Are You Still Playing Your Flute? by Zurinah Hassan

Are you still playing your flute?When there is hardly time for our loveI am feeling guiltyTo be longing for your songThe melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bambooUncovered by the breath of an artistComposed by his fingersBlown by the windTo the depth of my heart.

Are you still playing your flute?In the village so quiet and desertedAmidst the sick rice fieldsWhile here it has become a luxuryTo spend time watching the rainGazing at the evening raysCollecting dew dropsOr enjoying the fragrance of flowers.

Are you still playing your flute?The more it disturbs my conscienceto be thinking of youin the hazard of youmy younger brothers unemployed and desperatemy people disunited by politicsmy friend slaughtered mercilesslythis world is too old and bleeding.

SYNOPSISThis poem his about a persona who reminisces the time he/she spends when in a village. There are many things that are now luxury to her such as listening to the melody of the flute itself, gazing at the evening rays, collecting dew drops, or enjoying the fragrance of flowers. The village is now unpopulated as many have moved to the city. Now that she has moved on with her life, she wonders whether the flutist is still playing the flute. This is because, there are many challenges in the world today such as the world is dying, the unemployment issue and the people are disunited because of different political views.

THEMES Family commitments Priorities in life Neglect of ones duties

MORAL VALUES We should be aware of our family commitments and carry them out properly. Everyone has priorities in, life and we should know what is important and what is not. Following a hobby is good but there is a time for work and a time for play.

POINT OF VIEWThe poem is the first point of view.The person is addressing another person and describing a situation to him.

LANGUAGE AND STLYERhetorical questionDescriptive and questioningSimple style and no rhyme

TONE, MOOD AND ATMOSPHERESombre and regretfulSerious atmosphere

POETIC DEVICESImagery e.g. blown by the wind, depth of my heartAlliteration e.g. fragrance of flowersSymbol e.g. flute, songRepetition e.g. Are you still playing your flute?Figurative Language Metaphor e.g. The melody concealed in the slime hollow of bamboo Personification e.g. sick rice field

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1.Which lines in stanza 1 tell you that the flautist plays the flute beautifully?Uncovered by .depth of my heart

2In the second stanza, what does the word deserted mean?Empty / abandoned / neglected / vacant3In the second stanza, why are the rice fields deserted?The farmers have left the fields for the city / better income jobs away from the village.4In your own words, explain the meaning of the last stanza.The persona is feeling anxious because there are political and economical problems in her city and she feels the world is changing for the worst.5From stanza 1, what does the persona want to hear?The flautists song / flute music. / The flautist playing his flute.6In stanza 2, what does the wordhererefer to?The city / town / personas place7In stanza 3, why does the persona feel guilty for thinking about her beloved?She feels guilty because at present people around her are suffering.8Suggest two things you would do to stop the world frombleeding.Spread the message of peace, tolerance and living in harmonyLearn to appreciate what life has offered and be happy with it.9How is the rice field?Sick / unhealthy / infertile / neglected10State two activities that I consider luxuries.i.Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening raysii.Collecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers11Why do you the personas conscience is disturbed? Give reasons for your answer.Thinking of the flautist while feeling worried about the troubled with the situation around her.

12What musical instrument is the poets friend playing?A flute13 Describe the village.It is empty has people have left for the city.

14Who feels guilty?The persona

15While here it has become a luxury! To spend time watching the rainWhy do you think the persona says it is a luxury to spend time watching rain? Give reasons for your answer.Life in the city is so busy that one has no time for simple pleasures and there are other problems to worry about.16Why does the persona ask if the flute player is still playing his flute?She does not know if he is still in the village enjoying his favourite pastime.17How does she feel about his music?Nostalgic /desirous/wishful18Write down the line which shows that the persona thinks highly of his music.To the depth of my heart19In your own words,i.What kind of a person do you think is the flute player?Passionate / Obsessed / An introvert / Asequesterii.Have you been involved in a similar passion over any interest or hobby? Provide explanation.20Identify two words used to describe the village.Quiet and deserted21What has happened to the village?It is deserted as the people have left for better jobs.22In stanza 2, what does the wordshererefers to?The city / town / personas place

23In your own words,i.What do you of the things the persona consider luxuries?Rain, sunset (evening rays) / dew / fragrance of flowersii.What would you enjoy doing for pleasure?24Why does the poet feel guilty?To be longing for the flautists song25What musical instrument does the poets love play?Flute

