Online Task 1

Folktales

List some of the well-known folktales from Malaysia

1. Pak Pandir

2. Awang Tangan Besar

3. The Curse of Batu Gajah

4. Mat Jenin

5. Nujum Pak Belalang

6. Si Tanggang

7. Anak Buloh Betong

8. Sang Kelembai

9. Si Luncai

10. Lebai Malang

11. Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup

12. Bawang Putih Bawang Merah

13. Badang

List some of the possible issues found in The Son of the Turtle Spirit.  Are those issues universal in nature or are they only relevant in the Chinese culture?

1. The influence of the Dragon and the Turtle in the Chinese community - relevant in the Chinese culture only e.g. creating good feng shui

2. Obedience to parents - universal

3. Determination and confidence is key to success - universal

Fables

What are the other morals that can be gotten from the other fables by Aesop? List at least two.

The Ant and the Dove – One good turn deserves another

The Fox and the Goat – Look before you leap

The Farmer and the Stork – Birds of a feather flock together

The Crow and the Pitcher – Necessity is the mother of invention

The Eagle and the Cockerels – Pride comes before a fall

Myths

One well-known literary figure from the Elizabethan age used Ovid’s Pyramus and Thisbe as a model to one of his famous plays. Who is he and what is the play?

Shakespeare – Romeo and Juliet

Legends

List some of the popular legends we have in Malaysia

1. Mahsuri

2. Hang Tuah

3. Tasik Dayang Bunting

4. Naga Tasik Chini

5. Puteri Gunung Ledang

6. Puteri Santubong

7. Raja Bersiong  

Le Morte d’Arthur (The Death of Arthur) by Sir Thomas Malory

1. Who is Thomas Malory?
Thomas Malory was a rogue as well as a distinguished author. According to the Kittredge version Thomas Malory lived at Newbold Revell in Warwickshire, England. He served in France under the earl of Warwick and was a Lancastrian during the Wars of the Roses. He was knighted in 1442 and entered the British Parliament representing Warwickshire in 1445, then in around 1450 he turned towards a life of crime, being accused of armed assault and rape. He was imprisoned for most of the 1450s (mostly in London's Newgate Prison).  He wrote Le Morte d’Arthur while serving his final prison term and died shortly after its completion.

2. When was Le Mort d’Arthur written?
It was written from 1450’s and completed in 1470

3. How many books/parts are there in LMDA?
Malory originally wrote Le Morte d'Arthur as eight books.

4. What is book 8 about?
The last and eighth tale concerns the discovery of Lancelot and Guinevere's ongoing adultery, the battle between Modred and Arthur, and Arthur's ultimate death.

5. Who were the two people who had an affair?
Lancelot and Guinevere

6. Book 6 has a strong connection to a popular modern fiction which is now a movie. What is the title of the popular modern fiction?

The sixth tale is about the "coming of the Grail" - in his version of the Sangreal, Malory adapts the Christian mysticism of the French 'Quest del Saint Graal' and inflates the importance of Lancelot, who is recognised as a Grail Knight. 

The title of a popular modern fiction connected to the Grail is Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

7. State three well-known facts about King Arthur/his time as a King

1. His guardian and advisor in the early days of his kingdom was Merlin the wizard.

2. King Arthur fought many battles and was known for his outstanding   courage and generosity. Lands were given back to their rightful owners and churches were rebuilt.

3. He was married to Guinevere, who later had an affair with Lancelot.  

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Think of 2 ways in which you can use folktales/fables/myths or legends in the classroom. Explain briefly.

     Students can be asked to do a role-play of a chosen folktale/fable/myth/legend. They may rewrite the dialogues themselves to allow for creativity.

     Students can write a letter to their favourite character and express their feelings and thoughts about any situation surrounding the character. Students may also give their advice to the character on what they think should/should not be done.