Sample Q & A: The Curse

Question 1:
Based on the novel that you have read, what is the lesson that you have learned from the
ending of the novel? Give reasons why you think the lesson is important.
The novel I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. In the novel, it ended
with Azreen learning the truth about a lot of things surrounding her sisters death. It was
very sad for Azreen too because she had to cope with the deaths of the Old Lady and her
parents. In the epilogue, Azreen went back to London to continue her studies. It is important
to know that in the end, Azreen learned to forgive. The theme of forgiveness and the
importance of the truth resonate throughout the ending of the novel.
I learned that forgiveness is the key to finding inner peace and strength. Somehow, it
helps a person to move on despite having gone through negative situations. Azreens
character teaches us to be strong, bold and upright in order to withstand vicious gossips and
to fight injustice like how she defended the Old Lady.
The same goes for Azreen when she returned to London. If she allowed hatred, anger
and other negative emotions to take over, those emotions would have consumed her and
made her life worse. But because she learned to accept the truth and to forgive, she was
able to smile at the end. Although the truth was difficult to handle for Azreen, especially
about Madhuri and Mohd Asraf, her father being Madhuris murderer, and how Madhuri was
not her real sister,Azreen managed to cope with all those unfortunate events.
From the ending of the novel, I learned that sometimes, although the truth may not be
what everybody wants to hear, it is always best to tell the truth because it helps people to
find inner peace and to be truly happy.

Question 2:
Based on the novel that you have read, give examples of what hope means to the
characters that you have chosen.
The novel I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. Hope is the feeling of wanting
something you desire to come true. In the novel, Mohd Asraf and Madhuri are in love and
they hope to be together when Mohd Asraf leaves for Kuala Lumpur for a teaching course.
However, Madhuri is married to Haji Ghani. She plans to confess everything to her
husband and get his permission to release her. Asraf hopes that Madhuri is right that her
husband is a reasonable person who wants the best for her and she will ultimately be
released from her marriage. Madhuri also plans to reveal everything to her parents about
their relationship. Unfortunately, their hope of being together is dashed
when Madhuris father discovers the truth before she could explain everything to
him. Saleh Abdullah, catches Madhuri and Mohd Asraf together in the rubber estate and he
wanted to go after Mohd Asraf. Sadly, as he wields his parang, it strikes Madhuri and kills
her.

Due to Mohd Asrafs ailing grandmother, he forced himself to visit the Old Lady and
ask her to cure his grandmother. When she did come to his house, some of the villagers
found out about it and they think that all the bad incidents happening around the village is
due to her presence.
In addition, another character, Puan Fatihah feels like she is slowly losing her
husband after Madhuris death. She hopes to win his affections again by cooking a breakfast
feast for him. But he did not appreciate her deed due to the many happenings in the village;
instead, he left without eating what she had cooked for him.
In conclusion, the novel helps us to see how hope drives different characters to do different
things and there are positive and negative consequences of their actions.

Question 3:
Using details from the novel you have studied, write about a theme that you can relate to in
your daily life. Give examples of the theme that you have chosen. Support your answer with
close reference to the text.
The novel I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. A theme from The Curse is
about the negative effects or rumours and hearsay. Gossip is basically idle talk that goes bad
if one is not careful enough but malicious gossip is even more dangerous because it does the
most damage.
For example, in the past, the villagers constant gossiping had caused the Old Lady to move
to the jungle because they thought that she was a crazy woman who killed her husband in
cold blood. They failed to understand and consider the reason behind the act and it caused
the Old Lady to live alone for the rest of her life in the jungle. The villagers continued to
spread wrong information about the Old Lady by saying that she will cast a spell or kill those
who trespass on her property.
Puan Normala warned that a curse will befall the village by claiming that the
incessant rain was caused by the Old Lady coming into the village even though she came
only to cure Nek, Mohd Asrafs grandmother. She gathered some of her neighbours and
convinced them to drive the Old Lady out of the village. Sadly, not long after the Old Lady
had cured Nek, Nek passed away and the neighbours convinced Mohd Asraf that the Old
Lady was to be blamed. The confrontation between them and the Old Lady ended tragically
with her house being burnt down and her untimely death.
Throughout the novel, we are constantly reminded of how rumours can turn bad
and how they can lead to destruction or a tragic conclusion. As stated by the Old Lady,
Rumours can be damaging even if they are untrue, especially if they are untrue. All a
person can do is to ignore them and the rumours will die off as soon as another juicier one
comes along.
I have learnt from the theme in this novel that I should not believe or be
influenced by rumours in our daily lives. More importantly, I should also not create and
spread rumours about another person. These, we must apply in our daily lives.

The novel I have read is The Curse written by Lee Su Ann. There are many
characters in the novel but the character I find most admirable is none other than Azreen,
the younger daughter of Saleh Abdullah. I admire Azreen because she has many positive
characteristics. I will give examples from the novel to support my answer.

