Literature Form 5

1. The curse
By
Lee Su Ann

2. The curse

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. (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.

8. (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.

9. (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.

10. (cont..)
 Chapter 11:
 The truth behind Madhuri’s death
 The death of Saleh
 Chapter 12:
 Azreen’s final respect at the burial site.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. CHARACTERS
Main Characters
 Azreen Bomoh (Awang)
 Madhuri Fatihah
 Mohd Asraf
 Saleh Abdullah
 Haji Ghani
 Siti
 Puan Normala
 Old Lady
 Datin Sharifah & Datuk Zulkifli

14. SETTINGS
LONDON
 Azreen furthers her studies in London.
A VILLAGE ON A SMALL ISLAND OFF
LANGKAWI.
 Some of the places mentioned in the
story.

15. SETTINGS
Azreen’s house
 Azreen lives with her father, mother and
Madhuri.
The rubber plantation
 The scene where Madhuri’s body is found.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. THEMES
 LOVE: Parental, Forbidden & Unrequited Love
 FORGIVENESS
 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
 GENDER STEREOTYPING
 BELIEF IN SUPERNATURAL
 FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

20. VALUES
 CARING
 STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN
 RESPONSIBILITY
 DILIGENCE
 CONCERN
 BRAVERY
 LOYALTY
 PERSISTENT
 THOUGHTFULNESS
 HELPFUL

21. LITERARY DEVICES
 SYMBOL
 IMAGERY- VISUAL, SOUND
 PERSONIFICATION
 METAPHOR
 SIMILE
 TONE, MOOD, ATMOSPHERE
 ONOMATOPOEIA
 HYPERBOLES

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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

25.  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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. Thank You
- Good Luck -