1. Yes, it is realistic
1.1. Issues covered in Heartland Concerning Identity
1.1.1. Singaporean/National Identity
1.1.1.1. National Service (N.S.)
1.1.1.1.1. (P)oint
1.1.1.1.2. (E)xample
1.1.1.1.3. (A)nalysis
1.1.1.1.4. (L)ink
1.1.1.2. School Life
1.1.1.2.1. Major Examinations
1.1.1.2.2. Relationships
1.1.1.2.3. Friendships
1.1.2. Individual Identity
1.1.2.1. Family/Background
1.1.2.1.1. (P)oint
1.1.2.1.2. (E)xample
1.1.2.1.3. (A)nalysis
1.1.2.1.4. (L)ink
1.1.2.2. Sense of Home
1.1.2.2.1. (P)eal
1.1.2.2.2. (E)xample
1.1.2.2.3. (A)nalysis
1.1.2.2.4. (L)ink
1.1.2.3. Social Status
1.1.2.3.1. (P)oint
1.1.2.3.2. (E)xample
1.1.2.3.3. (A)nalysis
1.1.2.3.4. (L)ink
2. No, it is not realistic
2.1. Time Gap
2.1.1. (P)oint
2.1.1.1. Heartland is not a realistic portrayal of a Singaporean boy's search for identity as the period that the novel is set in i completely different from that of today.
2.1.2. (E)xample
2.1.2.1. The A level system then is much different as compared to today, instead of the H(1-3) system they had things like S paper, etc. Also then most people had only beepers as compared to nowadays where nearly EVERYONE owns a cellphone (luxury for business/rich people then). Also in Heartland, Orchard was still undeveloped as compared to nowadays where new buildings like Somerset 313, ION and Orchard Central are popping up all the time. Also National Service is less strenuous as compared to the length and toughness that it was like
2.1.3. (A)nalysis
2.1.3.1. Times have changed in Singapore and so has the National Identity. How are people from the past going to be able to relate to the teens of this era? Heartland may HAVE been a realistic portrayal of a Singaporean boy's search for identity then, but the issues that most "boys" face now are similar, yet on a different level as compared to Wing.
2.1.4. (L)ink
2.1.4.1. The word realistic means a "representation of things as they really are." Heartland may be relatable in some way but it simply does not show how a boy would search for his identity today.
2.2. Personal Character
2.2.1. (P)oint
2.2.1.1. Heartland cannot be a realistic portrayal of a Singaporean boy's search for identity because it is based on one person view
2.2.2. (E)xample
2.2.2.1. Heartland is mainly based on Wings life, with very little to no other input from other character. Heartland may be a story about an area of people, but it seems as though that the story is very narrow sighted as it only has one main narration
2.2.3. (A)nalysis
2.2.3.1. Not everyone is like Wing. When we look for a portrayal of something, we look for something that represents a larger body. Heartland in one sense is rather subjective as it only talks about Wings life, which may not be the life of EVERY Singaporean boy.
2.2.4. (L)ink
2.2.4.1. New node
3. Key words & ideas
3.1. realistic portrayal
3.1.1. definition
3.1.1.1. realistic: given to the representation of things as they really are.
3.1.1.2. portrayal: depicting or representing
3.2. search for identity
3.2.1. definition
3.2.1.1. identity:sameness of essential or generic character
3.2.1.2. search: to look into or over carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
3.3. Singaporean
3.3.1. definition (to me, Toby)
3.3.1.1. Singaporean: -Someone who regards Singapore as Home - Someone who upholds, respects and understands the same values, attitudes and morals of other Singaporeans