Setting of a story

The sky was engulfed by dark clouds, the luminous moon seems to be in cahoots with the siluotte of withering tree branches. A stretched of trees, followed by another, it seems ever lasting. A chill wind scuffed past, the fog made sight blurry. There were voices, screaming and hollering. Little did I know......

Call of DOOM!

Today was the biggest day of Justin’s life. Countless nights of exhilaration resulted in the thick eyebags sagged beneath his eyes. It was his wedding day! He knew that this day would decide his fate and it was about to, in the way that he never expected or dreamed of……
All these months of preparations and excitement, the amount of dreary eyelids and tired limbs had all came down to today, his wedding! The whole neighbourhood and relatives were invited. He was looking forward to this day as he knew this would be the best day of his life. He was on his way to pick up his beloved bride-Sharmaine, the woman that he would spend his entire lifetime with. At that time, people still believe in auspicious hours unlike nowadays in an urbanized nation like Singapore. In the car, his heart was racing like a bullet train and cold sweat was starting to damp his tuxedo, the moment of reciting the marriage vow was constantly played in his head. Justin could not help it, he was just too excited. Engrossed in such deep thoughts he did not realize his phone was ringing. His handphone rang loud, as if hollering at him to take the call. Justin answered it, only to hear a voice which he never heard in his life, little did Justin know it was the call of disaster.
“Please, do not hang up the phone. I have been kidnapped and I need help. This is not a hoax. Please help me!!!!” Justin thought he was hearing things. Probably the sleepless nights had caused his ears to malfunction. He did not end the call though, he merely took sips of water, trying to clear and refresh himself. Justin answered again, asking who the speaker was, for a moment it was all silent, he assured himself that he was just hearing things. Justin did not know that he was stepping into a greater trap where there is no turning back.
Just as he was about to end the call, a coarse voice bellowed so loud upon his ear drums, tempting to break it. The scary voice threatened Justin which sent a chill down his spine. The man ordered Justin to go to number ten St.Park villa to retrieve a thumbdrive in order to release the victim and a call to the police would result in the victim’s death. For a moment Justin was totally dumbfounded, he was stunned and did not know what to do. He immediately re-dialed the number but he could not get through.
Justin’s wedding was an hour away, he could pretend nothing had happened and carry on living happily. Should he ignore the call? However, thoughts of someone getting killed because of him not listening to a cry for help, and the guilt haunting him for the rest of his life made him have second thoughts. Justin had reached a crossroad, the left side was the way to his wedding venue and the other side was the way to ST. PARK villa. It was indeed the toughest decision in his entire lifetime as his decision would certainly have drastic effects. Justin’s was in a dilemma. In the end, he turned the to the right, the way to ST PARK villa, all the while questioning his own decision but now there was no turning back.
He reached St.Park villa to find identical houses, he took some time to locate villa number 10. Justin reached the number ten villa and parked his car outside. He opened the gate rushed in to find the door was ajar, hanging by the hinges. All the drawers and were open and the contents were strewn all over the floor. It showed that a thorough search had taken place, indicating him that the thumbdrive could not easily found. Justin searched high and low, spending one full hour finding but was empty handed. Just as he was about to give up, he saw a flower pot high up in a dark corner, odd for a place for a flower to grow in. He had a hunch that the flower pot is grown there for a reason. He approached the flower pot and dug deep in its soil. He’s hunch was right! The thumbdrive was hidden in the soil in the flower pot! He turned a laptop lying on the desk and opened the thumbdrive. It contained pictures and not just ordinary pictures, pictures with shows the kidnapper involved in a bank robbery and his face was not masked, leaving his identity open! Justin soon realize why the thumbdrive was so important to him, because the thumbdrive is evidence to his wrongdoings and he want it back, to get himself clean of all crimes!
In a short while, his phone rang again. The same voice ordered him to meet him in Gooseberry Park 30 minutes. He further emphasized on not notifying the police. Justin was starting to question himself in making decisions, he could not imagine the feeling of his bride now, dejected, sorrow and indeed furious at him for jilting him at the altar. Justin thought to himself, since he agreed to help, there is no turning back. Forsaking lifetime happiness, he vowed to see the matter through the end. He called his best pal, Daniel, telling him his situation and asking him to tip-off the police on his meeting location although he knew he was putting both his and the victim’s life at risk. However, he promised to nab the kidnapper at al cost! He also instructed Daniel to take care of his family and Sharmaine if he doesn’t make it out alive.
He reached Gooseberry Park in 10 minutes, mind in deep thoughts and starting to question his ability to make it out unscathed. Gooseberry Park was the most remote area around the town, no one ever went there and this was indeed his first time. People say, stepping on the ground of Gooseberry Park can cut short your lifespan by ten years! Soon later, a car arrived parked beside the old willow tree. Justin saw two blurred image emerge through a small car, one big and sturdy, the other, a women, gagged and bounded by ropes. The kidnapper demanded Justin to handover the thumbdrive. Justin’s heart was thumping like sledgehammers gone berserk, almost coming out of his mouth. Justin mustered his courage placed the thumbdrive on the ground and backed away, demanding the release of victim. The kidnapper did not reply but brandish out a gun instead. Justin realizes that time was of the essence as the kidnapper had indeed no intentions of freeing him and the victim, instead, had intentions of ending their lives. He closed his eyes and braced himself for his last few moments of his life
A gunshot was fired, just when Justin thought he had been shot, he looked up to see the kidnapper fall to the ground. It was the police! There were reporters and ambulance, amidst the crowd Justin saw Daniel winking at him. He knew he was saved! The woman Justin saved broke in tears and thanked him profusely. She even went down on her knees to prove her sincerity. The woman was a news reporter from channel news five, this was probably the biggest scoop of her life. At that point, seeing how grateful she was, it warmed his heart and felt really proud of his act. Out of the blue, he glanced at his watch, the heroic feeling in his heart died out immediately as he woke up to reality. He had missed his wedding! Reporters crowded around Justin and threw him many questions. Justin didn’t feel like answering so he ignored them and trudged home wearily.
Justin was engulfed with mixed feelings. Happy that he saved a life but the fact that his life’s happiness was compromised made him break down, crying so badly. Justin went home with blood-shot eyes after crying so hard. He threw his home keys on the floor and plunged on the sofa wearily. Unknowingly, a gentle voice spoke to him, “Why do you look so haggard, you better wash up and get ready for our postponed wedding tomorrow!” Justin look up, Sharmaine! “I watched the news five, you did Singapore proud!”
On the bed, Justin was indeed in deep thoughts. Being part of a Singapore, we all take things for granted and helping seems to be unnecessary. We all need to stand united and do what’s right so that we can all live in peace and harmony. Justin thought to himself, if there was a time machine, he wouldn’t have done it any other way……

