SECRET

This novel entitled 'Secret' is written by Marian Thum. It has been analysed by Bambang Sutaryo and Supriyono. The synopsis of the novel is presented as follows: 

 

SECRET

BY Marian Thurm

Synopsis 

This story tells us about the two married couples. They are Eric, who is married to my younger sister, Lauren and William and I. These two couples lived apart.  Eric and Lauren lived in a rented house in Vermant town, meanwhile, William and I lived in New York. Eric works part time job, he design and build table, chair, and lamb in a lumber store. William works for an advertising agency.

One night, they held a barbeque in front of the Eric’s house. While enjoying the barbeque, Lauren frowns, she seems to be about to say something, but then walks off to the house. It puzzles me, “What is actually happen to Lauren”? I tried to make her speak, but she doesn’t want.

After hard effort had been done, and Lauren still keeps the secret, then I call some of Lauren’s friends, hoping for clarity. But her friends said” I don’t know any more than you do”.

            Actually, Eric is suffered from disease which becomes worst and worst. Twice a week, Eric receives chemotherapy treatments for his small tumors that have appeared periodically on one leg and foot since the year before their marriage. Because of this disease, this family doesn’t live happily.

One night in September, I called them. Lauren answered the phone. She tells me that Eric has moved out, to live in a cabin at the edge of a nearby woods; that he quit his job from the lumber store and leads nature tours for Parks Department. Lauren herself lives with a former high –school English teacher who breeds show dogs for a living now. It means they are separated now.

           

1.      Setting                                    

Setting of place           : Small Vermont Town and  New York City.

Setting of Time           : in the evening

Socio Cultural Setting : Family life, husband and wife relationship

2.      Character                   

Main Character          : Eric and Lauren

Minor Character           : William, the writer (the William’s wife), the writer’s mother, the  writer’s father.

3.      Plot

Exposition                       : from paragraph 1 until paragraph 6 or from page 71 until page 73.

Complication                : starting from paragraph 7 ( The barbeque is not going well….)   until paragraph 25 or page 76 (William and I give Eric  ……..)

Crisis                           :paragraph 26 or page 76  (The private manner in which my sister……..)

Falling Action              : Paragraph 28 or page 77 until paragraph 37 or page 78.

Resolution                   : Paragraph 38  or page 78 until the end.

4.      Point of View               : first person point of view (Limited omniscient)

5.      Symbol                                    : barbeque, disease (cancer)

6.      Tone                            : curiosity, puzzle, confusing.

7.      Theme                         : Care.

8.      Message                      : people should tell the problem to other people except it is a secret or privacy for us.

The Three Muketers

Synopsis

Title                               : The Three Muketers

Writer                           : Alexandre Dumas

Published                     : By Random House , inc

Year of Publication     : 1950

Page                                       : 209 – 233

D’Artagnan worried about Madame Bonacieux while Planchet across the room. One day D’Artagnan saw Parthos Strolling into the church and make it crowded. Parthos was gazing with great admiration to a lady who is coming with young Negro. They lady made deep impression on Perthos , even deeper on D’Artagnan. She is from meung. She is the persecator of D’Artagnan , Milady.

D’Artagnan followed Milady out of the church , returning home by carriage to Saint – Germain. He asked planchet to drive him home and call on to Athos. D’Artagnan told him that he saw Melady at the cruch. Athos said that D’Artagnan Felt in love deeper to melady than madame Bonacieux.

Next D’Artagnan and Planchet wanted to ward Saint – Germain. Alkong the road , they talked about Madame Bonacieux. In fact , D’Artagnan had deep lve to her. He wanted to investigate her. He wanted to know who was the man in the black cloak taking her home.

At Saint – Germain , Melady met lubin , the luckay of Conte De Verdes. Planchet gave a letter to D’Artagnan. It tol that milady wil confess what she realy is. She asked D’Artagnan  to meet her at Saint – Germain.

Milady want home with the Englishman , Basque. He protected D’Artagnan of the death. Next D’Artagnan presented his sister , Lady Clark to the Englishman. He left D’Artagnan and gave him milady’s address. He said that whether milady still recog nized him or not as the man she had encountered at Meung an at the Dover. But D’Artagnan didn’t worry a bout that.

