further explored when there is a huge contrast between the amount of time that chu spends on her assignment,to the amount of time that the superior actually takes to skim through her work.This sense of irony is further inflicted upon the reader when the superior even scolds her and compares her to a primary school student even after the submission of her assignment.
These factors of irony also make the tense atmosphere or the story even more tense.

The high stress level experienced by chu is eventually revealed when she throws the paper into her superior's face and storms off.This portion of the story reveals an emotional breakdown being experienced by chu,which depicts a stress level of great intensity.The contrast between the sudden change of a long and dragging storyline,when chu is still trying to complete her assignment,to her conversation with her superior inflicts a shock into the reader.These factors also aid in forming the tense atmosphere.

The theme conveyed here is the irony of the labour to the meagre fruits of labour that modern Singaporeans face;conveyed by the results chu actually got for all her hard labour.

-insert title here-

2009-02-27T19:43:00.009+08:00

Edit 2: noticed a spelling mistake =A= it's changed now....
Edit: changed the font size since it seemed too small.... ^^; sorry!
so... I really have nothing to post and seeing how Andre wrote that passage, I felt like writing my own... Hope you do not mind, Andre...

Chu could only stare at the blank document screen in front of her. Blink. She had her legs to her chest, hugging a pillow that was placed within the gap between her chest and her legs. How should I write? No..... What can I write? She kept cracking her brains but to no avail. She was handed a piece of assignment from her superior.

"Write a story about the happiest moment one can experience in life. Please, write it with your own experience!" She remembered the words her superior used all too clearly.

She stuffed her head into the pillow, mumbling: "What can I write when I have so many.... no..... when I have totally forgotten about them..." The pillow muffled her voice. She was glad that no one was around to hear what she had said. I can't even remember how I felt when anything happened... I can't even remember who was there.... the smiles.... the sound of laughter.... She was all alone and that is all she knows. Heh.... I can't even remember my parent's face.... much less..... one second I turned away, and everything's gone.... She paused her train of thoughts. I think I need some counselling sessions.... I'm getting too depressed lately, it seems....

Tired, she tried her best to think of a story. Just any story to give to her superior and get this over with. She did not want to dwell in this subject too much. She got off the couch, yawning slightly and started flipping through the novels - that was left on a cabinet, soon to be collecting dust - she had bought when she was young. She can briefly remember how her mother wished not to send so much money on letting her buy so many series novels but is still glad to spend the money just for her. Just to see that smile on her face.

Noticing the cold, thin stream of water rolling down the side of her cheeks, she quickly wiped them away with the sleeves of her black T-shirt with the phrase: "Leave me alone!" imprinted on it. She let out an awkward laugh when she noticed how contridicting things are now. She wanted no one too close to her and wanted everyone to leave her be. Yet now, she wished she wasn't alone anymore. She wished she did not have to fight this darkness off alone.

She shook her head violently to shake off those thoughts and tries to regain her cool composure - one would call it a persona or alter ego, in other words - and quickly got back to writing a piece of short story.

Her superior quickly skimmed through the few pages of script she wrote, finding main points and gave the paper back to her. Chu took it and stared at her boss. "Is this all you can come up with?!" He started. "Is this all you can think about?! I am sure even a Primary school student could have done better! I am sure you have much better ideas than all this... Stop being lazy and re-do it and I want it by tonight, 9 pm sharp!"

A sudden anger grew in her. He doesn't know anything. Nothing. She wished - with all her heart - she could have remembered the happy moments of her life! However, she could not! She wasn't being lazy or anything. She really just could not remember anything, anything at all. Why can't her superior just understand it? She gripped the paper tightly and threw it sqaure in her superior's face. She can't be bother with anything anymore. She just wanted someone to understand. "Why don't you go ahead and do it youself then?! I am sure all you can write about is earning your first million instead of having happy moments with your family!" She briskly walked towards the door and slammed it shut behind her. She could tell. She could tell that all people around her, most at least, would all write and only think about money and nothing else. She could bet her whole months salary on it that most of them will definitely write about money.

