SHORT STORIES FORM 4 : FRUITCAKE SPECIALS - Literary Analysis

SYNOPSIS

The Fruitcake Special is the  story if the effects of a perfume on men. It was accidentally created by Anna, a chemist. When Mr Amos gets a whiff of the perfume he feels he is in love with Anna and so invites her out for dinner. He does not behave like a man in love and Anna is surprised and upset. When she wears the Fruitcake perfume again, Mr Amos and a waiter become enticed and both make declarations of love to her. The situation become chaotic when a fight ensues between two men.

THEMES

• Illusion vs Reality
• Be realistic in life
• Appearances can be misleading

MORAL VALUES

• We should not be taken in flattery.
• We must not be too proud of our looks.
• We must not belittle other people.

PLOT

• EXPOSITION – Anna creates a Fruitcake perfume and dabs on it. Mr Amos becomes intoxicated with her when he gets a whiff of it. Anna is very surprise with this sudden interest.
• CONFLICT – During dinner, Mr Amos is not as attentive as he was in the morning. Anna dabs on the Fruitcake perfume in the ladies room.
• CLIMAX – Mr Amos becomes enamoured and makes declarations of love to her. A waiter also makes love declarations to her. A fight starts between Mr Amos, the waiter and Sabrina, Mr Amos’ girlfriend. Anna realises it is the effects of the fruitcake perfume.
• FALLING ACTION – Anna wants to find the ‘special something’ in the fruitcake but is unable to.
• RESOLUTION – Anna resigns from Amos Cosmetics and she settles for the pizza delivery man, Armstrong, who has his own pizza company.

CHARACTERS

• Main characters

1. Anna, the narrator
2. David Amos, owner of Amos Cosmetics

• Minor characters

1. Narrator’s mother
2. Narrator’s Aunt Mimi
3. Waiter at restaurant
4. Sabina, David Amos’ girlfriend
5. Armstrong, the pizza delivery man

POINT OF VIEW

• First person point of view

TONE, MOOD, ATMOSPHERE

• Light-hearted and humorous
• Comedic and entertaining

LANGUAGE AND STYLE

• Simple and easy to understand the language

SHORT STORIES FORM 4 : QWERTYUIOP - Literary Analysis

SYNOPSIS:
This story is about a young graduate named Lucy Beck who has justfinished her ‘O’ levels at Belmont Secretarial College. Being a slow learner herself, she has noconfidence that she will find a job. Fortunately, she is offered a job by Mr. Ross, the Manager ofRoss and Bannister’s. During her first day, she encounters many peculiar incidents. Later, shefinds out that there is a spirit lingering around the office who is adamant in holding on to herposition as the company’s secretary. Towards the end of the story, Lucy tries to get rid of thespirit that has been haunting that place for many years by putting the spirit at peace.


SETTING:
The story revolves around two main settings: 
-Lucy’s house which she shares with her motherand her Uncle Bert.
-The office of Ross and Bannister’s where Lucy works as a secretary.


CHARACTERS:

1) Lucy Beck : 
She is a young, shy and insecure graduate of secreterial studies. She is dissatisfied with her current life and is determined to improve it. She obtains a position with Ross and Bannister’s, only to find that the position comes with a chilling secret.

2) Ghost of Ms. Broome : 
She was the previous employee of Ross and Bannister’s. She is unwilling to let go of her position and continues to defend her post, even after her demise.


3) Lucy’s mother : 
A housewife who lives a hard life. She has to support her brother.


4) Uncle Bert : 
Depends on his sister for support. He is also a drunkard.

5) Harry Darke : 
Ross and Bannister’s handyman. He is an old man who has been working with the company for years.


6) Mr. Ross : 
The younger partner of the company.


THEMES:


1) DETERMINATION:
Despite the supernatural nature by which Ms. Broome badgers and demoralises Lucy, sheshows no signs of giving in to her demand. Instead, she is steadfast in defending her position asthe secretary.


2) POSSESSIVENESS:
Not even death could part Ms. Broome from what she feels is rightfully hers. She continues tohaunt the office through her electronic typewriter. 


3) LOYALTY:
As with her possesiveness towards her job, Ms. Broome was also extremely loyal towards Mr.Bannister. Even after she passed on, her spirit continued in its endeavour to serve her employer.


4) LONELINESS:
Loneliness can be a strong influence in a person’s life. Ms. Broome had no life outside of heroffice. That made her more possesive of her position in the company; a possesiveness thatwent beyond the grave.


5) COMMITMENT:
This attribute can be clearly seen in both Lucy and Ms. Broome. Both are extremely committedto their profession.


6) THE SUPERNATURAL:
It is interesting that such an integral character in the story happens to be an ethereal entity. Yet this theme is rather prominent in the story.


7) COMPASSION:
This theme holds water especially in the final confrontation between Lucy and Ms. Broome. It isnot through hatred nor coercion that Lucy manages to outsmart Ms. Broome, rather, it wasthrough compassion and understanding of Ms. Broome’s intentions.

