Home Based Learning

Task 1

Rainbow Death

America did not foresee

Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!

Expecting others to pay a high price.

Now thinking twice?

Toll on the innocent and unborn.

Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.

Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.

All the deceit continues to spread.

Nefariously America led astray -

Generations untold WILL pay -

Execrable effects of agent orange spray!

Hubert Wilson

Background

The poet is referring to the Vietnam War, a conflict that that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. The Viet Cong and The Vietnam People's Army committed large units into battle while U.S. and South Vietnamese forces relied on air superiority and superior firepower to conduct attacks on the communist forces. One of the most famous of these weapons is code-named Agent Orange, a herbicide/defoliant that has caused 400,000 people to be killed or maimed and 500,000 children born with birth defects.

Point of View

"Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!"

The speaker is writing in the view of a citizen who has seen or has been affected by these various types of bio-weapons employed in Vietnam.

"All the deceit continues to spread."

"Nefariously America led astray -"

The speaker is sympathetic to Americans being lied to by their leaders, and he wants to depict graphic images to show the true destruction of the war to "wake" them up.

"Toll on the innocent and unborn."

"Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead."

Situation and Setting

"Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!"

The speaker is talking about the situation in America where the public is lied to about the true effects and consequences of using chemical warfare.

The "colours" are being depicted as something celebratory, but it actually refers to the different code names of the chemical-weaponry employed.

"Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn."

The American public is spared the horror and suffering experienced in the jungles of Vietnam.

Language and Diction

Conclusion

Post-review: The Soldier

Q.1 Annually, we need young men in Singapore to do national service. Why do you think that national service is compulsory in Singapore and why is this important? In the poem, the speaker expresses his love for his country, England. Do you have the same spirit of patriotism towards Singapore? Why? Do you find this same spirit of patriotism in Singapore Why?

National service is required because Singapore is a small country and we do not have a large enough of pool of young men that are willing to serve the country. If national service was voluntary, the army would be severely understaffed and incapable of putting up a serious defense. I admit do not currently have the same spirit of patriotism for Singapore. I do love and cherish this beautiful “garden-city” because this is the place I grew up in and I have many fond memories. However, at this point in time, I’m not exactly very eager to leave my family and friends (permanently) for Singapore. There is no good reason to do so. Although I’m no flag-waving nationalist, one day there will come a time when this “Singapore heaven” is threatened and maybe I’ll feel the patriotism of Rupert Brooke.

Book Review #2: Stories

"The joy of fiction is the joy of the imagination..."

Stories is a collaboration of many, many different authors. This is a huge compilation of 27 short stories hand-picked by none other than Neil Gaiman and Al Sarran Tonio. Below is my favorite three stories of the collection.

Goblin Lake

This short story illustrates and asks the question: What happens if a character finds out that he is fictional? A soldier discovers an underwater utopia and marries a beautiful princes. But, he finds out that he only exists within the pages of a book! Will he return to the 'real' world and face 'real' life challenges or stay and enjoy his 'pretend' existence?

The Cult of the Nose

A Vietnam war veteran returns to America only to uncover an ages-old conspiracy... the Cult of the Nose. Members wear fake noses and were present in all the great tragedies ... the main character sees them in pictures of the Holocaust, the assassination of John F Kennedy and even in his childhood pictures! He plots to hunt down and kill the members of the Cult.. but is he delusional or does the Cult really exist..?

Polka Dots and Moonbeams

This short story, set in the 1920s, the times of the fast buck and big mobsters. Two lovers meet in a club, but, surprise, they are both assassins hired by different mobsters. Their instructions: kill the other. They both refuse and are attacked. A car chase ensues. In the end, it is revealed that both their drinks had been poisoned. They lay together on a grass field, hand in hand, as they watch the night sky and slowly lose consciousness.

A great compilation of 27 stories, but some could have been longer and some were too slow. The three stories above however, were just nice. Another excellent read.

Holiday Book Review #1: Scorpia Rising

Scorpia Rising is the final book of the Alex Rider series of 9 books by Anthony Horowitz. I am an ardent fan of the Alex Rider series and I'm quite sad that this is the end of his adventures as a M16 operative.

Plot summary:

Alex, a schoolboy, is thrust once again into the shadowy world of espionage because of a sniper's attack on his school. With his life in danger (again), M16 offers to send Alex to an international school in Egypt because it may be a possible target of an international crime organization known as Scorpia. The members of Scorpia hold a grudge against Alex as he had foiled their dastardly plans twice. In addition, Scorpia has recruited ( or more specifically, busted out of a high-security prison) an old and deadly enemy of Alex; his identical clone Julius. Julius is a blood-thirsty monster that only wants to inflict terrible pain and torture on Alex for revenge. Scorpia plots to use Julius to assassinate the American Secretary of State as she makes an anti-British speech. Alex Rider will then be framed and if Britain does not return a Greek artefact to Greece, Scorpia will release the "Horseman" file which details the activities of Alex Rider, a child being forced to do the dirty work of M16. Alex is captured according to plan and his friend and caretaker, Jack, is killed by a car rigged with explosives. Once again, Alex Rider foils the plan of Scorpia and the organization is ruined. Alex is then "retired" to America to live with the family of his best friend and possible love interest,Sabrina Pleasure.

Anthony Horowitz has been writing Alex Rider novels for nearly 10 years now and I have to admit that there is a certain attachment to this character and well, its sad that the series has finally ended. The death of Jack Starbright is also a really shocking surpise... she was only days away from returning home to her family in Washington D.C. All in all, an excellent final conclusion to this great series. 4/5