Synopsis Tanjong Rhu is a story about the relationship between Mr.T.W. Li , is a rich businessman in the shipping business and his mother, Ah Ma. Mr.Li's office is Shenton Way is a modern as he is. His mother however, is a traditional with strong religion beliefs and practices ancestor worship. Ah Ma and Mr. Li have a close relationship. The day after Ah Ma's funeral, Mr. Li recalls the day he brought his mother a pair of binocular. Mr. Li's excitement was dashed when his mother didn't use it the way he wants to. Mr. Li wants her to have a better vision, but Ah Ma can only see Tanjong Rhu of the past through the binocular. Indirectly, Ah Ma is trying to make Mr.Li remember who he was before he became a serius businessman. Mr.Li cannot remember all the details of his childhood and when he tried to ask Ah Ma, she had already became too sick to talk to him. The story ends with Mr.Li trying to fulfill Ah Ma's wish of getting the key to the drawer that keep her important things for the altar. In the process of looking for the key, Mr.Li suddenly could see Tanjong Rhu. Setting Place
Tanjong Rhu, Singapore (pg 18) Mr T.W. Li office (pg 18) (pg 27-29) (pg 33) Singapore harbor (para 3, line 2, pg 19) Mr T. W. Li house The swimming pool in the garden (para 6, line 1, pg 20) The family altar (para 2, line 2, pg 25)(pg 35-6) Hospital (pg 30 – 33)
Time
Modern days (pg 18, “modern ways and modern ideas) Afternoon Morning
Community
Traditional Chinese family
Characters and Characteristics
Mr T. W. Li Mr T. W. Li’s mother or “Ah-Ma” Mr T. W. Li’s daughter, Ying
Mr T. W. Li
Kind-hearted (pg 19, para 4,” He looked….operation”) Responsible man o Always make sure there are people working at the harbor (pg 19, “There were 68…and time”) o Take cares of his mother (page 22, “What about….clearly?”) Strict o He was upset to see his daughter shows no respect to his mother (pg 26, “Mr Li frowned…rice.”) o He was mad to see his daughter playing with his mother’s eyelids (pg 32, “ He looked up at Ying….dying”)
Mr T. W. Li’s mother or “Ah-Ma” o Stubborn o She doesn’t want to undergo eye operation although it will bring good to her in the future (pg 22,” Who says I cannot….knife!” o Soft-hearted for his son o Although his son seems to be upset with her, she try to fix what she had done (pg 23 -25 , “ But Mother, that…stepped inside” o Strict about the traditional tradition o She argues with her granddaughter over some joss sticks for praying (pg 2526, “ Minutes later…..wants!”
Mr T. W. Li’s daughter, Ying o Responsible o She loved helping her grandmother (pg 25, “Ying especially loved….altar.”)
o Impatient o She always wanted things to go fast, she does not like slow things (pg 25, “ Let me do it, Popo,….won’t hurry, Baba.”) o Cheerful o Although her grandmother was sick bed, she moved behind her grandmother and pulled her grandmother’s eyelids up, to cheer things up (pg 31-32, “She moved behind…..Ask her something.”)
