Leaving

by M.G VASSANJI
A story from Tanzania, retold by
Jennifer Bassett

GROUP MEMBER :
NURUL IZZATI IZYAN BINTI HAMDAN
NURHUSNINA BINTI KAMARUDDIN
NURHAFIZAH BINTI AZREN
 SYNOPSIS
Aloo and the narrator of the story are the youngest children in a
single-parent family. Their older siblings have all left home. Their
mother is a widow who has raised 5 children on her own. Aloo wants
to study medicine, not agriculture. He harbors the ambition to go to
America to study. He write to some American Universities hoping to
get a scholarship. When a well-known American University offers him
a scholarship, Aloos dream looks set to come true. However, his
mother says that she cannot afford to sent him to America. Aloo is
very upset. Mother seeks advice from Mr. Velji. He tells her that
getting scholarship is good for Aloos future. He also cautions her that
she may lose him if she lets him go so far away. Seeing her sons
disappointment, she decides to let her son go in the end.
 SETTING
The setting took place in Upanga, Africa in the
present day. The setting in this story is very
important because it expands on the poverty
theyre going through and the traditions they have.

THEME
Leaving and letting go
Loneliness and sadness
Understanding the sacrifices of others
Having hope for the future
 CHARACTERS
IN THE STORY, THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CHARACTERS AND A
FEW MINOR CHARACTERS.

MAJOR CHARACTERS :
Aloo
The Mother

MINOR CHARACTERS :
Sister
Mehroon
Razia
Firoz
 MAJOR CHARACTERS
The Mother :
Aloo :
Antagonist
Protagonist
Became a
Very smart
widow at the
Finishing
age 33
secondary
Ran a
school
business in
The
town
youngest
Sensitive
child
Loving
 MINOR
CHARACTERS
Mehroon :
Married to a
Narrator(Sister):
former
The forth of
batsman
the siblings
The oldest of Firoz :
A university
student
the five The third of
siblings the five siblings
Aloof
Razia Stayed
: in Did not
A wealthytown complete his
housewife final year in the
The second of school
the five siblings Works in the
Lived in more office of a big
 ALOO VS MOTHER
Moms wants him to stay near her in Africa.
Mom doesnt want to lose her son.
Aloo wants to decide his own future and his own decisions.
Aloo doesnt want to disappoint his mom and ruin the great
relationship he has with her.
C
ALOO VS SOCIETY
O
Aloo wants to choose what hes going to do with the rest of
N
his life.
F
Local university is very limited mainly focusing on agriculture
L
Aloo wants more opportunities and doors open for his future.
I
Local university decides for you.
C
ALOO VS HIMSELF
T
Wants to go to school in America.
S
Wants to keep his mother happy.
Doesnt have the money to go.
MOM VS HERSELF
Wants whats best for Aloo.
Doesnt want to lose her son.
 LOVE LEAVING HOME
He had love for Aloo realized to
his family, OPPORTUNITY
better his life for Aloo had a
heritage and the future he had to
tradition which once in a life
leave home (Africa) time opportunity
made it so hard and move to
for him to make a America to go to
decision. school
CHANGE LETTING GO
It was a complete Aloos mother
change in had to let him go

TOPICS
heritage and and make his
culture changing own decision s
from one and create his
continent to the own life
other
SURRENDERING EDUCATION
RISK Aloo and his The whole short
It was a huge mother both story was about
risk for Aloo to go surrender: his mom seizing every
to a whole new surrendered her opportunity and
place and values and Aloo about how
couture without surrendered his important a proper
knowing anyone. tradition education is
 MORAL VALUES

SELF-RELIANCE
SELF-SACRIFICES Aloos mother could have
Aloo mother married again so that she
refused to marry had a husband to take
again because she care of her. However, for
wanted to keep her the sake of her children,
children safe with she decided to be self-
her. She sacrificed reliant and take care of
the hope of an her family herself. She
easier life for sake provided for the family by
of her children. opening a shop.
Thank you so
much for
watching and
your attention
Questions (?)
1. Where did the family live and where did they move to ? What was the reason for the move ?
They lived in Uhuru Street and they moved to Upanga. Mother wanted them to have a quiter
place for them to study properly.

2. How did Aloo become interested in studying overseas ?

He became interested after Mr. Datoo, a former teacher came back from America for a visit.

3. Letter of offer from the California Institute of Technology :

a) Did mother believe that Aloo had an offer from an American University ?
No, she did not.

b) How did mother react to it ? Why do you think she reacted that way ?
She reacted by asking about the money required and how they would get it.

4. How did mother show that she was an understanding and loving mother who did not like to
see her children feeling sad ?
She knew how Aloo felt and suggested they ask Mr Velji for his advice.
 Complete the sentences below :

Began to look unreal Nobody could change the list

Studying agriculture made of stone Full of excitement - London
Lonely frightening place

1. When Aloo wrote his first letter back home, the letter was ____________________
full of excitement with
London
descriptions of what he saw from the plane and comments about the size of _____________.

studying agriculture in their own university and she

2. Mother knew how Aloo felt about ____________________
arranged to get advice on the offer from an American college. She was after all not
__________________
made of stone but a loving mother.

3. Aloo was very sure what he wanted to do for his future. He was not interested in farming as he
nobody could change the list
wanted to live and work in a city. He was set on this and __________________________.

4. Aloo was very happy about the offer of a place and scolarship from the California college.
However, there were the problems of having enough money and convincing mother. The
began to look unreal
narrator felt that Aloos hopes ___________________.