Name: Quiminales, Ma. Cherry M.

Literature 12
Course, Yr. & Section: BAFL-3A

 ONCE UPON A TIME by GABRIEL OKARA

1. Discuss the relation of the poem to Africa and reflect it to the situation of the
society in general.

 According to my research on the internet, the relation of the poem to

Africa is with the one one who write the poem named Gabriel
Imomotimi Gbaingbain Okara (born April 21, 1921 in Bumodi,
Nigeria). He is a Nigerian poet and novelist who may be
pronounced as highly original and uninfluenced by other poets. He
has been extremely successful in apprehending the moods, sights
and sounds of Africa. His poems show great sensitivity, perceptive
judgments and a tremendous energy. Okara also shows a concern
on the topic of what happens when the ancient culture of Africa is
faced with modern western culture. Gabriel Okara’s Once Upon A
Time is about the artificiality of relationships and manners
prevailing in the present day world. The past, according to the
poet, is better than the present; because there were love, sincerity
and faithfulness in the past. Now that in the present, everything
has changed. Hence the poet wants to relive the past.

 The poem speaks or tells about how attitudes and people change.
How honest people used to be and how deceitful they are now. How
the author wishes he could be like he used to. How adults can learn
from innocent children - role reversal. How adulthood can change
you and how quickly people adapt to the changes. How parenthood
can change your views of the world. It informs the listener about
the society and the real truth. or the hard realities of being an
adult rather than the innocence when a child. Displays the pain of
growing up, and the loss of innocence. These things, all reflect on
what society we have now. Everything changes.

2. “In today’s world, it is often difficult to know what to believe and what
not to believe. What you see is not often the reality.” Explain.
  Not all we see or what we hear is reality. I mean, a person can act
that he/she is happy even if he/she is not. A person can call you a
friend but deep inside, he/she is not. Everything can be fake or
maybe not. It is like the saying “It’s for you to know and for me to
find out. vice versa.

 WE WEAR THE MASK

1. In the poem of Dunbar “We were the mask”, why do the persons want
the world to see them while wearing their masks? Further, use and
elucidate the poem as reflection of the world’s reality as well as human
behaviors.

 In the poem of Dunbar, the persons want the world to see them
while wearing their masks because, (in my opinion) they want to
hide their inner pain and suffering of the world. The mask there
symbolizes as their protection. People nowadays are judgmental. I
mean, we are all living in this world full of judgments. Racism
occurs in our world. This poem just revealed what reality is.

 THE LITTLE BIRD

1. Identify the symbols used by the author and explain the meaning of
each symbol to depict the situation of Africa.

 I’ve searched about this poem/story and 2 same titles appeared.

They were both from African lit. The other one was a poem about
how the little bird broke his legs and still manage to fly (I guess),
while the other was how human befriend the bird.

 How do you find the Literatures of Africa based on your answers from
the lesson that you have learned from the titles that we will discuss?
  The Literatures of Africa is quite like Filipino literature. They really
value their cultures and traditions. Most of their works can open
the mind of young ones and can enlighten our minds. It captures
the heart of the one who read just like what I feel when I read the
“once upon a time” by Gabriel Okara.

THE VOTER BY CHINUA ACHIBE

 Cultural approach and critical analysis

 The Voter by Chinua Achebe is about choices between tradition or

modernity. Roof, a bicycle repairman, is given the opportunity to
run a political campaign. He aims to do his best and
enthusiastically embraces his new profession. Unexpectedly, Roof
is offered a bribe and is immediately seduced to take the money!
His saving grace is a belief in the traditional; Igbo "Iyi" that
demands people do as they promise. He solves his dilemma by
tearing the paid votes in half and putting one piece in each voting
box, keeping his word but canceling out the vote!

 “Vote buying” and Corruption was exposed on the story. I can say
that we, Filipinos can relate about it. Another reality experience
have been revealed.
 Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, son,

they used to laugh with their hearts
and laugh with their eyes:
but now they only laugh with their teeth,
while their ice-block-cold eyes
search behind my shadow.
There was a time indeed
they used to shake hands with their hearts:
but that’s gone, son.
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left hands search
my empty pockets.

‘Feel at home!’ ‘Come again’:

they say, and when I come
again and feel
at home, once, twice,
there will be no thrice-
for then I find doors shut on me.

So I have learned many things, son.

I have learned to wear many faces
like dresses – homeface,
 officeface, streetface, hostface,
cocktailface, with all their conforming smiles
like a fixed portrait smile.

And I have learned too

to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart.
I have also learned to say, ’Goodbye’,
when I mean ‘Good-riddance’:
to say ‘Glad to meet you’,
without being glad; and to say ‘It’s been
nice talking to you’, after being bored.

But believe me, son.

I want to be what I used to be
when I was like you. I want
to unlearn all these muting things.
Most of all, I want to relearn
how to laugh, for my laugh in the mirror
shows only my teeth like a snake’s bare fangs!

So show me, son,

how to laugh; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
once upon a time when I was like you.

******************************************

We Wear the Mask

By: Paul Laurence Dunbar

We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!

The Little Bird (Black African)

One morning I got up

to pick oranges in the garden.

And I saw this.

I saw the rising sun

and the little bird

singing his morning song.

And I heard this.

The little bird chirped: “Cui, cui, cui!”

And begged:

“Please, leave my little ones in their nest.”

And I said this:

First I chirped: “Cui, cui, cui!”

 And then I said:

“Don’t be afraid, I am your friend.”

And what was asked I did.

Since that day the little bird loves me

and his sweet song gives me great pleasure.

And this is what happened.

THE LITTLE BIRD

a poem by Martin Brits, South Africa

Hop, hop
One, two three
That’s me;

You see
I only have one leg
But I can fly sweetly;

Why only one leg

Well that’s a story
I’m about to tell you;

My life began
As an egg in a nest
In a willow tree;
 Down by the banks
Where the river
End’s in a lake;

I have a Daddy
And a Mommy
Who take care of me

But one day

When Mom, Dad and me
Were asleep;

A boy shot
A pellet
Into the nest;

It broke my leg
But thank the Lord
My folks are o/k:

For safety
They taught me
How to fly high;

And that is why

I can ask you,
Please don’t shoot a little bird like me;

Afraid to sit in a tree

I’m only three.