LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

FORM THREE AND FORM FOUR

NOTES

PREPARED BY

MR: S. MLAGILA

Copyright 2023
 THEORIES OF LITERATURE
1. INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

Literature entomologically comes from a Latin word “literata” meaning written words or
letters of alphabets or something that is written.

Literature literary means an art that uses language creativity and imagination to express
the socio-economic political issues, prevalent in a contemporary society by an artist.

Literature all stands for all executive and creative works if man expressed in writing,
sculpting as well as painting as a tool of expressing human ideas and behaviours. The word
theories comes from a Greek word, “theoria” meaning a view, assumption or an idea.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORD LITERATURE

There is no single definition that correctly suits and defines literature, as a result there
has been various attempts to define literature. Some of these attempts to differentiate the
word literature, some of these attempts are strongly argued, that defining literature is
incomplete unless it involves these elements:-

(i) Art
(ii) Language
(iii) Creativity
(iv) Society
(v) Artist

These elements are discussed as follows;-

(i) ART - Art refers to creativity, decoration, beauty, painting, colouring, threading,
dying, beautification, embroidery. It is creativity that comprises which uses the
attention of individuals.
(ii) LANGUAGE – is the system of arbitrary vocal symbol used for interaction and
communication, exchanging and sharing of ideas, language is also an important
tool in communication in delivering the intended message. No literature can exist
without a language.
(iii) CREATIVITY/IMAGINATION – it is a situation of applying skills, decoration,
sculpting, painting, design an object and make it unique and peculiar from
others.
(iv) SOCIETY – It is the people, folk or inhabitant of a certain area or location who
make up the society.
(v) ARTIST – Is a person who deals with art, mentor, dancing, drawing, painting,
and performing. An artist can be an orator, performer, dramatic novelist or a
painter.

FUNCTIONS/IMPORTANCE OF LITERATURE
1. Reflection of culture; Culture is a totality of living style of a particular people. It
depicts their norms and traditions, rituals, taboos e.g. The Kikuyu people believe and
pay homage to their Kikuyu ancestors, Gikuyu, Mwenenyanga Ngai, Murungu
through Mukuruwe wa Nyagathaga, also this is addressed through the novel “The

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 River Between” also in the name and book “The God of Small Things” and in here
you will surely find the Hindu words “karma, “yoga”, and “caste system”.

2. Literature uses/develops language growth; It applies use of certain vocabularies

e.g. “concubine” stanza, petal etc. A person who reads a lot of literary works
increases his/her vocabularies.

3. Entertainment purposes; Literature has tremendous effect of entertaining the

family of man, beast and bird by gripping and mesmerize them. This can be done
through songs, playing, joking and the cultural performance.

4. Liberative role to the society; Literature plays that role of mental liberation by
decolonizing someone‟s mind in the society that someone lives in.

5. Educative role; Literature plays that role of educating an individual and the
society. Literature will tell you for example, the effects of loving women in the novel,
“The concubine” by Elechi Amadi.

6. Socialization process; Literature allows the young members of the society to be

incorporated to the community and become good active members of the
community/society in which they live in.

7. Awareness creation; Literature as a discipline, strive to create an awareness of

what is happening in the particular society at the specific of period of time.

8. Centre of politics; Literature strives to understand the relationship between

rulers and the citizens at large of a particular society. One Nigerian writer called
Kerwle Beenson Saro Wiwa once said, “You can‟t divorce literature from politics.”

9. Removal of the misconception about the inferiority complex among the Africans
and encourage them to be confident e.g. Ngugi wa Thiongo‟s Decolonizing The Mind
– 1986.

10. An avenue for understanding politics and the citizens of the world at large.

WHY LITERATURE IS AN ART?

Literature is an art because of the following reasons:-

1. Application of figure of speech; the language of literature is different from language,

because literature uses special language that symbolize a different meaning.
2. Character and characterization; literature uses the people and others to present
certain ideas that the author uses names of characters that are conversant with their
behaviour.
3. Choice and presentation of plots; literature isn‟t about the facts and stones to be
reported, literature presents itself in the artistic ways that makes the audience think
they are actually happening.

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 4. Use of skilful narrative; the write uses and directs and flashback and direct method
in narrations.
5. Imaginative in nature; Literature basically deals with the imaginations world they
think about that world.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE

(i) Literature uses as a medium to present the intended message as discussed
above in a medium using the intended audience. The artist must possess a wide
range of vocabulary and a goal command over appropriate occasion and night
which express the meaning of intended.
(ii) Language is to influence other people‟s mind, the functions of the spoken words
is not only to convey meanings but influence peoples mind, it makes them alert
with the aim of bringing in the changes in the society for the betterment of the
people.
(iii) Language is used to arouse emotions. It can bring some pleasure and
enjoyment, it is used to convince, persuade and arouse emotions such as pity,
terror and sorrow. Though words can either bring people joyousness or sadness.
(iv) Language is a part of and parcel of literature, we can‟t have literature without
language. It is therefore necessary for people who compose literary works to use
language of the society so as to convey the intended message to the audience
for example, if the artist want to communicate the message to Tanzania, they
are forced to use Kiswahili which is understood by majority.
(v) Literature is to develop language by reading, listening, speaking and writing.
People may improve their vocabulary which since they won‟t come across a
number of new words in a context.
(vi) Language makes literature a work of art, when language is used artistic way is
called literature. The language of literature is different from the normal and
common language, the language of literature is creative and imaginative. The
artist uses language to create an imagination as well as symbolism to mould the
character.
(vii) Literature is either stored in written words/language and presented in reading
while stored in human memory and also presented through the word of mouth in
a language the audience understood.

FORMS OF LITERATURE.

There are various genres of literature that can generally be grouped into major forms
namely; oral literature and written literature. These include novels, short stories, poetry,
drama or play which fall in the category of written literature. Riddles, proverbs, folks,
legends, tales, these all fall under category of literature.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ORAL LITERATURE AND WRITTEN LITERATURE

ORAL LITERATURE WRITTEN LITERATURE

i) Oral literature is presented orally i) Written literature is presented in the
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 in the spoken form easy to written form. It is rigid to change because
change when a book is written it is difficult to
change.
ii) There is face to face contact ii) There is no face to face contact
between artist and audience between the artist and the audience.
iii) There is immediate feedback iii) There is no immediate feedback
from the audience to the artist between the writer and the audience.
iv) It is preserved in human iv) It is preserved in writing of books and
memory, people preserve oral archives, one has to read a book or other
literature in their heads and pass written materials.
them from one generation to the
other through the narration and
performance.
v) It has a wider audience for v) It is suitable for people who knows how
everyone, oral literature involves to read and write only.
all members of the society thus
it has a wider audience. It is
suitable for both literates and
illiterates.
vi) It belongs to the whole society. vi) Written literature belongs to the
Most of all oral literature author/writer of literacy work.
involves all the members of the
society
vii) It is the oldest genre vii) It is a late developer in the world of
literature.

LITERARY DEVICES AS USED IN LITERATURE

Literary devices are tools and language techniques of language that authors use to
convey the meaning. Using the literary device brings richness and clarity to a text, literary
device are those to create a literary work which helps to distinguish literary works from non-
literary works.

FIGURES OF SPEECH

Is a word or phrase that departs from the everyday use literal language for the sake
of comparison, emphasis clarity and freshness.

1. METAPHOR: Is a figure of speech that makes direct comparison between two unlike
things without the use of “as” or “like” e.g. He was lion in the fight, The Lord is
my shepherd.
2. SIMILE: Is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two like things by
using as…….as or ……..like……. e.g. As white as snow, Christianity shone like a beam
in the black night.
3. IRONY: Is the expression of ideas which are exactly opposite to the implied meaning
e.g. what a clever student? He scored 50%
4. DRAMATIC IRONY: Occurs when event or fact not know the character on the stage
or in a fictional work are to know each other and the audience.

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5. METONYMY: Is the use of attribute in a place of the whole thing e.g. a pen
represents the scholar.
6. BARBARISM: Refers to different language in conversation in writing this refers to the
borrowed words.
7. RHETORICAL QUESTIONS: These are questions which need not a reply e.g. who
cares?
8. IMAGERY: These are figures of speech which address the mental pictures in the inds
of the reader e.g. similes and metaphors.
9. PERSONIFICATION: This is the deliberate assignment giving human powers to non-
living characters and non-living things e.g. the scars will be remembering the
wounds.
10. SYMBOLISM: Refers to anything that stands for something e.g.
Flag: symbolizes colonialism
Cross: Symbolizes Christianity.
11. HYPERBOLE: Is a form of expression that addresses overstatement of a literary text
or fact exaggeration of a literary fact e.g. The Mountains smiled the night.
12. APOSTROPHE: Is a direct address to the dead or an animate animal creating an
animal surge e.g. Caesar, only if you were alive.
13. SYNECHDOCHE: is a figure of speech which the whole represents a part of a whole
idea e.g. 50 herds of cattle head is used to mean whole animals.
14. LITOTES: is the use of negative or weak statement to emphasize a positive meaning
e.g.
I am unmindful, I was mindful.
15. UNDERSTATEMENTS: Is a statement that makes something less important in
pressure, less serious than it really is e.g.
Your brain is so small like sea sand.
16. OXYMORON: Is a figure of speech which includes words or ideas opposite in
meaning placed on after another e.g.
Open secret
Dear wounds
Silent noise
17. PARADOX: Is a figure of speech which includes a statement contradictory to the
common sense e.g. I love hate you.
18. CLIMAX: Is the arrangement of ideas in an increasing order of importance.
E.g. He came, he saw, he conquered it all.
19. ANTICLIMAX: Is a sequence of ides that abruptly diminishes in dignity or importance
at the end of the passage.
20. ANTITHESIS: Is the juxtaposition of words, phrases, clauses, sentences or applied or
opposed in meaning e.g. The Lord has given, the Lord has taken.
21. ALLUSION: Is the literary device which the write or speaker refers others directly or
indirectly to a famous person, event, place or thing.
22. PARALLELISM: Is the repetition of the same pattern of words or phrase with a
sentence or passage to show the more the ideas have the same level of importance
e.g. She cried, she wept, she was unmoved.
23. ANADIPLOSIS: The repetition in which the last expression of the statement becomes
the first expression in the following statements e.g.
Africa by “David Diop”

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 “The body of sweat”
“The sweat of your work”
“The work of your slavery”
“The slavery of your work”
24. ALLEGORY: Is a form of extended metaphor in which an object or a person goes
through e.g. The novel “Animal farm” by George Orwell
25. IDIOMS: Is an expression that has a meaning that is different from the real word
e.g.
French leave – leave without permission.
Go banana – Become mad.
26. ANASTROPHE: Is also called inversion, is a sentence in a poetic expression which the
single verse change the meaning of the following word.
27. ANAPHORA: Also called epapanaphora, repetition of a word expression of the
beginning of successive phrases for the rhetorical effect.
28. SATIRE: is a literary technique which the individual organization state often the
intended meaning of the proving changes.
29. TABOO: Is a literary term used in literature to mean words which are not allowed to
be used in normal setting because they are rude or offensive or derogatory e.g.
Motherfucker
Son of a bitch
Uncircumcised baboon
30. CLICHÉ: Is a literary term which the saying are no longer in use of modern English
e.g.
It rained cats and dogs.
31. ANECDOTE: Is a term used in literature to mean one part meaning of a whole.

