The curse

By

Lee Su Ann

The curse

ABOUT THE NOVEL

In “The Curse” by Lee Su Ann, Azreen takes

time off from her studies in London, UK, to return

to her village in one of the legendary islands of

Langkawi. She returns to mourn the loss of her

older sister, Madhuri.

However, she finds out via rumours and loud

whispers that Madhuri was murdered. At her

village Azreen has to contend with a cold-

hearted father and support an Alzheimer

stricken mother.

ABOUT THE NOVEL

Azreen is subjected to negative comments and

suspicion from her neighbours. She finds

consolation in the company of the Old Lady, an

outcast of the village.

Although the grand Old Lady is educated and

knowledgeable, the villagers shun her because

she had murdered her abusive husband.

ABOUT THE NOVEL

Azreen has to confront the mystery that

shrouds her sister's sudden death under

suspicious circumstances.

Bit by bit, the mysterious death of Madhuri

is revealed to Azreen.

Plot Summary

Chapter 1:

The news of the death of Madhuri.

Chapter 2:

Flashback of Azreen’s early days with Madhuri.

Chapter 3:

Azreen’s arrival & Rumours about the death of Madhuri.

Chapter 4:

Madhuri’s Funeral.

(cont..)

Chapter 5:

The meeting with Mohd Asraf (Azreen enquires about her sister’s death)

Awang, (the Bomoh) and Encik Mohan’s chicken farm fiasco.

Chapter 6:

The murder cover up.

Puan Fatihah’s recollection of her husband’s infatuation with Madhuri.

The incident that had caused Azreen’s mother to become paralysed.

(cont..)

Chapter 7:

Mohd Asraf struggles with Nek’s deteriorating health.

The discovery of Madhuri’s letter.

Chapter 8:

The death of Azreen’s mother.

Mohd Asraf’s visit to the Old Lady’s house.

(cont..)

Chapter 9:

The mob at Mohd Asraf’s house

Nek’s health recovery.

Chapter 10:

The death of Nek.

The avengance of Nek’s death

The fire at the Old Lady’s house

Mohd Asraf’s confession about his affair.

The disclosure of Madhuri’s secret by Awang.

(cont..)

Chapter 11:

The truth behind Madhuri’s death

The death of Saleh

Chapter 12:

Azreen’s final respect at the burial site.

PLOT STRUCTURE

EXPOSITION – Azreen takes time off her studies to attend Madhuri’s funeral only to discover rumours shrouding her sister’s death. Everyone believes that Madhuri’s death will cast a curse upon them.

CONFLICT/ RISING ACTION- Strange things occurred on Azreen.

CLIMAX – Suspicions are fuelled by superstition.

Cont…

FALLING ACTION- Mohd Asraf admits about his affair with Madhuri and confesses about their plan to leave Langkawi.

RESOLUTION- Azreen found out the truth behind Madhuri’s death.

CHARACTERS

Main Characters

Azreen Bomoh (Awang) Madhuri Fatihah Mohd Asraf Saleh Abdullah Haji Ghani Siti Puan Normala Old Lady Datin Sharifah & Datuk Zulkifli

SETTINGS

LONDON

Azreen furthers her studies in London.

A VILLAGE ON A SMALL ISLAND OFF

LANGKAWI.

Some of the places mentioned in the story.

SETTINGS

Azreen’s house

Azreen lives with her father, mother and

Madhuri.

The rubber plantation

The scene where Madhuri’s body is found.

SETTINGS

Madhuri’s room

Azreen finds Madhuri’s photos are all torn

in three parts. The room is also burnt

down.

Nek’s house

Mohd Mohd. Asraf lives with his

grandmother.

SETTINGS

The farm

Awang leaves the gate open and Mohd.

Asraf gets the blame when the bull

escapes.

The forest

The Old Lady runs to the forest and settles

in an abandoned wooden house after the

villagers outcast her.

SETTINGS

The school

The school where Azreen studied during her

secondary years. This is also where she gets

acquainted with Mohd. Asraf.

Paddy field

Salleh Abdullah finds Madhuri as a baby in the

makeshift bed of rags and leaves.

The cemetery

Madhuri and her mother are laid to rest here.

THEMES

LOVE: Parental, Forbidden & Unrequited Love

FORGIVENESS

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

GENDER STEREOTYPING

BELIEF IN SUPERNATURAL

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

VALUES

CARING

STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN

RESPONSIBILITY

DILIGENCE

CONCERN

BRAVERY

LOYALTY

PERSISTENT

THOUGHTFULNESS

HELPFUL

LITERARY DEVICES

SYMBOL

IMAGERY- VISUAL, SOUND

PERSONIFICATION

METAPHOR

SIMILE

TONE, MOOD, ATMOSPHERE

ONOMATOPOEIA

HYPERBOLES

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITY ONE

Get the message

Duration: 40 minutes

Aim: To identify and analyze the themes in the

novel.

Material: Worksheet 8

Steps:

1. Distribute worksheet 8.

2. Match the evidence with the theme.

3. The students may refer to the novel using the

page reference.

ACTIVITY TWO

That says it all

Duration: 80 minutes

Aim: To identify the themes in the novel based on

the plot

Material: Worksheet 9

Steps:

1. Organize students in groups of 3-4

2. Distribute worksheet to the students. Students

write down the information required in the

boxes.

3. Check the answers.

ACTIVITY THREE

The good, the bad and the ugly

Duration: 40 minutes

Aims:

To analyse the events that help Azreen transform into a

better person.

To write about Azreen’s transformation.

Material: a)Worksheet 11

b) Coloured Pens

Steps:

1. Discuss with students the kind of spiritual journey that

the character Azreen took while making the actual

journey

Cont..

2. Give each pair of students the graphic

organizer (worksheet 11)

3. In the boxes, students list events that reflect

the different values shown.

4. Ask students to display their worksheet on the

class notice board.

Notes:

For low proficient students, teacher may provide

the events and students will match them to the

correct suitcase.

ACTIVITY FOUR

Imagery

Duration: 80 minutes

Aim: To allow students to explore ways in which

figurative language is used in the story.

Material: Worksheet 14

Steps:

1. Elicits different literary devices that students

are familiar with.

2. Discuss the meaning of the literary devices

identified by the students.

Cont..

3. Introduce an example of a simile and gives its

definition and evidence from the text.

4. Distribute Worksheet 14.

5. Ask students to work in groups or pairs to find

textual evidence from the text for each of the

literary devices.

Notes:

For Low English Proficient students, they may be given the

pages of the text to help them. Alternatively, they can

also be paired with higher proficient students to promote

peer teaching/learning.

ACTIVITY FIVE

Prove me right

Duration: 80 minutes

Aims:

To explore character traits in the novel.

To give description.

To provide evidence.

Material: Worksheet 5

Steps:

1. Call out a student at random and introduce him

to the class.

Cont..

2. Ask students to describe his character traits.

3. Ask students to pick characters they like from

the novel and describe them.

4. Distribute Worksheet 5.

5. Ask students to read and understand the

character traits given in the handout.

6.Instruct students to show textual evidence from

the novel.

7.Ask students to write down the evidence in the

column provided by quoting it from the novel.

Thank You

- Good Luck -