MINEDUC SCHOOL YEAR: 2022-2023

WESTERN PROVINCE SECOND TERM 2O22-2023

NYABIHU DISTRICT
CLASS: SENIOR FOUR
SUBJECT: LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

COMBINATIONS:

-LITERATURE-FRENCH-KINYARWANDA
-LITERATURE-KISWAHILE-KINYARWANDA
-HISTORY-GEOGRAPHY-LITERATURE
-LITERATURE-ECONOMICS- GEOGRAPHY
-HISTORY-ECONOMICS-LITERATURE
Instructions:
1. This paper consists of three sections: A, B and C
SectionA: Prose and poetry (40 marks)
Section B: Plays (30 marks)
Section C: Novels (30 marks)
2. Use only a blue or black pen.
3. Time allowed: 3 hours

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SECTION A: Prose and Poetry

I. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow (30
marks)

SABIZEZE, A STRANGE CHILD

Nkuba, the King of Heaven, also known as Shyerezo, had several wives. One of
them, named Gasani, had stopped having children. Her palace was empty and
silent, and she was sad. One day, a seer named Imhamvu came to her palace. She
told the Queen,”You are about to have a baby boy!”
How will that come about? Gasani replied. I have been childless for many
years now!
You will have your baby, and I shall get my reward!
What reward would you like?
All I ask is that you take me into your household, as servant, and give me
clothing and food and lodgings, so that I can be on hand to give you further
advice.
Gasani took Imhamvu in her service.
Ono fine day, Imhamvu told her Mistress,Have a milk jug igicuba made from the
sacred wood umurinzi. When it is ready, fill it with milk, and I’ll tell you what to do
next.

Now, it is so happened that at that particular time, King Shyerezo was planning to
extend his empire by annexing some of the outlying areas. He convened his
advisor and asked them to hold a divination session in order to indicate the best
way of achieving this goal.

A divination bull was selected and prepared. The diviners collected the royal saliva
as divination seed, fed it to the bull, and whispered the divination question into
its ear. Then they put it to sleep, opened it up, and proceeded to check the inner
organs for signs.

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When the diviners had completed their readings, they went into the palace to
give their report to the King. At that moment, the lady Imhamvu told the Queen,
Go to the consultation area, take the heart of the divination bull, and place it in
the milk jug you have prepared. But make sure nobody sees you.
Gasani did as she was told. She brought the heart over, dropped it into the
erythrina milk jug, fitted some woven netting around it, and suspended it above
the churning gourd table.

Imhamvu then recommended that the jug should be hidden away at all times, and
the Queen should never let anyone come near it. She was to add a little warm
milk every morning and evening at milking time.
Nine moons elapsed. In the tenth moon, Imhamvu told Gasani to open the jug.
And lo and behold! A baby boy was found floating on milk curds. The whole
household was alerted, and all shouted out joyfully, Gasani yabyaye! Gasani’s
baby is born! Let all rejoice and make sounds of ululation!
Gasani named her son Sabizeze, for saba Imana zeze: pray to the Gods at their
moment of favour. Little Sabizeze was indeed a gift of the Gods, having been born
of the heart of a divine bull, which had swallowed the seed of the King of Heaven.
He was a very beautiful baby.
A messenger went to King Shyerezo to announce the birth of his little son, but the
King dismissed the news and sent the messenger away. On the eighth day, the
King failed to come over and take his son into his arms and give him a name, as
was the custom. In fact, he refused to have anything at all to do with the baby
and his mother. And when his aides insisted, he ordered them to have the child
thrown away instead: I don’t want that child in my kingdom, he said.
When Gasani and her servant, the wise Imhamvu, heard that King Shyerezo
wanted the baby eliminated, they resolved to hide him away. Whenever the King
would send his people over, the Queen would be secretly informed, and she
would hide the child. As the child grew up, he became more beautiful and
intelligent, and was loved and admired by all.
News of the child’s loveliness eventually reached King Shyerezo. Lord, people
would say, your son is the most beautiful boy in all your kingdoms! None like
him has ever been seen! But he persisted in denying him. Did I not order that
child to be killed? Why is he still alive? Take him away and kill him! Idon’t want
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him, he said. But none consented killing him, for he grew more and more
handsome, and began to look more and more like his father.
One day, a group of Elders came to the palace of Queen Gasani, and told her,
Lady Gasani, your son’s beauty has become a byword, and we have come to see
for ourselves. Please allow us to see him.
The Queen called boy in. When the Elders saw him, they marveled at his looks
and demeanor, for by then he was the spitting image of the King of Heaven
Himself. They went to the King, and said to him, Lord, we know you have
ordered your son to be killed. However, the boy is so wonderfully like you that
killing him would be like killing your Majesty. The Elders were so convincing that
eventually the King consented to go over to Gsani’s place and see this little boy
for himself. As soon as he set his eyes on little Sabizeze, all desire of killing him
suddenly left the King, and instead, he recognized him, took him into his arms,
lifted high up, then set him on his knee, and gave a name: Imana, Divinity.
.
Although his father had given the boy the name Imana, everyone around went
calling him by the name his mother had given him: Sabizese. Soon, everyone
realized he was very different from all the other royal children. Then a rumour
about his unusual birth began to circulate in the royal household. No wonder his
father had refused to recognize him,  people whispered. But Gasani never said
aword about the matter.
Years later, however, Gasani’s mother came to see her, and enquired about her
son’s birth and the strange rumours she had heard. Then Gasani resolved to tell
her full story. son of my Lord, now I know why you are so different from the rest
of us! You were born in a different way! You actually developed in a milk jug, from
the heart of a sacred bull which had swallowed your Father’s seed! Your mother
found you swimming about in milk curds! I heard her tell the story to your
grandmother!
Very strange indeed!” When Sabizeze heard that, he became very angry with his
mother, and said,” Ubonye Gasani ngo arambyarura! How can my mother disown
me in this manner! What a shame! I cannot stay here any longer! And he
resolved never to return to his mother’s house, but instead, to leave home and go
and settle as far as possible, to the farthest end of his Father’s Empire, and
beyond, if possible.

