SYNOPSIS

An Indian boy found Madhuris death body in the rubber estate. A few moments later, her husband, Haji Ghani went to the scene. At London, the main character, Azreen Saleh, Madhuris sister heard about the news. She quickly return to Malaysia and postponed her examinations. Her foster parents, Datuk Zulkifli and Datin Sharifah fetched her at Langkawi Airport and brought Azreen to her village which is located at one of the island near Langkawi. Her mother had lose her memories and even her own daughter she cant remembered. Azreen neighbour, Puan Normala kept talking rumors about Madhuris death. Azreen father, Saleh Abdullah scolded her when she brought her mother to the graveyard. Her mother supposed not to know about Madhuris death as she had an Alzheimer sickness. Azreen later met Mohd Asraf, her crush when she was at school and they had a little talk before they separate to go home. Azreen found that her sister was not accidently died but she was murdered when Azreen pay a visit to the Old Ladys house. At school, rumors about Madhuris death still in the air as Puan Normalas daughter, Noor kept talking about it. Her classmate, Siti was exhausted about it. Everyday Azreen will flashback her childhood memories with Madhuri. Even she had a feeling on dislike Madhuri, but theres a feeling that make her and Madhuri be one. A few days later, Azreens mother died peacefully in her sleep. Azreen received a letter from Julian. In the letter, Julian placed Madhuris letter for Azreen. Azreen threw the letter and when she came back the letter had disappeared. Theres also a mysterious figure kept following Azreen and many strange things happened. Her chicken either was thrown in front of her house with broken neck. The Old Lady died of fire accidently by angry Mohd Asraf as her

grandmother passed away after the Old Lady treated her. One after one secrets was revealed to Azreen related to Madhuris death. Azreen then discovered that the real murder of her sister was her own father, Saleh Abdullah after the mysterious figure who was actually Madhuris real mother pointed her to her fathers parang. Saleh Abdullah died of heart attack when Madhuris real mother went to him in purpose to kill him. Azreen went back to London and felt more like home there. The end of autumn and the next season will mark a new life for Azreen.

THEME
Love - Parental love : Saleh Abdullah and his wife love their adopted child, Madhuri like their own daughter. - Unrequited love : Azreen had a crush on Mohd Asraf during her school days. - Fordidden love : Asraf and Madhuri secret love led to Madhuris death. Forgiveness - Before the Old Lady died, she advised Azreen to forgive others. To that, she felt no anger when she discovered that her father had killed Madhuri. Believe on supernatural - The villagers believe of the village shaman, Awang ability to cure some bad things. The villagers either belived that Madhuri had cursed the village when they discovered she died with white blood. Gender stereotyping - Azreen character pictured in the novel as a tomboyish girl and not behave unlady-like. For an example, during her school days, she played hockey with the boys and hangs closely with them.

 Violence against women - Some men believed women had weaker sex than them and they violent towards the women. The Old Ladys late husband kicked and hit her.

SETTING
Time setting : now era, night, day, dawn Place setting : Azreens house, Neks house, the school, the cemetery, London, the rubber estate, the paddy field, the market place, Old Ladys house, Madhuris room, the forest, the farm Social setting : - Educated people (Azreen Saleh, Siti and Old Lady) - Rich and kind-hearted people ( Datuk Zulkifli and Datin Sharifah) - Rural people (the people of Azreens village) - People love to separate rumors (Puan Normala and Noor) - Worked people (Mohd Asraf, Madhuri, Saleh Abdullah, Old Lady, Encik Mohan and his son and Pak Huzaimi)

PLOT EXPOSITION
- an Indian boy found Madhuris death body in the rubber estate - Azreen heard about the news and return to Malaysia. She postponed her examinations. - Azreens foster parents, Datuk Zulkifli and Datin Sharifah fetched her at Langkawi Airport and brought her to her home.

RISING ACTION/CONFLICT
- Azreens father had a bad relationship with her. He didnt talk much with her. - Azreen met Mohd Asraf and remembered her school days with him. - Madhuris death was rumored by Puan Normala and her daughter, Noor. - Haji Ghanis first wife, Fatihah was jealous of Madhuri and she torn the curtain made by Madhuri. - a mysterious figure appeared in front of some of the characters.

CLIMAX

- Azreen went to The Old Ladys place at the forest. The Old Lady told her about the real what had happened. - The Old Lady told Azreen that Madhuri was murdered. - Azreens mother died peacefully in her sleeps. Azreen remembered her childhood memories. - Azreen was followed by a mysterious figure. - Azreen discovered Madhuris picture was torn to three parts. Her father went mad and chased her out Madhuris room. Later, the room was on fire.

FALLING ACTION
- Mohd Asraf seek for Old Ladys help to cure Neks illness. The Old Lady refuses for the first and later she agreed after had discussed about it with Azreen. - The Old Lady died accidently of fire made by angry Mohd Asraf. Azreen felt very sad and disappointed. - Awang came and met Azreen. He revealed one after one secrets about Madhuri that her parents didnt tell her includes the fact of Madhuri was not her biological sister. He return Madhuris letter for Azreen.