So.... this is all i can write ^^; sorry for my very bad grammar and lack of vocabulary words.... (that is why i am in Band 4 anyways.....) erm.... i hope this kinda links to Lit.... erm.... i really have no idea on the title so..... yeah.... thank you for wasting your time reading this and sorry... for um.... wasting your time? And please don't take this story the wrong way! I'm really sorry if it does sound, in any way, offensive to you, who is reading this! I'm really, really sorry!!!!

AWW!!! FOR THE LOVE OF paper

2009-02-25T18:25:00.012+08:00

Edward's heart was beating up to the point whereby he could no longer feel his physical being.
His mind was straying into an endless list of horrible endings.As the car drew nearer and nearer to the front gate,he muttered to himself in a fit of mental agony,"Wait!!!It can't be over just yet...can it?"

At last he was within the school compound.The familiar faces and memories gained from the different regions of the school,good or bad,were now useless to him.The tensity of the environment breached even the most isolated corners of his haven;the one within his mind,the one that only he should be able to see,the one that could no longer save him.

As he walked up the stairs,every foot step hitting the ground was heart breaking,and yet he savoured every extra step.

So what if he succeeded in his English,science or maths.If his Chinese were to receive no more than a U-grade,his other efforts would be wasted,would mean no more than a good score surrounding a bad one.He would have to be held back a year,and made to study among others younger than he is.His personal worth was to be influenced by the grades he got,the courses he would take,and eventually,the money he would make.

Facing the teacher to receive his final judgement,he looked up at his parents;faces still and cold,showing not even the slightest hint of emotion,yet being his only support at the time.Breaking the silence,the teacher finally spoke,"Edward,I'm sorry but...".The pause was an abrupt shock,leading Edward to mutter under his own breaths,"Can't we just get this over with already?"The teacher continued,"...but...you passed!"

Fumbling over the meaning of this for a while,he understood what she meant and jumped for joy as if he had just earned a million dollars.He scanned the grades,"english-A maths-A science-A...CHINESE-E"It was a failure,but it was not a U-grade".The happiness within him was boiling over such that he had no choice but to let the happiness slowly diffuse into the air.

As a reward for all his hard work,his parents took him out to "Swensens" for dinner before rushing back home to prepare for the next year of more studying.

STRESS!!!

2009-02-22T21:01:00.004+08:00

Feeling like there are too many pressures and demands on you? Losing sleep worrying about tests and schoolwork? Eating on the run because your schedule is just too busy? You're not alone. Everyone experiences stress at times - adults, teens, and even kids. But there are things you can do to minimize stress and manage the stress that's unavoidable.

What Is Stress?
Stress is a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. It's the body's way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness.

The events that provoke stress are called stressors, and they cover a whole range of situations - everything from outright physical danger to making a class presentation or taking a semester's worth of your toughest subject.

The human body responds to stressors by activating the nervous system and specific hormones. The hypothalamus signals the adrenal glands to produce more of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol and release them into the bloodstream. These hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. Blood vessels open wider to let more blood flow to large muscle groups, putting our muscles on alert. Pupils dilate to improve vision. The liver releases some of its stored glucose to increase the body's energy. And sweat is produced to cool the body. All of these physical changes prepare a person to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment.

This natural reaction is known as the stress response. Working properly, the body's stress response enhances a person's ability to perform well under pressure. But the stress response can also cause problems when it overreacts or fails to turn off and reset itself properly.

Good Stress and Bad Stress
The stress response (also called the fight or flight response) is critical during emergency situations, such as when a driver has to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. It can also be activated in a milder form at a time when the pressure's on but there's no actual danger - like stepping up to take the foul shot that could win the game, getting ready to go to a big dance, or sitting down for a final exam. A little of this stress can help keep you on your toes, ready to rise to a challenge. And the nervous system quickly returns to its normal state, standing by to respond again when needed.

But stress doesn't always happen in response to things that are immediate or that are over quickly. Ongoing or long-term events, like coping with a divorce or moving to a new neighborhood or school, can cause stress, too. Long-term stressful situations can produce a lasting, low-level stress that's hard on people. The nervous system senses continued pressure and may remain slightly activated and continue to pump out extra stress hormones over an extended period. This can wear out the body's reserves, leave a person feeling depleted or overwhelmed, weaken the body's immune system, and cause other problems.