In fact D’Artagnan loved either Madame Bonacieux or Milady. When the Englishmen left France because of the war , Lady  Clark received D’Artagnan ceremonyonsly. But when the Englishman returned from the war , D’Artagnan left Lady Clark , he backed to Milady.

Next , Milady confessed that the Englishman is not her brother , but brother – in – law. From Milady’s remark D’Artagnan sensed that a veil of  my stery covered her , but she could not yet see under this veil.

D’Artagnan met kitty , melady’s maid. She gave him a letter it was Milady’s letter telling about her first note. Kitty said that Milady never love D’Artagnan. Milady scholded her maid because she has did it to D’Artagnan. Milady didn’t love him because he almost ruined her credit with cardinal.

D’Artagnan wanted to know what happened to Madame Bonacieux. But Milady realized that the Englishman had not killed her brother in – law. Through her notes , we know that Milady  loved Cante de verdes but he didn’t know what her note means.       

Sweet Potato Pie

This novel has been analyzed by Naimatul Muflihah and Laily Mahfudloh. They give a comment that the story is really touching. I still remember when they presented the analysis of this novel in front of the audiences. What was happened? they couldn't say anything, except "crying"

Analysis of a Short Story

“SWEET POTATO PIE”

by Eugenia Collier

Naima , Laily

A.  Synopsis of the Story

Buddy was the youngest child in a Black poor family. They lived in poverty; their parents were only sharecroppers. The oldest brother Charley took important part in Buddy’s life. He became more father than brother. Because of the poor condition, education was almost ignored in Buddy’s family, but his parents and Charley encouraged him as a youngest child to continue his study. Moreover, Charley often says that Buddy must break the chain of poverty by education and becomes “somebody”

Buddy finished his school successfully and became a professor. When their parents were passed away; every child scattered and built their new family.

One day, Buddy had a professional meeting in New York, the city where Charley and Bea his wife were settled. He stayed in Fifth Avenue Hotel. Charley and Bea were exciting to find Buddy visit their home. Charley told that several months back he had picked up a kid from Buddy’s school, and Charley asked that kid whether he know Buddy or not. He told Charley that Buddy was the best teacher he had. But Charley did not tell that he is Buddy’s brother. He didn’t want Buddy’s students knew his brother isn’t anything but a cab driver. You’re somebody said Charley.

When Buddy went back to his hotel, Bea wrapped the sweet potato pie in brown paper bag and gave to Buddy. He was very happy. Charley was waiting for Buddy with his cab. They stopped a bit down the street from Buddy’s hotel. He invited Charley in, but Charley refused it. When Charley knew that Buddy carried a sweet potato pie, he asked Buddy to give it. Charley said “people in that hotel don’t go through the lobby carrying brown paper bag” Buddy cannot believe it, but finally he handed over his bag of sweet potato pie and let him go.

Buddy entered the hotel and still thinking of his lost snack and Buddy was very compassion when he realized that Charley carried brown paper bag full of sweet potato pie only behind him.

       

B.  Setting

·         Setting of Place              : the 14^th  floor of Fifth Avenue Hotel

              Harlem, New York

              Charley’s apartment Lenox Avenue

·         Setting of time               : in the late afternoon to evening

·         Socio-cultural setting     : a great poverty of sharecroppers family, a hard life which full of struggle.

C. Character

·         Main characters              : Buddy

  Charley (Buddy’s brother)

·       Minor characters             : Father,  Mother

                                                              Lil (Buddy’s sister),  Alberta (Buddy’s sister)

                                                              Jamie (Buddy’s brother),   Bea (Charley’s wife)     

                                                              Mary (Charley’s daughter),   Lucy (Charley’s daughter)

                                                              Jake   (Lil’s husband)

D. Plot

·         Exposition          : From paragraph 1 to 2

·         Complication       : From paragraph 3 especially when Buddy begins to remain his childhood with Charley, to paragraph 30. In this part, the writer presented flashback story.

·         Crisis                    : Paragraph 31 when Charley didn’t let Buddy entered the hotel carrying a sweet potato pie wrapped in a brown paper bag.

·         Falling action       : Paragraph 32 when Buddy thought about his lost snack and what Charley had done.

