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Spirit of The Keris

Salleh Ben Joned wrote a poem titled "Spirit of the Keris" celebrating Malay culture. The poem describes the process of making a keris in 5 stanzas, from heating the metal in a forge to the distinctive features of the finished weapon. It symbolizes the strength and determination of the Malay people, as kerises were historically used by warriors to bravely defend their land from enemies. Formal elements like imagery, metaphor, and alliteration help convey the spirit that goes into crafting the traditional Malay dagger.

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544 views7 pages

Spirit of The Keris

Salleh Ben Joned wrote a poem titled "Spirit of the Keris" celebrating Malay culture. The poem describes the process of making a keris in 5 stanzas, from heating the metal in a forge to the distinctive features of the finished weapon. It symbolizes the strength and determination of the Malay people, as kerises were historically used by warriors to bravely defend their land from enemies. Formal elements like imagery, metaphor, and alliteration help convey the spirit that goes into crafting the traditional Malay dagger.

Uploaded by

Vierra VaLance
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Biografi Spirit of the kerisiswritten by Salleh Ben Joned,who was a lecturerinthe English Department at t he University Malaya.

Hisfirst book was the bilingual poetry collection, 'Sajak-Sajak Salleh' (1987). It was followed by 'As I Please', (1994) and Nothing is Sacred (2003) which compiled hispopular New Straits Times columns. Hislatest book, 'Adam'sDream' (2007) ishis third collection of poems.
POETRY MEANING 1ST STANZA

Keris is stated as a very wellknown culturein Malay community andits fame will continuetoshine.
2ND STANZA

Making and producing of keris. The burningmetalshines brightly. Keris maker does not use any modern toolsbutremains

conventionally (hammer and chain)


3RD STANZA

The process ofmaking keris. Metalis being fused,melted and merged in the forge. Meteoriciron Alloy The producing ofthe keris remains the same a s the traditionally idea.

Keris has its soul. Characteristics ofthe keris:


Golden

andsilverish Multialloyed Multiveined

In ancient days, keris has its ownsymbolises andusages.


4TH STANZA

Features

ofthe keris:

Mighty Sinuously

Silvering Silkysleek
Has m any curves
5TH STANZA

andturns.

Whenthe enemies cametothe land,the warriors with keris will try their best and be brave like atigerto fight withthem t o protect t heir land.

A new land.
THEME

Spirit inmaking keris. The process ofmaking keris is hard. It s ymbolizes determination of people.
POETRY DEVICES STRUCTURE

Free-versed. Free rhyme.

Dividedinto 5stanzas. Number of lines i n each stanza isdifferent. Does not have pentameter.
SHAPE OF A KERIS

Starting from t he first stanzauntilthe last, it shape like from t he hulu keris until the tuntung which is the end of keris. This is how, Salleh Ben Joned celebrates the Malay culture by notonly using the words keris andtigerin his poem but also the shape of hispoem
IMAGERY Process of making keris (stanza 3) Furnance fusing

Meltingmerging Meteoriciron Appearance of the keris Keris Golden Silverish Mutlialloyed Multiveined

SIMILE

Example:

unto the lands e nd thrustingtrusting golden-khersonese-like tiger-true Lighteninglean flame-firmed trusting thrusting into the seas of prophecy
(Stanza 5)

METAPHORS

Example: spirit splurting withtheseeds of athousandislands (stanza 5)

(eye ofthetiger burning bright i nthe jungle ofthe night)


(stanza 2) Symbolize ofthe brightness ofmaking keris.

PERSONIFICATION

Memories cannot voice out anything. Example: striated with memories of voices ancienturgent (Stanza 3) SYMBOL

keris Symbolic ofthestrengthen and creativity of Malay community. Symbolic of Malay at t hat time (not fearto protect t heir land from t he attack of enemies)
ALLITERATION
spirit splurting
(stanza 5)

ASSONANCE

goldenuntothedawn the bright star ofmorn

(stanza 1)

REPITITION of one- ness this- ness thus- ness (stanza 5) MORAL VALUE

Be brave. Be patriotic. Remain and practisethe traditional culture of a race.

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