LITERATURE COMPONENT

QWERTYUIOP
i) Synopsis
Lucy Beck is the fresh out of Belmont Secretarial Collegewho eagerly starts work at Ross
and Bannister's. Harry Darke introduces her to the place and gently hints that the
electrictypewriter is different. Lucy soon discovers a mysteriouspresence which hinders her
typing efforts and threatens her.The strange word 'QWERTYUIOP' keeps recurring on
everything she types. Lucy fights back with correcting ink and manages to complete a few
letters. The next day Harry enlightens her about the nature of the hidden presence, which is
the spirit of Miss Broome, a long time secretary of the late Mr. Bannister. So, Lucy decides
to appease Miss Broomes spirit by communicating with her through the typewriter. Lucy
assures Miss Broome and gives her a reason for living in the next world. At the end, Lucy
can focus on being a good secretary and managed to remove Miss Broome from the
typewriter.
ii) Plot
1) EXPOSITION: Lucy Beck was accepted as secretary in Ross and Bannister's.
2) RISING ACTION: The typewriter gave Lucy problems as it self-typed unnecessary words
like QWERTYUIOP.
3) CLIMAX: The typewriter threatened Lucy and tried to scare her away. Lucy battled it
with correcting fluid and finally finished typing the letter.
4) FALLING ACTION: Lucy heard about Miss Broome, whose spirit had taken over the
typewriter and did not want anyone else to be the secretary. Lucy was determined to hold on
to her job.
5) RESOLUTION: Lucy convinced Miss Broome that the deceased Mr. Bannister needed
her in the other world. Miss Broome was appeased and did not haunt the typewriter
anymore.

iii) Characters
3 main characters: Lucy Beck, Harry Darke, Miss Broome
4 minor characters: Mr. Ross, Mrs. Price, Uncle Bert, Lucy's mother
1) Lucy Beck
Characteristics:
a)Underachiever (pg9)
She had a lonely 'O' level and a typing speed that would make a tortoise laugh.
b)Low self-esteem (pg 9)
Whoever will want to employ me?
c)Courageous (pg 20)
She might be young and shy and a little slow, but she was not a coward!
d)Punctual (pg 12)
She was early. She smoothed down her windy hair and waited.
2) Harry Darke:
Characteristics:
a)Helpful (pg12)
Anything you want, just ask old Harry.
b)Judgemental (pg13)
You can take a telephone message without getting the names muddled, can't you?
3) Miss Broome
Characteristics:
a)Bad-Tempered (pg20)
The machine went mad. QUERTYUIOP! QUERTYUIOP. QWERTYUIOP! It screamed ,
shaking and snapping its keys like castanets..
b)Lonely (pg25)
Didn't have anywhere worth going to- a bedsit, a gas ring... The old bag didn't have any
family who'd own her.
c) Loyal (pg25)
Been here 43 years, girl, woman and old misery.
4) Mr. Ross
Characteristic:
Concerned (pg23)
Did you have trouble with the machine, Miss Beck?

5) Mrs. Price
Characteristic:
Caring (pg 9)
Good luck my dear, she said kindly...
6) Uncle Bert
Characteristic:
Alcoholic (pg9 and 10)
He's not drinking up my pay pocket. That's for sure.
7) Lucy's mother
Characteristic:
Patient (pg9)
Lucy loved her mother but could not help wishing she would sometimes lose her temper.

GRAMMAR
Present Perfect Tense
It is formed using: has/have + PAST PARTICIPLE
Examples: has walked, has read, have eaten, have stopped and etc
Generally, it is used to show TWO conditions:
1) something happened in the past, but the time is not shown.
(the time is not stated/ no specific time)
PAST___X_____NOW_______FUTURE_
Ex: I have eaten my breakfast today.
(It is not stated at what time the person eat his or her breakfast)
2) something began in the past and still continues to the present time.
PAST____X >____NOW______FUTURE_ X
Ex: They have lived at Seberang Jaya since 2005.
(Now, in the years of 2011, they still live at Seberang

Jaya)