Setting of a story

Q1) Where has each of the above stories been set

- Real Durwan
It has been set in India, Calcutta

- Adventure of the Speckled Band
Together in a room at baker street.

- - Pride and Prejudice
Around Netherfield park.

Q2) what time period has each of these stories been set in

- Real Durwan
In the 19th century-20th century. Such occasions are really common during these periods and some are still present till today. 1983

- Adventure of the Speckled Band
After India got independece

- - Pride and Pejudice
18th- 19th century. The idea of having daughters to marrying a rich man is really common during these periods.

Q3) What clues can you get from the setting of the story and what is it going to turn out to be?

- Real Durwan
Its setting is a dirty stairwell which sort of portrays the character as a lonely, solemn character and probably a story which is sad. The story took place right after India got their independence so i will expect some form of turmoil portrayed in the story

- Adventure of the Speckled Band
From its setting, it is sort of an interesting story and makes the readers engaged in the plot.

- - Pride and Pejudice
The setting tells me that the story is going to be really exciting and I would expect
a interesting plot due to the fact that the mother is rather comical and would do almost anything to marry off her daughters.

Q4) The setting of “to kill a mocking bird” is a small town called Maycomb. It is referred to a place for jackass and it is sort of a place which is not very classy and is definitely not a luxurious place for rich people to stay there. Most of the residents are all blacks.
As a result, this tells me that the story is about discrimination as the blacks are staying in a small, not luxurious place while the while the whites are staying in a far better place.
The story is indeed about discrimination against the blacks and shows that the whites are getting better treatment than the blacks.

Telephone Conversation- Wole Soyinka

Q1) I think the colours signifies not just that of skin but also about feelings.
Colours like red from the phone booth and pillar-box signifies anger. The gold signifies superiority over the persona to a certain extend. Black also stands for the insults and the discrimination the persona received.

Q2) The dialogue in the poem reveals that both parties are effected by their own skin colours. The persona states that she was an african and " did not want to waste her trip" as she knew that if her landlord was white, her chances of living there will be slim. The landlord also bombarded the persona with rather insulting questions like," HOW DARK?", "PLAIN OR MILK CHOCOLATE?", Which shows that she is very affected and particular about her tenant's skin colour.

Q3) The persona describes her poem as a battle between skin colours. The persona won the battle in the end. This is because the persona used her own knowledge against the landlady who only threw insults at her. In the end, the landlady got so disgusted at the persona that she hung up the phone; she could not take it.

Civil rights

Slavery:
a. When and how did slavery begin in the southern state?
Slavery existed as a legal institution in North America for more than a century before the founding of the United States in 1776.
b. Which country were the slaves brought from? The first English colony in North America, Virginia, first imported Africans in 1619
c. Who traditionally bought and owned the slaves? Most slaves were black and were held by whites, although some Native Americans and free blacks also held slaves. Originally held by the Spanish colonies as early as the 1560s.
d. Were there laws/rules that the slaves had to abide by? If yes what were they? death penalty for those who "aid any slave in running away or departing from his master's or employer's service." Numerous states prohibited miscegenation, but this did not deter white men's abuse of slave women.
e. How does the notion of slavery relate to the novel? Does the study of slavery help you understand the novel better?
It helps me better understand discriminations against black people.