ORAL LITERATURE

Oral literature is a type of literature that is provided through the word of mouth. It is
the oldest of all genres of literature. It was practiced before the invention of writing. It
includes tales, folktales, legends, myths, fables, anecdotes, ballads, epics, riddles, sayings,
proverbs and idioms.

SUB-GENRES OF LITERATURE.

In oral literature there are sub-genres as:-

1. ANECDOTES: is a brief story about an interesting amusing story or strange event,

some anecdotes includes to entertain the readers to the point.
2. EPIC: is a long narrative poem on a great serious subject that is centred on action of
the heroic figure such as “the Epic of Sundiata of Mali” and “The Epic of Shakazulu.”
3. FABLES: is a brief story of a poem usually with animals as characters that teach a
lesson of moral values. They base with animals as characters in human teaching.
4. FOLKTALES: Is a story about the people and the community composed orally and
passed from one generation to another e.g.
Why the monkeys live on trees!
5. LEGENDS: is a story widely known, a person who once became which is true and
factual. It is passed down from one generation to another e.g.
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 The legend of Bob Marley.
6. ORATURE: Is the oral plus literature spoken or done in a certain society.
7. MYTH: These are fictional stories about the universe that try to tell and establish
about the existence of the universe e.g.
The creation of the Universe.
8. PARABLE: Is a story that has a biblical moral teaching or a spiritual lesson especially
Jesus in ancient Biblical times.
9. BALLAD: Is a song like narrative which tells a story of risky adventures or romantic
adventures e.g.
The Ballad of the Landlord
10. DIRGE: Is a sombre song of lament expressing grief performance at the funeral.
11. TRICKSTER: Is a form of folktales that reflects on administration of fairness.
12. RIDDLES: These are games in which the elements of intellectual exercise and verbal
skills are combined at different degrees e.g.
My house has no door – EGG
13. PROVERBS: These are widespread and respected genre of literature words meant for
recitation, teaching, warning and educating e.g.
All that glitters is not gold.
Actions speak louder than words.
14. FAIRY TALES: Is a strong about creative like a small person who has magic powers
usually for children.
15. TONGUE-TWISTER: These are the words articulated with a certain speed altering the
words in several ways.
16. LULLABY: is a song sung to nurse a baby to sleep usually a sweet one.
17. FOLKLORES: These are stories which are created of traditional community stories on
customs, beliefs and culture of a particular society.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ORAL LITERATURE.

Oral literatures has got the following characteristics.
(i) Passed through the mouth.
(ii) Involves live performance.
(iii) Rich in verbal activities.
(iv) There is contact between performer and audience
(v) Oral literature is contextual
(vi) It is performed in special areas like theatre.

IMPACTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ON ORAL LITERATURE.

Oral literature has encountered many challenges in its course of development from
time immemorial. Most of the forms of oral literatures are either extinct or in a different
stages towards extinction.

The impacts of science and technology on oral literature:-

1. It has become expensive if preserved or stored in modern storage devices like DVDs
tape recorders, computers etc.

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 2. There is no face to face interaction between the artist and the audience since oral
literature is preserved in modern devices, it loses its livelihood because of the
audience and the performer cannot interact.
3. There is a delay in feedback, it is difficult for the artist to get feedback from the
audience.
4. It changes the medium of presentation because there is the absence of performance
effect and actions are not heard.
5. Due to copy right issues it is no longer belonging to the whole community.
6. It doesn‟t involve all the members of the community.
7. Vulnerability of storage, devices like CDs, DVDs and VCDs may undergo serious
damage endangering the intactness of oral literature.

WRITTEN LITERATURES.
Is the type of literature that is presented through the written form and it began with the
invention of writing.
FICTION/NON-FICTION.

NON-FICTION: Is a type of literature that deals with the factual matters and materials. The
people and events addressed in the non-factual or non-fiction are autobiography, biography,
essays, periodicals and speeches.

FICTION: Is the type of literature that deals with imaginations and thinkable things.

PROSE

Prose is entomologically derived from Latin expression “prosa ratio” which means “direct or
straightforward” and this is found in literary work and it is produced without constriction.
Prose always follow regular grammatical convection and it doesn‟t contain formal metrical
structure.

NOVEL

Refers to the extended fiction prose narrative of considerable length in which characters and
actions are real life experience, representative portrayed in a plot of more or less
complexity.

The following are examples of novels read in the course.

1. The Concubine – Elechi Amadi

2. Houseboy – Ferdinand Oyono
3. Old man And The Medal – Ferdinand Oyono
4. A Walk In The Night – Alex La Guma

NOVELETTE: Is a prose narrative limited in characters with limited vocabularies ranging

around 3500/4000 words for junior readers. Novelette is the smallest of all e.g. Hawa the
Bus Driver.

SHORT STORIES: is a type of literature characterized by few characters done at one sitting
by a single author or multiple authors e.g. Girls at War – Chinua Achebe.

NOVELLA: Is a prose narrative bigger than short story with a complex structure in plot by
many characters and smaller than a novel by a single author or multiple authors e.g. A Walk
in the Night – Alex La Guma.
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CHARACTERISTICS OF NOVELS.

(i) Novels are written in a prose narrative.

(ii) Novels are written in pages and chapters.
(iii) Novels usually use the third person point of view.
(iv) Novels are usually longer than other genres.
(v) In novels, there is innovation of events.

DRAMA/PLAY.

Is a literary composition of any length, ordinarily written to be performed on stage

by actors involving acts, scenes in theatre by character impersonation lampoon, caricatures
the real characters in terms of monologue, dialogue and trilogue.

Drama – When it is performed on stage live performance it is called “drama” when it

is printed in a book by script writing it is called “play”

DIALOGUE: These are words spoken by characters in a play. It is the conversation between
characters in characters traits are revealed personality characters, reactions to others.

SOLILOQUY/MONOLOGUE: This is a type of speech made by a single character on stage

which he is alone on stage.

ASIDE: This is a direct address of the audience by a character. The other character do no
hear what is being said on the stage.

STAGE DIRECT: These are instructions or notes included in a drama which gives directions
on how and what to be performed on stage.

TYPES OF DRAMA

Drama/plays are divided into the following categories:-

1. COMEDY: Is a type of drama which is funny and humorous in presentation, it is

meant for both educative and entertainment purposes. It is to induce humour and
entertainment examples of comedies include
futuhi comedy – Star TV
Mizengwe – ITV
Origino Comedy – TBC1
Ze komedi show – EATV
Mr Bean – BBC
Isidingo – The Need – SABC

2. TRAGEDY: Is a type of drama whereby the main character ends in danger and
difficult situation.
E.g. Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare.

3. TRAGIC-COMEDY: Is the type of drama which combines both the elements of

laugher and danger e.g. the death of sales man by Arthur Miller.
4. MELODRAMA: Is a play which is meant for entertainment purposes full of events and
emotions exaggerated to be true/to be real.

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 5. HISTORICAL DRAMA: Is a type of drama that expresses the history and
reconstruction of a particular nation, state or tribe e.g.
The trial of Dedan Kimathi By Ngugi wa Thiong‟o and Micere Mugo

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRAMA AND OTHER WORKS OF ART LIKE

NOVELS/POETRY
(i) Drama is broader than other genres because it absorbs all other genres of
literature.
(ii) The plot is usually filled with italicized form of monologue and dialogue and
trilogue.
(iii) Drama language has language economy compared to other genres of
literature.
(iv) Drama is meaningful compared to other genres because of literature.
(v) Drama exposes all the important aspects.

Examples of drama/play books in the course are:-

(i) Dilemma of a ghost – Christina Amma Atta Aidoo

(ii) The government inspector – Nikolai Gogol
(iii) Trials of brother Jero – Wole Soyinka
(iv) Lion and the Jewel – Wole Soyinka

TERMS USED IN PLAY/DRAMA

(i) Act – is a major division in a play made up of several scenes.
(ii) Scene – is the smallest unit in play and the minor unit in a play which form
the acts of a play.
(iii) Drama – is a Greek word which means doing or performance
(iv) Curtain – is the heavy material used in plays by actors
(v) Play – is a work of literature meant to be performed in a printed form e.g.
Dilemma of a Ghost.
(vi) Stage – is a raised part usually in the theatre where actors and actresses
perform on the stage.
(vii) Script – these are word written and printed in a drama.
(viii) Performer – is a person who performs in a play
(ix) Actor – is a person who acts in a play
(x) Episode – is a part of a play/drama equivalent to act.
(xi) Costume – these are clothes worn by actors and actresses on a stage.
(xii) Play within a play – is a dramatic situation whereby in one play you find
another play e.g. Dilemma of a Ghost by Christian Amma Atta Aidoo
(xiii) Narrator – is a person who narrates a story.
(xiv) Props – is a small object used by actors doing the performance.
(xv) Rehearsal – is the tie spent practising drama, dance or a piece of music
before its actual presentation.
(xvi) Theatre – is a special building or an outdoor where plays/dramas and films
are performed.

STAGES IN A PLAY/DRAMA.

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 1. STAGE ONE (EXPOSITION): This is a part of a play that creates the tone and some
characters give setting and necessary facts that help readers to understand the play.
This part is called introduction.
2. RISING ACTION: This is the part of the play the main conflict is introduced and
becomes amplified.
3. FALLING ACTIONS: is the point of the play whereby the readers get relaxed
emotionally. There are tensions of conflict loosened.
4. THE CLIMAX: Is the turning point of the play. At this point the conflict can‟t proceed
further until resolution is reached.
5. THE DENOUMENT STAGE: The word entomological comes from “denou” which
means “untie” or the resolution. It is called the resolution stage.
6. THE CRISIS STAGE: Is the brief time when the conflict rises to the point of the
climax and resolution is necessary.

