Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Compulsary Blog Post 11 - 10 Steps Procedure For Snapshot Land

Step 2: Thoughts Of Title -
-Photos
-Fictional World
-Smiles
-People posing for actions
-Smiles
-Place where everything is stationary

Step 4: Words/Phrases which catches my attention-
-happy all the time
-smile and smile and smile
-sun shines all day long
-lovers stay in love forever
-permanenet delight
-no one dies, ever

Step 5: Figurative Language in the Poem-
-Snapshot land is the promised land - Metaphor
-smile and smile and smile - Repitition
-smooth sand , sun shines , sepia on sandboys - Alliteration

Step 6: Groups of Words Which Are Themetically Similar-
-sand, sea,sea-shore,buckets---beach
-lovers,couples ---relationship

Step 8: Intelligent Guesses on the Poem's Meaning-
-Informal
-Happiness
-Fictional

Step 9:Questions-
a)persona
b)public in general
c)happiness
d)neutral
e)free-verse gives the poet more freedom on how he writes the poem
f)understand the poem better

Step 10: Poet's Intent-
Talk about the happiness in snapshot land. Everything is perfect, like a paradise.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Compulsary Blog 10 - Writing a Poem About Life

This is my poem about life, please enjoy!

Life is a rocky road,

and never will it be smooth.

The road is so uneven,

that no one will fail to fall.

The road is full of up and downs,

so what you might encounter along the way, is very unpredictable.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

25th May's IT Home Learning - Lesson 1

Poem- If You Forget Me By Palbo Neruda

I want you to know one thing.
You know how this is:
if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch near the fire of impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals, were little boats
that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me.
Well, now, if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.
If suddenly you forget me do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.
If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners that passes through my life,
and you decide to leave me at the shore of the heart where I have roots,
remember that on that day, at that hour,
I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off to seek another land.
But if each day, each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

1. How is figurative language used in the poem? Give the specific word(s), explain what type of figurative language it is and why the poet chose to use this figurative language.

Hyperbole – ah my love , ah my own

Shows exaggeration, evokes a strong sense of love and desire



Personification – everything carries me to you, wrinkled body of the log

Depicts nature as a living thing which carries her to 'you', makes the reader feel that the body of the log is like an old man's one , one which is wrinkled.

Metaphor - aromas, light, metals, were little boats

Comparing aromas , lights , metals to little boats

Symbolism - the fire of impalpable ash

Fire of impalpable ash is used as a symbol in this case, gives the reader a feeling that there is a deeper meaning to this phrase.

2. Tell us why you like this poem in no less than 100 words.

This poem is an extremely romantic one. It evokes a strong feeling of love and an unforgettable memory of someone who the author loved greatly. The sentences are extremely meaningful. The phrase ‘ flower climbs up to your lips to seek me’ is a really beautiful one. Since flowers are pretty , it makes the reader feel as if it is very touching and romantic. The author also used many good phrases and some hyperboles, personification, metaphors and symbolism. Some of her sentences are really very meaningful and beautiful . Some examples are “I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off to seek another land.”, “and you decide to leave me at the shore of the heart where I have roots” etc. All in all, I enjoyed reading this poem very much.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Compulsory Blog Post 9 - Interpersonal

This is my interview with one of my father's friends, Uncle Saranpal Singh Khaira. I would like to acknowledge and thank him for his invaluable time and insight.

Me: Do you feel that there have been rapid changes in India in the past 30 years ?
Uncle Saranpal: Major rapid changes have been observed with the opening up of the economy in the late 1990s. In the past, it had a very protectionist and inward looking economy with the emphasis on self sufficiency and not on trade. Foreign banks have now been given licenses to operate in India, and there are more liberal monitory policies in place. All this has helped encourage the country to be more trade oriented than its rural agriculture focus in the past.

One only has to look at the benefits of this liberalisation: in-flow of goods and tourism, and developing a services based industry in the IT sector (BPO or Business Process Outsourcing). Cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad and Gurgaon are flourishing due to the IT industry.

Due to the economic success, there is now a growing middle-class society that is benefiting from these changes.



Me: How do you feel about them ?
Uncle Saranpal : It is good to see changes taking that can help improve the lively hood of the population. In the past, infrastructure such as roads were poorly maintained or not developed.

Me: What do you think have brought about these changes ?
Uncle Saranpal : The biggest hurdle to overcome was the political will of the ruling elite that were reluctant to make these economic changes. They were from the 'old school' of thought about foreign ownership of business in India. The new political leaders recognised that new world order required changes to their mindset. Change was brought in gradually and not all at once to maintain some balance and control, although there is still debate that it could have been initiated at a faster pace.