·      Resolution             : paragraph 33 when Buddy realized that Charley was carrying a brown paper bag for him.

E.  Point of View                : 1^st  person point of view / Limited omniscient

F.  Symbol                          : The sweet potato pie is a symbol in this story—a symbol of love between Buddy and his brother, and a symbol of his former life.

G. Tone                              :Compassion, Sympathy

H. Theme                           : Sacrification in family life

I.    Message

·         People should maintain the feelings of insight, wisdom, and compassion in family life

·         People should be aware that education is a key to break the poverty

J.      Comment

This story is very interesting and gives us many lessons about life. It teaches us to have more appreciation to our family. Moreover, this story depicts the crucial point that love can be shown greater than words can. Charley took the pie and did not mind being a “nobody” for his brother Buddy and followed him; it was really touching and showed caring. Therefore, it is possible for English teachers use this story as a material, but the language should be simplified so that the students understand.

Love and Money

Analysis of a Novel

Love and Money

By

Erskine Caldwell

1.	SETTING
	Setting (of Place)	:	New York, Florida, New Orleans, Colorado
	Setting (of Time)	:	Early April - December
	Socio-Cultural Setting	:	They live in a modern life ( They enjoy their life and spend their days in a bar)
2.	Character
	Main/Major  Character	:	1.      Roderick Sutter  (Novel writer ) 2.      Tess Demerol (Cocktail girl) 3.      Charlotte  (Rick Lover)
	Minor/Supporting Character	:	4.      Harvey 5.      Rob 6.      Morph Dough 7.      Ronnie 8.      Connie 9.      Ken 10.  Suelaine 11.  Jack Bushmillon 12.  Lilly 13.  Laverne
3.	Plot
	Exposition	:	From page 5 – 78 ( I jumped up and grasped her hand. She stared at me in amazement.........)
	Complication	:	Page 79 - 135
	Crisis	:	From page 136 ( “I’ve never loved but once in my life,”...) - 140
	Falling Action	:	From page 140 -  145
	Resolution	:	From page 145 ( “There is no future......to find the ideal woman) - 149
4.	Point of View	:	First person point of view
5.	Symbol	:	Love and Money
6.	Tone	:	Romantic, melancholic
7.	Theme	:	Romance
8.	Message	:	We should not pursue our love because of wealth because a true love flows naturally and it comes from the bottom of our heart. So we can not use love as means to reach our ambition and our obsesion.
9.	Comment	:	This story is compatible with the adult
Synopsis          Rick, the novel writer, spends his days in Florida after leaving New York. Florida is a nice place for him to explore and flow his ideas and to inspire his novel.  One day, he came to a bar to enjoy his life with his friend, Harvey. He meets Tess, a beautiful woman. She attracts Rick’s attention to be his close friend. Suddenly, Tess leaves Florida to continue her journey to New Orleans. Rick fells down hearted and fells something has gone from his heart. He decides to go to New Orleans to meet Tess but he has to finish his big works in Florida.        He tries to bear up his longing for Tess and he decides to look for where Tess is, but he doesn’t know which part of New Orleans she is. Ronnie, his friend, gives a little information and map that Tess may be work in a place called Merry-Go-Round. Arriving in New Orleans, he looks for Tess in Merry-Go-Round, but he doesn’t find her. After e few days he meets  Suelaine, the bar waitress, and she helps him to meet Tess. Then he meets Tess in the bar and asks her to be his wife, but actually Tess doesn’t want to meet him but Rick desires to meet her. So, Tess left him behind, but Rick doesn’t give up in this case.       Tess goes to Colorado; she doesn’t want to meet Rick anymore. She knows that Rick loves her very much, but Tess doesn’t. She asks her friend, Laverne to merry him. As a matter of fact, Tess admits she doesn’t love anyone only her former husband. They are very deeply love each other, but her mother in law didn’t want to marry her and they are divorced after delivering a new baby named Lilly. Tess advices Rick to marry another woman to realize his novel. Then, Rick comes back to Florida and meets Charlotte who motivates him to realize his novel. Charlotte loves Rick very much and she becomes his huge inspiration for his novel. This fact affects his novel as best seller of the year.