What Causes Stress Overload?
Although just enough stress can be a good thing, stress overload is a different story - too much stress isn't good for anyone. For example, feeling a little stress about a test that's coming up can motivate you to study hard. But stressing out too much over the test can make it hard to concentrate on the material you need to learn.

Pressures that are too intense or last too long, or troubles that are shouldered alone, can cause people to feel stress overload. Here are some of the things that can overwhelm the body's ability to cope if they continue for a long time:

-Being bullied or exposed to violence or injury
relationship stress, family conflicts, or the heavy emotions that can accompany a broken heart or the death of a loved one
-Ongoing problems with schoolwork related to a learning disability or other problems, such as ADHD (usually once the problem is recognized and the person is given the right learning support the stress disappears)
-Crammed schedules, not having enough time to rest and relax, and always being on the go Some stressful situations can be extreme and may require special attention and care. Posttraumatic stress disorder is a very strong stress reaction that can develop in people who have lived through an extremely traumatic event, such as a serious car accident, a natural disaster like an earthquake, or an assault like rape.

Some people have anxiety problems that can cause them to overreact to stress, making even small difficulties seem like crises. If a person frequently feels tense, upset, worried, or stressed, it may be a sign of anxiety. Anxiety problems usually need attention, and many people turn to professional counselors for help in overcoming them.

Signs of Stress Overload
People who are experiencing stress overload may notice some of the following signs:

-Anxiety or panic attacks
-A feeling of being constantly pressured, hassled, and hurried
-Irritability and moodiness
-Physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, headaches, or even chest pain
-Allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma
-Problems sleeping
-Drinking too much, smoking, overeating, or doing drugs
-Sadness or depression
Everyone experiences stress a little differently. Some people become angry and act out their stress or take it out on others. Some people internalize it and develop eating disorders or substance abuse problems. And some people who have a chronic illness may find that the symptoms of their illness flare up under an overload of stress.

Keep Stress Under Control
What can you do to deal with stress overload or, better yet, to avoid it in the first place? The most helpful method of dealing with stress is learning how to manage the stress that comes along with any new challenge, good or bad. Stress-management skills work best when they're used regularly, not just when the pressure's on. Knowing how to "de-stress" and doing it when things are relatively calm can help you get through challenging circumstances that may arise. Here are some things that can help keep stress under control.

Take a stand against overscheduling. If you're feeling stretched, consider cutting out an activity or two, opting for just the ones that are most important to you.

Be realistic. Don't try to be perfect - no one is. And expecting others to be perfect can add to your stress level, too (not to mention put a lot of pressure on them!). If you need help on something, like schoolwork, ask for it.

Get a good night's sleep. Getting enough sleep helps keep your body and mind in top shape, making you better equipped to deal with any negative stressors. Because the biological "sleep clock" shifts during adolescence, many teens prefer staying up a little later at night and sleeping a little later in the morning. But if you stay up late and still need to get up early for school, you may not get all the hours of sleep you need.

Learn to relax. The body's natural antidote to stress is called the relaxation response. It's your body's opposite of stress, and it creates a sense of well-being and calm. The chemical benefits of the relaxation response can be activated simply by relaxing. You can help trigger the relaxation response by learning simple breathing exercises and then using them when you're caught up in stressful situations. And ensure you stay relaxed by building time into your schedule for activities that are calming and pleasurable: reading a good book or making time for a hobby, spending time with your pet, or just taking a relaxing bath.

Treat your body well. Experts agree that getting regular exercise helps people manage stress. (Excessive or compulsive exercise can contribute to stress, though, so as in all things, use moderation.) And eat well to help your body get the right fuel to function at its best. It's easy when you're stressed out to eat on the run or eat junk food or fast food. But under stressful conditions, the body needs its vitamins and minerals more than ever. Some people may turn to substance abuse as a way to ease tension. Although alcohol or drugs may seem to lift the stress temporarily, relying on them to cope with stress actually promotes more stress because it wears down the body's ability to bounce back.

Watch what you're thinking. Your outlook, attitude, and thoughts influence the way you see things. Is your cup half full or half empty? A healthy dose of optimism can help you make the best of stressful circumstances. Even if you're out of practice, or tend to be a bit of a pessimist, everyone can learn to think more optimistically and reap the benefits.

