LEARN A WORD A DAY

Sunday, June 17, 2012

A Fighter’s Lines by Marzuki Ali.


Worn: the past participle of wear.
Independence: political freedom from control by the government of another country.
Remnants: a small parts of something that remains after the rest of it has been used.
Crippled: who is unable to walk properly because their legs are damaged or injured.
Deceit: behaviour that is intended to make someone believe something  that is not true.
Erect: in a straight upright position.
Heirs: the person who has the legal right to receive the property or title of another person when they die.

Stanza 1
I am old and worn
And have lost all my strength
Sufferings
And the history of the fight for independence
Have forced sacrifices
That know no name
Or life
The first stanza explains on the condition of the poet who was once a combatant; a retired soldier. He is unable to fight anymore like he used to because he is old and has lost all the strength that he has had before. He explains that the war for independence sacrificed many lives.

Stanza 2
From the wheelchair of the rest of my days
I, body and energy crushed
See and cannot do much
These times are too big a challenge
For the remnants of my crippled years
The net of deceit spread everywhere
Disturbs me.
In the second stanza, through the word wheelchair we can recognize that the poet is a paralyzed person. These days are too challenging for him as he is unable to do many things on the wheelchair for him to spend his spare life.  He also includes that he is uncomfortable and disturbed by the dirtiness played by the people nowadays.

Stanza 3
In the name of justice
Wake up and form ranks sons of our ancestors
Be brave
And erect a wall of people
Stand up heirs of our freedom
In the third stanza, the poet urges the youngsters to wake up and unite to speak for their freedom and continue as what they ancestors had done many years ago.

Stanza 4
I have no more voice
It is you now who should speak
The last two lines shows that the poet has already given up and ready to give the responsibility to the new generation to continue their fight.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

i.                     What does the persona mean by sacrifices that know no name or life in stanza 1?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(1 mark)
ii.                   Why is the persona urging the younger generation to continue the fight for freedom?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(2 marks)

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Collection of SPM English Language Question Papers

2005
Terengganu Trial [Paper 1]

2007
Johor Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], Terengganu Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], Pahang Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2] [Answers], Melaka Trial 2007 [Paper 1] [Paper 2], TIMES [Paper 1] [Paper 2] SPB [Paper 1] [Paper 2]

2008

Terengganu Mid Year [Paper 1] [Paper 2],
Trial
MRSM Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], SBP Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], Kelantan Trial [Paper 1 & 2], Terengganu Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], Kedah Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], Pahang Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], Johor Trial [Paper 1 & 2], Perlis Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], Sabah Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2], Sarawak Trial [Paper 1 & 2], Melaka Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2]

2009

Terengganu TOV [Paper 1] [Paper 2] Terengganu Mid Year [Paper 1] [Paper 2]
Melaka Trial , Johor Trial , Sabah Trial , Kedah Trial , Perlis Trial , Times , SBP , Pahang Trial [Paper 1] [Paper 2]