Question
Message/
theme and
relevance
Short Story 1
“The Wasteland”
By Alan Paton
Short Story 2
“The Gift Of The Magi”
By O Henry
Message: desperation for money
Message: Love and sacrifice
Quote: “people arise! the world is dead”
Quote: “I don't think there's anything
in the way of a haircut or a shave or a
shampoo that could make me like my
girl any less”
“The Gift Of The Magi”
By O Henry
Issue/problem “The Wasteland”
and relevance By Alan Paton
Main event/
Climax
And message
Issue: desperation for money/ immorality
Issue: Poverty
Quote: “that was the thing feared by all, to be waited
for by the young men”
Quote: “ To-morrow would be
Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87
with which to buy Jim a present”
“People arise! the world is dead”
“The Wasteland”
By Alan Paton
Event: he realizes that it had been none other than his
son who had attempted to rob him and whom he had
accidentally killed in the fight of saving his own life.
“The Gift of the Magi”
By O Henry
Event: both Jim and della realize that
their gifts are of no use.
Msg: love & sacrifice
Msg: Desperation for money
Quote: “people arise the world is dead”
Styles and
messages
“The Wasteland”
By Alan Paton
Style: Title- “The Wasteland”
Msg: immorality
Style: figurative language
Msg: fear
E.g. “like an island of safety in a sea of perils.”
Style: Surprise
Msg: desperation for money
It had been none other than Freddy who had
attempted to rob his father
Ending
Quote: “ “I don't think there's
anything in the way of a haircut or a
shave or a shampoo that could make
me like my girl any less”
“Beginning of the Tournament”
By: Witi Ihimaera
Style: Humor
Msg: socialization
E.g. “old and wobbly nanny marama
taking the field”
Style: Dialogues
Msg: change
E.g. “even this little time we have
together is good”
“The Wasteland”
By Alan Paton
“Examination day”
By: Henry Slesar
Suspense ending- we do not know what happens to
Freddy’s body and his family.
Sudden and suspense ending
Disbelief that Dickie was killed
because of his intelligence. No details
about what happens to dickie and his
family. Fear and helplessness of
parents.
Quote: people arise the world is dead
Quote: “the woman cried out,
knowing nothing except the emotion
she read on her husband’s face.”
Conflict
“Examination day”
By: Henry Slesar
“Cabulliwallah”
By Rabindranath Tagore
Conflict: parents and government
The government is too powerful and kill all children
who they feel are to intelligent against the parents
wish.
Conflict: debtor and Rahamun
Rahamun kills a debtor for not paying
up
Resolved with the imprisonment of
Rahamun for 8 years
Character
“The Wasteland”
By: Alan Paton
“The Gift of the Magi”
By: O Henry
Character: “He”- universal character, could represent
anyone
Character: Jim
Qualities: Loving and caring
-sacrificed his watch to buy Della’s
favourite combs
- was not angry at Della for cutting her
hair.
Msg: love and sacrifice
Qualities: hardworking, courageous, family man
Msg: courage
Quotation: “ So trapped was he that he was filled
suddenly with strength and anger, and he ran towards
the waste land swinging his heavy stick”
Setting
Writer’s
background
Quote: “I don't think there's anything
in the way of a haircut or a shave or a
shampoo that could make me like my
girl any less”
The Wasteland
By: Alan Paton
Beginning of the tournament
By: Witi Ihimaera
Physical setting:
Set in Johannesburg, Africa. Outskirts of town, area full
of old vehicles and scrap metal.
After dark and the area is isolated. Opposite the
wasteland there is an enclosed convent
Physical setting:
Set in Waituhi on the east coast of
north island. Time of Easter whereby
Maoris get together for annual hockey
tournament. Occur during the day and
in a paddock
Cultural setting:
A society where youth problems are neglected. Youths
are seen as violent and merciless.
It is also about immorality and the helplessness and
desperation by older generation
The Wasteland
By: Alan Paton
Alan Paton was a white south African who taught in
black schools for many years. This story relates to the
problem faced by youths during the time when white
ruled the country thus, the needs of the natives was
neglected resulting in social problems.
Paton was deeply concerned about the African youths
thus, has reflected this in writing
Cultural setting:
Rural community and people are
engaged in cultivation and dairy
farming. People have a carefree live
Beginning of the tournament
By: Witi Ihimaera
Witi Ihimaera is a Maori who has
extreme love for his culture thus
relates the experience of Maoris in his
society.
He portrays the simple and friendly
live of Maoris who do not take losing
seriously but gives a lot of importance
to gathering and socialization