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Sabizeze immediately began making preparations to leave his heavenly home. He

went into his room, took his bow and quiver, called his hunter dogs,
Ruzunguzungu and Ruguma (circling and stay-put). He went into his father’s
smithy, and took the Royal Hammer Nyarushara, and a little fire from the furnace.
Then he went to find his brother Mututsi, and his sister Nyampundu, and
persuaded them to come away with him.
QUESTIONS ( 3 marks for each)
1 What is this myth talking about?
2 Why is there need to write myths today?
3 Talk about the characterization of this myth.
4 Talk about the character traits of: i) Gasani ii) Imhamvu
5 Make a list of the non-English words (at least 10 words) in this story. What do
you think is the importance of retaining these non-English words?
6 Explain the word SABIZEZE focusing on the context of this myth.
7 Is it necessary to study the myths nowadays? Why?
8 Differentiate myth from legend.
9 What is your moral lesson after reading this story?
10 In which African literary tradition is this myth found?

II. Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow
( 10 marks)
An Elegy
When he was here
We planned each tomorrow
With him in mind
For we saw no parting
Looming over the horizon.

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When he was here,

We joked and laughed together
And no fleeting shadow of a ghost
Ever crossed our paths.

Day by day we lived

On this side of the mist
And there was never a sign
That his hours were running fast

When he was gone,

Through glazed eyes we searched
Beyond the mist and the shadows
For we couldn’t believe he was nowhere:
We couldn’t believe he was dead.
Questions (2 marks for each)
1. What has happened in the poem?
2. What is the feeling of the speaker in the poem?
3. Describe the feeling evoked by the poem in you.
4. Differentiate “Haiku” from “Tanka.”
5. What are the characteristics of Haiku?
SECTION C: PLAYS / 30 marks
Read the play below and answer the questions that follow
The Incorruptible Judge
CHIEF: It is one of my sons. He is in trouble and it is you alone who can save him.
He has been accused, falsely of course, of taking a bribe and will be brought before
you next Wednesday. If he is…

