BH Literature Essay Sample Question

‘O’ Level English (OLE)
LITERATURE LESSON
PRACTICE YOUR SKILLS
With
Literature Essay Sample
GUIDING QUESTION
Discuss how playwrights portray social realities.
Use one play you have read under this course.
'O' Level English (OLE) |

1
www.kacheleonline.blogspot.com | 2018
ANSWER:
Social realities are the most current and

challenging affairs that prevail in a society. They
are day to day social matters that need various
resolutions. By using the play BLACK
HERMIT (2005) by Ngugi wa Thiong’o, I am
going to discuss the following social realities as
they are revealed by the playwright:

2
ANSWER
Tribalism. The playwright portrays how this society

has been plunged into tribalism. The play shows how
people in this society are living according to the lines
of their tribes. Even the leaders encourage tribalism
extensively. For example, in the play, Remi and
Omange, his friend decides to combat tribalism
because they believe it is the source of
underdevelopment in the country. In Act III, Scene III
of the play, Omange says: “Yes, deal with tribalism
with ruthless vigour”.
3
ANSWER
Superstition. Superstition has also been portrayed by

the playwright. Superstition is portrayed in the play
especially when we see elders go to Remi and drop a
medicine wrapped with dry banana leaves as they leave
his room. The elders also believe that neighbour tribes
have bewitched them because of jealousy over Remi’s
education and success as a Marua person. This believes
is caused by ignorance of the people. For Remi says:
“These….these….pieces of superstition meant to lure me home”
(p. 34)
4
ANSWER
Religious beliefs. In the play, religious

worshippers have been grouped into two groups.
Some people believe in traditional religions by
worshipping magic powers like elders and the
like. Others believe in Christianity. These are
Christians who believe in God like Nyobi, Remi,
Pastor, and Thoni. However, the differences
among these groups have brought disunity and
sufferings.
5
ANSWER
Disunity. The playwright has portrayed disunity as a

major hindrance to the struggle for the changes in the
society. In the play, disunity is caused by tribalism,
racialism and religious factions. As a result, people fight
against each other instead of uniting together for their
own progress. Remi opposes disunity and encourages
people to unite for their development. To show that he
hates tribalism, Remi comes with his friend from
another tribe. He says “Even you, Pastor, you and other
Christians must not live isolated. We must link our hands”.
6
ANSWER
Irresponsibility. The playwright insists the need of

being responsible in the society so as to solve the
problems affecting the society. People as citizens
should be responsible according to what they are
required to do. On the other hand, playwright has
portrayed Remi, elders and a Pastor as irresponsible
leaders because they have failed to use their positions
in the society to solve the problems of their people.
Their irresponsibility leads to the death of people and
other similar sufferings.
7
ANSWER
Love. In this play, the playwright has depicted

the existence of love. For instance, in the play,
Remi is in love with Thoni but he fails to admit in
front of her face. Later, when he goes to town,
he meets Jane, a White girl. At the end, Remi
realises that he has to go back and get home.
Unfortunately, Thoni commit suicides because of
his strange and unexpected actions.

8
ANSWER
Betrayal. Betrayal is the situation of going

against the agreement or promise. In this play, the
playwright portrays the issue of betrayal when he
shows how Remi betrays his parents and Jane and
how political leaders are betraying the people.
Betrayal also happens in our contemporary
societies. Some people betray others by going
against the promises they made earlier to them.

9
ANSWER
Influence of Western education. In the play,

education has been portrayed as having strong
influence on people’s lives and behaviour. This is
exemplified by the way Remi is changed by
western education. Remi changes from a God-
fearing child to the fearless, determined and
courageous person who uses his education to
influence other people in various aspects of life
like politics.
10
ANSWER
African traditions. The playwright has portrayed

various African traditions in the play such as local
religious beliefs, superstitions and witchcraft,
inheritance of widows, and other beliefs and customs.
There is also belief in supernatural power. This is
shown when the playwright says: “Last month our diviner
had message from God”. This proves that the society
believes in supernatural beings or gods. Beliefs in
magic have also been portrayed by the playwright. This
is proved when the Elder suggests that Remi should be
brought back with the help of the traditional medicine.
11
ANSWER
Position of woman in the society. The

women in the play have been portrayed in several
ways or positions. The playwright has portrayed
women in this play as weak people, humiliated
people, and the people who do not participate in
making decisions even if the decisions are
entirely about their prosperity. For instance, in the
play, Thoni is humiliated by Remi in the way that
she decides to commit suicide.
12
ANSWER
Therefore, Ngugi wa Thiong’o has written his

play to reveal the social realities which are the
challenges for most Africans today. For example,
to cope with these challenges, the playwright has
proposed the neglecting of bad and out-of-date
African traditions and provision of education for
the people. In a nutshell, the issues of the play
are real world aspects because they are
experienced by our contemporary societies.
13
Other Related Topics:
 Build your Essay Paragraph with these 4 Easy Components!

