English Literature (Absence - Pg27) 2024

Question 1

“Son walks towards Mother at table, kisses Mother in forehead… he opens a box, places it in front of her.”
[EVIDENCE]

Answer 1

Evidence: (quote) “Son walks towards Mother at table, kisses Mother in forehead… he opens a box, places it in front of her.”

Question 2

“Son walks towards Mother at table, kisses Mother in forehead… he opens a box, places it in front of her.”
[POINT]

Answer 2

Point: (technique) The playwright uses semiotic mode of gestural through body movement of the character.

Question 3

“Son walks towards Mother at table, kisses Mother in forehead… he opens a box, places it in front of her.”
[ELABORATION 1]

Answer 3

Elaboration: (unpack words/phrases) The phrases “kisses Mother in forehead, opens a box, places it in front of her” shows Son taking on the main role of the caregiver. It shows how willing he is to show that he cares for Mother and wants her validation. Son would like to be portrayed as “the good son” and “the filial son”, just like Mervin, who praised by Mother.

Question 4

“Son walks towards Mother at table, kisses Mother in forehead… he opens a box, places it in front of her.”
[ELABORATION 2]

Answer 4

Son would also like to prove his career choice does have some perks, one of them being which allows him to let him take more leaves. This would be ideal as it would mean that Son could spend more time at home, with Mother and look after her.

Question 5

“Son walks towards Mother at table, kisses Mother in forehead… he opens a box, places it in front of her.”
[LINK]

Answer 5

Link: (close up) Thus, the playwright uses semiotic modes through gestural body movements.

Question 6

“You were always jealous of Cheryl!”
[POINT]

Answer 6

Point: (technique) The playwrights uses aural semiotic mode.

Question 7

“You were always jealous of Cheryl!”
[EVIDENCE]

Answer 7

Evidence: (quote) “You were always jealous of Cheryl!”

Question 8

“You were always jealous of Cheryl!”
[ELABORATION]

Answer 8

Elaboration: (unpack words/phrases) The words “always jealous” shows that Mother jumps to conclusions and assumes that Son always has something to be jealous about. She thinks that he is envious and inferior to his other siblings, like Cheryl, who always “the fireworks of the family”. Therefore, Son himself would be ashamed and spiteful of his siblings’ talents and skills. The “!” after ‘of Cheryl” highlights Mother’s disappointment towards Son in a way when she screamed at Son.

Question 9

“You were always jealous of Cheryl!”
[LINK]

Answer 9

Link: (close up) Thus, the playwright uses aural semiotic mode through tone and volume.

Question 10

“No! I have always looked up to Mervin!”
[POINT]

Answer 10

Point: (technique) The playwrights uses aural semiotic mode.

Question 11

“No! I have always looked up to Mervin!”
[EVIDENCE]

Answer 11

Evidence: (quote) “No! I have always looked up to Mervin!”

Question 12

“No! I have always looked up to Mervin!”
[ELABORATION]

Answer 12

Elaboration: (unpack words/phrases) The word “no” and the use of “!” after “No” highlights Son’s desperation to convince Mother about how he truly feels which contradicts what Mother says. He shouts loudly to show that he is not jealous of Mervin as seen from the use of two “!” and the phrase “always looked up to Mervin”.

Question 13

“No! I have always looked up to Mervin!”
{LINK]

Answer 13

Link: (close up) Thus, the playwright uses aural semiotic mode through tone and volume.

Question 14

“Mother, I’m sorry I shouted at you.”
[POINT]

Answer 14

Point: (technique) The playwright uses linguistic element.

Question 15

“Mother, I’m sorry I shouted at you.”
[EVIDENCE]

Answer 15

Evidence: (quote) “Mother, I’m sorry I shouted at you.”

Question 16

“Mother, I’m sorry I shouted at you.”
[ELABORATION]

Answer 16

Elaboration: (unpack words/phrases) The words “I’m sorry” shows that Son feels guilty for having shouted at Mother and acting rashly. This highlights that Son likes to treat Mother with respect at all times. It also signifies “I love you, I shouldn’t have shouted at you.”

Question 17

“Mother, I’m sorry I shouted at you.”
[LINK]

Answer 17

Link: (close up) Thus, the playwright uses linguistic semiotic mode.

Question 18

“He goes to the other end of the table”
[POINT]

Answer 18

Point: (technique) The playwright uses spatial semiotic mode.

Question 19

“He goes to the other end of the table”
[EVIDENCE]

Answer 19

Evidence: (quote) “He goes to the other end of the table”

Question 20

“He goes to the other end of the table”
[ELABORATION]

Answer 20

Elaboration: ( unpack words/phrases) The phrase” goes to the other end of the table” implies the distance between the two characters, Mother and Son. It highlights, just like how they are seated at the table, their relationship is also distant.

Question 21

“He goes to the other end of the table”
[LINK]

Answer 21

Link: (close up) Thus, the playwright uses the semiotic mode of spatial.

Question 22

“It’s not that I love you less than Mervin. How can a mother love one child less than the others?”
[POINT]

Answer 22

Point: (technique) The playwright uses the breaking of the fourth wall.

Question 23

“It’s not that I love you less than Mervin. How can a mother love one child less than the others?”
[EVIDENCE]

Answer 23

Evidence: (quote) “It’s not that I love you less than Mervin. How can a mother love one child less than the others?”

Question 24

“It’s not that I love you less than Mervin. How can a mother love one child less than the others?”
[ELABORATION]

Answer 24

Elaboration: (unpack words/phrases) The phrase “How can a mother love one child less than the others?” uses rhetorical question. It shows that Mother is reflective and says that she does love Son. She does not want him to feel hated on as he is her child. This also highlights that Mother is not completely cold and shut off as she has been thinking of her words. She seeks to clarify and lessen Son’s pain.

Question 25

“It’s not that I love you less than Mervin. How can a mother love one child less than the others?”
[LINK]

Answer 25

Link: (close up) Thus, the playwright uses breaking of the fourth wall.

Question 26

“Same as beginning scene”
[POINT]

Answer 26

Point: (technique) The playwright uses visual semiotic mode of setting and atmosphere.

Question 27

“Same as beginning scene”
[EVIDENCE]

Answer 27

Evidence: (quote) “Same as beginning scene”

Question 28

“Same as beginning scene”
[ELABORATION]

Answer 28

Elaboration: (unpack words/phrases) The words “same” and “beginning scene” shows that it is another day, but the scene is the same as the beginning, of which is the kitchen and the tension in the air. This implies that just like how the scene is the same, it is like their unprepared relationship and shows the distance between Mother and Son.

Question 29

“Same as beginning scene”
[LINK]

Answer 29

Link: Thus, the playwright uses visual semiotic mode.