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JUDGE: Why not wait till he gets to court and makes his case there?
CHIEF: (frowning) Please don’t interrupt me. Let me finish first.
JUDGE: All right.
CHIEF: He is Agbalowameri, the son of Chief Kaleko, himself the son of
Ogboluefon of the famous Kiriji Wars. How are we to bear it if this illustrious son
of such an illustrious family is sent to prison? Take his position in his family, his
office and in society. What would happen to his family if he were jailed? Who
would feed, protect and clothe them? He has just started building his second house
and his enemies have conspired to bring him trouble. Would they not laugh at him
if you allow those malicious enemies to succeed in ruining him?
Think of the number of blameless years during which he has served the
government faithfully. Now that the time has almost come for him to retire from
service and begin to enjoy his pension rights and gratuity, will you allow his
enemies to snatch the fruits of twenty years of hard work from his mouth? Please
judge, save him. Don’t laugh. He is a Yoruba man like yourself. He is our son.
Please don’t send him to prison. Don’t disgrace us. Don’t let his enemies laugh at
us.
JUDGE: Thank you for all you have said. As one of the people who encouraged
my father and helped to finance my law studies in England, you know that I have
always shown you by word and deed that I shall forever be grateful to you. But you
will agree with me that in this matter there is nothing I can do about it until I have
heard all the evidence in court. It is very difficult to promise not to imprison an
accused before I have even heard the case. It is not only wrong, but also immoral.
Surely, having helped me so much in life, you would not like to ruin me or my
reputation?

I advise you sir to keep off this matter. The law is no respecter of persons. Be they
high or low, rich or poor; it makes no difference.You are chief yourself. YOU

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SOMETIMES TRY CASES. Do you ever imprison somebody who is not guilty
simply because he is not rich or set free a guilty man simply because he is rich?
CHIEF: No I don’t do that.
JUDGE: There you are sir; I don’t do it either.
CHIEF: I understand everything, but before I leave you, let me deliver his message
to you. He has asked me to give you these fifty guineas to buy drinks with.
JUDGE: (very angry) Me! Fifty guineas! Did that man send you to give me money
again after I had rejected it and warned him against such a course? That shows that
bribery is in his veins and he thinks that everyone else is like himself. Father, this
matter is becoming very serious. It is clear wrong to offer a bribe to try and
influence the course of justice. I advise you to steer clear of this if you yourself
don’t want to be involved in this trouble.
CHIEF: Well, I told him what the possible consequences of this appealing to a
judge would be, but if I had refused to deliver his message, he would have
concluded that I did not like him. (He rises) I am going.
JUDGE: All right, sir.
CHIEF: Where is your wife?
JUDGE: Darling! Darling! (No answer) She is probably busy.
CHIEF: Give my greetings to her. Sorry to have given you so much trouble.
JUDGE: (With a broad smile) Not at all. Good night, sir.
CHIEF: Good night, my son.
Questions / 30 marks. (5 marks for each)
1. Where and when does this incident take place? Give evidence of your
answer.
2. Do you think the chief is corrupt?
3. Discuss what kind of a community the play is set in.
4. What are the chief’s traits?
5. Summarise the above-mentioned play.
6. Find out all of the stage directions which are in the play above.

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SECTION C: novels ( 30 marks)

I. Read the following extract and answer the questions. /15

Okonkwo is received in exile.

Why is Okonkwo with us today? This is not his clan. We are only his mother’s
kinsmen. He does not belong here. He is in exile, condemned for seven years to
live in a strange land. And so he is bowed with grief. But there is just one question
I would like to ask him. Can you tell me, Okonkwo, why it is that one of the
commonest names we give our children in Nneka, or “Mother is Supreme?” We
all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. A child
belongs to its father and his family and not to its mother and her family. A man
belongs to his fatherland and not to his motherland and yet we say Nneka –
“Mother is supreme”. Why is that?
There was silence. ‘I want Okonkwo to answer me,’ said Uchendu. ‘I do not know
the answer,’ Okonkwo replied.
‘You do not know the answer? So you see that you are a child. You are a great
man in your clan. But there is one question I shall ask. Why is it that when a
woman dies she is taken home to be buried with her own kinsmen? She is not
buried with her husband’s kinsmen. Why is that? Your mother was brought home
to me and buried with my people, why was that?
Okonkwo shook his head.
‘He does not know that either,’ said Uchendu,’ and yet he is full of sorrow
because he has come to live in his motherland for a few years.’ He laughed a
mirthless laughter, and turned to his sons and daughters. What about you? Can
you answer the questions? They all shook their heads.

1. Where and when did the story take place?

2. Who is telling the story?
3. What is the main theme in the above extract?

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II. Choose a novel and answer a question on it. (15 marks)

Either: A) PETER ABRAHAMS, Mine Boy.
a). What is the major theme depicted in the novel “Mine Boy?”
b). Talk about it.
Or: B) CAMARA LAYE, The African Child.
Explain the ritual of “Konden Diarra as it is described in the novel “The African
Child.’
END.

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