26How is the situation in the village?Quite bad as it is empty because the villagers have left the village for better jobs and conditions.27Why do think the poet is surprised that the flautist is still playing his flute? Give reasons for your answer.She thinks that he is undisturbed with the turmoil in the nation and the world.28Why is the village so quiet and deserted?The villagers have left the village for better jobs and conditions.29Which phrase in stanza 1 implies how much the music affected the poet?To the depth of my heart30What does the poet mean by using the wordsconcealedanduncoveredto describe the music?It means that the melody is in the bamboo and will only be heard when the flautist plays the flute.31What could the poem be about?It is about upholding values, accepting changes in life and appreciating simple pleasures of life.32Describe ONE emotion the poet is feeling in the first stanza.Guilty / nostalgic33What does the phrase, slim hollow of the bamboo refer to?The flute34Describe a significant memory that you have. Explain briefly why it is significant to you.35Based on stanza 2, where do you think the persona is?In the city36Based on stanza 2, what is the contrast between the personas place and the flautists?The flautists place is empty and deserted whereas the personas place is undergoing a turmoil [ political and economical crisis].37Based on stanza 2, in the first line, what do you think the persona is feeling?A sense of doubt / unsure / puzzled38Based on stanza 1, which line reveals the intensity of the personas feelings?To be longing for your song39Based on stanza1, how does the persona feel about the flautist?Longing / pining/yearning/passionate / love40Based on stanza 1, which line (s) reveal (s) that the persona is struggling with her feelings?Where there is hardly time for our love41Based on stanza 1, describe the personas mood.Sombre / solemn / Sad

42What is so distinctive about the melody from the flute?It touches the depth of her heart43Why is the rice field described assick?It has been neglected so it is no longer productive and fertile.44What is the meaning of the metaphor slaughtered mercilessly?People are no longer tolerant of each other and people are being killed cruelly.45What kind of feeling is expressed by the persona in the poem?A sense of sadness, hopelessness, despair and misery46Why does the persona feel guilty?To be longing for the flautists song.

47Why is the personas conscience disturbed?She is worried about the present situation in her nation which is facing a crisis.48In your opinion, does the persona feel depressed about this world? Give your reasons.Yes,..49Based on stanza 2, how would you describe the person who seems to be very interested in his flute?Idle / unaffected by the crisis / carefree / in his own world50Write the two words that relate to how a flute is played?Breath and fingers____________________________________________________________

51What do you think the persona feels about the other persons obsession with playing the flute? Using your own words, give a reason to support your answer.52What is the main theme in the stanza above?Upholding values, appreciating simple pleasures of life, accepting changes in life53Write two words that are related to the condition of the village.Quiet and deserted54Where do you think the persona is? Using your own words, give a reason to support your answer.In the city because .55Who is playing the flute?The flautist in the village / The personas love56Why does the persona feel guilty?To be longing for the flautists song57Where does the melody originate from?The bamboo / The slim hollow of the bamboo58Which two lines best describe how a flute is played?Uncovered by the breath of an artist & composed by his fingers59Which word would you use to describe the personas village? Name one.Quiet / deserted60What does the persona mean by the sick rice field?The paddy fields are neglected so they are barren and unproductive.61What are the evening rays referred to?Sunset62Write two activities that are considered a luxury by the persona.Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening raysCollecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers63Why is the person still thinking of her beloved?She has feelings for him. / She still loves him.64Write two problems faced by the persona as mentioned in the stanza above.Her brothers are unemployed and desperate / Her people are disunited by politics / Her friend is slaughtered mercilessly65What is the tone used? Give a reason for your answer.Sad / Hopelessness / Despair / Anxious66Where do you think the persona is likely to be?In the city / town67Where is the flautist playing his flute?In the village68What does the flute represent?Tradition69Why is the phrase,Are you still playing your flute?, repeated three times in the poem? Using your own words, give reasons to support your answer.To reinforce the emotion (wondering/puzzled) behind the question and create a dramatic effect70In stanza 1, what poetic device does the first line above refer to?Rhetorical question71In stanza 1, what does line 2 tell us about the relationship between the persona and the flautist?They loved each other when they were together.

72What is the persona guilty about?To be longing for the flautists song.

73The poet used certain words to indicate where the melody is:i.What are these words?Concealed in the slim hollow of the bambooii.Do you think they are suitable? Why?Yes, because the flute is played by blowing into hollow of the bamboo and melody is created by the fingers.74In stanza 1, why does the persona feel guilty listening to music of the flautist?She is very busy and also her nation is undergoing a crisis.75Why is enjoying the fragrance of flowers regarded as a luxury by the persona in stanza 2?In the city, one can be very busy in the rat race that they have no time to even appreciate the flowers growing around them.76Give one problem the nation is undergoing.Political crisis / Economical crisis / Disharmony77Explain in your own words why the persona feels her worldis too old and bleeding.The world is changing for the worst and non-renewable resources cannot be replenished.78What do you think thefluterepresents?Tradition79What do you think the phrase,the world is too old and bleedingrepresents?The world is changing for the worst and non-renewable resources cannot be replenished.80Suggest a reason why the persona cannot forget the music from the flute?The music must have been beautiful and special that it has embedded in her heart.81Do you think the persona has made the right decision in leaving the village? Give a reason.Yes, No, .82What is it like in the village?Quiet and empty83What does the word sick imply about the rice field?Barren / Unproductive / Infertile / Neglected

84What are the luxuries mentioned by the poet? State two of them.Spend time watching the rain / gazing at the evening raysCollecting dew drops/ Enjoying the fragrance of flowers85Do you like to live in the village? Give reasons to your answer.Yes,No, ..86In the last stanza, what is the personas feeling when she remembers the flautist?Guilty / Remorseful /87Why is there disunity among the citizens of the country?They lack tolerance and understanding.88What happened to the personas friend?Killed cruelly89What do you think the last line of the stanza mean?The world is changing for the worst.