- A mysterious figure followed Azreen and give a clue which is the last secret related to the murder of Madhuri.

RESOLUTION
- Azreen discovered the real murder of Madhuri was her own father, Saleh Abdullah. - Her father flashback what had happened. Azreen was sad and went away to calm herself. - The mysterious figure appeared in front of Saleh with his parang. Saleh died of heart attack. - Azreen went back to London and felt like home there.

CHARACTERS i) MAIN : Azreen Saleh : studied at London, independent, good

friends with The Old Lady and Mohd Asraf, had a crush on Mohd Asraf during her school days, tomboyish, behave unlady-like, brave, stand on what she believe, loyal and responsible. Mohd Asraf : a teacher, in love with Madhuri, angry when he felt the death of Nek was caused by The Old Lady, good friends with Azreen Saleh, independent since young, a caring grandson, want to take Madhuri with him to Kuala Lumpur Madhuri : murdered by Saleh Abdullah, in love with Mohd Asraf, Azreens adopted sister, kind and soft-spoken, beautiful, good at reciting Quran verses, religious, teaches the kids of village reading Quran, caring, protective and polite.

ii) MINOR : Saleh Abdullah : Azreens father, murder of Madhuri, a

manipulative person that let Madhuri be Haji Ghanis second wife to protect his interest, an egoist person (he cant accept Madhuri love affair with Mohd Asraf and because his anger he accidently killed Madhuri), active, strong, not in good relationship with Azreen since the day of the accident that caused his wife paralysed. Awang : a sharman of the village, kind and honest. Old Lady : kind, well educated, good in healing illness, accidently murdered her husband, caring, neat Siti : obedient daughter of Puan Kamisah, helpful, kind, gullible, responsible Puan Normala : a rumor monger of the village, sneaky and malicious, superstitious of the Old Ladys visit to Neks house for the reason of continuous rain Noor : Puan Normalas daughter, like her mother she love to talk about Madhuris death Haji Ghani : religious, knows about Madhuris death and kept it as a secret to protect his reputation, the village headman, took Madhuri as his second wife, knows Madhuris affair with Mohd Asraf, neglets his first wife, Fatihah in the process. Fatihah : find her interest with Madhuri for the first, jealous of Madhuri as his husband didnt pay attention to her

POINT OF VIEW

The story was told in the omniscient or third person of view where the story was completely narrated from beginning to the ending.

VALUE caring : Madhuri cared for Azreen. She shield Azreen for not

being punished by their father. responsible : Azreen repaired the trampled bad vegetables of the Old Lady. She also brought fresh vegetables and seeds. loyalty and brave : Azreen shows her loyality to Mohd Asraf when she take bravely the blame of escaped bull that finally caused an accident of her father and mother. stand with what you believe : Azreen refuses to accept the death of Madhuri was an accident but it was actually a murder. helpful : Siti help Mohd Asraf take care his Nek when he was out to find the ingredients for his Neks medicines. thoughtfulness : Azreens foster perents, Datuk Zulkifli and Datin Sharifah leaved two pillows from their car, two bottles of water, some fruits and a bag of disposable toiletries for Azreen to sleep at her mothers house.

MORAL
- We must not separate rumors about others. - We must strong to face the faith. - We shall not give up in finding the way out of problems. - Let bygones be bygones. We should forget others mistakes on us and try to forgive their faults.

LANGUAGE AND STYLE

-simple and easy to understand -usage of simple English

IMAGENARY
Sunlight danced through the leaves above p. 206 The shades of the trees now left them and the glare of the morning sun blinded him for a while.- p.213

 The sweet smell of jasmine caressed her senses, lifting a weight from her soul. p. 229 Azreen felt warm tears rolling down her cheeks. Her skin felt cold and clammy even under the hot afternoon sun. p. 226

MEANING, SYMBOLISM, ETC.

The Curse is a term likely used to describe a horrible situation. The story give reader a view of a murdered person believed by the rural people cursed the island. It almost like the story of Mahsuri at the historical island of Langkawi.

TONE OF VOICE
-myterious, sadness, serious, emotional, regret, envious, humorous, reflective

LITERARY DEVICE 1. SIMILE

-Fingers pointed, harsh words were spoken and friends avoided her like a leper. p.104 - His eyes burned wildly like the fire on his torch. p.199

2. ONOMATOPOEIA
-The plank beneath her feet creakedp.80 -words echoed boomingly in her head-p.222

3. METAPHOR
-Especially that rotten durian neighbour of yours p.23 -her fathers steely eyes-p.222

4. PERSONIFICATION

-whose muscular biceps flexed menacingly- p.93

-it gripped his heart like a vice-p.227

5. HYPERBOLES
-Argh Ill be dead if the teacher finds out p.91

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written and analyses by : Nur Izzati Abd Shukor Cyber Diary references : The Curse by Lee Su Ann google scribd reference books