Poem What Has Happened To Lulu?

(Form 5) : Meaning
Stanza One
Line Line Interpretation
no.
1 What has The persona (the
happened to child) is asking
Lulu, his/her mother
mother? about his/her
older sister, Lulu.
2 What has The question is
happened to repeated but
using the name
Lu?
“Lu” (showing
that the child and
Lulu are very
close)
3 There's Lulu is not in her
nothing in bed. Only her
her bed but rag-doll is there
an old rag-
doll
4 And by its There is a shoe
side a shoe. (Lulu’s) by the
side of the bed.
Stanza Two
Line Line Interpretation
no.
1 Why is her The persona is
window asking his/her
wide, mother about
mother, Lulu’s bedroom
window that is
wide open
2 The curtain The curtain is
flapping moving because
free, of the wind from
the open window
3 And only a Lulu’s money-
circle on the box is also
dusty shelf missing (sign of a
      4 Where her circle where the
money-box money-box was)
used to be?
Stanza Three
Line Line Interpretation
no.
1 Why do you The persona is
turn your asking his/her
 head, mother why she
mother, turns her head
away from
him/her
2 And why do He/She asks
tear-drops why  mother is
fall? crying
3 And why do Why does his/her
you crumple mother crumple
that note on the note she is
the fire reading and
throw it into the
fire (in the fire
place)
4 And say it is The mother
nothing at simply says that
all? there is nothing
to worry about.
Stanza Four
Line Line Interpretation
no.
1 I woke to The persona tells
voices late his/her mother
last night, that he/she woke
up from his/her
sleep because
he/she heard
some people
talking
2 I heard an He/She also
engine roar. heard the sound
of a vehicle at
that time
3 Why do you The persona is
tell me the asking his/her
things I mother why she
heard says what he/she
4 Were a heard were only
dream and in his/her dream
nothing
more?
Stanza Five
Line Line Interpretation
no.
1 I heard The persona tells
somebody his/her mother
cry, mother, that he/she also
2 In anger or heard someone
in pain, cry in anger or in
 pain
3 But now I But when he/she
ask you asks his/her
why, mother, she says
mother, it is just the
sound of the rain.
4 You say it
was a gust
of rain.
Stanza Six
Line Line Interpretation
no.
1 Why do you The persona is
wander asking his/her
about as mother why she
though is walking or
2 You don't moving aimlessly
know what as if she is
to do? nervous, worried
and in panic.
3 What has Again, the
happened to persona is asking
Lulu, his/her mother
mother? about Lulu.
4 What has The repeated
happened to question shows
Lu? that the child is
really missing
his/her sister / is
worried about her
/ in confusion.

Poem What Has Happened To Lulu? (Form 5) : Themes, Moral Values,

Moral Lessons

THEMES:

 Family love
 Family values
 Grief
 Adult versus child 
MORAL VALUES:

 Love and care

 Responsibility
 Helpfulness
 Honesty
 Co-operation
MORAL LESSONS:

 Honesty is the best policy

 We should help others in need
 Two heads are better than one
 Many hands make light work
 We have to show our concern towards our family members
 Blood is thicker than water
.

Based on the persona’s observations:

Stanza 1:        Lulu is missing

Old rag-doll & Lulu’s shoe

Stanza 2:        Lulu’s open window & flapping curtain

A circle on the dusty shelf

Stanza 3:        Mother is crying

Mother crumples the note

Stanza 4:        Voices late at night

Engine roar

Stanza 5:        Somebody cried in anger/pain

Stanza 6:        Mother is wandering / looking worried

Poem What Has Happened To Lulu? (Form 5) : Practice 2 (HOTS Questions)
+ Answers