Solve the little problems. Learning to solve everyday problems can give you a sense of control. But avoiding them can leave you feeling like you have little control and that just adds to stress. Develop skills to calmly look at a problem, figure out options, and take some action toward a solution. Feeling capable of solving little problems builds the inner confidence to move on to life's bigger ones - and it and can serve you well in times of stress.
Build Your Resilience
Ever notice that certain people seem to adapt quickly to stressful circumstances and take things in stride? They're cool under pressure and able to handle problems as they come up. Researchers have identified the qualities that make some people seem naturally resilient even when faced with high levels of stress. If you want to build your resilience, work on developing these attitudes and behaviors:

Think of change as a challenging and normal part of life.
See setbacks and problems as temporary and solvable.
Believe that you will succeed if you keep working toward your goals.
Take action to solve problems that crop up.
Build strong relationships and keep commitments to family and friends.
Have a support system and ask for help.
Participate regularly in activities for relaxation and fun.
Learn to think of challenges as opportunities and stressors as temporary problems, not disasters. Practice solving problems and asking others for help and guidance rather than complaining and letting stress build. Make goals and keep track of your progress. Make time for relaxation. Be optimistic. Believe in yourself. Be sure to breathe. And let a little stress motivate you into positive action to reach your goals.

release the stress inflicted by 'O' levels

2009-02-16T19:44:00.007+08:00

How the story release appeals and relates to the majority of the youth taking major exams.

Notice how in the story of release,despite the fact that Eileen continually tries to appear nice to her neighbours,they make life difficult for her and even appear to trample on her personal rights and eventually cause great inconvenience on her social life?

In this story,a great deal of symbolism is used;

Eileen who tries to achieve a good impression on her neighbours=us trying to find acceptance in the eyes of higher authority

taking care of the baby(something very important to her)='O' levels,something very important to us

the unkind and rude neighbours=Anyone whom we find to make life difficult for us and whom we share a boss-worker relationship with.

the annoying dogs=the meagre time limit that we have to spend time on our studies.

the unkind deeds of her neighbours=the bulk of homework presented to us when most inconvenient

the killing of the dogs that Eileen was responsible for unexpectedly=the stress inflicted evertime a student gets clumsy in his/her studies and expects trouble for doing so(sometimes its the fear itself that stings more)

As you can see,the story relates to the factors faced by modern youth.The story highlights the stress experienced by the youth and questions the irony of it all;especially when eileen starts off with trying to be nice to her neighbours.

Off Centre-Mental Illness General Knowledge

2009-02-14T00:05:00.003+08:00

I know, I know. We aren't touching on Off Centre currently. But I read an article on today's Strait Times Home section page 2. Something which I feel, is really related to Vinod and Saloma's condition plus all those social stigma mental patients are facing in Singapore these days (Some little mental health humour comics to entertain you guys)

Adapted partially from: The Straits Times (13 Feb 09) -Credits
Many people believe that all who have mental illnesses are dangerous and should be locked away. Doctors say this stigma still clings tenaciously to patients, preventing them from studying, working and socializing in the community.

What Is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric illness that affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves. They have difficulty telling the difference between real and imagined experiences, to think logically, to express feelings or to behave appropriately.

Symptoms:
It is characterized by hallucinations, delusions and disorganized speech, thoughts and behaviour. These symptoms interfere with the person's ability to function normally in life. "When you have schizophrenia, you lose touch with reality," said Dr. Brian Yeo of Brian Yeo Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre. "You simply cannot function, much less control of it."

What Causes It:
Changes in brain chemicals and genetic disposition can cause schizophrenia, which in turn is triggered by external factors such as stress and the environment.

Who Is Affected?
Worldwide, an estimated one in every 100 people suffers from schizophrenia. Most are young people in their late teens or early adulthood.

Treatment:
Patients require medication to normalise symptoms. They may also need rehabilitation and occupational therapy after improvement to help them reintergrate into society, such as finding a job and interacting with other people. Some patients recover completely and resume their daily activities, while most have to be on lifelong medication.

What Is Depression?
Depression is a clinical condition in which a person's low mood dominates their life, affecting daily functions. This pervasive sadness can be accompanied by a loss of appetite, insomnia, increased irritability and feelings of anxiety, hopelessness and guilt. Severe cases may even lead to suicide.

