are you still playing your flute ( spm complete notes )

7/30/2019 Are You Still Playing Your Flute ( SPM Complete Notes )

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Are You Still Playing Your Flute? by ZurinahHassan

Are you still playing yourflute?When there is hardly timefor our love

I am feeling guiltyTo be longing for yoursongThe melody concealed inthe slim hollow of thebambooUncovered by the breathof an artistComposed by his fingersBlown by the windTo the depth of my heart.

Are you still playing yourflute?In the village so quiet anddesertedAmidst the sick rice fieldsWhile here it has becomea luxuryTo spend time watchingthe rainGazing at the eveningraysCollecting dew dropsOr enjoying the fragranceof flowers.

Are you still playing yourflute?The more it disturbs myconscienceto be thinking of youin the hazard of youmy younger brothersunemployed anddesperatemy people disunited bypoliticsmy friend slaughteredmercilesslythis world is too old andbleeding.
http://ipsi86um96.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-you-still-playing-your-flute-more.htmlhttp://ipsi86um96.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-you-still-playing-your-flute-more.html


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SYNOPSIS

The persona is thinking of someone she was close to and who plays the flute. She longs to hearthe wonderful soothing music that had touched her heart a long time ago. She wonders if he isstill playing his flute in their village that is now empty and quiet. She feels troubled that she

should be thinking of him and her past while people around her are suffering and her world ischanging.

FIGURATIVE MEANING

Stanza 1:In life, we sometimes have to change our way of life due to work or familycircumstances. From a lifestyle filled with values and traditions like in the village, we may findourselves embracing a totally different lifestyle in towns. However, we may sometimes long forour previous life with its unforgettable moments.

Stanza 2:We may wonder if the values and traditions we believed in and practised are stillobserved in our former villagers. Many people have migrated to towns or adopted an urbanway of life where such traditions may not be so well-ingrained. In these places, life is fastpaced and they do not have the time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life they used to.

Stanza 3:These people may think back to their days in the rural areas with guilt. Traditionsand the old values may seem trivial compared to their present circumstances. There areeconomic, political and social problems to be faced. Some of these problems have becomepersonal as they affect people who are close to them.

THEMES

Values and traditions - Values and traditions have an important role in our life. They teachus to live correctly and to hold on to our principles in life. We learn to value life, family andfriends. A society without values and traditions is colourless and loses its direction.

Changes in life - Nothing stays the same forever and that includes life. Life changes overtime. These changes affect every aspect of our lives and may have positive and negativeconsequences.

Family commitments - Everyone has family commitments, whether it is to our immediatefamily members or extended family members. Be aware of these commitments as they bind afamily together.

Priorities in life - There are important and unimportant things in life. Learn to differentiatethem and make plans accordingly.

Enjoying the simple pleasure of life - Nature surrounds us and the beauty of nature offersus the simple pleasures of life. The rising sun, the moon and stars, the rainfall and dew aresome of the pleasures that nature offers. Enjoy them and enjoy life.

Passionate about one's interest - When we are really interested in a hobby, we will becomepassionate about it. It helps us to mature as this passion helps us to stay focused. We learn tobe creative too. But, we should not let this passion become an obsession.

MORAL VALUES

We should learn to appreciate the values and traditions of society and family. They give usbalance in life and help us to differentiate between the good and the bad.

We face changes in life every day. Learn to accept changes but only if they are for the good ofsociety. If they are beneficial, work around them for the general good.


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Our family is the most important thing in our life. We should put their interest and safety firstbefore anything else. Show consideration for one's duties within the home and carry out familycommitments responsibly.

We should know our priorities in life and be aware of them at all times. Don't get so taken in byour interests that we forget our priorities.

Passion for interests should should not be at expense of family happiness. There is a time forwork and a time for play.

POINT OF VIEW

The poem is the first point of view - the persona uses the pronoun 'I' and 'my'The persona is reflecting on her past and feeling uneasy about the present.

LANGUAGE AND STLYE

Language - simple and easy to understand

Play of words to add interest

Style - clear, descriptive and inquiring

TONE, MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE

Sombre - talks about her longing for something she cannot have anymore

Appreciative and regretful for loss of simple pleasures of life

Mood of hopelesness and loss - does not like her present situation

POETIC DEVICES

Imagery e.g. blown by the wind, depth of my heart

Alliteration e.g. fragrance of flowers' dew drops'

Symbol e.g. flute, song

Repetition e.g. Are you still playing your flute?

Assonance - 'sick rice filed'

Figurative Language Metaphor e.g. The melody concealed in the slime hollow of bamboo Personification e.g. sick rice field

LITERARY DEVICES

Personification:

- sick rice filed - the rice field is personified as a human who is not feeling well

- this world is ...bleeding - earth is personified as being wounded

Symbol:- flute - symbolises a thing of the past, something tradition

- song - symbolises the simple pleasure of life

Repetition:


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- 'Are you still playing your flute?' - repeated at the beginning of all three stanzas to reinforcethe emotion behind the question and to create a dramatic effect.

Rhetorical question:

- Are you still playing your flute? - the persona asks a question to which she does not expect areply.

Metaphor:

- 'the melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo' : The song seems to be hidden inthe bamboo when it is actually coming out from the playing of the flute.

- 'the world is too old and bleeding': The world seems to have aged due to war and thesufferings caused by it.

Imagery:

a) imagery of sight:

- 'so quiet and deserted': This gives a clear picture of a lonely village with hardly anyonearound.- 'slaughtered mercilessly': Many lives were lost in the war.

b) imagery of feelings:

- 'depth of my heart': The persona feels deeply and wants to hear the song played by theflautist.- 'longing for your song': The persona has a deep desire to hear songs.

c) imagery of touch:

- 'collecting dew drops' - someone is putting their hands together to collect dew drops to feelthe water

d) imagery of smell:- 'enjoying the fragrance of flowers': The flowers are emitting fragrant scent.

e) imagery of sound:

- 'playing your flute' - The music comes from the flute.

- 'blown by the wind' - The sound of wind and music

are you still playing your flute ( spm complete notes )

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