NOVEL : JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH - Literary Analysis

SYNOPSIS:

Journey to the Centre of The Earth is an adventurous science fiction. Professor Lidenbrock discovers a coded message in an ancient  manuscript about a way to get into the centre of the Earth through a mountain in Iceland. After decoding the message ,Lidenbrock and Axel set off to Iceland to begin their journey to the centre of the Earth. There they hire an Icelandic guide, Hans Bjelke to help them on their journey. Professor Lidenbrock, Axel and Hans Bjelke find and enter the volcanic crater that marks the entrance to the centre of the Earth. Inside they face several difficulties and see a  lot of strange things, including prehistoric life.

They reach a vast underground cavern filled with a deep ocean, surrounded by a coastline. The travelers build a raft and set sail on the ocean and reach a coastline. They enter a passage that they assume is the way ahead but discover that it is blocked by cave-in. They blast the rock but the explosion causes the sea to rush in. They are swept into a large vent filling with water and magma and are ejected onto the surface. When they regain consciousness, they find out that they are on the island of Stromboli in Italy. The travelers return home to Germany. In Germany they are treated like heroes and Professor Lidenbrock's achievements are recognised. Axel marries Gretchen, and Hans eventually returns to Iceland.

PLOT:

EXPOSITION

      Professor Lidenbrock and his nephew, Axel, decoded amessage written 300 years ago by a famous Icelandic explorer, Arne Saknussemm.

      In his coded message, Arne Saknussem wrote that he had been to the center of the earth and hewent on to describe how he did it.

      Brushing aside the concerns of his nephew, the Professorinsists that Axel accompany him on the expedition. Sadly, Axel takes his leave from his beloved Gretchen.

      Professor Lindenbrock and Axel travel for ten days by ship before reaching Iceland. ProfessorLidenbrock employs, Hans Bjelke, as their guide on their adventure.

      Ten days later, on Monday, June 29th, they reach the top of Mount Sneffel. The shadowof the afternoon sun shows which crater they should descend.

RISING ACTION

      The trio descend into the crater and they travel downward until they reach the bottom of the pit. There are two tunnels and the Professor chooses the one on the right. After several days trekking underground and almost out of water, they have to retrace their steps because the path leads to a dead end.

      Axel collapses and assumes they will return to the surface after returning to the beginning of the two tunnels.

      Then, they descend into the second tunnel and emerge into a chamber of clear white mica. The chamber resembles a giant diamond cavern.

      Hans finds an underground river and they quench their thirst. By the next evening the professorestimates their position tobe 90 miles southeast of Mount Sneffels and eight miles deep.

      Axel finds himself alone. In desperation he retraces his steps but becomes hopelessly lost.

CLIMAX

•          Axel is reunited with his uncle and Hans and meets Lidenbrock Sea. They then found a forest of giant mushrooms.

•          They also see ferns as tall as trees and a mastodonskeleton.

•          The Professor decides that they must cross the ocean. Hans builds a raft from giant reeds and a sail from a sleeping rug.

•          They push out to sea leaving behind the shore which they named Port Gretchen.

•          Hans drops a hook and soon a fish is caught.

•          The professor wants to learn the depth of the sea so Hans attaches a pick axe to a long rope and throws it overboard. When Hans retrieves the pickaxe it bears marks that look like teeth.

•          Two huge sea monsters surface, battle and almost swamp the raft.

•          A storm hits them and they have been carried back to the same shore from which they left. 

FALLING ACTION

      The travelers continue to explore the coastline, and find a passageway marked by Saknussemm. However, it is blocked.

      The adventurers plan to blast the rock with gun cotton and paddle out to sea to escape the blast. However, they discover that behind the rockfall was a seemingly bottomless pit, not a passage to the center of the earth.

      After spending hours being swept along at lightning speeds by the water, the raft ends up inside a large volcanic chimney filling with water and magma.

      The three are rushed upwards, through stifling heat, and are ejected onto the surface from a side-vent of a volcano. When they regain consciousness, they discover that they have been ejected from the active volcano on the Isle of Stromboli.

RESOLUTION

      They land outside the volcano.

       While making their way down, they learn from a young shepherd that they are on the island of Stromboli in Italy.

       They have entered the earth by one volcano and come out by another, over 3,000 miles apart.

       Four months after discovering Arne Saknussemm’s coded message, they return to Hamburg where the trio are treated like heroes and the Professor's achievements are recognized.

CHARACTERS:

Professor Otto Lidenbrock

An intelligent, determined and adventurous scientist.

Axel Lidenbrock

Afaithful and loyal nephew. He is young and easily scared.

Hans Bjelke

A brave Danish guide. He is very quiet but is always

on hand to save the other two explorers.

Gretchen

A young woman who loves Axel.

SETTING:

PLACE

1)      HAMBURG, GERMANY

-   Prof. Otto Lidenbrock found a book by Arne Saknussemm.

-    He decided to go to the centre of the Earth along with his nephew, Axel.

-  The starts and the ends of the whole journey.

2)    ICELAND

- They started their journey to Iceland. They were joined by a guide, Hans Bjelke.

3)      MOUNT SNEFFELS

-Their journey to the centre of the Earth begins at.