How Is It Diagnosed?
While there is no laboratory test for diagnosis, depression may be genetically related. Psychiatrists have also attributed its cause to a mixture of internal and external factors. Said Dr. Adrian Wang of Gleneagles Medical Centre: "Depression is brought about by both chemical changes in the brain and external triggers such as a stressful work life or relationship problems."

Who Is Affected:
Depression can affect any age group, from children to the elderly, but it is most common among adults in their late 20s to early 50s

Treatment:
Counselling is used in mild to moderate cases. Anti-depressant medication is prescribed for the more severe cases. Treatment durations vary, averaging 6-9 months for most cases. Recurrent depression may last longer. An Institute of Mental Health spokesman says that there has been a slight yearly increase in the number of newly diagnosed depression cases here, due to a rise in awareness of the conditions.

So, it's all about Schizophrenia and Depression. I hope the words in bold do rings a bell in your head. I'm sure there's something to talk about, linking Vinod and Saloma back into this general article found in the newspaper. I shan't do the linkage in this entry right now.

Yes, may someone please start the discussion after reading this first. Hope I'd help out a little in understanding more of Off Centre regrading the subject matter: Social Stigmas. Or whatever relevant.

Goodbye!

Signing off,
EvangelineTan;♥

P.S. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, PEOPLE!
XOXO!

Release- Exploration of the suppression of Singaporean society?

2009-02-11T16:55:00.005+08:00

Are Singaporeans too suppressed or repressed to the point that all the emotions boil over and caused them to turn violent?

Like the characters in the story, are we so frustrated and left with no outlet to "release" our pent up emotions that we have to resort to violent means? Are we approaching the repressive standards of the Japanese society that we have become so up-tight and unfriendly. This story makes for an interesting read as it shows you that if you repress an individual for too long, he or she will soon crack. So who is to be blamed? Craziness in an individual or its just society driving everyone nuts?

Release

2009-02-09T20:19:00.006+08:00

(there are alot of things to talk about here but i'l just talk about a few)

In the story of release,(i'l just side-track abit)Tan mei ching focuses alot on irony,in fact,the entire storyline is built on it;

-the storyline starts with Eileen trying to be nice to her new neighbours who only react in a very unfriendly manner towards her.

-"Eileen thought the woman was shy...The woman SNARLED..."

-(pg 141 last paragraph)-When Eileen first came back from the hospital with her baby,the first thing she noticed was that the fence was crooked(talk about a welcoming sight)

-(pg 142)-Eileen and Philip went to the neighbours house to demand their property back,but Philip ends up apologising for the false accusation

(just one pointer,the story suggests that the blueprints were fake,never actually said that they WERE)

-(pg 143)the moonlight glanced off her cheek and the tip of her nose,HER EYES SANK DEEP IN SHADDOW(the difference in contrast)

-evertime the baby fell asleep,the four puppies would whimper and wine and the baby would wake up.

-when she dialled for for the SPCA,no one would answer,when she dialled for the police,they asked her to dial for the SPCA.

-when she is finally able to contact the SPCA,they refuse to help

-After Eileen tells the man that she would be responsible for the explaning to her neighbours(thinking that the man would only move the kennel),the story suggests that he killed them instead.

Found it

2009-02-03T18:32:00.004+08:00

(adapted from-www.sgfreakylinks.com/the-oily-man-)The Orang Minyak, translated into English as the Oily Man, are well known in our region for stealing, pilfering and raping women. Although they are more notoriously known for their raping and stealing antics, there are also reports of small boys who have been castrated by an Orang Minyak, which by doing so will add on to his power and knowledge. Yes, you’ve read that right. There have been such cases that have been reported before in Malaysia.

It's all about MONEY

2009-02-01T02:39:00.005+08:00

Money, money, money.

When you're with me, You make people green with envy.

And I smile with satisfactory as they fight over me.

When you finally leave me, Everyone leaves me hanging.

And then I am left with nothing.

Money, money, money.

What good are you to me?

As the above (pathetic) poem, that I came up with, has stated. What good is money to everyone?

