LEAVING BY M G VASSANJI FROM MISS NATRA

LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘LEAVING’ SHORT STORY BY M.G. VAASANJI

LEAVING BY M. G. VAASANJI

NOTE: FLOW OF THE STORY. Page | 1

There used to be five of us and Mother, but now it’s just Mother, me and Aloo.
Mother wanted to have a better future rather than work at the store. So one day, she
closed the doors of the shop for good. Aloo, the youngest, was in his last year of school.
He began to dream about going to America to further his studies. Aloo was very clever,
perhaps the smartest one amongst the siblings.

Aloo began writing to universities in America. Mother did not take his plan too
seriously. Aloo was actually offered a place at our local university but they offered him
to study agriculture. Aloo wanted to study medicine. Then one day, a fateful letter came
for Aloo. The California Institute of Technology gave him a scholarship to study at their
university. Aloo was over the moon.

The three of us sat down at the table, drinking tea. Mother was silent for a while
after she was told the news. “Mother, Aloo needs to only take four hundred dollars
spending money with him,” I said. “That’s about three thousand shillings.”

Mother felt enraged. “Where will we find such money?! How are you going to pay
for the plane tickets? Why do you want to go so far away from us? What kind of son are
you?”

Aloo was hurt. “Why did you let me write to them, then? Why you let me hope
when you’re against it?” Aloo had never spoken against Mother before. He was shaking.

We spoke no more of the subject after that. But, Mother was not all heartless.
She suggested we go see Mr. Velji, the school officer. Maybe we could get some advice
on this matter.

Mr. Velji had a look at Aloo’s papers. He said very seriously. “Aloo is right. This
is a good university. But America is a far place. He will have a good education but you
will lose a son.”

lots of love for my 4 Efisien & Fikrah girls/ 2018 From Miss Natra@SMKPJI

LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘LEAVING’ SHORT STORY BY M.G. VAASANJI

Aloo was angry on the way home. He thought it was not fair. Mother was silent.
That night, Mother said to Aloo, “Bring me the prospectus. We’ll see how this university
looks like.” All three of us sat down together to have a look.

Aloo could not contain the excitement in his voice as he explained to Mother the Page | 2
classes, the buildings and the structure. “They even send rockets to the moon.” Aloo
said. “And what will happen to me if you go to the moon?” Mother asked.

Mother was in deep thought. I have never seen this side of her. This human side.
Mother never remarried because of us. It was hard bringing up five children on her own
after father died. She worried a lot.

Finally, Mother said to Aloo, “Promise me if you go you won’t marry a white
woman, and you won’t smoke of drink!” Aloo was in tears. “Mother, I promise.”

A week after that, we received a letter from Aloo. He was in London visiting a
friend. He wrote that London was a beautiful city with its buildings, fields and great
gardens. Mother was pleased. She looked to the future.

Vocabulary:
-agriculture: the science and art of farming
-scholarship: a grant or payment to support a student’s education
-prospectus: a printed document that advertises or describes a certain facility,
e.g.: school or college
-over the moon: extremely happy
-for good: forever, permanently

A) SYNOPSIS

The story describes ambitious Aloo who lived in a less populated area called
Upanga. He wanted to go overseas, especially America to further his education. Aloo
was smart and perhaps the smartest among his siblings. Aloo’s former teacher, Mr
Datoo, who just came back from America was the one that inspired Aloo to further his
studies in America. His mother, however, was not too happy with the idea of him
leaving home. This became a conflict between mother and son. They must find a way
to sort things out.

lots of love for my 4 Efisien & Fikrah girls/ 2018 From Miss Natra@SMKPJI

LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘LEAVING’ SHORT STORY BY M.G. VAASANJI

B) CHARACTERS It was a hard life, with five children and no Page | 3
MAIN CHARACTERS husband. (pg 38, line 16)
Mother’s hopes were now the youngest two of
Mother A strong & capable us, Aloo and me. She wanted us to study
woman hard…(pg 31, line 8)
Has high hopes for
her remaining sons Sometimes in the evening, when Mother felt
sad…(pg 32, line 9)
Often sad ‘your uncles in America will pay money just to
send you to college…’We all knew this was not
Sarcastic true…(pg 32, line 26)
‘…promise me that if I let you go, you will not
Traditional marry a white woman.’(pg 40, line 5)
I remembered her arms around me… she held
Soft heart beneath me so close. (pg 40, line 1)
the stern exterior

Aloo Smart He was a clever student- in fact, much cleverer

than we knew. (pg 32, line 12)

Wants to further his It was because of Mr. Datoo’s visit that makes

studies abroad Aloo began to think about the future. Could he

perhaps get into an American university? (pg

32, line 19)

MINOR CHARACTERS Observant
Narrator Concern
Mr. Velji Wise and understanding
Frank
C) THEMES

Family & roots Education & dreams Uncertainties of Life

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LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘LEAVING’ SHORT STORY BY M.G. VAASANJI

D) PLOT

CLIMAX Page | 4

They all went to see Mr. Velji for
advice

CONFLICT FALLING ACTION/ POST CLIMAX
Mother didn’t want Aloo to go. This
Aloo, the narrator & Mother sat
made Aloo upset. down to look through the
prospectus.
RISING ACTION
Aloo was accepted to a
prestigious university in America.

INTRODUCTION/ EXPOSITION RESOLUTION/ DENOUEMENT

Aloo, the narrator & their Mother were all that’s left After much deliberation, Mother
at home. Aloo was a clever student. He wrote to agreed to let Aloo to study
abroad.
several universities in America. Mother didn’t think
much of it.

E) SETTING Indian community within Tanzania
Not mentioned specifically, but in context it implies a modern era
Social -House in the town of Upanga
Time -Office room
Physical

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LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘LEAVING’ SHORT STORY BY M.G. VAASANJI

F) MORAL VALUES Respect Page | 5
your
Work Education
hard for parents is

your MORAL important
dreams VALUES

Be open- Value
minded your
family

G) TONE & MOOD

Angry

TONE &
MOOD

Tense Sad

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LITERATURE FORM 4: ‘LEAVING’ SHORT STORY BY M.G. VAASANJI

H) LITERARY DEVICES

Repetition …reading for hours and hours (pg 36, line 6) Page | 6
Metaphor Mother was not made of stone. (pg 36, line 7)
Personification
Rhetorical The letter was full excitement. (pg 40, line 11)

Simile ‘How many of our Dar es Salaams would go into this one,
Alliteration beautiful city…?’ (pg 40, line 18)
Imagery
He walked in like a soldier…(pg 36, line 7)
Onomatopoeia
…wore big black glasses…(pg 36, line 15)

We turned the shiny pages, looking at the pictures…all looked
so wonderful. (pg 38, line 2)

…leaves rustling in the wind. (pg 32, line 8)

I) POINT OF VIEW

Third person Third person Third person
point of view omnicient limited

lots of love for my 4 Efisien & Fikrah girls/ 2018 From Miss Natra@SMKPJI