1. This story uses first person narration.

Explain how the narrative style influences our

perception of the events in the story, and how this contributes to the story’s
meaning.

Lindiwe Nkutha’s story is told from a first-person perspective, allowing the reader to
see the events of the story through the eyes of Tuli. This description allows the
reader to understand Turi's thoughts, feelings and experiences, allowing the reader
to understand and connect with his character on a deeper level. Turi's narrative
allows the reader to see the relationship between the effects of poverty and his life
and choices. The use of a first-person narrator conveys themes of self-discovery and
personal growth as Tooley solves problems in his life. Overall, the description of "The
Rock" maintains the theme of the story, emphasizing the importance of
understanding and understanding others, especially those who will face problems
beyond one's control.

2. Discuss the story’s setting and analyse how Zibusiso manages to describe her
surroundings and the hardship her family is faced with, with wry humour.

The setting of the story takes place in a rural village in South Africa. Zibusiso, the
protagonist of the story, depicts the setting in distinctive detail, which paints a
picture of a destitute and struggling community. She talks around how she must get
water from the waterway, how her family's little plot of arrive is as well little to
create sufficient nourishment, and how they must make do with small or nothing.
Despite the hardships, Zibusiso is able to discover a few funniness in her
circumstance. She talks about how she can still make the foremost of her life by
finding ways to engage herself and her companions, such as playing with stones and
twigs. She too talks around the magnificence of the mountain and the waterway,
and how the waterway is the as it were put where she can discover a bit of peace
and calm. By appearing the magnificence of her environment, Zibusiso can discover a
bit of good faith in her troublesome circumstance.

3. In this story, gender roles and expectations are subverted. Focussing on the
characterisation of Danisile and Bra Phandi, consider how the story undermines
gender roles and expectations.
 Denise is a young woman confined to a wheelchair after being injured by a dog. She
was called "Rock" by the children around her because of her disability. Bra Phandi is
an old man who is a doctor. He is also Denisele's father. The story addresses gender
roles and expectations, portraying Denisele as a strong and independent character
despite her disability. He is portrayed not as weak or powerless, but as someone
who can take care of himself. Bra Phandi's performance in the short story
demonstrates his resilience in the face of challenges and his ability to change.
Although people expect women to perform certain duties, when Bra Phandi fell ill,
she took on the role of wife and showed her dedication to her family's livelihood.
She also demonstrates a willingness to learn and adapt to new situations, which
makes her very good at her job. His patience, kindness, and ability to work well with
others helped him earn the respect of his colleagues, which ultimately strengthened
his determination to continue the role even after his wife seemed the same. Overall,
Bra Phandi has managed to rise to a position traditionally occupied by women due to
her strong personality and willingness to challenge the gender. This includes gender
roles where men must be strong and independent, and women must be involved
and nurturing.

4. The praying mantis functions as a symbol in this story. Briefly explore the symbol of
the praying mantis and how it contributes to the story’s meaning.

The presence of the praying mantis adds depth and metaphorical layers to the story,
increasing the meaning and meaning of the story. Praying mantises are often
associated with patience, perseverance, and observation. In the context of the story,
it is a symbol of resilience and survival in the face of adversity. The protagonist is a
young woman named Phemelo, who finds solace and strength watching her praying
mantis near her home. Despite the difficulties he faced, such as poverty and a bad
home environment, Phemelo was inspired by the praying mantis renaissance. The
praying mantis also symbolizes change and growth. It goes through several stages of
growth, shedding its old skin to reveal its original shape. Likewise, Phemelo changes
constantly throughout the story. She learns to cope with the challenges around her,
discovers the strength within, and finally finds hope for a better future. Additionally,
 harmony and balance are represented by the praying mantis. In the story, he
becomes Phemelo's source of stability and peace in times of crisis. The mantis
reminds us that even in the most difficult times, there are moments of beauty and
beauty. The presence of the praying mantis adds to the theme of the story by
introducing themes of resilience, growth, and finding strength in an unfavourable
environment. It emphasizes the power of observation, resilience and empathy as
tools for survival and change. Through the praying mantis symbol, Nkutha invites
readers to reflect on a person's ability to persevere and thrive in difficult situations.
It also invites readers to find hope and inspiration in unexpected places.

5. The title of the story can be understood as referring both to positive and negative
events in Zibusiso’s life. Discuss these events and how they relate to the title.

As the story begins, Zibusiso is a boy in South Africa who finds comfort and security
on a large rock near his home. The stone has become a symbol of security and
stability in his life, something he can rely on when faced with growing problems in
poverty and hardship. However, as Zibusiso grew older, he began to experience
setbacks and accidents. He had to drop out of school to work and his mother died
suddenly, which left him depressed and alone. Despite these difficulties, Zibusiso
continued to pursue his dream of a better life and eventually managed to save
enough money to buy a small piece of land. The title of the story contains the
negative aspects of life because life is hard for Zibusiso. The rock, which once
represented safety and security, now becomes a symbol of the obstacles that must
be overcome.