Critical reflection 1 – The Pot Maker

Ever since Sentila became old enough to accompany her mother to the fields and forests, she began to dream of becoming a pot maker like her mother and grandmother. However Arenla, her mother, wanted her to become a weaver. On days when she managed to stay at home while her parents went to the fields, Sentila approached expert potters to learn the skill. They were at first amused by the little girl’s insistence as they thought that she would soon outgrow her childish passion for the craft.

Sentila did not disclose her fascination with pot making at home as she had overheard a conversation between her parents one night. Her mother was complaining about Sentila’s indifference to weaving. She said, “I shall not teach her pot making as it has brought no joy to me and only a pittance for my troubles. The riverbank, where the grey and red clay required for making pots is found, is sixteen kilometres from here. I need to climb down a sheer drop to the riverbank and my back aches from carrying the heavy load uphill all the way to the village. Pounding the stubborn clay inside bamboo cylinders to soften it, is also tedious. So many times, I’ve dropped the mould out of sheer exhaustion and have had to start all over again. It takes months to bring out a batch of pots after so much labour. And the reward? A few rupees. But if Sentila learns weaving, she can make much more money besides providing enough cloth for the family. Weaving is not messy like pot making and can be done indoors in all seasons. Also, the time spent on weaving one shawl is much less and the return is handsome.”

VOCABULARY

• Sentila: The main character of this story.
• Arenla: Sentila’s mother.
• Weaver: One who does weaving for a living.
• Potters: Pot makers.
• Amused:
• Insistence:
• Outgrow:
• Outgrow her childish passion for the craft.
• Disclose: Reveal.
• Fascination: Passion.
• Overhear: Happen to listen to someone’s conversation.
• Indifference: Being opposed to (weaving).
• Brought no joy to me: 
• and only a pittance for my troubles. The riverbank, where the grey and red clay required for making pots is found, is sixteen kilometres from here. I need to climb down a sheer drop to the riverbank and my back aches from carrying the heavy load uphill all the way to the village. Pounding the stubborn clay inside bamboo cylinders to soften it, is also tedious. So many times, I’ve dropped the mould out of sheer exhaustion and have had to start all over again. It takes months to bring out a batch of pots after so much labour. And the reward? A few rupees. But if Sentila learns weaving, she can make much more money besides providing enough cloth for the family. Weaving is not messy like pot making and can be done indoors in all seasons. Also, the time spent on weaving one shawl is much less and the return is handsome.”
  Disclose: Reveal.
• Pittance: A very small, inadequate income. The word pittance derives from Middle English pitaunce (allowance of food to a monk or poor person), which comes from Old French, ultimately related to the Latin pietas (“piety” or “pity”).