the fruitcake special - jesscia

7/28/2019 The Fruitcake Special - Jesscia

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THE FRUITCAKESPECIAL

Frank Brennan


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THE SYNOPSIS

The Fruitcake Special is an amusing story about Anna, a

scientist, who creates a perfume that has an extraordinary

effect on men. Her boss, David Amos, is instantly smitten with

her the minute he smells the perfume on Anna. Chaos ensues

when Anna and David dine together as Anna also becomes the

object of the waiters affection. Anna asks her Aunt Mimi for

more information about the fruitcake before coming to a dead

end. Guided by his jealous girlfriend Sabina, David offers amoney-based apology to Anna, who decides to leave for a rival

company. Annas love life develops together with her career as

she is wooed by Armstrong, her local pizza delivery man, who is

now a pizza owner.


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An Australian writer, originally a businessman.

Started to write fiction in 1983.

Died in 1995.

Wrote with his wife, Wendy Brennan under thepseudonym Emma Darcy. As a team, they wrote morethan 45 romance novels.
http://www.google.com.my/imgres?imgurl=http://128.232.233.16/elt/ms_images/readers/FrankBrennan.jpg&imgrefurl=http://128.232.233.16/elt/readers/authors.htm&usg=__YvJuOdy9OJ7PBDAXXSrVu1aVbpw=&h=120&w=120&sz=5&hl=en&start=15&zoom=1&itbs=1&tbnid=AJwEYZiGXhfDbM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=88&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrank%2Bbrennan%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=E1ZZTb_UCoqyvwOojN3YBA


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SETTING

Aunt Mimis

apartment

Annas homeAmos Cosmetics

factory

The French

Restaurant


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Anna experiments by adding a sliceof fruitcake to a mix of flowers tocreate a new perfume.

EXPOSITION

Mr Amos is attracted to

Anna who is using the perfumeand invites her to dinner

RISING ACTION

The Fruitcake Special attracts bothMr Amos and the waiter. A fightbreaks out between David, Sabina

and the waiter.

CLIMAX

Anna visits Aunt Mimi anddiscovers that the fruitcake

was brought from an old ladywho had put in a specialingredient. Unfortunately thewoman is now dead and so is thesecret.

FALLING ACTION

Armstrong, the owner of ArmstrongsPeachy Pizzas, presents Anna withflowers and pizza and tells her that hehad fallen in love with her from the veryfirst time he delivered pizza to her.

RESOLUTION

THE PLOT


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Anna DavidAmos AuntMimi Sabina WaiterMomma

THE CHARACTERS

Armstrong


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ANNACURIOUS

INTELLIGENT

OBSERVANT

PRACTICAL

INNOVATIVE

INTEGRITY

SENSIBLE

DETERMINED


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ANNASCharacter Traits Evidence from textPractical * thinks her new invention smells nice but nothing more (p.32)

* uses the same handbag she does for work on her date with David

(p.38)

Sensible Knows she is an ordinary-looking girl and is not actually Davidstype (p.34)

Reminds the waiter to serve the lobster instead of being silly (p.43)

Realizes the effect of the perfume on the waiter and ensures she

does not walk by other men (p.44)

Innovative Tries to concoct new perfumes (p.31)Intelligent Realizes that the fruitcake perfume had an effect on her boss

(p.41)

Observant Notices that her boss prefers pretty young models (p.32) Observes that men say one thing but mean another

Curious Wants to know why David suddenly finds her attractive (p.38)Determined Anna was determined to design good perfumes

When she knew the effect of the fruitcake special on men , she

stayed at home to find out the truth about the fruitcake given by

Aunt Mimi.

Integrity Anna portrayed integrity when she walked out of her job She did this when she was insulted by her boss humiliating offer of

compensation.


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DAVID AMOS

Weak

Impulsive

Superficial

Not employee-friendly


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DAVID AMOSSCharacter Traits

EVIDENCE FROM TEXT

WEAK Is controlled by Sabina and so offers Anna moneyrather than apologizing properlySUPERFICIAL Prefers the company of beautiful young models (p.34)

Looks at Annas body instead of her face when shereturns to the table (p.41)IMPULSIVE Is flabbergasted when the waiter starts singing veryloudly, so he hit the waiter.