The introduction of the internet has also allowed India to establish a world-class BPO industry. With its large talent of English speaking population and low wages, India has a good foothold in this sector.

Me: How are these changes affecting the people ?
Uncle Saranpal: The middle-class is now benefiting from such new policies. Their earning power has increased and so has their spending power. Trade has encouraged goods to be easily imported and peoples' lifestyle has significantly increased over the 30 years.

Me:What other changes do you hope to see happening / not happening ?
Uncle Saranpal : One of the biggest challenges faced is the rampant corruption level that is endemic in India. Corruption is believed to exist at all levels of society and government administration. Whilst corruption affects everyone, it is especially difficult on the poor.This has to be eradicated, but will require a long time and with the commitment of the political elite.

The poor are still marginalized and many of these new economic policies are still not benefiting the poor. Education is the key to break the cycle of poverty, unfortunately, education is either not available to the poor or difficult for them to access it.

India still needs to invest considerably in its infrastructure such as better roads, telecommunications, airports, access to clean water and sanitation, and electricity generating power stations just to name a few.

It is a complex problem, but the country seems to be committed to continue to follow this path that they have started.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Compulsory Blog Post 8 - Musical

This is the song which I chose for the scene when Pinto died.

This is the link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpS2SSIhe2g&feature=related

I chose this piece as Lila, Bela and Kemal were very close to Pinto and loved him very dearly. I felt that this song was heart-warming and very touching. The part when the volume of the song was soft could be used when the three sisters were recalling about the fond moments they had together with the dog while the part where the volume was louder could be used when they finally came to realise that their dog was gone forever.

Compulsary Blog 7 - Linguistic (c)

Interviewer: What was life like in the village of Thul?
Hari: Life was extremely though for my family members and me. I had no boat to go out to sea to fish and earn money for my family. My father is a drunkard and he does not even care about our family. All he thinks about is drinking toddy. He does not even care about my mother. She is sick and lying in bed all day, getting frailer and weaker each day. Lila and I had to work hard everyday to put our younger sisters, Bela and Kemal through school.

Interviewer: I see. Was that why you decided to leave Thul for Bombay?
Hari: Yes. I thought that there would be more job opportunities for me in Bombay, and the de Silvas had also promised to give me a job as their car washer if I ever went to Bombay.I also felt very stressed at home and I could not stand my father's behaviour.

Interviewer: How did you feel when you reached Bombay?
Hari: I was at a lost after I was separated from the rest of my fellow villages. I decided to go and look for the de Silvas but one of their servants told me that they were not around and chased me away. Luckily, a kind security guard I met later brought me to his friend's eating house where I worked to earn money. I also learned how to mend watches from the watchmender next door.

Interviewer: Do you think your family members would be wondering where you were when you first left home?
Hari: Yes, I think they would. I left without a word on the night when I found out that my dog, Pinto , had died. I was really upset and furious. However, I wrote a letter to them soon after telling them that I was safe so they need not worry.

Interviewer: What was the difference of your life in the village after you returned from Bombay?
Hari: Oh, life was much better for my family and me. My father has turned over a new leaf and stopped drinking toddy. My mother is receiving proper treatment at the hospital in Alibagh. My sisters also work for Sayyid Ali and he gives them salary. I also learnt that when the factories are built, I can also help the engineers mend their watches when they were spoilt. I am so lucky to learn watchmending from Mr. Panwallah !

Interviewer: Thank you for your time.
Hari: You are welcome

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Compulsory Blog Post 6-Intrapersonal (From Hari's Point of View)

Why am I so unlucky to have such a useless, drunkard father? Why must I be the sole breadwinner for my family? Why should I allow that irresponsible and inconsiderate father of mine to waste the money I earn on his toddy? Why can't he be like the other men in the village and go out to sea and fish like them? Why is it that he can't earn money for the family and care for us? Why does he not care about my sick mother, who is lying in bed, getting frailer each day? Why?

Even my dog, Pinto, has died! The small piece of land we own is bare. All my sisters know is to cry all day. How am I going to survive like this? I have no money at home. How am I supposed to buy food and daily necessities?

Should I go to Bombay? There are surely lots of job opportunities there. Or should I wait in Thul for a job in one of the many factories which will be built soon? However, I might not even be able to find a job in the factories as I have no skill at all. I did not even complete my university, so will they even want to hire me?