Question 4:
Using details from the novel you have studied, describe how it has taught you to be a
responsible person. Give examples of how you learned to be a responsible person.
The novel I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. In the novel, we learn about
responsibility in terms of thinking before we speak and not spreading rumours. The gossipy
villagers spread rumours about Madhuris death and how it will bring a curse to the
village. Puan Normala begins to spread rumours by claiming to have seen Madhuris dead
body and white blood. To make matters worse, she starts to link happenings like the endless
rain and flood to the curse. This only creates more fear among the villagers. Puan Normala
and her neighbours gossip and speculate about everything. To top it all off, when the Old
Lady is sought after by Mohd Asraf to treat his sick grandmother, the villagers gang up to
chase her away because they consider her evil as she had murdered her husband in the
past. They feel that she is the cause of the curse.
Sadly, due to the irresponsible villagers rumours at that time, the Old Lady
becomes the victim and she is labelled as a mad woman and a murderer. She was forced to
leave the village and had to live in a deserted house in the jungle. She is forced to come to
the village again when Mohd Asraf pleads with her to treat his grandmother. When his
grandmother passed away, the villagers were quick to accuse the Old Lady of
poisoning Mohd Asrafs Nek and it was enough to convince Mohd Asraf to confront the Old
Lady at her house. When things got out of hand, the house is burned down and the Old Lady
dies.
On the other hand, Azreen is a responsible person by the way she treats her parents
even though she feels that they love Madhuri more than her. She never receives her fathers
warmth as his daughter as much as Madhuri but being the responsible daughter that she is,
she continues to treat her father respectfully. Azreen also takes care of her mother who
suffers from Alzheimers till her mothers death.
I have learned that I have to be responsible for my own actions. I should not
spread rumours nor cause harm to others without thinking carefully no matter what happens
or challengers I have to face. For being irresponsible, we can also cause harm to other
people.

First and foremost, Azreen is an independent girl. She goes wherever she wants to
without seeking permission from her parents. She was determined to go for the
exchange programme where she lived with Datin Sharifah and Datuk Zulkifli in Georgetown.
She even applied for a scholarship in an effort to leave the village. Azreen is also loyal. This
can be seen when Azreen saw Encik Mohan and his sons manhandling Asraf, she came to his
aid by taking the blame for him.
In addition, Azreen prepares meals for her parents and takes good care of her
mother after Madhuris death. She is a filial and dutiful daughter. Azreen did not believe the
villagers who claimed that the Old Lady could turn anyone into squirrels or rats as well as
cook and eat them for dinner. This shows that she is a sensible person.
I also admire Azreen because she accepts challenges. Azreen was dared to pay a
visit to the Old Lady and she went to her house. They became good friends
Azreen is also a determined person. Azreen could not tolerate her fathers
and neighbours constant complaints. So, she accepted the two-month foster programme to
stay with Datin Sharifah and Datuk Zulkifli. Similarly, she was determined to accept the
scholarship to study in London and so her foster parents decided to support her financially
From the novel, we know that Azreen is also an open-minded. I admire Azreen as
she does not believe in the stereotype role of a woman who is supposedly to be docile and
feminine. She is also modest. Azreen is not proud and does not put on airs although she is
studying in London. Besides that, Azreen is admirable because of her diligence.
Both Azreen and Madhuri work diligently to weave a new basket for their mother as the
former broke the basket which was laden with durians. I also admire Azreen because she is
intelligent. Azreen obtained a scholarship to pursue her tertiary education in London.
In conclusion, the character I admire most from the novel I have read is Azreen.
Although she is not perfect and has some negative characteristics, she has even more
positive characteristics. She is someone I can relate to and I hope to be just like her.

Question 6:
There are many interesting events in the novel you have read. Write about an event or
incident that you think is important or that you will never forget. Give reasons to
substantiate your answer.
The novel I have read is The Curse by Lee Su Ann. I think the incident
when Mohd Asraf tells Azreen that he and Madhuri were in a relationship is important in the
novel The Curse. Here are a few reasons to substantiate my answer.

Question 5:
Based on the novel you have read, write about a character whom you admire. Give reasons
why you admire him or her. Support your answer with close reference to the text.

First and foremost, this piece of news is shocking to Azreen as she has always
liked Mohd Asraf from her school days. She even joined Mohd Asrafs hockey team so she
could spend more time with him. Though she knew that Mohd Asraf was taken up

by Madhuris beauty and always praised her syair recitals, she never knew that Madhuri too,
had feelings for him as she had never mentioned it to anyone before.

Madhuri has not been happy with her marriage. This is because, to many, she seems to be
living a perfect family life. Nobody knows what she is going through.

Secondly, this event adds a twist to the story as Madhuri agreed to the idea of getting
a divorce from Haji Ghani and run away from the village with Mohd Asraf to Kuala Lumpur
where he will be furthering his studies. This should never have happened in the first place
as Madhuri is already married to Haji Ghani, the village headman.

In conclusion, this incident is very important and I will never forget this incident
because it makes the story more interesting. From this incident, I also learn that people are
not always as they seem to be so we should not judge them just based on what they
portray.

Thirdly, with this revelation, Azreen is able to understand what Madhuri had intended
to tell her in the letter she had written to her before she died. She also realised that