Grade 8 Literature Competencies:

 Express appreciation for sensory images used.

 Determine the key ideas, tone, and purposes of the author.
 Explain figurative languages used.
 Explain how a selection may be influenced by culture, history, environment, or other
factors.

“Africa by Claude McKay”

The sun sought thy dim bed and brought forth light,
The sciences were sucklings at thy breast;
When all the world was young in pregnant night
Thy slaves toiled at thy monumental best.
Thou ancient treasure-land, thou modern prize,
New peoples marvel at thy pyramids!
The years roll on, thy sphinx of riddle eyes
Watches the mad world with immobile lids.
The Hebrews humbled them at Pharaoh's name.
Cradle of Power! Yet all things were in vain!
Honor and Glory, Arrogance and Fame!
They went. The darkness swallowed thee again.
Thou art the harlot, now thy time is done,
Of all the mighty nations of the sun.

Express Appreciation for Sensory Image Used

Task: Through the words used by the poet, as expressed by the speaker, the vivid
images, clear sounds and exact feelings are clearly conveyed. The descriptions help
them in making sense of the poem.
 Read the poem silently and think of the images the words created in your mind.
 Picture them in your mind and try to bring them in focus.
 List the words that create clear pictures in your mind.
 Point out the real life experiences or observation in life that each image suggests.
 Copy the chart below and fill it out based from your understanding.

Meaningful
Words Images Created Feelings Evoked
Experience

Determine the Key Ideas, Tone, and Purposes of the Author

Task: Using the diagram below, identify the author’s tone, mood, technique and purpose
in writing the poem.

Tone Mood

Africa by
Claude McKay

Technique Purpose

Explain Figurative Languages Used

Task: The poem uses some words that give life to an object. Personification occurs
when a thing or abstraction is represented by a person. Locate words that is under the
figurative language, Personification and list them in the table provided.

Words How it was given life by the author

Explain How the Selection may be influenced by Culture, History,

Environment, or other factors

Task: The poem was inspired based from real life experience of the author. What could
be the possible factors for him to make the poem. It could be through their country’s
culture, background/history, environment, or other factors. Make a short research about
the author and his literary work, and reflect on it. Write your answer comprehensively.

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