Eng Short Stories
Eng Short Stories
Eng Short Stories
CHANGING
THEIR SKIES
Stories From Africa
Malawi
Plot
Intro
Joey had interest in the aeroplane, he always watch
them fly against the airport balcony. One day he met
Mazambezi, the rubbish collector
Climax
Mazambezi gave Joey a toy plane with AIR RHODESIA
written on the side. He took it and ran away as he
didnt want to be friends with Mazambezi.
Resolution
Joey met Mazambezi to show that he is thankful
towards him. The become friends and share the same
interest about aeroplanes
He also knew that Mazambezi is a human being after
all.
Characters
Joey
world
Has interest in aeroplanes
Mazambezi
Joeys mother
Conflict
Theme
Settings
Moral Values
South Africa
but the city has changed, and the the house where she
lived with her friend has been pulled down. The story
ends with Dadi-Ma falling ill, while Chotoo realises that
things will never be all right again.
Plot
Exposition
Dadi-Ma calling Chotoo, her grandson and talk to him
about moving to Stanger. Dadi-Ma has not pay the rent
for months, so Mr. Naidoo, the owner of the building
ask them to move out if they still cannot pay rent.
Neela, Chotoos mother, died because of a disease and
Sonny, Chotoos father is in jail due to a crime he
committed. Dadi-Ma is the only family that Chotoo has
right now.
Rising Action
Throughout their journey to Stanger, Dadi-Ma
reminisced how she used to live in Stanger with her
good friend, Ratnadevi. She hopes that she could stay
with her at Stanger. She felt that moving there is the
right move for Chotoo to breathe clean air and just run
free.
Climax
When she arrived in Stanger, everything is so different.
The market and the bus stop that she use before were
no longer there. In the bus Dadi-Ma asked a woman
direction to Ratnadevis house. She is surprised to see
that the house is no longer there and is replaced with a
big mansion.
Falling Action
Dadi-Ma sat in front of a big house that used to be
Ratnadevis house. She sat there for a while because
she is so tired. She felt some pain.
Resolution
Knowing that Dadi-Ma is the only family that Chotoo
has, he is worried for Dadi-Ma and he knew then that
things would never be all right again.
Characters
Chotoo
A loving grandmother
An abusive father
A drunk
Conflict
Theme
Setting
Moral Values
Tanzania
Leaving M.G.Vassanji
Summary
Leaving is set in Tanzania, and tells the story of a
mother who has brought up five children alone after
the early death of her husband. She is ambitious for
her two youngest children, and sells the family store to
move to a quieter part of town, to allow them to study
more easily. An ex-teacher visiting from America
inspires Aloo, the youngest son, to apply to study
medicine at a university in America, instead of
accepting the offer from his local university to study
agriculture. Aloo wins a scholarship to an American
Plot
In the short story Leaving, the main character Aloo
dreams of going to America to study. The events
leading to the realization of his dream are revealed
through the eyes and mind of Aloos older sibling, the
narrator of this tale.
Exposition
After Aloos sister, Razia gets married and leaves
home, their mother sells her shop and they moved up
to Upanga, a remote part of town. She wants her two
Characters
Aloo
Narrator
A university student
Conflict
Themes
Leaving and letting go
The storys tittle Leaving reveals the theme of the
story. Aloo wants to pursue his dream to study
medicine in America. To realise his ambition he has to
leave his country, his home, his family and his mother.
For him, leaving is his desire, but for his mother, letting
him go is a sacrifice.
Mother has never believed in leaving her family
behind. When her husband died and left her alone with
five children, she choose to stay with her children
rather than remarry and lose them. This was her
sacrifice. She is angry that Aloo wants to leave her and
she is worried that she will lose him. He may never
return
In the end, her love for her child wins over her need to
keep him at her side. She finds the money and lets
Aloo go to America. She could have made Aloo stay,
but she chooses to let go because his happiness is
more important than hers.
