Are you still playing

the flute?
By Zurinah Hassan

Are you still playing the

flute?
Are you still playing the flute.docx

BIODATA OF ZURINAH HASSAN

Date / Place of birth : 13 June 1949, Alor Setar Kedah.

Permanent address : No.2, Jalan Pinggir, 8/1L, Seksyen 8,
40000 Shah Alam since 1974.

Academic Qualifications : B.A.Hons (Universiti Sains

Malaysia), M.A. (Universiti Putra Malaysia). Doktor Falsafah,
Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya.

Awards :
Anugerah Penulisan Asia Tenggara (S.E.A. Write Award) 2004
Book Category Award

I - Pujangga Tidak Bernama, Hadiah Sastera Perdana(1994/1995)

ii - Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi, Hadiah Buku
Perpustakaan Negara 2002/2004)
iii - Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi , Hadiah Sastera
Perdana 2002/2003.

SYNOPSIS
This poem is about a persona who reminisces the
time he/she spends when in a village. There are
many things that are now luxury to her such as
listening to the melody of the flute itself, gazing
at the evening rays, collecting dew drops, or
enjoying the fragrance of flowers. The village is
now unpopulated as many have moved to the
city. Now that she has moved on with her life,
she wonders whether the flutist is still playing
the flute. This is because, there are many
challenges in the world today such as the world
is dying, the unemployment issue and the people
are disunited because of different political views.

FIGURATIVE MEANING

Stanza 1:
In life, we sometimes have to change our
way of life due to work or family
circumstances. From a lifestyle filled with
values and traditions like in the village, we
may find ourselves embracing a totally
different lifestyle in towns. However, we
may sometimes long for our previous life
with its unforgettable moments.

Stanza 2:
We may wonder if the values and traditions
we believed in and practised are still
observed in our former villagers. Many
people have migrated to towns or adopted
an urban way of life where such traditions
may not be so well-ingrained. In these
places, life is fast paced and they do not
have the time to enjoy the simple pleasures
of life they used to.

Stanza 3:
These people may think back to their days
in the rural areas with guilt. Traditions and
the old values may seem trivial compared
to their present circumstances. There are
economic, political and social problems to
be faced. Some of these problems have
become personal as they affect people who
are close to them.

THEMES

Values and traditions

Values and traditions have an important role

in our life. They teach us to live correctly
and to hold on to our principles in life. We
learn to value life, family and friends. A
society without values and traditions is
colourless and loses its direction.

Changes in life

Nothing stays the same forever and that

includes life. Life changes over time. These
changes affect every aspect of our lives and
may
have
positive
and
negative
consequences.

Family commitments

Everyone has family commitments, whether

it is to our immediate family members or
extended family members. Be aware of
these commitments as they bind a family
together.

Priorities in life

There are important and unimportant things

in life. Learn to differentiate them and make
plans accordingly.

Enjoying the simple

pleasure of life
Nature

surrounds us and the beauty

of nature offers us the simple
pleasures of life. The rising sun, the
moon and stars, the rainfall and dew
are some of the pleasures that
nature offers. Enjoy them and enjoy
life.

Passionate about one's interest

When

we are really interested in a

hobby, we will become passionate
about it. It helps us to mature as this
passion helps us to stay focused. We
learn to be creative too. But, we
should not let this passion become
an obsession.

MORAL VALUES

We should learn to appreciate the values and traditions of society and

family. They give us balance in life and help us to differentiate between
the good and the bad.

We face changes in life every day. Learn to accept changes but only if
they are for the good of society. If they are beneficial, work around
them for the general good.

Our family is the most important thing in our life. We should put their
interest and safety first before anything else. Show consideration for
one's duties within the home and carry out family commitments
responsibly.

We should know our priorities in life and be aware of them at all times.
Don't get so taken in by our interests that we forget our priorities.

Passion for interests should not be at expense of family happiness.

There is a time for work and a time for play.

POINT OF VIEW

The poem is the first point of view.

The person is addressing another person

and describing a situation to him.

LANGUAGE AND STLYE

Rhetorical question
Descriptive and questioning
Simple style and no rhyme

TONE, MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE

Sombre and regretful

Serious atmosphere

POETIC DEVICES
Imagery e.g. blown by the wind, depth
of my heart
Alliteration e.g. fragrance of flowers
Symbol e.g. flute, song
Repetition e.g. Are you still playing your
flute?
Figurative Language Metaphor e.g. The
melody concealed in the slim hollow of
bamboo Personification e.g. sick rice field

LITERARY DEVICES

Personification:
sick rice field - the rice field is
personified as a human who
is not feeling well

- this world is ...bleeding earth is personified as being
wounded

Symbol:
- flute - symbolises a thing of
the past, something tradition

- song - symbolises the simple

pleasure of life


Repetition

- 'Are you still playing your

flute?' - repeated at the
beginning of all three stanzas
to reinforce the emotion
behind the question and to
create a dramatic effect.

Rhetorical question
- Are you still playing
your flute? - the persona
asks a question to which
she does not expect a
reply.

Metaphor
- 'the melody concealed in the slim hollow
of the bamboo' : The song seems to be
hidden in the bamboo when it is actually
coming out from the playing of the flute.

- 'the world is too old and bleeding': The

world seems to have aged due to war
and the sufferings caused by it.

Imagery

a) imagery of sight:
'so quiet and
deserted': This gives a
clear picture of a
lonely village with
hardly anyone around.

'slaughtered
mercilessly': Many
lives were lost in the
war.

b) Imagery of feelings
- 'depth of my heart': The persona
feels deeply and wants to hear
the song played by the flautist.

- 'longing for your song': The

persona has a deep desire to
hear songs.

c) Imagery of touch
-

'collecting dew
drops' someone is
putting their
hands together
to collect dew
drops to feel
the water

d)Imagery of smell

- 'enjoying the
fragrance of flowers':
The flowers are
emitting fragrant
scent.

e) Imagery of sound
-'playing your flute' The music comes
from the flute

- 'blown by the wind'

- The sound of wind
and music

Activity 1
1. What did the persona mean when she said
deserted?

2. Why is the persona feeling guilty?

3. Why is the question Are you still playing your

flute repeated as the starting line of all the
stanzas?

4.In your opinion, is this a romantic poem? Provide

reasons for your answer.

5.Who is the persona in the poem?

6. Write one line from the poem that depicts that

people are jobless.

7. Provide three phrases that depict the message of

cruel realities of a nation in uncertainty of its
future.

8.In your own words describe why the poet used

the word sick to describe the rice fields.

Answers
1.the villagers have left/migrated
2.Feeling guilty as she is enjoying the music
when the nation is plagued with problems
3.This is to stress on the activity as
something that should not be done when
the nation is facing so much trouble
4.No, it is not a romantic poem. It is poem
that shows the irony between a leisure
activity and problems faced by the nation at
the same time.

5.a very perceptive and reflective woman

6.my younger brothers unemployed and
desperate
7.a. my people disunited by politics
b. my friend slaughtered mercilessly
c. this world is too old and bleeding
8.Perhaps the yield is not rewarding/ the
harvest is destroyed due to bad weather

All the best with love

always