Reading for Literature and Culture – Mid-Test Notes (Wuri’s Story)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key literary and cultural terms drawn from Wuri’s story analysis, plot structure, and thematic elements.

Theme

The central idea or underlying message of a literary work; in Wuri’s story, it is the sadness and fear of leaving home and starting a new life.

Author’s Message

The lesson or insight the writer wants readers to gain; here, that leaving home is heartbreaking but new places can offer happiness.

Textual Evidence

Quoted lines or passages used to support an interpretation, such as Wuri speaking to her map or describing Jakarta’s ‘ocean of a thousand lights.’

Exposition

The opening portion of a plot that introduces characters, setting, and basic situation; Wuri saying goodbye to the ocean before moving.

Climax

The moment of greatest tension or turning point; Wuri’s frightening nightmare and mysterious encounter in the apartment.

Resolution

The part of the plot where conflicts are resolved; Wuri begins to discover beauty in the new city and accept her life.

Cultural Representation

The depiction of values, beliefs, and practices of a culture through characters or events; shown in Wuri’s sense of family duty.

Monologue

A speech by a single character expressing inner thoughts, such as Wuri’s vow to be brave for her sisters.

Courage

The ability to face fear or adversity; Wuri promises not to be frightened for her sisters’ sake.

Responsibility

A duty or obligation; as the eldest, Wuri feels responsible for setting an example to her younger sisters.

Eldest-Sibling Role

The cultural expectation that the oldest child leads and protects younger siblings, embodied by Wuri in the story.

Nightmare

A frightening or disturbing dream; Wuri’s dream of being dragged by a terrifying figure heightens the story’s tension.

Acceptance

The act of embracing a new situation; Wuri gradually accepts life in the big city after her initial fear.

Setting

The time and place in which a story occurs—here, Wuri’s coastal hometown and a high-rise Jakarta apartment.

Internal Conflict

Struggle within a character—Wuri battles fear of change and homesickness.

Map Is Not the Territory

A saying reminding that representations differ from reality; Wuri’s map cannot answer her emotional questions.

‘Ocean of a Thousand Lights’

Wuri’s metaphor for Jakarta’s nighttime skyline, symbolizing discovery and hope.

Haunted Apartment Trope

A common plot device where a dwelling is believed to host supernatural presence, as hinted in Wuri’s 13th-floor incident.