LITERATURES AT A GLANCE

There are following mainly good numbers of literatures at glance.

(i) ORATURE: Is the type of literature that is handed down from one generation to
another.
(ii) LITERATURES: Is an art handed down from one generation to another by a word
of mouth.
(iii) CYBORATURE: Is the internet based literature.
(iv) GLOBALETIS: Is the overall global or world literature.

FEATURES OF A PLAY.

In order for a play to work and become successful it must have the following features:-

(i) MONOLOGUE: Is a feature of a play whereby one character speaks.

(ii) DIALOGUE: Is a feature of a play whereby two characters converse in turns.
(iii) SOLILOQUY: Is a feature of a play whereby a single character speaks.
(iv) VISUAL ELEMENT: These are elements that can be seen when dramatization is
going.
(v) MUSIC: For a drama to be successful, there must be musical accompaniment.
(vi) USE OF ACTS/SCENES: These are both major and minor events within a literary.
Work.

ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE

Any work of literature basically has two major elements:-

1. Form
2. Content
1. FORM

This is the superstructure of literature work said or arranged in a form consisting of a

plot, style, setting, language use, diction and characterization.

(i) PLOT

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 Is the arrangement of work of literature in a narrative reflected through conflict
and moral teachings, artistically arranged so that it may retain and attain the
desired literary effect.

(ii) STYLE
In the layman‟s language, refers to the method of doing things especially in art
and sciences in literature, style can be direct or flashback.

(iii) SETTING
Is the time or place where and when the literary work was done e.g. the setting
of the novel Concubine – Chiolo village – 1966.

(iv) CHARACTERIZATION
Is a person, object or animal that is used to represent the literary work denote
literary filled with humour and effect.

(v) LANGUAGE USE

Language use shows how an artist manipulates language in a special way e.g.
sarcasm, happiness.
2. CONTENT

This means anything that the author intends to tell the audience or society or anything that
is contained in a literary work.

(i) THEME
This refers to the central idea of the object matters in a piece of literature. The
following are the commonest themes in literature.
a) Corruption and embezzlement
b) Status and position of women
c) Westernization and alienation

(ii) MESSAGE
Refers to the lesson of moral aspect contained in a literary work, simply one
learns from reading or analysing the literary work.

(iii) PHILOSOPHY
This is the wisdom, it strives to search for truth and reality. Philosophy entails
wisdom.

(iv) POINT OF VIEW.

This shows how an artist views the work of literature, Marxist, lenis and
capitalist.

(v) REVELANCE
Is the literary text, context, touch, the real situation in life?

TYPES OF CHARACTERS

There are following types of characters in literature.

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 (i) PROTAGONIST/MAIN CHARACTER: these are the types of characters who
dominate, appear from the beginning to the end e.g. the protagonist of
concubine – Iluoma.
(ii) ANTAGONIST: Is the main character who opposes the main character.
(iii) DYNAMIC CHARACTER: These are characters who change from time to time in
behaviour.
(iv) STATIC CHARACTER: A static character is a character who doesn‟t change in a
work of literature.
(v) ROUND CHARACTER: Is a type of character who complex personality and always
contradictory.
(vi) FOIL CHARACTERS: These are characters who have character aversion to the
main character.
(vii) FLAT CHARACTERS: Is a character with predominant one trait of personality.
(viii) STOCK CHARACTERS: Is a character who has become convectional to the main
character and stereotype.
(ix) EXPOSITORY CHARACTERS: Are character described or discussed by another
character.
(x) DRAMATIC CHARACTER: Is a character when we deduce behaviour and speech.

APPRECIATION OF LITERATURE

In order to appreciate a literature context, the following things have to be taken into
consideration:-

1. Title of the text

2. Characterization
3. Language use/literary device
4. Themes
5. Message
6. Rhyme/Rhythm
7. Lesson
8. Message
9. Relevance
IMPORTANT TERMS AS USED IN LITERATURE
1. Artist – A person who does a literature work, a performer, painter, poet, magician,
novelist or dramatist.
2. Caricature – A character whose qualities are exaggerated, lampooned for the literary
effect.
3. Audience – People who watch/listen to a performance or presentation.
4. Autobiography – is a life history of a person written by himself.
5. Biography – Life story of a person written by another
6. Cast – Participant in a play/drama.
7. Challenger – A person who offers a riddle for a challenge.
8. Climax – The peak of conflict in a story where the intensity is high.
9. Connotation – The meaning beyond the normal or real meaning reflected in a
context.
10. Context – the environment and atmosphere of happening of a thing.
11. Denouement – the resolution or ending of a conflict.

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 12. Denotation – The real meaning/original meaning of a word.
13. Deux machina – Anti-climax of an event.
14. Diction – Deliberate use and choice of special words in a work of literature.
15. Eulogy – A speech in terms of a person dedicated to a dead person.
16. Fairly – Am imaginary mysterious and charming and dominant character that is
responsible for benevolent and malevolent acts.
17. Falsetto – an unnatural manly voice imitating of a woman.
18. Improvisation – Innovation, multiplicity on the multiplications of facts and reality in a
literature work using the original meaning.
19. Interview – A formal dialogue where the researcher and respondent interact.
20. Lullaby – sweet song sung to nurse a baby to sleep.
21. Theatre – A place where drama/play is acted.
22. Suspense – a period of intense expectation audience undergo through waiting for
final outcome.
23. Foreshadow – Occurs when a write hints events to come in future.
24. Humour - excessive behaviour of making something funny to induce laughing.
25. Moral – Lesson that teaches.
26. Script – The text of a play.
27. Teleplay – Is a play written for television.

The Trials of Brother Jero

By Wole Soyinka
Setting Nigeria
PLOT SUMMARY

The play is divided into five scenes that communicate the playwright‟s message.

Scene one:

The scene breaks with a monologue from Brother Jero in which he introduces himself as a
prophet by birth and by inclination. He also tells the audience that there are many prophets
of his kind in the streets, many with their own churches other inland and others on the
coast. There are prophets who are leading processions while others are looking for
processions to lead, many curing the deaf, many raising the dead.

He says that he was born a prophet and he had grown to love the trade. He says that many
prophets now are competing for plots of land at the beach where to erect their churches.
This has turned the profession into a thing of ridicule. He also says that some prophets
gained their present beaches by getting women penitents to shake their bosoms in spiritual

15
ecstasy. As a result it reached a point where the Town Council had to intervene and divide
the land among the prophets and settled the Prophets‟ territorial warfare.

He tells how he betrayed his old master by pretending to help him to get a plot of land but
he ended up possessing the land himself. He blames the television for keeping the wealthier
patrons at home since they stay at home and watch the tv instead of going for worship. He
had to struggle for a plot of land against other church groups such as The Brotherhood of
Jehu, Cherubims and seraphims, the Sisters of Judgement day, the heavenly cowboys and
Jehovah‟s Witnesses.

The old prophet appears and curses Brother Jero for driving him off hid plot of land and
says “Ingrate! Monster! I curse you with the curse of the Daughters of Discord. May they be
your downfall! May the Daughters of Eve bring ruin down on your head!”

Brother Jero ignores the curse and calls it a cheap curse. He admits that he has one
weakness and that is, women. However, he says that women love him because he is good
looking.

Scene two:

Early in the morning In Front of Brother Jero‟s house.

The scene breaks with Amope and Chume on a bicycle and they brake at Brother Jero‟s
house. The sudden braking causes a minor injury on Amope‟s ankle and she complains a lot
for that. Chume unties the bundle he had tied on his bicycle and places them down. Amope
has taken all the kitchen utensils required to prepare the meal plus a mat and goes to camp
in front of brother Jero‟s house.

After unloading everything Chume wants to leave saying that he is late for work. Amope
wonders the Chume is just a Chief Messenger in the Local Government office and he calls it
a job while his old school friends are now ministers riding in long cars. Chume decides to
leave. She wishes he would find another thing so that she may not go to her grave as a wife
of a Chief messenger.

Brother Jero is about to get out but he notices the presence of Amope. He wants to escape
through the window but she sees him and asks “Where do you think you are going?” He
comes back to the house. Amope says that it has been three months and Jero has not paid
her money the sum of One pound, eight shillings, and nine pence and she wonders that he
calls himself a man of God. She insists that he won‟t go anywhere until he has paid the
debt. Brother Jero cheats her that the money is not in the house he has to get it from the
Post Office and pay her.

A fish trader comes and Amope asks her to put down her trade so that she may buy. She
says that the fish smells a bit and the trader tells her that it is her who has not bathed for a
week. They exchange insults and the trader carries his load and walks away. She turns and
finds Brother Jero escaping through the window. She shouts at him calling him a thief. She
assures him that he will find it easier to get out of his house than to get in or else her name
is not Amope. A boy coming towards her beating the drum and Amope chases him away
calling him a dirty beggar.

Scene three:

At the Beach
16
Brother Jero is standing near his church wondering how Amope managed to find his house.
He says that he bought the Velvet not because it is a luxury thing but because it would help
to distinguish himself from others and finally they will start calling him the Velvet-hearted
Jeroboam, Immaculate Jero, Articulate hero of Christ‟s Crusade. This is his ambition. He
says that he does so because one must have a name that appeals to the imagination of the
spirit and much catch the imagination of the crowd. He says that one must move with
modern times because lack of colour gets one nowhere even in the Prophet‟s business.

He curses Amope for making him uncomfortable and says the price is too high for that cape.
He is glad to get there before his worshippers whom he calls customers. He admits that he
keeps them dissatisfied so that they may keep going to him. That is the reason he does not
allow Chume to beat his wife so that he may not be contented and go forever.

A young girl who has been swimming passes with clean, wet, and shiny face and hair.
Brother Jero follows her with his eyes then tells himself “Pray Brother Jeroboam Pray! Pray
for strength against temptation.” (p,11). Chume enters and he asks him to pray with and for
him against that weakness. They start praying together.

Chume seems to have something bothering him because he has come earlier than usual. As
he starts meditating Brother Jero says that his worshippers believe that he has no house
and he sleeps at the beach. When Chume finishes his meditation he suddenly asks for
permission to beat his wife just one sound beating. Brother Jero says it is against the will of
God. He tells Chume how he prophesied for him different positions and they came true and
now he has prophesied that he will be a Chief Clerk. Chume continues to insist about the
beating Jero commands him to kneel down for a prayer. Jero tells Chume that this woman is
his cross and he has to bear it and pray for strength.

