Online Task 2

Do we have a canon for Malaysian literary works? Let's say we do, who do you think are in it? Consider the fact that their works are well-known and most importantly included as part of the school syllabus- (both in BM and English)

a. Jungle of Hope by Kamaluddin Mahmud (Keris Mas)

b. The Dead Crow by Datuk A.Samad Said

c. Si Tenggang's Homecoming by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Haji Salleh

The poems by Erica Jong raises some feminist issues. What are they?

Feminist issues that found in Erica Jong's poems are  female role, gender bias and sexual abuse.

Do you think they are suitable to teach at the secondary school level? Explain.

I think Erica Jong's poems are not suitable to teach at the secondary school level. It is because her poem contains sex and love issues which are improper to teach to our teenagers. This will give them bad impact. Furthermore, her poems talk about gender issues which may provoke our youngsters to quarrel. It is not suitable to let our students feel that one gender is better than another. It should be treated equally.

Is Hillary Tham's poem more suitable?
Yes. Hilary Tham's poem is more suitable than Erica Jong's. Since Hilary Tham is a local writer, his works are related to our social life. It is more connected to our students life too. Some more, his poems are more liberal. His poems let us feel fun, loving and meaningful. Thus, students can easily relate themselves to the poems.

The short tale from the Native American group is about a girl who is unsatisfied with her life. How is this a universal experience? Can it teach our students anything?
It is human nature to feel unsatisfied with simple things. That's why we have cars, aeroplane, iphone and so many advance technologies. These are all the human nature who encourage us to invent and create more. But, unsatisfied with simple things sometimes do get us disadvantages too. For example, you just bought an iphone 4 but after few months iphone 4S is launched. Now, you think to buy it too. Well, this is actually normal. But, we need to control our desire. We must live within our budget of living. It is not worth, if we keep on increasing our debts because of those luxury items. So, this short tale could actually teach our students to think wisely, there is no specific answer to say unsatisfied with simple things is incorrect or correct. Just depends on matter.
 

Langston Hughes

 From your findings about his background, tell me about the dilemma he conveys through the poem CROSS.

Langston Hughes has a white man father but an African American mother. In the poem CROSS, he had written his entire dilemma. He is sad and dissatisfied with his parents and he cursed them. Another dilemma is he does not know how he wants to die, like his father - the white man, or his mother - the African America woman. The dilemma here is that the white is rich while the African American is poor and being oppressed.

 

I find "Dinner Guest: Me" laden with irony and sarcasm. Briefly state if you feel the same.

This poem is full of irony and sarcasm. From the lines, "I know I am, The Negro Problem"  show that racial issues between the African American and the white. African American are treated as slave and uneducated people whereas the white man are considered highly educated and rich people.

The experience in the poem Harlem is one that is true for many people. Do you agree?
I agree. The poem Harlem is full of racist issues. Although the blacks are freed from slavery after the civil war, they were still regarded as second class citizens. The African American was segregated in many forms like busses, restrooms and even schools.

Langston Hughes fights for the voice of his people. What is the movement called? 

Civil rights movement