A Fighter’s LineA Fighter’s Line

The Poet : Marzuki AliThe Poet : Marzuki AliBorn in Terengganu, MalaysiaBorn in Terengganu, MalaysiaWrites poems to dedicate his love for his hometownWrites poems to dedicate his love for his hometownHas been writing poetry since the 60’s until todayHas been writing poetry since the 60’s until todaySome of his poems have been published by Dewan Some of his poems have been published by Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka, Kuala LumpurBahasa & Pustaka, Kuala LumpurWrites poems about the wonders of his hometown, Writes poems about the wonders of his hometown, worries of the world, and his ever-growing concern for worries of the world, and his ever-growing concern for the environmentthe environmentMost of his poems inspire patriotismMost of his poems inspire patriotismActively involved in Malaysian and Indonesian Actively involved in Malaysian and Indonesian TheatreTheatre

Word HelpWord Helpwornworn DamagedDamaged

sacrificessacrifices Putting others before our needPutting others before our need

crushedcrushed Broken down in spiritBroken down in spirit

challengechallenge confrontconfront

remnantsremnants Leftovers, loose endsLeftovers, loose ends

deceitdeceit Dishonesty, corruptionDishonesty, corruption

ranksranks Lines or rows of peopleLines or rows of people

ancestorancestor forefatherforefather

erecterect BuildBuild

heirsheirs successorssuccessors

Summary of PoemSummary of Poem Four stanzas; last stanza is a coupletFour stanzas; last stanza is a couplet

Lines 1 - 7Lines 1 - 7 The persona talks about fighting in the war for our nation’s independence.The persona talks about fighting in the war for our nation’s independence. He is now old and tired. He has lost his strength fighting for independence of this country. He is now old and tired. He has lost his strength fighting for independence of this country. He has suffered a lot in this war and only history can speak for his sacrifices.He has suffered a lot in this war and only history can speak for his sacrifices.

Lines 8-14Lines 8-14 He is now physically trapped in a wheelchair. He is now physically trapped in a wheelchair. He feels helpless. He sees many things that disturb him such as corruption.He feels helpless. He sees many things that disturb him such as corruption. However, being crippled, he is unable to do anything. However, being crippled, he is unable to do anything.

Lines 15-21Lines 15-21 He calls on the young people to be together and to fight against corrupt forces.He calls on the young people to be together and to fight against corrupt forces. If the young people are united, they can act together as one strong voice to fight and overcome If the young people are united, they can act together as one strong voice to fight and overcome

many problems in the country.many problems in the country. Now, he is old and has no more energy and strength left; the yout has what it takes to do what Now, he is old and has no more energy and strength left; the yout has what it takes to do what

is right.is right.

Feels somewhat helpless that he cannot do anything Feels somewhat helpless that he cannot do anything though he is disturbed by the though he is disturbed by the net of deceit net of deceit he sees he sees around him. The deceit or corruption is increasing around him. The deceit or corruption is increasing rapidly.rapidly.Stanza 3Stanza 3The persona appeals to the younger generation who are The persona appeals to the younger generation who are sons of our ancestorsons of our ancestor, to stand up for their freedom, be , to stand up for their freedom, be united to fight for justice.united to fight for justice.Stanza 4Stanza 4He ends the poem by repeating that he has no more He ends the poem by repeating that he has no more strength, energy or voice to fight. It is now up to the strength, energy or voice to fight. It is now up to the young people of today to stand up for their rights and young people of today to stand up for their rights and freedomfreedom

SettingSetting

Time frame : The present timeTime frame : The present time Place : At homePlace : At home

PersonaPersona

The persona in this poem is an old man who The persona in this poem is an old man who was a soldier who fought for our nation’s was a soldier who fought for our nation’s independenceindependence

He is now old, tired and crippled, having to He is now old, tired and crippled, having to spend the rest of his days in a wheelchair.spend the rest of his days in a wheelchair.

He feels somewhat helpless being old and He feels somewhat helpless being old and crippled. His body is weak and his energy is crippled. His body is weak and his energy is drained.drained.

•ThemeTheme PatriotismPatriotism The appela for freedom and justiceThe appela for freedom and justice

MessageMessage Our country must be free of corruptionOur country must be free of corruption We must stand up together and fight our rightsWe must stand up together and fight our rights Age may crush your physical ability but not your spirit and Age may crush your physical ability but not your spirit and

mental strengthmental strength

ToneTone

The poem has a gloomyThe poem has a gloomy The poem creates a depressing moodThe poem creates a depressing mood The poem also seeks to inspire the youth of The poem also seeks to inspire the youth of

todaytoday

Imagery/symbolismImagery/symbolism

Represents the fight for Represents the fight for independenceindependence

Represents a united populationRepresents a united population Represents people under an Represents people under an

independent governmentindependent government

Exercise A : MatchingExercise A : Matching1.The persona became cripple1.The persona became cripple a. free from colonial rule.a. free from colonial rule.

2. To be worn out is to2. To be worn out is to b. in body and spirit.b. in body and spirit.

3. Our nation fought for independence to be3. Our nation fought for independence to be c. corruption among the nation’s leaders.c. corruption among the nation’s leaders.

4.The persona feels crushed4.The persona feels crushed d. united and courageousd. united and courageous

5. The persona feels helpless for he5. The persona feels helpless for he e. overcome it and be successfule. overcome it and be successful

6.To face a challenge is to be able6.To face a challenge is to be able f. feel tired and weakf. feel tired and weak

7.The ‘net of deceit’ refers to7.The ‘net of deceit’ refers to e. after fighting in the war for independecee. after fighting in the war for independece

8. To santai up for justice, people have to be8. To santai up for justice, people have to be f. is old and crippled.f. is old and crippled.

Exercise B : Fill in each of the blanks with one suitable Exercise B : Fill in each of the blanks with one suitable words.words.

The former soldier sit in his The former soldier sit in his __________(1) and recall the war he fought in. It __________(1) and recall the war he fought in. It was a fight for ___________(2) for his country. was a fight for ___________(2) for his country. During the war, he became ____________(3) and During the war, he became ____________(3) and crippled. Though crushed in body and crippled. Though crushed in body and ___________(4), he feels strongly against the ___________(4), he feels strongly against the ___________(5) he sees around him. This has to ___________(5) he sees around him. This has to be put an _____________(6). It can only be done be put an _____________(6). It can only be done if people join together as a __________(7) force if people join together as a __________(7) force and speak out. They have to work together to bring and speak out. They have to work together to bring about __________(8) in their nation.about __________(8) in their nation.

Exercise : Open-responseExercise : Open-response

1. Which phrase in Stanza shows that the persona is worn 1. Which phrase in Stanza shows that the persona is worn out?out?

2. Explain what is meant by sacrifices that “ know no 2. Explain what is meant by sacrifices that “ know no name or life”?name or life”?

3. In Stanza 2, what appeal is made by the person? Why?3. In Stanza 2, what appeal is made by the person? Why? 4. How should the people carry out the fight for justice?4. How should the people carry out the fight for justice? 5. Which two phrases in the poem show that the persona 5. Which two phrases in the poem show that the persona

feels very helpless?feels very helpless?