Other worshippers have arrived and Brother Jero leaves them chanting. He talks about a
man that he has prophesied that he will be made a chief in his home town. For another he
prophesied that he will be the first Prime Minister of the new Mid-North-East State when it is
created. He says that it is a risky prophesy but he made it because he badly needed
worshippers around that time.

Finally he manages to convince Chume not to beat his wife and he agrees. He sends Chume
to bring water then a boy enters beating the drum and a woman chasing her. Her wrapper
pulled so high up that half the length of her thigh is exposed. Jeroboam follows the woman‟s
exposed limbs with quite distressed concentration. Brother Jero leaves the duty to Chume
and follows them

Meanwhile a woman detaches from the crowd shouting Echa, echa, echa, echa,… etc.
Chume calls Brother Jero to come back but he is nowhere to be seen. He starts to minister
the penitent. He prays for forgiveness while the congregation responds Amen! Then Chume
prays for good life and promotions. He says for instance those who are clerk today should
be made Chief clerks, Messengers into Senior Service, Petty traders into big contractors,
those with bicycles to ride cars …

Prophet Jero appears a much altered man with his clothes torn and his face bleeding, asking
his Assistant, Brother Chume, to dismiss the congregation. In their discussions, it was
revealed, to the reader or audience, that it was Brother Chume‟s wife that Prophet Jero had
an unpleasant encounter with that morning. Brother Chume reported the way he escorted
his wife to Ajete settlement to the poor man‟s house, oblivious Jero was actual the man the
17
wife had forced him to carry her to his place to collect the money she was owed. After
hearing that Brother Jero discovered that the woman is Chume‟s wife. It was also revealed
that, initially, the prophet was not aware that, that woman was Brother Chume‟s wife.

Paradoxically, the prophet‟s advice changed from prayer and forgiveness to punishment and
the use of whip as soon as Jero realised whose Chume‟s wife was. He allowed him to go and
take his wife home and beat her secretly. Before he leaves, Jero tells him that the son of
God appeared to him and gave him a new title Immaculate Jero, Articulate Hero of Christ‟s
Crusade.

Scene four:

Later the same day In Front of Brother Jero‟s house.

Chume goes to his wife and is given the food. He orders his wife to pack up her things ready
to leave for home. Amope thinks the man is drunk because he came earlier than usual.
Chume insists on going home but Amope refuses that she won‟t leave until she gets her
money. Jero enters and hides to observe them. Amope says the amount her debtor owes
her is much more than his messengers pay. She tells him that he had better become a
sanitary inspector than a messenger. She advices him to take a job that has high pay or at
least chances for bribes. She mocks him that he does not drink, or smoke or take bribes but
he is still poor.

Chume threatens to beat her saying his period of abstinence and trial is over. He commands
her to get on the bike she refuses and runs to beat the boor asking to be let in. as she cries
for help she says that the husband must kill her first before he ties her onto the bicycle. She
asks Brother Jero to curse her husband and she will forgive him his debt. Chume overhears
it and asks her to keep quite so that she may explain to him well whether it is Brother Jero
who owes her the money. She continues to shout the words “Kill me”. He turns to a nearest
neighbour who confirms that, that was Brother Jero‟s house.

Chume discovers the hypocrisy of Brother Jero and knows that it is for that reason he
allowed him to beat his wife for his own convenience. Chume leaves her alone and takes his
bike ordering her to wait till he returns. Amope is surprised whether her husband is mad.

Scene five:

Nightfall at the Beach.

The scene talks about a Member of the federal House who has come to rehearse his speech
practices. He is a back bencher but with one eye on a ministerial post. He remembers
Chume and says that might have lost him because by giving him permission to beat his wife
he is now fulfilled and would not come back to him. However he sees it as a good price he
paid to get rid of Amope.

He then goes to the Member of the house and tries to prophesy for him. At first the minister
seems to be aware of this gullibility but later when he is told that he would be appointed as
The Minister for War he softens his heart. Brother Jero seizes that opportunity and tells him
that he sees Satan in the MP‟s eyes. The member grows fearful and raises his arms in half-
supplication.

Chume comes agitated talking to himself wondering that for two years Brother Jero had
prohibited him to beat his wife claiming it was against the will of God but today he granted
18
the permission. He laments also after discovering that Jero has a house and he cheats his
followers that he sleeps at the beach. Chume suspects that may be Amope and Brother Jero
have a private relationship. She pretends to camp at his door demanding the money but
when the night falls she gets in and they make love. He blames God that what has he done
for God to spoil his life that much.

Chume leaves while the Prophet prays for the MP. Chume comes back abusing Brother Jero
calling him adulterer! Woman thief! and threatens to finish him. Brother Jero flees leaving
the MP alone. When the MP discovers that the Prophet has disappeared he thinks that he
has been transported or transmuted and he says to himself “ I knew I stood in the presence
of God… ” (p.32). Jero is happy because he has managed to full him. He hopes that he will
go and tell it to others. The Member thinks that he is on the holy ground and takes his off
his shoes.

Brother Jero watches as he is about to sleep so that he may re-appear and make the
member believe that he fell from heaven. When the member sees him he falls flat on his
face and calls him “ Master!”

The Title of the Play

The word „ trials‟ in this play is used to mean “ temptations ”. In other words it is talking
about the temptations of different dimensions that Brother Jero faces in his ministry as a
prophet. The title of the play is relevant to its content as the playwright has discussed
several trials befalling our main character (the protagonist) Brother Jeroboam. The
temptations he gets are from women and from his ministry. Brother Jero is very fond of
women and this has become his greatest weakness as he admits in scene one. “He knew
very well that I had one weakness –women. ”(p.3)

§ The first temptation is from a girl who passes every morning on her way to take a swim .
A girl passes sleepily in front of him clothed only in a wrapper going to take a swim. When
she comes back she is clean, wet, with shiny face and hair. Brother Jero follows her with his
eyes all the way. Then he tells himself. “Pray Brother Jeroboam, pray! Pray for strength
against temptations” . (p.11)

§ The second trial is from the woman chasing the drummer boy. Her wrapper was pulled so
high that half the length of her thigh is exposed. Brother Jero again followed the woman‟s
exposed limbs with quite distressed concentration and he comes suddenly to himself and
kneels sharply. (p. 17)

§ Another trial comes from his assistant Chume who asks for permission to beat his wife.
Brother Jero finds it difficult to allow Chume to beat his wife and tells him it is against the
will of God. He encourages Chume to bear it as a cross telling him that she was his trial sent
from heaven. “ She is your heaven-sent trial – lay not your hand on her” (p.15)

§ He also faces trials from the prophesies he gives to people. He is careful to tell only those
prophesies that have a probability of coming true so that they may continue believing in
him. For example he says he prophesied that one man will be made a chief in his home
town. He says “ that is a very safe prophesy. As safe as out most popular prophesy, that a
man will live to be eighty. If it doesn‟t come true .” (p.15) When he is in need of customers
he tells even impossible prophesies. He for instance tells one man that he will be the first
Prime minister of the new Mid-North-East State – when it is created. Then he admits that

19
“that was a risky prophesy of mine, but I badly needed more worshippers around that time.”
(p.16)

Setting

The play is set back in the 1960‟s but it is very relevant to the contemporary socio-political
and religious situation in Nigeria and other African countries in general. There are also sub-
settings, setting the actions in the scenes of the play.

§ Beach. The beach is used as a place where most prophets have erected their churches
and struggle for customers. But also it is the same place that puts the Protagonist into
temptations since women who go there for swimming with swimming attires have been a
temptation to the prophet hence “the trials of Brother Jero”

§ In front of the Brother Jero‟s house . Other events are taking place in front of Brother
Jero‟s house such as Amope‟s conflict with the fish trader, Amope‟s conflict with her
husband, and Amope‟s conflict with Brother Jero. It is this same setting that gives
awareness to Chume who was once ignorant and blind follower and Assistant of Brother
Jero. He comes to discover that the man he has trusted ever is a liar and a hypocrite
because he has a house but claims to sleep at the beach. Also he discovers that the
permission he got to punish (beat) his wife was a careful plan to make Brother Jero get rid
of his Creditor who is actually his own wife.

Style

Ø Dialogue: the play is written in a dialogue style as expected of any play. What is important
here is that, in a play, characters use language pragmatically as in real life unlike in other
genres like prose or narrative poetry where the persona is the narrator talking about himself
and/or others.

Ø Monologue/soliloquy . The play begins with a monologue in which Brother Jero addresses
the audience directly introducing himself as a prophet from birth.

Ø Aside: In most cases Brother Jero uses aside in which cases he addresses the audience
directly and goes back to play his part. For example when he sees a Member of the Federal
House he says “Now he…he is already a member of my flock. He does not know it of course,
but he is a follower. All I need to do is claim him. Call him and say to him, My dear member
of the House, your place awaits you…or do you doubt it? Watch me go to work on him ”
(p.29). This was a direct address to the audience.

Ø Point of view. The dominant point of view through which the story is told is First person
Point of view. The story unfolds almost entirely through the eyes and words of the main
character Brother Jero who every now and then takes himself aside and tells the audience
what they should expect to see in the subsequent scenes. He starts by introducing himself “
I am a prophet. A prophet by birth and by inclination” (p.1)

Language use.

Ø It has been argued by some critics that perhaps the “Trials of Brother Jero” is the only
popular comedy by Wole Soyinka that has used a simple language of the masses (Osoba,
2014). He has also made use of idiosyncratic variation perhaps to stress a point of ignorance
and awareness within one person. Chume speaks Standard English when he converses with
his wife but when he talks to Brother Jero he speaks Pidgin English.
20
Ø This might have been done deliberately to show that the linguistic variation within the
same person signifies his state of awareness when he is at home and ignorance when he is
at the church. That is perhaps why when he finally discovers the truth about his Prophet he
says

“For two years „e no let me beat that woman. Why? No because God no like „am. That one
no fool me any more. „E no be man of God” (p.31)

Ø Several figures of speech have also been employed not only to colour the work but also to
help Soyinka communicate his message across.

Symbolism.

Ø The playwright has used his characters symbolically to represent the many types of
people we have in our contemporary societies.