Feebly explains to Anna that they would not be agood match, unlike him and Sabina (p.56)NOT EMPLOYEE-FRIENDLY Anna is afraid to tell him how she made the newperfume as he might have laughed at her (p.32)

David only speaks to his employees when he hascomplaints (p.34)


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AUNTMIMI

WARM

GENEROUS

GOOD-HEARTED

OBSERVANT

CURIOUS


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AUNT MIMIS

Character

Traits

Evidence from text

WARM

Welcomes Annas visit even though she may haveother interests at heart (p.48)

GENEROUS Always brings gifts when she visit (p.37)

GOOD-

HEARTED

Being very concerned for Annas future, she wants to

find a nice husband for Anna.

OBSERVANT Tells Anna about her market experience and the

people she met at the funeral (p.52)

CURIOUS Is suspicious about Annas sudden interest in baking.

(p.49)


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MOMMAAnnas mother

Loving and caring- stillpacks meals for Anna

Gets on well with AuntMimi

Sabina The latest girlfriend of DavidAmosBeautifulSnootyVain, Dominant, confident,

well-spokenCondescending but is actually

jealous that David asked AnnaoutHot-headed- Hits David hardin the face when he proclaimslove for Anna.

ARMSTRONG The pizza delivery manFell in love with Anna atfirst sight

Hardworking-saved hardand finally bought over thepizza company he worked for

Was determined to improvehis social and economic statusbefore asking Anna out

The Waiter*Like David Amos, wasimpulsive and effusive inhis words and actions afterinhaling the Fruitcake

Special

* Bold told Anna how hefelt, and called her eventhough she was in therestaurant with David on a

date.


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THEMES

PHYSICAL APPEARANCEVS

TRUE LOVE


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Annas experiences with David and the waiterat the French restaurant illustrate the

fragility of physical attraction or superficiallove.

Both the men are drawn to her not becauseof her own qualities but because of the

special perfume she is wearing.

Fortunately Anna realizes that true love is notbased on external appearances but on genuine

liking and mutual self-respect.

The man who truly loves her- Armstrong thepizza delivery man- declares his love for heronly after he has achieved success in his life.


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IMPORTANCE OF

INTEGRITY

AND

SELF-RESPECT

THEMES


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We should focus on a persons character

rather than their physical appearance.Anna is a person of integrity andpracticality who is truly a credit to hercompany.

Anna has dignity, pride and principles andlooks for these qualities in a future husband.

She finds them in Armstrong, a slightlyshort and balding man, but is a gemcompared to the superficial David.


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Rationalityand moralcourage

When Anna creates the potent perfumeby chance, she does not give it to herboss immediately as she is afraid of himmaking fun of her.

She reveals her character and goodsense of values in her actions, speech and

thoughts ( mental self talk)

Her outrage at Davids treatment of herand the scene in the office with Sabinapresent shows her sense of dignity, prideand moral courage.

Annas character grows and in the endwe see her willingness to acceptArmstrong even though she may have

higher expectations before.


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Diligence andPerseverance

Annas painstaking attitude and

seriousness about her work are work

ethics that should be followed.

She is creative and intelligent in the

work she is doing.


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Determination

Can be seen in Armstrongs characterHe is determine to be successfulbefore he can declare his love toAnna.

From just ordinary pizza deliveryman, he turns to be the owner ofthe pizza restaurant.

All this displays his strongdetermination to be successful in life.


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Honesty

Momma is honest in terms of her feelingstowards Armstrong. Even Armstrong is just a

pizza delivery man, she does not look down on

her.

Aunt Mimi is honest in finding a husband forAnna.

Anna is an honest employee. She does not reveal

the secret


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Armstrong accepts Anna for who sheis. He also able to accept his own

weaknesses and work to improve on

them until he becomes successful.

Anna accepts the fact to let the

secret of the fruitcake special lie

buried with the old woman who has

died. She never pursues the matter

although she was persistent in finding

out the truth about it.

Acceptance


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Courage

It takes courage to stand up to ones

beliefs. Anna is willing to walk out of

her career in Amos Cosmetics after

the event in the French restaurant.

Armstrong is courageous in asking

Anna out at last. He knows his status

but never gives up .

the fruitcake special - jesscia

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