Setting
Physical settings
Moral Values
Self-sacrifice
Self-reliance
Determination
LEAVING NO
FOOTPRINTS
Stories From Asia
China
Flame Ha Jin
Summary
Nimei received a letter from her ex-lover, Hsu Peng
after seventeen years telling his attention to visit her
and her family. Due to that, Nimei thought Hsu Pengs
intentions are to seek revenge because Nemei got
married to some other guy or simply because Hsu Peng
want to get together again with her. Therefore, Nimei
work hard to make her life better than the past as she
didnt want Hsu Peng to see her life now. She starts
exercising everyday and arranged her garden to
appear more presentable to Hsu Peng. At the end of
the story, Hsu didnt show up, instead he ordered two
soldiers to bring the parcel to Nimei. It broke her heart
because she was already filled with expectations.
Plot
Expositions
Nimei received a letter from her ex-lover, Hsu Peng
after 17 years of getting married which stirred up
excitement in Nimeis heart.
Rising Action
She started to take care of her appearance and her
house by doing some exercises, dying her hair, putting
down a brick floor for her yard and bought two large
pot of wild roses.
Climax
Nimei achieve her target by asking Director Liao for her
husbands promotion which made her feel more
confident to meet Hsu Peng.
Falling Action
During the expected visiting day, Hsu Pend didnt show
up but instead he sent a parcel and oil container
through his subordinates.
Resolution
Nimei felt disappointed and resentful because Hsu
Peng literally got his revenge by breaking up with her.
Characters
Nimei
Bossy, obedient
Hsu Peng
Nimeis ex-lover
Nimeis husband
Loves Nimei
Nimeis mother
Old school
Conflict
Themes
Loves flame
Nimeis love towards Hsu Peng was concealed since
Nimei had to marry Jiang Bing, but now the loves
flame reignites when she got Hsu Pengs letter.
Setting
Place
Central Hospital
Peace Avenue
Nimeis house
School playground
Moral Values
Be thankful for what you have
Nimei was never pleased with her husband, therefore,
she always treats him poorly. Despite having a happy
family, she still hope to reconcile with her ex-lover,
making efforts just to bring old memories back.
Singapore
Plot
In this story, the main character Mr Li is thinking about
the past events. The flashback techniques is used to
tell us some key events that happened before his
mother's death
Exposition
The day after Mr Li's mother was buried, he is in his
office feeling sad and anxious. Using the binoculars
that he bought for his mother, he looks out of the office
window and counts the ships in the harbour.
Rising action
Mr Li recalls the day that he presented the binoculars
to his mother to let her see better. She wants to use
them so see Tanjong Rhu, their old home, from his
office. She takes a long time to complete her ritual in
the altar room before leaving to go to the office. Ying,
her granddaughter is impatient with her. Mr Li scolds
her for being rude. At his office his mother cannot see
what she wanted to see. However, she remembers
their happy life at Tanjong Rhu.
Climax
Mr Li has a sudden longing to return to his roots. He
feels guilty that he has never talked to his mother
about the past. He recalls visiting her at the hospital
where she lay dying. He wants to ask her about his
childhood but she cannot answer him. He feels
frustrated and takes it out on Ying. Father and
daughter argue. They are interrupted my Ah-ma trying
Characters
Mr T.W, Li
Mr Lis daughter
Conflict
Themes
Setting
Physical settings: Singapore
Social settings: Modern day Singapore; early 20th
century Singapore
Moral Values
India
Plot
Exposition
Pritam is still in her thirties and lives by herself on a
mountain side in India. Her mother visits her and is
saddened to find that she has stopped caring about her
appearance. The next day, the rest of her family would
be stopping for a visit before continuing their annual
trip to Simla. Pritams mother disapproves of her
daughters way of life, yet she wants to stay with her
daughter when the other members go on to Silam
Rising Action
Dr. Sahib, Pritams neighbour, drops in. Pritams
mother does not approve of him; he is small and looks
shabby. His own family has given him money just to
keep him away from them.
Climax
Characters
Pritam
Dr. Sahib
Conflict
Themes
Settings
Mountain side
Pritams house
Samla
India
Moral Values