§ Brother Jero; (the protagonist) represents all the false and corrupt prophets emerging in
African continent with the aim of exploiting the ignorant masses.

§ Chume ; (the antagonist) represents those faithful and ignorant masses that are exploited
by the prophets just as customers. They make the prophets richer and richer but they
remain poorer and poorer.

§ Amope ; represents those few who are aware of the fact that these prophets are phoney
prophets thus untrustworthy. Thus she represents the exploited individuals in the society
who are enlightened have come to realise the real men behind the mask and cannot be
easily deceived.

§ Daughters of discord/Daughters of Eve; are used to represent all dishonest and unfaithful
women who ruin men‟s lives and bring their downfall.

§ The Velvet Cape ; has been used not only as a symbol of wealth exploited from the
masses by the prophets but also as a mask behind which the prophet has camouflaged
himself to hide his real identity.

§ Brother Jero‟s house ; is a symbol of the wealth robbed from the ignorant worshippers and
stored secretly. The Prophet presents himself as a poor and humble man of God who has
nowhere to sleep except the beach while in fact he as e very nice house at Ajete Settlement.

§ Chume‟s bicycle . This is used as a symbol of poverty in the play. Those rich guys drive
cars but the poor like Chume can only afford the bicycle.

§ The television . In this play the television is used as a symbol of spiritual hypocrisy. The
rich people whom Jero refers to as “our wealthier patrons ” are symbolised by the television
which, the worshippers, being worldly, stay at home and watch instead of attending the
church services. These are Nicodemus Christians because they go for consultations at a time
that they wouldn‟t be recognised which shows that they know it is wrong to visit such
places. This is hypocrisy.

Irony

§ There is a Dramatic irony.

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Brother Jero is portrayed ironically . The playwright has used a dramatic irony in which case
the audience and some characters like Amope are aware of the real Brother Jero but others
in the play have no idea of his real identity. This is done purposely to create suspense and
make the readers long to see what Chume will do after discovering the real man behind the
mask.

§ Verbal irony.

The words Heavenly cowboys are also used ironically because a cowboy is someone who
does their jobs badly or one who is dishonest in business. Taking into consideration the
heavenly atmosphere we don‟t expect the word heavenly cowboy to be used to refer to
heavenly beings.

Satire.

§ The playwright mocks the Christian religion. Whole play is a satire to the Christian church
and shows that from the past (symbolised by old prophet) to present (symbolised by Jero)
and even the future (symbolised by Chume) the false prophets who practice Christian
charlatanism have not changed. We can say that there is lack of seriousness in Jero‟s
church, its leader and its worshippers.

§ Soyinka mocks the names of the churches . The names are not only funny but they
portray their hypocritical outlook as well. For instance, if we consider the name like
“Heavenly cowboys ” for the church, we see the satire involved in a much more vivid sense.
By laying the words “ Heavenly ” and “cowboys” side by side, he is not only creating an
oxymoron with the meaning

“heavenly dishonest and irresponsible people” but he is also making a description of the
rogue church and the corruption that goes on in it.

§ Also the names of other churches such as “ The brotherhood of Jehu, the Cherubims and
seraphims,

do not reflect the expected godliness. Prophet Jehu in the biblical rendition, wiped away evil
from Israel, Cherubims and seruphims refer to angels, who are sweet and innocent doing
only the will of God, but the activities of these churches, spread evils among Gods people
showing their ugliness, ungodliness, and lack of genuineness.

§ The name “The Sisters of Judgement Day” does not reflect heavenly-minded people
meditating on the Great Judgment Day as it is thought to be. It is rather described as “
shakers of bosom” in the church considering that the word „ sisters ” refers to females. Thus
they are causing immorality in the church of God and Soyinka warns them about the terrible
fate that awaits them on the Judgment Day.

Metaphor

§ And I grew to love the trade.

(prophetic ministry is compared to a trade) (p.1)

§ I am glad I got here before my customers – I mean worshippers – well customers if you
like. (p.11) ( worshippers are compared to customers)

§ Tear this love for the Daughters of Eve. (p.12) (He calls women the daughters of Eve)

22
§ My life is hell. (p.14) (He compares his life with hell)

§ This woman whom you so desire to beat is your cross –bear it well. (p.15)

(He compares his wife with a cross)

§ She is your heaven-sent trial (p.15) ( he refers to Amope as a trial)

§ Women are a plague brother. (p.20) ( women are compared to a plague)

§ Poor fish (he refers to the member of the Federal House as a poor fish) (p.29)

Reiteration.

§ Help him Lord help him Lord. (p.12)

§ David David, Samuel, Samuel. (p.12)

§ Help him. Help him. Help „am God. Help „am God. (p.12)

§ Job Job, Elijah Elijah. (p.12)

§ Abraka, Abraka, Abraka(p.12)

§ Abraka Abraka Hebra Hebra Hebra Hebra Hebra Hebra Hebra Hebra (p.12)

§ All she gave me was abuse, abuse, abuse …(p.15)

Sayings

§ In fact there are eggs and there are eggs. (p.1)

Personification

§ No scandal has ever touched my name. (p.3)

Synecdoche

§ I have not breathed it to a single soul (p.10) (soul here stands for a person)

Metonymy

§ …no scandal has ever touched my name . (p.3) (name here refers to Jero‟s reputation)

Allusion

There are biblical allusions that are used in the play to place the play in its real context.

§ The brotherhood of Jehu, the Cherubims and seraphims, the Sisters of Judgement day,
the heavenly cowboys…(p.2)

§ This woman whom you so desire to beat is your cross –bear it well. (p.15)

§ This is holy ground (takes off his shoes and sits ) (p.32)

Anaphora

§ Forgive this sinner, father, Forgive him by day, Forgive him by night, Forgive him in the
morning, Forgive him at noon… (p.15)

Exaggeration.

23
§ I think I see Satan in your eyes. I see him entrenched in your eyes. (p.30)

CHARACTERIZATION

Brother Jero.

Ø He is the protagonist . He is the main character portrayed as charlatan who attempts to

achieve his ambition as an important and distinctive prophet by appearing immaculate in a
velvet cape, which he had not yet paid for, and articulate in prophecy. His ultimate ambition
is to be called the Velvet-hearted Jeroboam, Immaculate Jero, and Articulate Hero of Christ‟s
Crusade.

Ø He is a fake (phoney) prophet. Brother Jeroboam (Jero) is a self-professed man of God

who preaches water but drinks wine. He is a fake prophet but he has managed to convince
a group of people that he is God‟s prophet with divine powers to help them fulfil their
dreams.

Ø He is corrupt. As a religious leader Brother Jero turns out to be what we don‟t expect of a
man of God. He runs after women, he buys the velvet cape from Amope on credit but
refuses to pay her. This is moral corruption for a man of God.

Ø He is a liar. He lies even to his own assistant that he has no house and he sleeps at the
beach but in reality he has a house somewhere in Ajete settlement area. Chume says in
page 31. „E no be man of God. „E say `in sleep for beach whether `e rain or cold but that
one too na big lie. This man get house and `e sleep there every night”

Ø He is a hypocrite prophet . Brother Jero has been preventing Chume from beating his wife
claiming that it‟s not the will of God, however the day he discovered that Amope (whom he
owed the money) is Chume‟s wife he granted the permission. This is highest level of
hypocrisy.

Ø He is an exploiter . Brother Jero exploits his subjects through offerings they pay. For him
this is a complete trade and he calls his worshipers “ his customers ”

Ø He is a womanizer . (Skirt-chaser) Brother Jero admits that his weakness is women.

Chume calls him “ Adulterer! Women thief ”

Chume
Ø Amope‟s husband . He is the husband of Amope and usually quarrels with her.

Ø Brother Jero‟s assistant. He helps Brother Jero to administer in his church.

Ø He is a chief messenger . He is employed as a chief messenger. Her wife is not contented

with her husband‟s job because it doesn‟t give him enough to support the family.

Ø He is a blind follower of brother Jero . Chume is among the devoted followers of Brother
Jero who are exploited unawares. He thinks that Jero is a genuine man of God until he
discovers the real man behind the mask. Jero uses his ignorance to tell him that The Son of
God appeared to him and gave him a new title Immaculate Jero, Articulate Hero of Christ
Crusade and Chume believes.

Ø He leads a poor life. Chume is very poor something that causes him troubles with his wife
who claims that he has better become a Sanitary Inspector for he can at least take bribes

24
and buy a motorcycle than the bicycle he has. Also she regrets by saying “ Am I to go to my
grave as a wife of a chief massager?”

Ø He is a traditionalist who believes in Women beating. Chume believes that women beating
can be a solution to silence his wife Amope and stop her from abusing him.

Amope.

Ø She is a wife of Chume . She usually quarrels with her husband.

Ø She is a petty trader. She earns her living by engaging in petty trade selling things
including the velvet cape she sold to Brother Jero for one pound eight shillings and he has
not paid her.

Ø She is a very hardworking woman . She is a hard working woman and manages to
prepare the food for her husband. She says “ You can‟t say I don‟t try. Hounded out of
house by debtors, I still manage to make you a meal ”. (P. 23)

Ø She is brave and courageous. She is very courageous and has a firm stand. For example
she goes to camp at the house of Brother Jero until she is paid her money. Moreover when
Chume forces her to get onto the bicycle so that they may leave she refuses and says “ I
won‟t get on that thing unless you kill me first ” (p. 26)

Ø She is abusive . She uses abusive language when talking to people like the fish seller, her
husband and her debtor Brother Jero. For example she abuses the trader “ Do you see what
you have done, you spindle-leg toad? ” then she turns to the boy drumming “take yourself
off, you dirty beggar. Do you think my money is for the likes of you? ” (p. 9)

Ø She likes complaining . She complains too much almost in every situation and against
everybody she encounters. She complains against her husband, against the fish seller,
against the drum boy and against brother Jero. E.g. “I don‟t know what the world is coming
to. A chief of a Prophet, a swindler of a fish-seller and now that thing with lice on his head
comes begging for money. He and the prophet ought to get together with the fish-seller
their mother” (p. 9)

Member of Parliament.

Ø He is an M.P . He is a senior member of the Federal house.

Ø He is a power monger . We are told that he is a member of the federal house- a

backbencher but with one eye on a ministerial post.

Ø He is poor in speech making . He goes to Brother Jero every day to be taught the tricks in
speech making but he never makes the speeches. He is too scared.

