Adopting Southeast Asian
Literature into the Writing
Classroom
(disclaimer: I hate Powerpoint presentations but felt like a syllabus
would be too boring to stare at for 8 minutes. Please humor me.)
Course Description
English 102 increases the writing and
thinking skills developed in English 101;
applies critical thinking and writing skills to a
variety of academic assignments, including
analyzing complex texts, conducting library
and Internet research, developing a research
paper, documenting research, and working
collaboratively with peers.
Objectives of English 102
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analyze a variety of complex texts, including a significant
number of works by women and people of color;
identify, analyze, and evaluate point of view in complex
texts;
demonstrate an awareness of how historical context and an
author’s gender, class, culture, and/or race may shape an
individual work
evaluate and synthesize a variety of source materials in a
research essay
How can Southeast Asian literature
fulfill these objectives?
Complex texts
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The ability to extrapolate multiple meanings
out of a text
The provision of multiple genres
Multiplicity of viewpoints and paradigms
Historical Context; Gender,
Class, Culture, and/or Race
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Diversity of SE Asia provides multiple
frameworks for critically analyzing texts
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Formalist Criticism: style, structure, tone, imagery, etc.
Biographical Criticism: understanding an author’s life can help readers more
thoroughly comprehend the work.
Historical/Socialogical Criticism: investigating the social, cultural, economic,
political and intellectual context
Gender Criticism: sexual identity
Psychological Criticism: analysis through modern psychology
Mythological Criticism: recurrent universal patterns underlying literature
Reader-Response Criticism: interprets literature through individual meaning
Deconstructionist Criticism: literature possesses no fixed, single meaning
Framework/Organization
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Structure/Element
• Character; Point of View
• Settting
• Language; Symbolism; Imagery; etc.
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Themes
• The Individual and His Identities
• Role of Men and Women
• Family and Religion; etc.
Objectives of English 102




analyze a variety of complex texts, including a significant
number of works by women and people of color;
identify, analyze, and evaluate point of view in complex
texts;
demonstrate an awareness of how historical context and an
author’s gender, class, culture, and/or race may shape an
individual work
evaluate and synthesize a variety of source materials in a
research essay
Theme: “Modernization” vs
Tradition
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Complex texts
• Nor Rahmat Sidin’s “Exuberant
Heart”
• Linchong Chorrojprasert’s “The
Abandoned Fields”
• Theerasrt Phaireephinas’ “In the
World of Mixed Cultures”
• Heng Siok Tian’s “Chopsticks”
Brunei
Thailand
Thailand
Singapore
“Exuberant Heart” – Nor
Rahmat Sidin (Brunei)
I will clean the lakes
let the dead grass
let the ricefields turn green.
I will burn the bushes and the trees
let the brick wall rise
let flats go up
let millions of people inahbit themn
let them live safely.
I will demolish the old town
so it will have a facelift,
the grisly appearance gone
let the rich explore it
let the poor search for their loved ones
let the dogs bark till morning
and let cats quietly chase the rats.
I will make this town grow
Let it glow
It is already gone though.
- Translated by Emilita Cruz
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Why is the town “already gone though?”
- What was replaced? What does this say
about urbanization in Brunei?
Heng Siok Tian’s “Chopsticks”
A pair of chopsticks
Squints at me.
My pragmatics teach me
Western convenience
In fork and spoon.
My parents frown at my
Cultural unrespectability
In crossing the chopsticks.
There is an etiquette
For handling chopsticks
(handling lives).
Suddenly how to handle chopsticks
Involves moral dimension.
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The speaker refers to the “Western
convenience” of a fork and spoon compared to
chopsticks. What do the chopsticks represent to
the speaker?
Why does using chopsticks involve moral
dimension then?
Theme: Role of Men and Women
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Complex texts:
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Ma Sandar’s “An Umbrella”
M S Sotheary’s “My Sister”
T Bosino’s “Her”
C Lim’s “Paper”
Burma
Cambodia
Indonesia
Singapore
An Umbrella – Ma Sandar
(Burma)
“A woman who has no husband to lean on is like a person walking in the
rain without an umbrella. There is no one to shield her from the cold and
wind…
When the rain is really heavy you get wet no matter what kind of umbrella
you are using, ama. At least this one makes you look dignified.”
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What does this tell you about the role of men and women and the expectations
of society on marriage?
“Her” – Titus Bosino (Indonesia)
The evening of my husband’s second
thank you for all these things? I don’t expect
marriage I tried to reason with him. His voice you to understand because you can’t look
sounded so strange that I could hardly
beyond the tremendous effort you’ve put into
recognize it. It was as though he were a child this marriage, which nevertheless has failed.
again.
I’m not satisfied with this life any longer. I’m
tired of waiting for you to take an interest in
"So you married her?"
something, like a club or anything outside of
"Yes, why not?"
this family…You seem to forget that when I
"Couldn’t you have stopped short of
fell in love with you, you were an involved
marriage? You already have one wife. I can and interesting woman."
deal with all your needs, can’t I?”
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What do you make of this dialogue? Is it
Are you sure of that?"
realistic? Or is too forced?
"Aren’t I enough to make you happy? I’ve
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How would you describe the main
already given you children, an organized
character, Mrs. Hamid? Cite examples
household, home-cooked meals, immaculate
from the story to support your ideas. How
clothes, a warm and ready welcome for you
would you describe Mr. Hamid, her
and all your friends. All you’ve ever wanted
husband?
I’ve given you before you’ve had to ask twice.
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What reasons does he give her for
Think about it."
marrying his new wife? How does she
"Of course, you’re right, but do I have to
react when she hears the news?
Summary
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Literature is often a reflection of the cultures and
peoples from which it is produced.
 By explicating poetry and/or deconstructing
literature, one is able to arrive at larger truths
regarding the society.
 Students in literature courses studying SE Asian
literature will be challenged to go beyond texts
and discover similarities between their cultures
and others.
Cam on cac ban, nhieu! Em se nho anh chi em!
(Thanks so much, friends! I will miss you!)