Grandma was sad because she knew her son, daughter, daughter-in-law and grandchildren would leave her to another place for their new lives. She did not know when she would see them again. When his grandson, Toan said, “Can you come with us”, it made grandma sad and be touched emotionally because although Toan was very young, and he was going to leave, he still considered and worried whether his grandma would be safe in Vietnam. Grandma also cheered Toan up, and told him need not worry about her because Aunt Loan would stay in Vietnam to take care of her. Grandma could not show any sadness and unhappiness when they were leaving, because she did not want to make them depressed. Grandma was also worried about their safety during the journey. She was afraid that they would be caught by the soldiers, so she prayed in front of Quan Yin and her husband. She wished Quan Yin to bless her relatives.
Before The Vo family escaped and during the journey, Toan felt frightened and, worried and confused, because Toan was too young to understand what was happening during the New Year’s celebration. The atmosphere of the New Year’s celebration was very active and happy in the Vo family before, but in that year, his family was full of silence and fear. Toan was so young that he did not know the reason for that. Toan was five or six years old in that year. When he knew his family was preparing to flee Vietnam, he also could not understand why his parents had to decide to flee. In Toan’s perspective, he was unwilling to leave such a country, because he knew he would lose all his friends and happiness in Vietnam. Toan did not and would not realize the seriousness and that when his family would be caught by the Community Government.
On the boat, Toan was scared and silent because he did not know where he was going. Also, Toan’s expression was caused by the other people who on the same boat. They were scared and silent too. During the journey, Toan’s aunt was taken by the pirates. He felt guilty because he did not help his aunt to resist the pirates. Anyway, he was so young that he could not do anything. In Toan’s perspective, his father could help his aunt. He felt disappointed and angry with his father. In Toan’s attitude, Minh was timid and indifferent because Minh did not resist the pirates to take Toan’s aunt. Toan was so young that he could not consider that the pirates would kill them off if anyone made them angry. Toan also did not understand that his father, as the head of the family, he had to take care of his family. He did not resist the pirates to help Mai because he did not want any more members in his family to be harmed hammed or taken by the pirates.
Minh was frightened because he realized that it was risky to flee Vietnam. If they were caught by the communist government, all his family might be shot, and if they met pirates on the sea, they all might be killed as well. However, he could not show any fear on his face, because he was the head of the family, and he was the most powerful in the Vo family. If other people knew he was frightened, they would be more frightened, and also other would think he was not competent to be a leader in the family. In order to cheer the other members up, he had to show braveness. Minh was worried when he had not seen the other members in his family on the shore. He was afraid whether they would arrive on the shore on time, and whether they would be caught by the communist government. This showd that he loved his family a lot. During the journey, Mai was taken by the pirates they met on the sea. Minh felt guilty when he saw his sister taken but he did not help her. As the head of the family, Minh had to protect every one in his family to make them always were safe, but at that time, Minh did not protect his sister. The reason for that is he knew all his family would be killed if he tried to save his sister. For a even more important thing that to protect the rest people, so he did not save his sister. There was no alternate for him.
Hoa flet scared and worried becauseher family was taking a risk to flee Vietnam. Just like every one, she worried about that whether they would be caught by the Communist Government. She was also worried about that whether her mother-in-law was safe in Vietnam. She was afraid that her mother-in-law would get into trouble because of their escape. However, she could not show any fear on her face too because she was a second-leader in The Vo family as Mai was taken. She was responsible for cheering the children, especially Linh and Phuong. She needed to comfort them because they had lost their mother.
Language Features:
P45-47
Toan’s story is written in the first person. It was a factual description. It describes the fact and the feelings. In this story, the writers use similes and colloquial language. For example, on P46 it was written, “As for Aunt Mai, she fussed around like a constipated chicken.”, it is simile. “for us kids” is colloquial language. These language techniques can make pictures in reader’s mind, and it makes it easier for the readers to what is going on. Also these language techniques can make the story more vivid so that the readers are interested.
P51-54
It was written in the third person. That means this story shows writers perspectives. It is a factual description. A personification is used, “Time heals the bleeding soul.” It can make readers easier to understand.
P37-39
This story was written in third person. It is a factual description. Writers quoted a Vietnamese word in the story, “Vout Bien”. Writers used Vietnamese word in the story because they wanted to make readers feel the sense of reality of this novel which is about the Vietnamese story. Also it can make the story more vivid.
P47-49
It was written in third person. It is a factual descrption. The writers used personification in this sentence, “if they are lucky and the winds and tides are kind.” Also writers used a simile, “ he like a caged cat.” These all used to make the story more vivid, and make pictures in readers minds.
Addition, Composer used first and third person to describe the stories in order to show perspectives through different characters.