The Civil War:
a. Identify the southern states. Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Virginia
b. Who was the US president who proclaimed war against the South?
Abraham Lincoln
c. Why was the Civil War fought?
The war was fought because Abraham Lincoln was campaigning against expansion of slavery.
d. When was this war fought?
1861-1865
e. What was the outcome of this war?
It ended with heavy casualties after the Battle of Gettysburg. Union general William Tecumseh Sherman captured Atlanta and marched to the sea. Confederate resistance ended after Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.
f. How does the Civil Rights movement relate to the novel? Like Abraham Lincoln, Atticus Finch believed in civil rights and thus tried to stop discrimination against the coloured and agreed to defend a coloured client Tom Robinson.


Jim Crow’s Laws
a. What/who is Jim Crow?
Barrier preventing blacks from participating in various activities with whites.
b. What were Jim Crow Laws?
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans. In reality, this led to treatment and accommodations that were usually inferior to those provided for white Americans, systematizing a number of economic, educational and social disadvantages.
c. What was the response of the slaves and the Blacks to these laws?
They loathed it as they feel very oppressed, marginalized and nobody compared to the whites which to them seems really biased.
d. Do we see the Jim Crow laws surface in the novel? If so then in which part of the novel?
Jim Crow law in ‘kill a mocking bird’ is present in terms that the accused paul robinson is convicted in raping a white woman but he, in fact did not. However, the court does not believe him and so does the jury, thus, due to jim crow laws, paul robinson was convicted of murder and was killed.


The Civil Rights Movement
a. When did the civil rights movement begin?
1950 and 1980
b. What was the civil rights movement about?
the civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law
c. State some of the significant incidents that took place in the civil rights movements (choose 2-3 incidents and state them briefly not in great detail)
Gender equity issues- female’s right to vote, education equality, have babies….
Tlatelolco massacre- political unrest and riots carried out by students as they want to exploit the attention focused on Mexico City for the 1968 Summer Olympics. President Gustavo Díaz Ordaz

d. Which American President supported the civil rights movement?
Abraham lincoin.
e. What was the outcome of this movement?
The Blacks are treated better and they now can hold better jobs, and allowed to be at the same level at the whites
f. In what way is the Civil Rights movement related to the novel?
The novel to kill a mocking bird, states that a man cannot sleep with a white woman and that is against the law. After the civil rights movement is being implemented, this law is no longer applicable.
Montgomery Bus Boycott and Scottsboro Trials
a. State the specifics of each trial and why they were significant.
Scottsboro Trials has lasted for many years as the case was still not closed and men were charged and was sentenced to death without any proper evidence
b. How is the Scottsboro trial related to the trial in the novel?
Both were charged for raping a white woman.
c. In what way are these trials similar
Scottsboro Trials and to kill a mocking bird both have their jury made up of all whites, thus, being biased and ignored even the most clear evidences and charged the accused. Both white woman’s also use the fact that she is white and the poor to win the case, in order to avoid their own prosecution and shame.
Trials of a true Southern Belle and Southern Gentleman
a. What were the rules of etiquette for Southern gentlemen and ladies?
Southern belle:
-proper etiquette
-penmanship
-ballroom dancing
Southern Gentleman
-humility
-respect
b. What did southern ladies do to pass their time (hobbies etc)?
Helping the community and schools
c. Pictures of Southern ladies and gentlemen.





d. Identify characters in the novel that fit the mould of true southern belles and gentlemen and those who don’t. Explain why they fit the mould and why they don’t.
Southern Gentleman :
Atticus- gentleman, believes in equality(humility), has proper etiquette.
NOT! :
Bob ewell- barbaric, uncouth, discriminates blacks.
Harper Lee
a. About the author
She was an avid reader and was only 6 when the scottboro trials took place.
She was well known on campus as editor of the politcially satirical student newspaper, graduated from the university and entered law school, leaving one semester short of receiving a law degree
b. Biodata
Grew up in 1930s - rural southern Alabama town.
Father - Amasa Lee - attorney who served in state legislature in Alabama.
Older brother and young neighbor (Truman Capote) are playmates.
c. Novels written by her
• -to kill a mocking bird
• Love—In Other Words". (April 15, 1961)
• "Christmas to Me". (December 1961)
• "When Children Discover America". (August 1965)
• "Romance and High Adventure

d. Awards received
New York Times Best Seller list, it received five Academy Award nominations, winning three.
e. Why was TKAM a significant novel to her?
It was a time of tumultuous events and racial strife as the struggle in the Civil Rights movement grew violent and spread into cities across the nation, and into the American awareness on TV screens and the news.