Hello!
How has everyone been coping with the Circuit Breaker? Boredom aside, I hope everyone is, at least, fighting fit. The Circuit Breaker has made teaching very difficult for both teachers and tutors alike, and I’ve been impacted as well.
In light of the time needed to prepare and conduct my online classes, I no longer have the time to create proper and detailed sets of notes for my students. Nevertheless, I will not leave you with absolutely nothing. Instead, I will be posting annotations, scanned directly from various literature texts. Whilst not complete as a study guide, they will provide a foundation to help you understand the text better.
As these are scanned directly from the texts, I will make them free for everyone to download and use. I make absolutely no claims to the play, and all its components. Yes, the annotations are mine, and based on my interpretation of the text and its literary devices, but the notes will remain free.
The first of these is Perfecting Pratas by Desmond Sim. It is the first of the three plays in “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed”, an Anthology of Singapore Plays, edited by Ken Mizusawa.

To download, just click the big DOWNLOAD button below. The file is in a PDF format, and is printable.
I hope this helps anyone who has to study this text.
If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me or connect with me via Facebook.
Until then, take care!
I’m not too proud to accept a show of appreciation.
If you have benefited from my efforts and want to send a little expression of thanks my way, you may do so via the donation form below.
Your support will help me power through another set of notes.
Thank you, and have a great day!
(If you can’t afford it, it’s really not an issue. The notes will remain free to download. :D)
Make a one-time donation ($1.00 is great too!)
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Thank you!
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearly
How does making the pratas strengthens their connection with each other(Ben and Albert)
LikeLike
Well, why make prata? It is because that’s what Albert’s late wife used to do. It is what Ben remembers of his late mother, and it’s one of the few memories of her that he has left. So, in making prata together, they have a connection that binds them as they grieve over her absence and hold each other more dearly because they are each all they have left in remembrance of her.
LikeLike
What is the reason between Ben and Albert’s distance and tension?
LikeLike
That is evident in the first 3 pages of the play. Look for the reasons why a simple conversation erupted into a heated confrontation.
LikeLike
What are the themes in this book?
LikeLike
Assuming you’re using “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed”, the themes can all be found towards the back of the book.
LikeLike
why would i sympathise albert?
LikeLike
Hmm… Why not? Why wouldn’t you sympathise with Albert? After all, is there nothing about his life or efforts or struggles worth sympathising with?
LikeLike
what are the conflicts in albert and ben’s relationship
LikeLike
Mm this is a bit of an obvious question, and I do not spoonfeed. Therefore, I will not be answering this. If you’d like my help, come up with a list of conflicts and I can help you to check if it is correct.
LikeLike
what is the conflict between ben and alberts relationship
LikeLike
Mm this is a bit of an obvious question, and I do not spoonfeed. Therefore, I will not be answering this. If you’d like my help, come up with a list of conflicts and I can help you to check if it is correct.
LikeLike
why does albert get angry when ben mentions his mother?
LikeLike
Hmm…
Various reasons, but fundamentally, it is mostly because he doesn’t want to talk about her.
She’s gone and it still hurts him. Therefore, he doesn’t want to face it.
LikeLike