Si Tenggnag Homecoming

The theme of the poem relates to the general idea or ideas running throughout the poem. A poem may have one or more themes depending on the subject of the poem the persona deals with and the experiences and feelings the persona undergoes. There are several themes in the poem si tenggangs homecoming. The themes are: Discovery The poem provides a vivid picture of the world through the eyes of the persona. The personas journey is not just a physical journey of the outside world but also journey into the self, to discover the real person inside him. The persona discovers both the worlds. In the end, he is glorified to have discovered himself through his travels. The theme of discovery is present throughout the poem. The journey is a journey of discovery. The Realities in Life The theme of facing realities in life is present throughout the poem. The persona faces the realities of life especially through his travels to different places in the world. The persona steps into the real world and realises that there are various cultures and languages that people throughout the world possess, which make them unique. The persona sees the challenges that he faces and the challenges in the future as realities that one has to face. His travels provide him with valuable lessons to understand the realities of life. Understanding Oneself One of the themes of the poem also relates to understanding oneself. The persona reflects on the things that have happened in his life to understand himself better. He reflects on his travels and how his journey has made him to become a person who is different. His travels have broadened his mind and he is more confident of himself. The journey has made it possible for him to discover himself. Thus, he is able to understand himself better.

Being positive-minded Being positive-minded is also a theme in the poem. The persona shows that he is positive-minded. He views the challenges in life as opportunities to broaden ones mind and be knowledgeable. He has a vision in life. The personas journey has made it possible for him to renew his outlooks on life. He is a changed person as his experiences through his travels have made him to be open to changes and be more confident of himself. The theme relates to being positive and optimistic in life. Being proud of ones roots, culture and tradition The theme of understanding and being proud of ones roots, culture and tradition is also present throughout the poem. The persona understands that it is important to be proud of ones roots, culture and tradition. The persona is still the same person who knows his identity and has a strong sense of belonging towards his people, culture and tradition. Modesty Modesty or having the virtues of being humble is another theme in the poem. Modesty relates to learning to be humble and showing respect. The persona enriches himself through his travels but he is modest. Loneliness The theme of loneliness is present in the poem as the persona feels lonely and alienated during his travels abroad. He misses his family members especially his wife. Independence Independence or self-reliance is also a theme in the poem. There is a personal struggle by the persona to be free. There is a joy in the persona that his travels have enabled him to find himself and be free.

Moral Values Be positive-minded and have a vision in life The poem teaches us to be positive-minded and have a vision in life, if we are to

succeed in life. The personas journey has made it possible for him to renew his outlooks on life. He is a changed person as his experiences through his travels have made him to be open to changes and be more confident of himself. The poem teaches us to look at life positively and be optimistic. Being positive and optimistic are important in life. These qualities would enable a person to overcome difficulties and obstacles, especially if one is willing to work hard and be responsible. The persona is a person who has a vision in life. He wishes to better himself and be a better person, who has a brighter future in life. Patriotism The poem teaches us to be patriotic and to be loyal to ones country. The persona travels abroad to seek knowledge and to learn about life. Although he is away from his country he still thinks of his country, people, culture and tradition. He is still the same person with a new outlook on life. We must be patriotic and be loyal to our King and country. Understand ourselves better The poem teaches us to understand ourselves better, especially to learn about our background or roots. It is important for us to discover our true self by looking back at the past and to better equip ourselves for the future. Life is a journey and it is important for us to identify ourselves with the society from which we come. The persona shares his rich travel experiences with the readers and from the poem we know that there are customs and traditions that we need to keep close to the heart. Understanding our rich traditions and cultural practices would make us understand ourselves better and make us realise who we are. The persona says that it is important to do things in accordance with the wisdom of our ancestors. It is necessary to understand cultures and see things in broader perspectives. Be realistic and practical in life The poem teaches us to deal with situations in a rational way, by understanding the situations well. It shows us that life is not a bed of roses. There are realities in life that we have to face. The poem teaches us to be confident in life and be truthful. There is a cycle of life which means there is bound to be ups and downs in life. Thus, it is important that we be realistic and practical in life. Moreover, we should learn to face the changing world in a matured way. We should not cry over spilt milk or be sceptical in life. We need to be brave to face the many challenges in life.

Learn to appreciate ones roots, culture and tradition

The poem teaches us to uphold and appreciate the rich traditions and cultures that are present in society. There are many different cultural practices in this world that we need to understand and appreciate them. We should not be judgmental about the differences found in other cultures, as there is strength in diversity especially in cultural practices and traditions. We are living in a multicultural society which provides us with great cultural richness. These cultural practices of the peoples of Malaysia and other parts of the world distinguish us from one another. However, these cultural practices are a source of diversity, especially within the Malaysian context. We should preserve the rich cultural practices of the peoples of Malaysia. Our cultural diversity is our strength. The poem also teaches us to value ones roots or ancestors, to understand ourselves better. The value of family Another lesson that we can learn from the poem is about the value of family. In our society, family plays an important part in preserving traditions and inculcating positive values. The family plays a role in shaping the individual to be a member of the society or community. The persona thinks about his family members as he knows that family means a lot to him. Universal values and virtues We learn about universal values and virtues through the poem. Values such as being courageous and confident are important in life. Similarly, values such as being tolerant, humble, trustworthy, responsible, honest, independent or selfreliant, and humble are also important in life as these values and virtues help us to become a better person.