-They travelled  about 3000 miles from Iceland to Sicily.

4)      HANS’S STREAM

- Underground stream that was found by Hans that saved their lives when their water supply runs out.

5)      LIDENBROCK SEA

-   An underground sea. On their journey across the sea, they found gigantic, monstrous sea animals.

6)        FOREST

- They found giant mushrooms and giant skeletons.

7)        SICILY

- They went out from another volcano and were at Sicily, 3000 miles apart from where they started.

TIME

This adventure story is set in 1862 when there were no modern facilities.

The adventure of the story starts from May 1862, when Axel and his uncle discovered about the mysterious paper written by Arne Saknussem which leads them to the centre of the earth. Their adventure ends on August 1862when they arrived Iceland.

SOCIAL 

-   Society who appreciate science and older findings

- Society who possess high curiosity towards science

-  Society who are patient and determine

-Society who are adventurous and resilient

- Society who are literate and knowledgeable in science 

NOVEL : THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY - Literary Analysis

SYNOPSIS :

The story starts with Dr. Watson reading out a telegram from his friend, Sherlock Holmes who tells him to catch a train to Boscombe Valley. In the train, Holmes tells him about the murder, how he has a different view towards the case n addition to the letter he received from Alice Turner. They begin their investigation on the horrid death of Mr. Charles McCarthy who has supposedly been murdered by his son, James. Young James on the other hand is now imprisoned because apparently all the clues are in his favour. Lestrade, a crime investigator is adamant that James is guilty based on the inspection on the crime scene and the witnesses. Holmes during his quest for evidence manages to trace contrasting proofs and reveals the interesting set of footprints from which Holmes deduces that the perpetrator of the odious murder is a rich man smoking Indian cigar. Instead of disclosing the identity of the murderer, he leaves the case to Lestrade. Soon after, Holmes is visited by Mr. Turner at his office. Mr. Turner makes a surprising confession, claiming himself as a murderer.  That very same day, everything about the murder is exposed. Mr. Turner divulges that Charles Smith and he were enemies ever since their days in Australia. James is forced to marry Alice, Mr. Turner’s daughter to inherit wealth but he objected his dad’s will the day his dad got killed. In the end, both Mr. Turner and Holmes agree to keep the case private for the sake of the innocent James and Alice Turner, who have just got married. 

PLOT :

EXPOSITION

While having breakfast with his wife, Dr. Watson receives a telegram from Sherlock Holmes. Holmes wishes Watson to accompany him to Boscombe Valley for an investigation. Watson is unsure about deserting his medical practice but after a little persuasion from his wife he packs a bag and hurriedly sets out to meet with Holmes.

RISING ACTION

James McCarthy was found guilty for the murder of his father, Charles McCarthy. However, Holmes doubts James as guilty. 

CLIMAX

Holmes, Dr Watson and Lestrade go to the crime to search for clues and evidence. They find suspicious footprints and the weapon of murder. They also find ashes of an Indian cigar

FALLING ACTION

John Turner confesses to Holmes about him being the murderer of Charles McCarthy. He tells his history as a famous robber and how Charles blackmailed him.

RESOLUTION

Holmes finally solves the case. The court decides that James McCarthy is Innocent. He then leads a happy life with Alice Turner. Holmes destroys John’s confession letter.  John Turner dies a few months after. 

SETTING :

Place:

1.  Dr. Watson’s House

Dr. Watson receives telegram from Holmes inviting him to join in an investigation at Boscombe Valley

2. Paddington Train Station

Sherlock meets Dr. Watson at the train station and Holmes buys tickets both of them

3. In the train

Holmes tells about the murder to Dr. Watson. Dr. Watson reads the details of the murder in the newspaper. Then, they discuss about the murder.

4. Boscombe Pool

This is the place where Charles McCarthy is being murdered and the argument between James and Charles McCarthy take place.

5. Moran’s house

The gamekeeper’s house @ Mr. Moran’s house

This is the place where James asks for help after seeing his father lying on the ground

6. Holmes’ house at Baker Street

The confession of the murderer which is Mr. Turner takes place in the Holmes’ house.

Mr. Turner tells Holmes everything from the first time he met Charles McCarthy in Australia

7. The court

This is the place where the trial of James McCarthy innocence takes place.

8. Prison

Holmes asks James about the day of the murder. He wants to know what actually happen on that day on behalf of James.

9. Ballarat, Australia

This is the place where Mr. Turner and his gang rob Charles McCarthy.

10. Regent Street, London

After twenty years of the robbery, Charles McCarthy bumps into Mr. Turner. Charles McCarthy blackmails Mr. Turner as he wants to tell about the incidence in Ballarat to the police.

Time:

• The time setting of the story is around ninetieth century.
• Dr. Watson and Holmes board on the train at 11.15 a.m.
• James McCarthy arrives his home from Bristol on Monday morning.
• Charles McCarthy leaves his house on 3 o’clock.

Social :

• Worker class society e.g. Mr. Moran, Inspector Lestrade.
• High class society e.g. Mr. Turner
• The society that involves in crime e.g. Mr. Turner

ENJOY THE MOVIE :)