Questions from Off Centre Guidebook
Q1) In your opinion, how key is the parent-child relationship to Vinod's inevitable end?
A. In my opinion, Vinod's parents were too busy with their career till they do not have time to care for Vinod. Vinod tries to impress his parents by ace-ing his tests and doing well for his academics. Children need parent support. In Vinod's case, he does not recieve this and he feels idle-ised. He becomes depressed and feels that he is a failure when what he has done is still not appreciated by his parents. Parent-child relationship plays a big role in a child's development
as without it, a child cannot progress towards his life and will always feel left out.
Q2) 'Vinod's high expectations of himself caused his downfall.' To what extend do you agree with this analysis of Vinod's predicament and tragedy?
A. Vinod has high expectations of himself. He has done well academically and feels that there are little things that he cannot handle. He feels that Saloma is a lost kitten and that he needs to look after her, to care for her. During the robbery, Vinod had failed to be Saloma's "protector". He was insulted by the robber and failed to take action during the robbery. With that, he felt that he was a coward and very disappointed with himself. When he finds out that Saloma is getting well, he becomes reserved and locks himself from the world , which led to his downfall.
Q3) Discuss the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.
A. At the start of the play, Saloma is a reserved and quiet person, she does not speak much. Saloma becomes more open whenever Vinod is around. Vinod tells her that audiences are not that scary and that she can talk to them. She becomes stronger and much more brave when she meets Emily at the Halfway House. Emily gives her motivation and encouragement, telling her "You are strong, nothing can destroy you" and "They are jealous because I am special". Saloma's faith in the medicine to cure her is very strong. She believes that the medicine can cure her.
Q4) "Though a minor role in the play, the character of Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre." To what extend do you agree with this assesment?
A. To a certain extent, I believe that the character of Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre because he is someone who knows how Saloma and Vinod feel and he is a fatherly-figure for the both of them. However, I feel that Razali and Vinod are similar at times as the both of them feel the need to protect Saloma and give her all the care, love and concern. Razali was the security guard at the HDB flats. He was supposed to protect. During the robbery, Razali was not present and Vinod started blaming him for the incident as he felt that Razali was supposed to protect them, he was supposed to be their guardian but he was just a security guard. Razali says that he has children to take care off. Vinod misinterpretes "children". He feels that he and Saloma are his children but they are not.
Q5) "Datta, Dayadhvam, Damyatta" means to "Give, Sympathise, Control". How did the major characters in the play exert control in their environment and/or their lives? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
A. Vinod exerts control by controlling Saloma's life. He thinks that he is the best "protector" for Saloma, as seen in the play. On the other hand, Saloma exerts control in her life by taking charge of her own life, she wants to earn a living, she does not want her illness to separate her from the cruel world so she controls herself.
Q6) Based on the text Off Centre, discuss how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.
A. Peer acceptance is when people accept others for who they are. Family support is needed so one does not go astray. In Off Centre, these two key points are very important as mental-patients need peer acceptance and family support so they gain confidence in themselves, knowing that there are people there who care about them and do not despise them. Without these two points, mental-patients will feel alone and idle, they do not know what to do and how to react to situations. They might not know that what they do is right or if it is wrong.
A. In my opinion, Vinod's parents were too busy with their career till they do not have time to care for Vinod. Vinod tries to impress his parents by ace-ing his tests and doing well for his academics. Children need parent support. In Vinod's case, he does not recieve this and he feels idle-ised. He becomes depressed and feels that he is a failure when what he has done is still not appreciated by his parents. Parent-child relationship plays a big role in a child's development
as without it, a child cannot progress towards his life and will always feel left out.
Q2) 'Vinod's high expectations of himself caused his downfall.' To what extend do you agree with this analysis of Vinod's predicament and tragedy?
A. Vinod has high expectations of himself. He has done well academically and feels that there are little things that he cannot handle. He feels that Saloma is a lost kitten and that he needs to look after her, to care for her. During the robbery, Vinod had failed to be Saloma's "protector". He was insulted by the robber and failed to take action during the robbery. With that, he felt that he was a coward and very disappointed with himself. When he finds out that Saloma is getting well, he becomes reserved and locks himself from the world , which led to his downfall.
Q3) Discuss the reasons for Saloma's transformation in the play.
A. At the start of the play, Saloma is a reserved and quiet person, she does not speak much. Saloma becomes more open whenever Vinod is around. Vinod tells her that audiences are not that scary and that she can talk to them. She becomes stronger and much more brave when she meets Emily at the Halfway House. Emily gives her motivation and encouragement, telling her "You are strong, nothing can destroy you" and "They are jealous because I am special". Saloma's faith in the medicine to cure her is very strong. She believes that the medicine can cure her.
Q4) "Though a minor role in the play, the character of Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre." To what extend do you agree with this assesment?
A. To a certain extent, I believe that the character of Razali is key to the plot of Off Centre because he is someone who knows how Saloma and Vinod feel and he is a fatherly-figure for the both of them. However, I feel that Razali and Vinod are similar at times as the both of them feel the need to protect Saloma and give her all the care, love and concern. Razali was the security guard at the HDB flats. He was supposed to protect. During the robbery, Razali was not present and Vinod started blaming him for the incident as he felt that Razali was supposed to protect them, he was supposed to be their guardian but he was just a security guard. Razali says that he has children to take care off. Vinod misinterpretes "children". He feels that he and Saloma are his children but they are not.
Q5) "Datta, Dayadhvam, Damyatta" means to "Give, Sympathise, Control". How did the major characters in the play exert control in their environment and/or their lives? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
A. Vinod exerts control by controlling Saloma's life. He thinks that he is the best "protector" for Saloma, as seen in the play. On the other hand, Saloma exerts control in her life by taking charge of her own life, she wants to earn a living, she does not want her illness to separate her from the cruel world so she controls herself.
Q6) Based on the text Off Centre, discuss how peer acceptance and family support are vital to social status and mental well-being.
A. Peer acceptance is when people accept others for who they are. Family support is needed so one does not go astray. In Off Centre, these two key points are very important as mental-patients need peer acceptance and family support so they gain confidence in themselves, knowing that there are people there who care about them and do not despise them. Without these two points, mental-patients will feel alone and idle, they do not know what to do and how to react to situations. They might not know that what they do is right or if it is wrong.
1 Comments:
At August 29, 2010 at 6:39 AM ,
Lynn said...
is this your own answer or th guide book's?
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