Ø He is ignorant . He is one of those Brother Jero cheats with false prophesies that their
dreams would be fulfilled. Brother Jero prophesies that he would be appointed as a Minister
for War. And he believes him.

THEMES IN THE PLAY

CONFLICTS

Soyinka has discussed different controversies that arise as a result of the kind of religion
introduced in Africa which brought both hopes and disappointments. Those who were
25
thought to be the men of God and gospel light bearers have turned out to be the very
wolves in a sheep‟s clothing. Brother Jero is the main source of conflicts in the play.

Most of the conflicts addressed in the play are personal conflicts involving the following
individuals;

a. Conflict between Brother Jero and Old prophet.

This conflict occurs as result of a quarrel over a piece of land at the beach where Brother
Jero erects his church. He decides to chase away the old Prophet despite the fact that he is
the one who trained Brother Jero as a prophet.

b. Conflict between Brother Jero and Amope .

This conflict occurs because of the money Brother Jero owes Amope. She has sold him a
Velvet cape for one pound and eight shillings but Brother Jero has been avoiding paying her
claiming that his money is in the bank. This causes a serious conflict between the two.

c. Conflict between Amope and the trader.

This occurs when Amope comments that her fish smells a bit. She gets angry and says that
maybe it is Amope who hasn‟t bathed for a week. The two exchange hot potatoes and the
fish trader decides to leave avoiding the unnecessary quarrel.

d. Conflict between Chume and Amope

This conflict arises as a result of two major factors. One is from their personality traits.
Amope is so hot-tempered that she evokes a quarrel over just a minor issue while Chume on
his side seems to be so church-centred ignoring to provide for his own family.

Secondly the poor state at home stirs the conflict to the point where Amope regrets to have
married a mere messenger and wishes he had been at least a sanitary inspector for it is a
better job than a messenger. This causes a serious conflict in which case Chume seeks for
permission from the Prophet to beat her but the permission is not granted.

e. Conflict among the prophets.

The prophets are quarrelling over a piece of land where to establish their churches. The
conflict involves “ The brotherhood of Jehu, the Cherubims and seraphims, the Sisters of
Judgement day, the heavenly cowboys” and The Jehovah‟s Witnesses . The conflict is so
intense to the point that the town council had to intervene and divide the land peacefully
among the prophets.

BETRAYAL.

Betrayal has been portrayed in different scenarios.

§ Brother Jero betrays the Old Prophet by chasing him away while in fact he is the one who
trained him to become a prophet. Brother Jero drives him away after a clash over the land
at the beach where he later establishes his church.

§ Brother Jero has betrayed his Christian faith and his followers by acting contrary to what is
expected of a prophet of God. He uses his position to exploit the ignorant mass and he calls
them his customers. Furthermore, he does things that are morally contrary to the Christian
faith in the name of religion like being lustful for women.

26
§ Brother Jero betrays his closest assistant Chume. First he does not tell him the truth about
his really life. He has a house at Ajete Settlement area and he keeps it a secret claiming that
he sleeps at the beach. Secondly, he allows Chume to go and beat his wife after realising
that she is the one he owes the money saying it is the will of God while he does so for his
own interest.

§ Brother Jero has betrayed Amope. He bought a Velvet Cape from her promising to pay for
it but it has been three months and the debt is not paid. Moreover he keeps on avoiding her
something that shows that he is not willing to pay for the Velvet cape.

IGNORANCE.

§ The worshippers in this play are portrayed as ignorant as they trust Brother Jero as a man
of God not realising the real man who has camouflaged himself behind the mask of
Christianity. He uses that opportunity to exploit them since they are not aware that he is
just a womaniser, a liar, and an exploiter. He says for example “I know they are dissatisfied
because I keep them dissatisfied. Once they are full, they won‟t come again”. (p.11)

§ Chume represents those ignorant and blind followers of Brother Jero who don‟t know the
true nature of their so-called-prophet. He serves Brother Jero faithfully and with reverence
and ends up becoming poorer and poorer as he has dedicated much of his time to church
service leaving his family starving. He asks Brother Jero to pray for him so that he may
become rich one day.

§ The M.P is also ignorant as he is cheated by Brother Jero that he had a prophecy for him
which showed that he would be appointed the minister for war. As it was his petty dream to
become a minister he grows optimistic and asks Brother Jero to pray for him.

§ Finally, ignorance is portrayed through the quarrels between Amope and her husband and
Amope against the fish trader. In both cases the quarrels are stirred by minor things that
are not strong enough to cause conflict for sensible and responsible people.

EXPLOITATION.

§ Brother Jero is portrayed as a chief exploiter in this play both as a priest and as an
individual. In one case, he exploits the petty trader Amope by buying a Velvet Cape from
her promising to pay her but it has been three months and no payment is done. This is
exploitation of the small scale businesswoman.

§ In another case, he uses his followers‟ ignorance of his true nature to exploit them morally
and materially. He fools them that he has no house to live in so that people give him money
in terms of offerings to God. This makes him refer to them as customers and he takes his
ministry as a trade. He says “ I am glad I got here before my customers – I mean
worshippers – well, customers if you like. I always get that feeling every morning that I am
a shop-keeper waiting for customers ” (p.11)

HYPOCRISY AND CHARLATANISM.

§ Brother Jero is a real wolf in a sheep‟s clothing. He has camouflaged himself behind the
mask of Christianity to the point that his followers cannot distinguish between the real
Jeroboam and the Prophet Jero. He lies to his followers that he has no house and they
believe him. He also tells them that he is a real prophet of God while in fact he is a self-
professed prophet, a liar and a womaniser.
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§ He deceives Amope that he has the money in the bank while in reality he was looking for
the way to escape.

§ He denies Chume the permission to beat his wife claiming that it‟s against the will of God
but when he discovers that Amope whom he owes the money is Chume‟s wife he grants the
permission claiming it is the will of God.

§ Brother Jero lies to Chume that the Son of God appeared to him and gave him a new
name title; Immaculate Jero, articulate Jero of Christ Crusade which is not true. He also
cheats the M.P. that he had prophesy for him being appointed as the minister of War so that
he can convince him to become his follower while it is not true.

MISUSE OF RELIGION/THE RISE OF PHONEY PROPHETS

§ Brother Jero misuses the Christian religion and uses his position and the trust he has from
the worshipers to exploit his followers and capitalises on their efforts. The ignorant followers
like Chume are so devoted to Church services so much that they even forget to take care of
their families.

§ Also Brother Jero is a hypocrite as a religious leader because he cheats people that he has
no house thus he sleeps at the beach in order to win their sympathy and hide his identity.
This is not what we expect of a religious leader.

§ In a way Soyinka was portraying the big picture available in most African countries
nowadays. Phoney prophets are scattered everywhere and many more are born every day,
most of whom are trained in Nigeria –the playwright‟s country. So he speaks from
experience. They name their churches after sweet names that do not reflect their
behaviours.

§ Nevertheless, the names used in this play are used satirically to criticise the prophets and
worshippers misconducts. “The brotherhood of Jehu, the Cherubims and seraphims, the
Sisters of Judgement day, the heavenly cowboys” . This is the reason 1why Brother Jero
wishes to have a new title that sounds good in the ears of his followers and can attract more
worshippers “ Immaculate Jero, Articulate hero of Christ Crusade.”

OPPRESSION.

§ Amope is oppressed by Brother Jero who takes her Velvet Cape and refuses to clear the
debt. He causes troubles to the woman to the point that she decides to camp at his door.

§ Amope is also oppressed by her husband who threatens to beat her. Chume seeks the
permission from the hypocritical prophet to beat his wife and the permission is granted
because Brother Jero wants to revenge against Amope through Chume. Chume forces
Amope to go home so that he may quench his thirst by beating her.

AWARENESS

Soyinka finalises his comedy by showing that Chume became aware of the real man behind
the mask. He shows awareness in the following scenarios.

§ He discovers that Brother Jero is a liar because he claims that he sleeps at the beach while
he has a big house. He says “That one no fool me any more. ‟E no be man of God. „E say in
sleep for beach whether „e rain or cold but that one too na big lie. That man get house and
„e sleep there every night” (p.31)
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§ He discovers that Brother Jero allowed him to beat his wife for Brother Jero‟s convenience
claiming that it is the will of God.

§ Amope is aware that Brother Jero is a phoney prophet. Her encounter with Brother Jero
has revealed to her that he lacks the qualities of a Man of God because he is a dishonest
man.

THE POSITION AND ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY

Women occupy various positions and roles in this society. Soyinka has viewed them both
positively and negatively;

§ Women are portrayed as hard workers and bread earners. Amope is a hardworking petty
trader who works hard to put food on the table both for her and her husband. The fish
trader is another case in point. She moves around selling fish so as to earn a living.

§ Women are portrayed as more conscious than men. Amope represents women who are
aware of what is going on in the society while her husband is blindly following Brother Jero
and believing him as a man of God. She discovers the hypocrisy of brother Jero before her
husband does.

§ Women are portrayed as a strong and courageous people. Amope represents strong and
courageous women in the society. Being a woman is not a criterion for her to be looked
down upon by men. She struggles bravely against any man who crosses with her and
defends her position. She for instance decides to camp at Brother Jero‟s house until he pays
her money.

§ Women are portrayed as wicked people. Furthermore in the play women are viewed from
another vantage point as people who are leading men to commit sin. The mentioning of
women like Eve, Delilah and Jezebel from the bible who all led their men to commit sin
serves this purpose.

§ Women are portrayed as tools for sexual pleasure . Brother Jero uses women as tools to
satisfy his sexual desires however he complains that women are the source of sexual
immorality in the society.

THE MESSAGE OF THE PLAY.

§ We should be careful with phoney/false prophets. They are scattered everywhere and
their interest in not spreading the word of God but enriching themselves through the
worshippers offerings.

§ We should not be hypocrites as it leads to dishonest practices. Brother Jero is a hypocrite

so he does many dishonest practices in the society.

§ Wife beating is not a best solution to solve a family conflict. It is better for the concerned
parties to sit down, sort out issues and arrive at a common consensus that benefits both
sides.

§ Ignorance is a motivating factor for exploitation. People should be aware of what is going
on in the society to avoid being exploited blindly.

§ Betrayal is not good in our society. It is better to be hated for what you are than to be
loved for what you are not.

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RELEVANCE

Wole Soyinka has successfully addressed the problem that is in most African countries now
especially in his own home country-Nigeria. Though it was published in the early 1960‟s, it is
very relevant to the contemporary socio-political and religious situation in Nigeria and Africa
in general. The choice of the two characters was determined by their roles as protagonist
(Jero as a charlatan) and antagonist (Chume as a victim).