Sure, you need it to buy all your daily necessities and whatever nots. However, what good does it do for you when you want to make friends? You do not know who these strangers are and what are their intentions for getting close to you. You do not know which are putting on charades and who you can trust. And for those who are already your friends, you worry for the day they betray you for this paper called money.

As it is, the more money you have, the more paranoid you become. In spite of this, your greed grows as you want more. Your self-esteem is boosted as your money increases, just like in the story written by Catherine Lim, Paper. Both Tay Soon and Yee Lian's greed grew as well as their confidence from seeing their money increase by dabbling in stocks and shares. They boasted about their dream house being build very soon as their money continued to increased. The paranoia is shown when the shares decreased in price and the couple worries about every loss they made. Yee Lian listens to Dr Soo's wife and puts their money into OHTE and West Parkes, which crashes shortly after, while Tay Soon refuses to listen his broker's advice to sell his remaining shares after that major loss.

In a way, money leads people to their own destruction, exemplified by Tay Soon's death after he had gone insane from the loss of all the money he had. From the beginning, you lead the good life and enjoy yourself with many friends as you work to increase the money you have. In between, you encounter problems in the form of people scheming to exploit you of your money. Towards the end, you find yourself left with no one to turn to. All the friends who always tell you that they are there to lend a helping hand, are those who would be the first to disappear in your time of need. So really, what good is money to everyone?

ok, I know this is really short, but its the best I can come up with. Don't ask when you look at the timestamp at the end of this entry... I have nothing better to do other than sleeping.

Money,dont you just love it?

2009-01-31T06:40:00.007+08:00

Had a lousy childhood?

No problem,just buy another!

Lonely and in need of love(love and not make-love,mind you...)?

Just buy a life-time supply of care and concern,

and memories to share.

In need of friends?Loyal to the core?

Just get yourself lots of money,and never lose it all.

Has a loved one departed?Lost to below?

Just buy them back won't you?

Lovely lovely money,

what can't i do with you?

Money is everything,don't you think so too?...

So get off the beach,and step back from nature,

just go after money;go join the queue.

Get your piece of happiness today...

Without music, life is a BIG mistake

2009-01-29T16:31:00.004+08:00

Lately, I started listening to some songs again and truth be told, I simply cannot live without music. For 4 years, i pretended to be someone who can live without the lovely tunes. The time for pretence has come to an end!

Get ready for the REAL William Chia.

To be unleashed SOON...

What is life?

2009-01-29T16:18:00.007+08:00

Sometimes I cannot help but wonder what life is all about. I was entertaining my best friend who came back from Melbourne and all of a sudden, I felt happy. I only get to see him once every year and that is when he comes back for CNY.

I thought about Edward from Tanjong Rhu who is always empty. He is just like an empty shell. Everytime, he just stares blankly at the skycrapers, freighters and containers but he could not make any sense or meaning out of them. Yet, he is well-educated, rich and successful in his career. For all the advantages in life that he has, he is still unhappy and unable to share in his mother's joy. Inside him, his relationship with his wife is very shallow, thus revealing to us that he does not have a very happy family or any intimate moments to cherish. His emptiness is further magnified when he is handed a binoculars and yet, he cannot "see" what is important and what is his purpose in life.

On the other hand, we have the mother, not so well-educated, rich and successful in career but ironically, she is the one who is happy. She may not see very clearly with her suffering from carataracts but she is filled with happy memories of her familial moments with her children and her husband, thus proving the fact that MONEY INDEED CANNOT BUY HAPPINESS.

Fellow Singaporeans. This materialistic pursuit for wealth and fortune. What sacrifice need one go through to obtain it? Sacrifice your happiness? Is it worth it? Will one really be happy with so much money and yet, failing to find the love of one's life. I have seen so many fall to the temptations of money and sacrificing their interests for the sake of money. Is this world coming to an end?

Welcome!

2009-01-29T15:31:00.003+08:00

First and foremost, let me comment Ashley for a job well done and for putting in effort in creating this space for our students to come in and air their views. Kudos to her.

With the creation of this space, I hope that students from our school and other schools can work together to post their views regarding literature topics, placing special focus on Island Voices and Off Centre.

Without further to do, let the DISCUSSIONS begin!

King William