 DOWNLOAD LITERATURE ESSAY FORMAT for Form Three
& Four
 3 IMPORTANT THINGS FOR A GOOD ESSAY - Form Three
& Four REQUIREMENTS & COMMON MISTAKES ON
ESSAY WRITING in Form Three & Four
 Download Sample Essay Formats for Form Three & Four -
With Three Important Parts of an Essay
 DOWNLOAD 'Passed Like a Shadow' for FREE!
 DOWNLOAD 'Unanswered Cries' Analysis for FREE!
 TEACHING STUDENTS 'INFERENCE MAKING SKILLS' FOR
THEIR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TEXTS
 ROAD TO BETTER ANALYSIS OF LITERARY WORKS

14
Note
This is the Question Sample & Analysis by
Emmanuel Kachele
Note on this Analysis: Any English teacher
can have his/her own analysis and we can
equally learn from any one. Drop by drop, we
get the bucket overflowing!
This analysis is not the final! You are welcome
for your suggestions, criticisms, and other
recommendations.
15
ABOUT MWALIMU EMMANUEL KACHELE
Emmanuel Alkado Kachele is a teacher who has been teaching English language and Literature for both
Private and Government Secondary Schools since 2008. He has taught English Language and Literature
in Tuition Centres, Private Schools, and Government Schools in Rukwa, Iringa, Ruvuma, and Katavi
respectively. In general, he has been known as English language and Literature teacher for ‘O’ Level and
‘A’ level respectively. He is currently teaching at Karema High School.
He has now founded his own blogs; www.kacheleonline.blogspot.com and
www.literatureinenglishtz.blogspot.com so that he can share more materials with the students and the
teachers as well. He also runs the blog www.shajarayanguonline.blospot.com. Apart from being a
blogger, he is active on numerous social media platforms where you can always get in touch with him
anytime. He can answer your questions through these ways.
Get him now through his:

• Facebook Group: ‘O’ Level English (OLE), for day-to-day grammar questions and articles,
• Facebook Page: ‘O’ Level English (OLE), for day-to-day grammar questions and articles,
• Twitter @ekachele, for day-to-day issues, questions and articles.
• LinkedIn Page, for various life and work articles.
• Google+ Account, for various articles.
• Google+ Community: ' ‘O’ Level English Community (OLEC)', for discussions, grammar questions and
articles, and
• Google+ Collection:' ‘O’ Level English (OLE)', for discussions, grammar questions and articles.
Through these sites, you can get full dose of ‘O’ Level English topics notes, questions and other
study guidance.

16
Contact
P.O.Box 155
Mpanda, Katavi
Tanzania.
Mob: +255765 884 936
Email: kacheleimma@gmail.com
Blogs: www.kacheleonline.blogspot.com
www.literatureinenglishtz.blogspot.com
www.shajarayanguonline.blogspot.com
Copyright © 2017 Emmanuel Kachele. All rights reversed.
Thank you very much for downloading this sample literature essay.
I hope that you will sign up to receive more lessons from me.
Just go to www.kacheleonline.blogspot.com and type your email to get more of my

‘O’ Level English (OLE) posts whenever I post them.
© Emmanuel Kachele | 2018

17

BH Literature Essay Sample Question

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

BH Literature Essay Sample Question

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

‘O’ Level English (OLE)

'O' Level English (OLE) |

Social realities are the most current and

'O' Level English (OLE) |

Tribalism. The playwright portrays how this society

Superstition. Superstition has also been portrayed by

Religious beliefs. In the play, religious

Disunity. The playwright has portrayed disunity as a

Irresponsibility. The playwright insists the need of

Love. In this play, the playwright has depicted

'O' Level English (OLE) |

Betrayal. Betrayal is the situation of going

'O' Level English (OLE) |

Influence of Western education. In the play,

African traditions. The playwright has portrayed

Position of woman in the society. The

Therefore, Ngugi wa Thiong’o has written his

 Build your Essay Paragraph with these 4 Easy Components!

'O' Level English (OLE) |

Get him now through his:

'O' Level English (OLE) |

Just go to www.kacheleonline.blogspot.com and type your email to get more of my

© Emmanuel Kachele | 2018

'O' Level English (OLE) |

You might also like