Download - spm poems are you still playing your flute

Copyright 2011 www.kopitiamenglish.blogspot.com

Prepared by : Mr. Luke Gabriel

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

E n g l i s h L i t e r a t u r e– F O R M 5

Volume 1

15/8/2011

The poem “Are You Still Playing Your Flute?” talks about the past which

was filled with peace and harmony. The poet longs for the time when life

was simple and carefree. A time where one was still in control of one’s

life. It also talks about the youths migrating to towns to look for greener

pastures. The village is now quiet and deserted, the paddy fields are left

unattended. In the towns the youths get disillusionised because their

hopes for a better life is dashed by unemployment and desperation.

People in the town are disunited by politics and their friends are being

killed mercilessly. The poem as whole wants us not to be ignorant to our

surroundings but rather take some interest in them because changes

around us affects everyone and not a select few.



This e-Book contains 10 sets of questions, each set has 4 questions. All to-

gether there are 40 questions.

This sample e-book was produced to provide

extra materials for students looking for extra litera-

ture exercises.

The 40 sample questions tests students of their

understanding of this poem from different literature

aspects.

Sample answers are provided at the end of this

e-book. Students are advised to check their answers

with their teachers to get a clearer picture.

A great way to get yourself ready before your SPM examination.



English Literature Are You Still Playing Your Flute

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. What does the flute symbolize in this poem?

2. What is the literary device used in the line “Are you still playing your flute”?

3. Which line in stanza 2 gives us an idea that the rice field is stricken with disease?

4. Do you think the youths have forgotten their roots?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 1

Are you still playing your flute?

When there is hardly time for our love

I am feeling guilty

To be longing for your song

The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the

bamboo

Uncovered by the breath of an artist

Composed by his fingers

Blown by the wind

To the depth of my heart.


In the village so quiet and deserted

Amidst the sick rice field

While here it has become a luxury

To spend time watching the rain

Gazing at the evening rays

Collecting dew drops

Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.


The more it disturbs my conscience

to be thinking of you

in the hazard of you

my younger brothers unemployed and desperate

my people disunited by politics

my friend slaughtered mercilessly

this world is too old and bleeding

Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. State one theme that is related to this poem?

2. Who is the persona of this poem?

3. What does the persona miss in the first stanza?

4. What do you understand with the term „in the village so quiet and deserted‟ ?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 2

Are You Still Playing Your Flute



I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. Which line suggests leisure time is precious to the persona?

2. What is the tone of this poem?

3. Which literary device is used in line 2, stanza 2 ?

4. In your own words, state two things that worries the persona ?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 3




I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. The word “you” in the poem refers to?

2. State one moral value that you found in this poem?

3. What does the phrase “the world is too old and bleeding” refer to?

4. Do you think that the flutist is a carefree person?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 4




I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. What does the phrase “village so quiet” mean?

2. What is the setting of this poem?

3. Why do you think the paddy fields are “sick” ?

4. State two things that deeply worries the persona?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 5




I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. Which literary device is used to show “sick” in stanza 2, line 3?

2. What is the mood portrayed in stanza 3?

3. What does the phrases in stanza 2, lines 4-8 show?

4. Why do you think young people from villages like to migrate to cities?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 6




I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. What does the word “longing” mean?

2. The phrase “Are you still playing the flute” shows that the persona...?

3. The word “you” in the poem refers to...

4. Name two lessons you have learnt from this poem.

[ 2 mark ]

SET 7




I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. What does the phrase “Gazing at the evening rays” refer to?

2. Why does the persona see the flutist as a “hazard” in stanza 3,line 4?

3. How would you describe the flutist in one word?

4. What does the phrase “my younger brothers are unemployed and desperate” mean to you?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 8




I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. The phrase “when there is hardly time for our love” suggests that?

2. Why does the persona feel guilty?

3. The phrase “composed by his fingers” most probably suggests that the flutist is a…..

4. Do you agree that youths from villages should migrate to cities ?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 9




I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



English Literature

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

[ 1 mark ]

1. What is the tone used in stanza four?

2. Which phrase suggests the use of “repetition” by the poet?

3. What is the poet trying to emphasize in stanza 2, lines 6,7 and 8?

4. How would you contrast the poet and the flutist?

[ 2 mark ]

SET 10




I am feeling guilty



bamboo



Blown by the wind


















Zurinah Hassan



All the answers are only sample answers which students can use as guide to check their answers. To get a clearer picture, my advise would be to

check your answers with your teacher. This is because your answers may vary from these sample answers, it does not mean that your answer (s)

are wrong.

Set 1.

1. It symbolizes hope.

2. Repetition

3. Line 3

4. Yes. The youths have left their village and moved to towns. They have forgotten their cul-

tural roots of tending to paddy fields.

Set 2.

1. One must be willing to change/ Sensitive towards our surroundings / Appreciate arts.

2. The poet herself.

3. She misses the song played by the flutist.

4. The village has become very quiet because the youths have moved to towns to seek for

better lives and the paddy fields are left unattended.

Set 3.

1. While here it has become a luxury to spend time watching the rain.

2. Downcast / unhappy / miserable / reflective / thoughtful

3. Personification

4. (i) The unemployment of her brothers

(ii) The disunity of her people due to different political views.

Set 4.

1. “You” refers to the flute player.

2. Taking accountability / enjoying arts / be satisfied with what we have.

3. It means that nature had been forsaken and sacrificed to meet the demands of the world.

4. Yes, because the flutist is not concerned about the changes which is happening around

him. He is only interested in playing his flute.

Set 5.

1. It shows that many had migrated to the city in search of a better life.

2. A Malay village.

3. There is no one to care for the paddy fields.

4. The villages are deserted and the paddy fields are left unattended and the plight of her

brothers who are left unemployed and desperate in the cities.

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?- [ Sample Answers ]



Set 6.

1. Metaphor.

2. Sadness / sorrow

3. Time is so limited for the persona.

4. Young people like to migrate to cities in search of a better life and better job prospects.

Set 7.

1. A strong desire especially for something unattainable.

2. Misses the sound of the flute.

3. The flute player / the flutists.

4. I have learnt not to be greedy but to be content with what I have. Furthermore, I have learnt ap-

preciate arts and value it like the flutists.

Set 8.

1. Admiring the beauty of the sunset.

2. It is because the flutist has an influence over her.

3. Carefree (person).

4. The phrase talks about the difficulty of the village youths who are mostly not well educated of

finding jobs in the cities. Thus, they have become desperate because they have no money to

survive in the cities.

Set 9.

1. Time is limited.

2. She feels guilty because she longs for the sound of the flute despite the responsibilities.

3. Talented artiste

4. I do not agree because if the youths leave the villages, the villages will become quiet and

deserted. Moreover, the paddy fields will become sick due to diseases and lack of care.

(answer can vary)

Set 10.

1. Despair /anguish / sorrow / gloom.

2. Are you still playing the flute.

3. The beauty of nature.

4. The poet is a very concerned person whereas the flutist is a very carefree person.

The poet is worried about what is happening to her brothers in the city. On the contrary the flutist

is only interested in playing his flute.

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?- [ Sample Answers ]

Download - spm poems are you still playing your flute

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