§ There are many churches, ministries, and faith groups emerging everywhere in Africa by
people who self-prophesy to be Prophets of God. They refer to themselves as Prophets or
apostles given the holy mission by Christ while in reality they want to capitalise on the
efforts of the ignorant worshippers.

§ The Conflict among these prophets over land and followers is the order of the day. They
preach against each other‟s weakness instead of against the devil.

§ There are many Politicians who go to prophets for prayers for promotion. In this play the
M.P. does not go to church to genuinely worship God but he does so because he has a
dream of being appointed a minister, and he wants to achieve his dream through miraculous
prayers.

THE CONCUBINE

NOVEL: THE CONCUBINE

AUTHOR: ELECHI AMADI
TITLE: THE CONCUBINE
PUBLICATION: 1966
MAIN THEME: TRAGIC DEATHS TO LOVERS
SETTING: CHIOLU VILLAGE, 1966
PUBLISHERS: NEINEMANN EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHERS.

AUTHOS BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Elechi amadi was born on May 12, 1934, near alu village, ikwere district, rivers state,
Nigeria. He tragically died on June 29, 2016, near Port Harcourt, eastern Nigeria
aged 82. He was educated at the government collage umuahia and then went to
take a degree course in mathematics and physics, at the university collage Ibadan,
then an affiliate of the London University in the United Kingdom. He was enlisted in
Nigerian army during the Biafran civil war of (1967- 1970) and later on left the army
and went to teach, because he needed ample time for reading and writing. He has
written the books, the concubine (AWS25) the great ponds (AWS 44) the slave
AWS210)

GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL.

The concubine is a novel written by elich amad in 1966. It talks about the village life
of the ordinary people and how they are ruled by gods.it is a sad story about Iluma,
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beautiful woman in the village of omakachi in the eastern part of Nigeria. Iluma is
both desired and admired by several men in the village of Chiolu because of her
beautiful qualities, good reputation and kindness. Iluma leaves a barrow of deaths
and suffering to all her lovers, who come and try to possess her in love affairs. Such
lovers are Emenike who dies of (lock- chest) or pneumonia or internal injuries and
bleeding. Madume who dies of the spitting cobra at Iluomas compound, or farm
while Iluoma harvest plantains he commits suicide and eventually Ekuume who dies
of the wounding arrow at Iluoma‟s compound. Infact, Iluoma is a sea- goddess
(queen) and her husband the sea- king is extremely jealousy and fatal with Iluoma,
who wishes to make Iluoma a second wife at least, Iluoma was supposed to be the
„concubine “of someone; but as a wife, she was complete ruled out and the sea-king
was extremely dangerous and fatal to any man who wishes to possess Iluoma in
love affairs as a wife. The critical passage quotes, in pg. (196) quotes Anyika;”have
you seen a beautiful woman so perfect in everything she does” only sea-goddess are
like that, in fact Iluoma belongs to the sea and she is the wife of sea-king. Iluoma is
secretly dodged by the spirit world. She was actually to die untouched by men. She
should be a “concubine”

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TITLE AND CONTENT

The novel is called/ titled “ The concubine” because
1. Iluoma, symbolically symbolizes the concubine” that it presents a very
beautiful and attractive woman who brings deaths to all her lovers.
2. Iluoma is a concubine to: Emenike who dies of lock-chest, Madume who dies
of the spitting cobra, Ekwueme who dies wounding arrow at Iluoma‟s
compound.
3. Emenike, Madume, Ekwueme were all lovers of Iluoma, she was the secret
wife of sea-king, who was the real husband of the woman.
4. The tittle is gotten in page,(196) of the novel, when Anyika divines of the
marriage between Ekwueme and Iluoma, he asks; Have you ever seen a
woman so beautiful and perfect in everything she does? Only a sea-goddess,
are like that. Infact, Iluoma was to die untouched by men. She should be a
concubine‟‟

THE STORY.
The novel centres on Iluoma, a beautiful, graceful and almost perfect woman who is
admired by the whole community in a traditional village in Eastern Nigerian. Her first
husband Emenike is popular and exemplary young man. He is injured in a fight with
his nival Madume, an arrogant village bully. Later Emenike dies apparently of lock-
chest or pneumonia, So, Madume presses unwelcome attention on Iluoma and
renews his claim on Emenikes land. It is while he tries to have a plantain in front of
him, he is blinded by a spitting cobra, depressed by his new situation, he terrorizes
his whole family, and they subsequently run away. So he hangs himself.

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 Ekwueme, another young man, earnestly admires the young and widowed Iluoma,
but he has since childhood been engaged to marry another girl called Ahvrole, so his
father forces him to marry this girl. Unfortunately, Ekwueme has been pampered so
much by his mother, and Ahvrole is young and peerish. So the marri goes sour, to
ensure his love, ahurole gives him “love pot instead, ekwueme becomes mad and
the marriage collapse. Iluoma helps greatly, in ekweume‟s recovery and the love
between the grows daily. The lovers plan to marry but the medicine man advises
against it was shettering reasons.iluoma is the wife of the sea-king contrary to his
wishes; she wanted to live with human beings and was reincarnated. The sea-king
was very angry, but because Iluoma was the favorite, he allowed her to lead a
normal life on earth but would come to rejoin him in the spirit world. However, he is
very jealous that he will destroy any man who comes to marry her, but, ekwueme
will not listen, his family therefore consults another medicine man who claims he can
make marriage work. After a sacrifice to neutralize the sea-kings revenge. So the
marriage preparations proceed in earnest Alas! When Ekwueme is arranging for the
items for the scarifies, he is accidentally and fatally, shot by an arrow from Iluoma‟s
son.

CHARACTERIZATION
Characterization is divided from the word character, in literature, character has two
uses. One refers to the person or animal in the story, novel, play or poem. The
second meaning is uncountable; it refers to personality, of character in the story.
Characterization is the way the writer develops a character in a literary work or
context
The concubine novel has the following character

1. IUOMA
 She is the protagonist/ heroine of the novel
 She is young and very beautiful.
 She is very loyal and loving wife, nursing her injured husband
 Although she is very beautiful she resists all the temptations to be
arrogant.
 She is very strong and enduring during widow hood
 She is gracious and forgiving
 She is good, gentle, reserved, warm, land, and attractive
 She has the complexion of the anthill
 He won the confidence of the old men and admiration

2. EMENIKE
 He is slight built well-proportioned as an average wrestle
 He won the confidence of old men
 First lover of iluoma “dies of lock- chest”

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3. MADUME
 Madume is bully, lazy, big eyed.
 He is greedy and big-eyed
 He fights with Emenuke in the farm
 He is not loved by fellow villagers
 Second lover of Ihuoma, dies of “spitting “

4. EKWUEME
 He is sociable and lively man
 His name means “ say and do” a determined man
 His main weakness is “ immaturity” a woman boy
 He is sensitive and emotional
 He plays the role of male character in end, dies of wounding arrow

5. ANYIKA
 It said, he comes from Eluanyim
 He is important, because, he is the village dibia
 He divines for Ekwueme
6. WIGWE:

 He is a tradionalist
 He doesn‟t interfere affairs of ahurole and ihuoma
 He is a member of the older generation.

7. AHUROLE
 Ekwueme‟s engage fiancée since child hood
 She is a moody and tempera men tal woman
 Ahurole is childish
 She is unreasable and rash
 Unintentionally brings Ihuoma and Ekwueme together

8. WODU WAKIRI
 He is humorous, that why he is called wodu wakiri the wag
 Is a joker all right
 His main role in the novel is to provoke humour

9. AGWOTURUMBE
 Is a witch doctor
 He comes from Aliji
 He claims to have power to “bind the sea-king”
10. NWOKE KORO
 The priest of Amadioha, the god of thunder and skies

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  He is the chief rain maker
 He is a mild stammerer

11. NNENDA
 Is a neighboring friend of ihuoma.

12. OWHOJI
 Is Nnenda‟s husband

13. WOLU
 Is madume‟s only wife, who bore madume four daughters.
 Feels sorry for madume‟s tragedy

14. ADIELE
 Is oduma‟s drum beater

15. NKECHI
 Is Ekwueme‟s junior sister

16. NWONA/ AZUBUIKE

 First children of Emenike and Ihuoma
 Nwonna accidentally kills Ekwueme with an arrow shot to a lizard

17. OKACHI
 This is Ihuoma mother

18. MGBACHI
 This is Nnadi‟s wife

19. CHIMA
 Is the villager elder

20. ADAKU
 She is Ekwueme‟s mother
 Shows great love to children
 She is badly pained by predicaments of Ekwueme

21. WAGBARA
 Is Ahurole‟s father
 He cares well his children

22. TITI
 Friend of Ahurole

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 23. ADANNA
 Madume and wolu first daughter

24. OGBUJI
 Is Ihuoma‟s father
 Ekwueme‟s father in law.

25. SEA- KING

 The real, true husband of Ihuoma
 The fatal god
 A dandy, dangerous, jealous god
 Lives in the sea, and exists as a spirit
 Of all wives, Ihuoma is the favourite
 Humours Ihuoma, doesn‟t her as he is born
 Killer of Emenike, madume and Ekwueme.
 He is powerful and revengeful god to be fettered.

MEANING OF TRADITIONAL TERMS USED IN THE CONCUBINE.

