Do something worthwhile!

Salam and greeting to everyone,especially the form 3 students who have just seated for their PMR! So,what's your plan? Are you going to skip school? I hope not!I have always love school and I first stepped into school when I was 3 (as my dad was a teacher) then. As far as I could remember, I could already read before I entered school. I used to read the passing cars' plate number and I read all the signboards in my small town. I even read the old magazines used to wrap the groceries my mum bought. Sometimes, I found many beautiful pictures of home magazines, flowers and animals. I cut all the pictures and made scrapbooks. As a kid, I was so engrossed exploring and creating new things from anything I got hold on (usually with my mum's permission). The word "boring" was never included in my list of vocabulary. To me, everyday was an exciting day. If I could not find anything to play with at home, I would pick the dried leaves, eye their "veins" and draw them on some white papers which were generously given to me by one of my so many uncles (my dad has 4 brothers who were still single then...they gave me a lot of presents ...pen, story books,jeans etc) When I entered primary school, I fell in love with writing. I had written a lot of short stories and poems since then. I used to write a diary but it was only for a short while because I fell asleep halfway. I used to draw cartoon for friends too. You know the picture of cartoon on the pencil box? I used to get first place in class and my teacher gave me a beautiful pencil box as a present.I continued drawing until I was at the university.In fact, I am still drawing ( but not as much as I used too). Even now when the retiring age is nearer, I still have a lot of ideas and things to do.When all my energy has been drained by my own busy routine, I still have the time to read. Reading a book a week is the least I can do.(but..I have to make sure meals are ready for the mischievous boys at home. Their sister isn't home to help me) So my dear, I hope all of you won't waste your time. Do something worthwhile!Do something that you are passionate about. May you get the results you desire. Aamiin.

The Types of Transportation Used in "Around The World in 80 Days" (edited version for Malaysian school students)

The theme "Adventure"

The theme “Adventure” is depicted clearly by Jules Verne in the novel “Around the World in 80 Days”. The first adventure Fogg has encountered is in India. There, the railway track is discontinued at Allahabad. Yet, Fogg finds his way out. He manages to buy an elephant and hires an Indian guide to take him to Culcutta. As the guide takes him and his company through the jungle, they come across a gang of robbers taking a daughter of a rich merchant as a hostage. Instead of ignoring what they have seen, Fogg and his company go on a rescue mission. So, Fogg then has to take the girl named Aouda with him on his travel around the world in 80 Days. In Hong Kong, Fogg’s journey is threatened by the missing of his butler, Passepartout. He also misses the ship which should take him to Yokohama. Yet, Fogg remains calm and finds a boat which is willing to take him to Yokohama. It is not an easy ride though for the sea is rough and the wind is strong. In Japan, he finally reunites with his butler while the poor man is performing at a circus. Fogg’s adventure does not end in Japan. In America, he faces yet more adventures. While on a train from New York to California, the train is robbed by a gang of bandit who later kidnaps Passepartout. He embarks yet on another rescue mission and missed the train. However, being adventurous, he uses a sledge to continue his journey. In this novel, Fogg as the main character has indeed encountered a lot of interesting adventures. Therefore, adventure is definitely one of the themes of this novel.

Synopsis of Around The World in 80 Days

The story begins in England. It is about a man named Fogg. He is a rich bachelor who lives alone in a big house with a butler. However no one knows the source of his wealth. He has a few regular habits and very fussy. He fires his former butler, James Foster for bringing him his shaving water two degrees too cold. He then hires Passepartout , a Frenchman of about 30. Later that day in the Reform Club, he gets into a conversation with his friends as to whether it is possible to go around the world in 80 days. He believes it is possible and takes the challenge with a bet of 20,000 pounds. So he and his butler go on their adventure carrying only a carpetbag containing a few clothes and a lot of money. During the travel, he is followed by Detective Fix who assumes that Fogg is the bank robber. Fix believes Fogg is the robber as he matches the description of the bank robber. While in the journey, Fix befriends Passepartout. Fix makes Passepartout wonder whether his master might be the robber. However Passepartout trusts that his master is a good and honest man. Fogg has to face many problems throughout his journey. One of them is when the train in India is discontinued and he has to buy an elephant to continue his journey. There he runs across a gang of bandits and bravely saves Aouda. While in Hong Kong, he also misses the ship to Yokohama. Another problem is when the train from San Francisco to New York is robbed by a gang of robbers and Passepartout is kidnapped. He then misses the dateline when Fix arrests him at Liverpool. However, in the end, everything goes well. Fogg wins the wager and finds a beautiful Aouda as his wife.

A character which shows determination

In the novel Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope, the character that showed great determination is Rudolf Rassendyll.
When the King was kidnapped, Rudolf Rassendyll was determined to free the King from being imprisoned in Zenda Castle. He had agreed earlier to only impersonate as the King for the coronation but after the King was kidnapped, he continued his impersonation. He planned to rescue the King.

In his attempt to rescue the King, he had to risk his life a few times. The Famous Six was sent to kill him when he went to see Antonette at the house she was staying, and Rupert of Hentzau stabbed him from the back when he refused to accept bribe offered by Duke Michael. He was again shot by Rupert on his shoulder when he ran after Rupert for killing Duke Michael.

Rudolf Rassendyll’s honesty was also put into a test when he fell in love with the beautiful Princess Flavia. Instead, he sacrificed his love for her because he was determined to rescue the King. His mission was to return back the throne to the King so that Ruritania would not fall into the hand of the evil Duke Michael and his Famous Six.

In the end his determination led to his success in rescuing the King.

An interesting event in The Prisoner of Zenda

In the novel Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope, the most exciting event is when Rudolf Rassendyll impersonates as the King and has to attend the coronation on the King’s behalf.

This happens when the King has fainted as a result of drinking drugged wine given by Duke Michael. Rudolf Rassendyll has to act as the King because of his resemblance to the King. It is not easy to act as someone else so Sapt has to teach him how to behave like the King. He has to learn about people around him, the King’s likes and dislikes. Fritz seems extremely quiet and nervous while they are on the train from Zenda to Strelsau.

Moreover, Rudolf Rassendyll is shown to be in a very tense situation when he has to meet the officers at the train station and has to ride the horse all by himself through the Old Town of Strelsau where the King is disliked. In fact, the tense atmosphere can be felt when he meets Princess Flavia and Duke Michael during and after the coronation. The two people who are very close to the King may discover his true identity.

It is also exciting when after the coronation; Rudolf Rassendyll and Princess Flavia have to ride the Royal carriage together on their way to the palace. Princess Flavia mentions that she has noticed some changes in the King, and happy to see the changes when in reality the man in the carriage is Rudolf Rassendyll not the King.

This is definitely the event which I find interesting.

The Prisoner of Zenda: Theme - Brave

The Prisoner of Zenda

The theme “brave” is obvious in the novel “The Prisoner of Zenda”. Rudolf Rassendyll shows that he is brave when he agrees to impersonate as the King for the coronation, even though he knows it is dangerous. If his impersonation is revealed, he may be killed by Duke Michael. Rudolf Rassendyll is also brave to ride alone in the Old Town although he knows that the King is disliked by the people of Old Town. Furthermore, Rudolf Rassendlyll displays that he is brave to rescue the King. When he arrives at Zenda Castle, Detchard is about to kill the King but he fights Detchard bravely and kills him.