Follow That Dream is a heartfelt letter from a mother to her daughter, Ming. The chapter explores the importance of dreams, the effort required to achieve them, and the role of perseverance and self-discovery in this journey. Through the mother's advice, students learn about the significance of passion, sacrifice, and the support of others in pursuing their aspirations. This chapter encourages readers to reflect on their own dreams and the steps they need to take to turn them into reality.
What you'll learn
1Understand the importance of dreams and aspirations in one's life
2Analyze the character of the mother and her motivations in the narrative
3Identify the themes of perseverance and self-discovery in the text
4Appreciate the literary devices used in the chapter
5Reflect on the role of support systems in achieving personal goals
6Evaluate the sacrifices and efforts required to fulfill dreams
Chapter at a glance
01Introduction to the Text and Author
02Character Analysis and Motivations
03Dreams and Aspirations in the Narrative
04Themes of Perseverance and Self-Discovery
05Critical Appreciation and Literary Devices
Detailed chapter notes
01
Introduction to the Text and Author
Follow That Dream is an excerpt from a collection of letters titled 'My Daughter, My Friend' by Irene Chua. The chapter presents a letter from a mother to her daughter, Ming, offering advice on pursuing dreams. The mother shares her insights on the importance of passion, effort, and sacrifice in achieving one's goals. The narrative is both motivational and practical, providing valuable lessons for students about setting and pursuing their own dreams.
AuthorIrene Chua
Source'My Daughter, My Friend'
FormA letter from a mother to her daughter
02
Character Analysis and Motivations
The mother in the letter is a wise and experienced figure who wants to guide her daughter towards achieving her dreams. She emphasizes the importance of passion and conviction in pursuing one's goals. The mother also highlights the need for a realistic assessment of the effort, financial investments, and sacrifices required to turn dreams into reality. Her advice is rooted in her own experiences and observations, making it both relatable and insightful.
Wise and experienced advisor
Emphasizes passion and conviction
Highlights the need for realistic assessment of efforts and sacrifices
03
Dreams and Aspirations in the Narrative
The chapter underscores the idea that great men and women become great because they have a dream and pursue it relentlessly. The mother advises Ming to follow her dream, emphasizing that achieving world-class standards in any field requires singular and intensive pursuit for at least ten years. She also discusses the importance of counting the cost in terms of years of effort, financial investments, and sacrifice before committing to a dream.
Greatness comes from pursuing dreams
Requires singular and intensive pursuit
Importance of counting the cost in terms of effort, financial investments, and sacrifice
04
Themes of Perseverance and Self-Discovery
The chapter highlights the themes of perseverance and self-discovery. The mother encourages Ming to plunge into her dream with conviction and commitment, even if the road is uphill. She emphasizes that the prospect of success and the knowledge that one is doing what they love best can keep a person on track. The narrative also explores how life itself may change a person’s dreams, and how these new aspirations are no less significant than the original dreams of younger days.
Perseverance and commitment are essential
The prospect of success and doing what one loves can keep a person motivated
Life can change one's dreams, but new aspirations are equally significant
05
Critical Appreciation and Literary Devices
The chapter uses various literary devices to convey its message effectively. The mother's advice is presented in a conversational and engaging manner, making it relatable to the reader. The use of metaphors, such as 'plunge' and 'buoyed up', adds depth to the narrative. The mother's personal anecdotes and critical questions make her advice more persuasive and thought-provoking. The chapter also employs rhetorical questions and analogies to highlight the importance of pursuing one's dreams.
Conversational and engaging tone
Use of metaphors and personal anecdotes
Rhetorical questions and analogies to emphasize the importance of dreams
Want the complete chapter resources?Topic notes, quizzes and flashcards for Follow That Dream.
The main message is the importance of pursuing one's dreams with passion, conviction, and perseverance, while being aware of the effort and sacrifices required.
Why is it important to count the cost before pursuing a dream?
Counting the cost helps in making a realistic assessment of the effort, financial investments, and sacrifices required, ensuring that one is fully committed to the journey.
How does the mother's advice help in understanding the themes of perseverance and self-discovery?
The mother's advice highlights the need for perseverance and commitment in pursuing dreams, while also acknowledging that life can change one's dreams, leading to self-discovery and new aspirations.
What literary devices are used in 'Follow That Dream'?
The chapter uses metaphors, personal anecdotes, rhetorical questions, and analogies to convey its message effectively and make it relatable to the reader.
How does the chapter encourage readers to reflect on their own dreams?
The chapter encourages readers to reflect on their own dreams by sharing the mother's insights and experiences, making them realize the importance of passion, effort, and sacrifice in achieving their goals.