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TSL 621 ASIAN LITERATURE

THE BIRDHEAD KITE(by Azizi Haji Abdullah)

Prepared and presented by:Mohd. Hazwan Bin Yasin

2008411198Group 220U6A

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Video when Harry meets sally ‘ couple interview 2’

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X85xOS95eNI

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Presentation Outline• Author• Plot• Point of View• Settings• Characters & Characteristics• Literary Devices• Writer’s Messages• Themes• Burning issues• Personal Response• Impact of the story as a young Asian

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AUTHOR

4/4/1942 – KG BUKIT MERYAM, KOTA KUALA MUDA KEDAH

AZIZI HAJI ABDULLAH

• RELIGIOUS TEACHER (1965-1997)SK SG. TAKA, SERDANG, KEDAH

• AUTHOR

• CHIEF EDITOR OF UTUSAN PENGGUNA NEWSPAPER (CAP)

P.PINANG

• COLUMNIST

• SEKOLAH MELAYU BKT. MERYAM & SEKOLAH MELAYU KOTA KUALA MUDA,

KEDAH (UNTIL STANDARD 6)

• SEKOLAH AGAMA DAIRATUL MAARIF AL-WATANIAH, KEPALA BATAS SEBERANG

PERAI (UNTIL 1965)

•1960s – 1st ARTICLE PUBLISHED WARTA NEGARA, ‘BURUK BAIK WANITA BERMAIN BOLA SEPAK’

• 1972 – WON ‘HADIAH SASTERA’ FOR ‘JERAT SUDAH MENGENA’

• CONTROVERSIAL PIECE – ‘HAJI SALIKUN CUBA BERKHALWAT’

•25 NOVELS & 200 SHORT STORIES

• VALUES IN HIS LITERARY WORKS:

1. CIVILISATION & UNITY THROUGH THE THEME OF RELIGION2. OLD & MODERN TRADITIONS

3. SOCIAL VALUES OF DIFFERENT CULTURES

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THE BIRDHEAD KITE

EXPOSITION

• Father was left alone at home.

• His meals were taken care by his children.

• He felt lonely.

RISING ACTION

• Father made a kite for his grandchildren.

CLIMAX

• Father climbed the tree.

•The lower branch cracked.

•He clung helplessly to the upper

branch.

FALLING TENSION

• Father fell down.

• The birdhead kite fell next to him.

RESOLUTION

• The grandchildren lifted father and carried him home (p.267).

• Father closed his eyes forever.

• The birdhead kite was hung at the far end of the bed.

PLOT

They flew the kite.

The kite was “entangled in a tree”.

The string snapped.

The grandchildren were reluctant to leave.

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POINT OF VIEW

•Use of ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘they’•“He did not follow Mother…” (p. 260)

•“She had even consulted a Chinese

medicine man.” (p. 260)•“They watch him eat slowly…” (p. 262)

Third Person P.O.V

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PLACE• Sungai Petani, Kedah• e.g. The doctor in Sungai

Petani could not help her anymore (p. 260).

• Father’s house• e.g. Father stayed home

(p. 261), verandah, bed, etc.

• Kota Kuala Muda• e.g. .... Of Meryam Hill. (p.

263)• Village• e.g. The wind from the

paddy field blew through the village (p. 261).

• Paddy field• e.g. ...led the children to

the paddy field (p. 264)

TIME• 1974• A week, more or

less.• Afternoon• e.g. ..pestered him to fly

the kite as soon as they finished their lunch (p. 264)

SOCIAL• Villagers• e.g. ..did not go to the

paddy field, ..could not fish because the water in the field had receded (p. 261).

• Modern (has basic amenities and infrastructure)

• e.g. The doctor..., medicines & injections..(p. 260)

• ..waited for the bus to take him to town (p. 264)

SETTINGS

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CHARACTERS & CHARACTERISTICSOld

• “he was toothless and his lips were wrinkled” (p. 262)• “bony frame” (p. 266)

Dynamic • thinks about Mother all the time happy to spend time with his grandchildren (kite flying)

Religious• “lead the villagers during prayers and religious discussions” (p. 260)

Dependent “Mat was told to take care of father’s meals” (p. 260)

Loving husband & grandfather

• “He thought of Mother. He wished Mother were home” (p. 261)• “Father would take the grandchildren to the paddy field and fly the kite there” (p. 264).

Lonely• “he hated the empty bed,..the night was too silent for him..” (p. 261).• “He felt very lonely” (p. 261).

FATHER(Protagonist)

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The Antagonist(s)?

Antagonist

LONELINESS

LOVE - GRANDCH

ILDREN

THE BIRDHEAD

KITE

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Dynamic• They were happy and excited about the flying the kite.• They came home with grief and sorrow when their grandfather fell down from the tree and remained unconscious.

Determined“No one moved. They objected. One of them offered to climb the tree” (p. 265)

Responsible“..would bring his meals to him..keep Father company at night” (p. 260)

Immature

GRANDCHILDREN

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Static

Devoted“...because she loved him” (p. 260), “Father was never ill when Mother was at home” (p. 261).

Independent“Mother went all the way to Kulim to seek treatment” (p. 260).

MOTHER

Ramli, Limah, Mat & Younger son (nameless)

Flat

Children of Father

Responsible- prepare meals for Father

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LITERARY DEVICES

•“Father whistled at the wind to steady itself” (p. 265)Hyperbole

•“They followed him in a line, like a train of camels” (p. 262)Simile

•‘No, it’s too high! The pole can’t reach it.’ (p. 265)Dialogue

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CONT’D

• “The wind blew across Father’s face and he smiled” (p. 261)

Imagery (Tactile)

• “He was higher than the areca tree” (p. 266)Imagery (Visual)

•“..the kite dance in the air” (p. 264)Personification

•Kite – (a large bird, death, foreshadow)Symbolism

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Video: wau burung / wau lang

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcLbEaGh2Gc

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Kite – Large bird, kills and eats its pray

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History of kite?- Religious meaning – try to connect with heavenly regions

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Korean & Japanese belief: Fallen kite - misfortune

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WRITER’S MESSAGES

1stThe grandfather’s unconditional love for his grandchildren

2ndSpecial strong bond that presents between a husband & wife.

Love and how to show love

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THEMES

Grandfather’s unconditional

love for his grandchildren

The strong bond between husband and

wife

Role of Women-Do house chores

-Devoted wife

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BURNING ISSUES

The loneliness that Father felt (Mother went away to seek for treatment).

The unconditional love that Father has for his grandchildren (that made him climb up the tree) taking risks that caused his life.

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PERSONAL RESPONSE

I like the story

because...

The portrayal of

an unconditiona

l love.

Significance of the title – foreshadow & symbolic?

The idea of old age & loneliness

Strong sense of

family connection

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IMPACT OF THE STORYA sense of

realization in the Asian culture.

-the bond between members of the family.

-Responsibilities of the children.

The extent people are willing to do in order to

please us.

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Thank You