It is a reflection of si tenggang who has gone

overseas and return to his homeland. His

perspective of life has widened but basically he is

still the same person. |His on people do not accept

him and in this poem si tenggang tries to convince

them he still respect his people and their culture.

Introduction: The poem talks about how Si Tenggang has undertaken travels and returned home and about the positive influence his travels have had on him.

First stanza

• The journey is not only physical but also a journey into his inner self• He travels from his homeland to a foreign land• He has gained knowledge from being in these new places• He remains it stranger in a foreign land despite the knowledge he has

acquired• He grows and develops as he is exposed to new perspectives• He realizes the realities change and they give him a sense of maturity

Second stanza

• He feels frustrated because his people fail to understand him• He begins to love and appreciate his wife more especially since he is rejected by his own people• His people have their own preconceived ideas about him• He knows his travels have changed him• His travels have hardened him and perhaps made him better• Since he has been away for some time, his relationship with others could have deteriorated

Third stanza

• He made a deliberate attempt to return home• His travels have given him wisdom and maturity• His travels have been educational and have given him confidence and new understanding• He is naïve and therefore cannot be easily cheated• The journey is a learning experience and one of discovery• He considers it ‘a teacher’ who shows him the differences in people and their lives and teaches him to gain self-discovery and self-renewal• Despite his new found knowledge, he is still one of his own people• He can still distinguish what is good and what is bad• His travels have made him more tolerant and more open• He still wants to be part of the community• He is willing to share his knowledge with others in his homeland

Fourth stanza

• His journeys have made him reject ideas that are in conflict his faith and principles- he will not sacrifice his beliefs• His knowledge and insights have prepared him with the ability to make choices carefully• He uses his knowledge and wisdom to decide what to keep and what to reject• He believes in values that have stood the test of time• His home draws him back like a magnet• He still considers his village to be the best – there is no place like home

Fifth stanza

• He has learnt from his travels about the way different people respond to different things• He has seen imperfect manners but he has not accepted things blindly• Despite his new-found knowledge, he respects his roots• He still understands people and all the things that make up ‘people’

Sixth stanza

• He firmly states that he has not changed completely and that he is still a Malay• He reaffirms all the positive things that have resulted from his travels• He encounters problems when is in a foreign land but he still remains positive and keeps an open mind• He emphasizes that he is still a Malay but no longer narrow-minded• He is free now because he has found what and who he is, he has found peace and contentment – he has found himself

Themes:

1. Expanding one’s horizons through travels (Travels broadens the mind)2. Importance of one’s roots

Tone/Mood:

a. positive and affirmativeb. pleading and seeking understanding, empathy and sympathyc. persuasive and gentle (towards the end)

Literal Meaning of the Poem

Si Tenggang undertakes travels that are physical as well as an exploration of his inner self. He has visited foreign lands that have exposed him to the different peoples and their cultures. The travels have broaden his horizon and given him the wisdom to distinguish between good and bad values. However, he finds that the changes in him are not easily or readily accepted by his own people, the Malays. His people believe that he has changed entirely. Si Tenggang tries his utmost best to convince his people that travel broaden a man and make him wiser. He is convinced that he has learnt a lot from his travels without forgetting his roots.

Poetic devices

 

Contrast

'the physical journey that i

traverse is the journey of

the soul'

 

Personification

'the journey was a loyal

teacher who was never

tardy'

'the country that alienated

me'

 

Assonance

'journey of the soul'

'to a country collected'

'....growled.......mother and

grandmother'

'estranged by absence'

 

Alliteration

'Freed from'

'Country collected'

'Love.....loneliness'

'land and languages'

 

Symbol

'oceans'

represents the unknown ,

something big and

mysterious

'fatherland'

represents his native

land , his home

'journey of the soul'

represents internal or

spiritual reflection

during his travel

'i am you'

the 'you' represents all

Malay people

 

Metaphor

'seasoned by confidence'

'the contents of this these

boats are yours too'

 

THEMES

'Travels' to foreign lands

Home is where one

belongs

Alienation被疏远

Independence

Search for knowledge

Loneliness

Rejection and

acceptance

Respect and humility 谦

虚

Importance of roots

Loyalty to ones

community and country

Courage and integrity

MORAL VALUES

We should not be afraid

to travel and widen our

horizons.

Learning is an on going

process.

One must live in

harmony with one's

family and society.

No matter how far we

go, home is where we

belong.

One must be humble

and respectful no matter

how learned someone is

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Islam encourages us to

seek knowledge

Do not judge people

without understanding

them.

Do not be afraid to try

new things.