1. Kola nuts= A type of local nuts grown and famous in West Africa,
used to welcome a visitor in West Africa, a sign of trust, hospitality
and friendship.
2. Iroko =a type of a very big tree very common in west Africa
3. Ekwe: a column of yams
4. Manila: sea organism used formerly as a unit of money
5. Wakanchi: land of dwarf people.
6. Orepe: a type of traditional hard tree
7. Chi: igbo word: meaning of personal spirit
8. Chineke: an exclaimation, mark showing disgust
9. Eke: a special day for sacrifies
10. Oduma: a village dance
11. Igele: a hollow metal gong
12. Dibia: local witch doctor
13. Foo-foo: traditional food, very common in west Africa.
14. Obi:a living man‟s house
15. Chei! An exclamation showing digust.
16. Aogbara: special charm to protect and prevent tress passé
17. Amadioha: the god of thunder and skies
18. Mwokekoro: the village priest af Amadioha
19. Indigo: colours of the clothes
20. Aguu: personal spirit of crying
21. Rilew : yams traders
22. Ndichie: powerful elders of the village

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 23. Egwugwu: the clan heads with powers to solve a case
24. Lefulefu: useless people in society

CHAPTER ONE
Emenike returns home, to the village through the forest and is met by madume a
fellow villager, and they quarrel over land, and ownership of it. Madume challenges
him to fight, in a course of which Emenike allow himself to be thrown on a jagged
tree trump and seriously injurired. Madume, flees home, leaving emenike to his fate,
and staggers home to his wife Ihuoma. And eventually calls for assistance, and soon
the whole village is aware of that there has been a fight between the two. Madume
refuses to answer any question, but is secretly received that Emenike didin‟t die.
Eventually, Emenike dies of ( lock – chest) or internal injuries and bleeding. The cost
of purification rites in the event of emenike death, are more expensive than for
madume himself.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER ONE

The novel opens dramatically, with a fight between the two men, who feature
greatly in the novel. Note that Emenike and madume are constrasted greatly,
immediately in appearance and character Emenike is light of built, but well-
proportioned and madume is axe headed bully, tempered and unpopular. We are
then introduce to Ihuoma, the tragic heroine of the novel, she is dutiful and devoted
wife.
Note, the authors power of description, of the fight, for instance the use of imagery.
For example, the two are “ like two antelopes caught in a rope trap” this hints how
the two are trapped by the sea-king‟s wife you are encouraged to examine the
stylistic devices in most Africans communities, trees have important religious
function. Emenike in this chapter is hurt by a tree trump, later a cobra in a tree
trump of madume, eyes later on, we learn ekwueme, when you pushed by another
boy over a tree trump, when he become mad, he hides in a tree. The tree in the
story is associated with misfortune and suffering

CHAPTER TWO
Madume is lazy, unsuccessful man, he is bully, selfish and bigeyed. He doesn‟t
hasitate to beat a wife, he has four daughters; although they will bring him dowries,
he is ashamed, doesn‟t have son to inherit his barn. However, he wishe to marry a
second wife; madume is not liked by the fellow villager, they consider him greedy
and quarrelsome, he has been jealous of Emenike who is highly regarded in the
village, and who is popular with the girls. Also, Emenike marries Ihuoma girl he
himself admires to marry her we are informed that nwokekoro is the rain maker
Emenike is ill enough for relatives to call Anyika the “Dibia” he gives Emenike certain
drugs and tells Ihuoma. Tha she must prepare the sacrifies the next day. The callers

36
in the next day, are Nwokekoror the village priest, af Amadioha, the god of thunder
and skies

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TWO

Omokachi values hard-working, cooperationist, and selfless people. Madume lacks
those qualities and in popular with the gives as a result. Also we are introduced to
the most important God, Amadioha and his priest, Nwokekoro, note, it is believed
that a man could not wrestle with his spirit” or god”. A strong hint of the relationship
between man and his god. Thirdly, the society is male dominated, hence madume‟s
despair at having only four daughters

CAPTER THREE
Emenike gradually recovrs ad so life returns to normal in his life. Therefore Ihuoma
begins to take care of her appearance, she is very beautiful but not in vain she is
sympathetic, gentle, reserved. Sometimes settles querrels among fellow women and
she is popular.

COMMENT ON CHEPTER THREE.

There focus here is on Ihuoma appearance and character very beautiful, lovely,
gentle, peace- loving and motherly. Her marriage is happy inded as shown by her
dance and the rewarks she gets from her husband. By stressing her happiness of the
young couple, and their children the author wants to prepare us for the grief and
the oppressive loneliness when Emenike suddenly clies. Also Omokachi is said to be
a society that controls behavior, they composed a song of the ridicule of
married woman who mis behaved. You are advised to see society controls
Ihuoma hapinees, there is a reference of a lizard playing, the lizard has been
mentioned earlier is one of the mtifs of the novel. You should look notifs in the novel
for reference of the lizard the connection

CHAPTER FOUR
Omokachi is a small village of eleven family groups. It is on good terms with its
neighbor villages they are Aliji, Chiolu, Omigwe. The last of which is on good terms
with Omokachi.
The second most important good in Omokachi is Ojukwu who controls small pox. His
sacred
Vulture is the bird.
Because Emenike recovers from illness, he goes with Nwokekoro, to offer sacrifices
To Amadioha. Emenike watches the priest perform various rites unlike other man
who overt his eyes.when he stares into the priest sees no sign of impending doom.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER FOUR

37
The chapter stresses the main theme, the man and the gods, when a person from
the sickness she offers a sacrifice to thank the gods as Emenike does, we should
note the priest has mysterious power. Nwokekoro, the chapter prepares for Emenike
death.

CHAPTER FIVE
Emenike is dead. Ihuoma sits desolate looking at the fresh earth on the husband
grave. He has died of lock- chest, but the villegers believe that the fight between
madume and himself Emenike caused the trouble, wolu, madume‟s wife passes to
offer sacrifices and the last respect followed by Okach and Ekwueme. Ekweueme
tries to talk of the light hearted matters to Ihuoma, to take her off the death issues
and sorrow and also the village affairs.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER FIVE

The mystery surrounding emenikes sudden death is powerfully conveyed in the
dialogue between Ihuoma and her mother “you are crying again….! Amadioha will
kill them one by one. So Okachi, advice on Ihuoma to believe in Amadioha, we are
informed on the superstitious nature of the villagers, suddenly, Ekwueme as
Emenike successor is mentioned here.

CHAPTER SIX
On his way back home, Ekwueme is haunted by Ihuoma‟s youth and beauty and
disturbed by her sorrow. He meets his friend wolu wakiri, and in the evening, they
compose a song in honour of Emenike. Then a month after Emenike‟s death, and
Oduma is held, this is the song that Emenike in honour is sung that night Ihuoma
cant sleep, when she drems of Emenike;

COMMENT ON CHAPTER SIX

The chaoter strongly hints at Ekwueme‟s growing interest in Ihuoma. It says that,
why Ihuoma a young lady should languish in protracted temptation of widow.
Ihuoma‟s dream emphasizes Ihuoma‟s pain and sorrow at Emenikes death and it
also suggests that has not been settled in the spirit world. Finally, Ekwueme
character is briefly sketched. He is a loyal friend and creative.

CHAPTER SEVEN
Emenike is dead; one year and Ihuoma has must prepare for the second burial. She
must proceed according to the prescribed rituals. This is a heavy task, but her many
friends are eager to help her Ihuoma‟s mourning goes for a year

COMMENT ON CHAPTER SEVEN

The chapter marks the end of the first-chapter and section of the plot. The second
movement of the novel indirectly introduced when Ihuoma comically asks. “Who is

38
adming me”? Also we not the dedication of moving for her husband and the duty
and the dignity of preparing the second burial. This second burial is important a
storm in the society. It is a custom to settle the deceased in the land of the
ancestor. Note once again the communal spirit of the villagers; the second burial is
ultimately a village affair.

CHAPTER EIGHT
Ihuoma is alone, during the period of mounting she is even worried and distressed,
and must now return to normal life, she throws her energy caring the children and
her farm. She eats well, goes to bed, and her former beauty returns. she of ten
visits her parents in omigwe on one of such visits her mother tries to encourage her
to marry again the name of Ekwueme is mentioned, but Ihuoma is angry when she
was reminded of her loneliness.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER EIGHT

There are two issues discussed in this chapter. The issue of Ihuoma‟s mourning and
the proposal of Ekwueme‟s marriage desire, and the growing state of Ihuoma‟s
distress and unhappiness.

CHAPTER NINE
The rains are coming and the roofs have to be mended prepared and repaired.
Ihuoma‟s Nnadi, madume, Ekwueme and Wolu Wakiri are very eager to help her.
Also, Wolu Wakiri comes to repair of the roof, When the work is finished, they eat
and drink afterwards dance. Ekwueme returns later and Iluoma starts to realize that,
nothing can come out of it because she must keep her own children. Ekwueme tries
to propose a marriage but fails , a combination of both nervousness and coldness
defeats her. Ekwueme goes back home ,angry, frustrated mood, later in bed dream
of Emenike and other villagers, who drag him is the way he doesn‟t want to go. He
awakes shaken, and after seeing Anyika, for a cure, he goes inspect his traps, so
bad in the mood, he misses an antelop.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER NINE.

There are almost two things touched in this chapter One, the issue of roof mending.
and the other issue, the issue of Ekwuemes growing cancern for Iluoma

10.CHAPTER TEN.
Madume has convinced himself, that he not to blame. Emenikes death; He now
thinks, he can take the land and the woman (Iluoma) he had lost to Emenike, She
asks, his wife, Wow to deliver a message, Iluoma but wow refuses, so he does to
himself. He sees her come from the well and offers her help. He ignores the rebuff
and in the compound. In the process he hurts and is even left alone in the

39
reception hall.While he returns to the injury, with Emenike unnerved. he retraces his
way back home. He consults Anyika who prescribedelaborate sacrifices to appease
Emenikes father and his train.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TEN.

We learn of Madumes character, Greedy and ambitions he plans to take over
Emenikes land and his wife. He is also self-important because he thinks himself
clever to have come to know the true story behind what she thought of as a
disaster. Also among the qualifications he thought, to win Iluoma is that his pair of
calves. Crvel and selfish, he blames his wife of producing only daughters, he is so
mean he questions the item of sacrifice. Also, she is cowardly shivers, in fear at the
sight of Emenikes compound. The chapter prepares also for Madumes death.
Through reference to the spirits that threaten him. In addition to Anyikas honesty
and humility are stressed. For example, he admits, he omitted some items of the
sacrifice. Note, also the peoples attitude to polygamy is acceptable.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.
Ekwueme asks Nnenda to carry a message from him to Iluoma, since is he is
nervous to talk to Iluoma, himself He hopes Iluoma will listern to a third party, He
waits and spends the whole day impatiently, Nnenda delivers a message, but he is
unable to see Iluoma This does naturally nothing to relieve Ekwuemes impatience.

CHAPTER TWELVE.
Madume returns from offering the sacrifices, relieved to home, and sure now, safe
from the danger of the spirit. For his own safety, he decides to give up or Ihuoma,
but not the land in dispute, so the next day after nursing the toe wound, he goes
to the land in question, which is near Ihuoma around. On arriva he is shocked to
find some one, cutting the very plantain he has come to get, it is Ihuoma! Madume
demands theplantain in the some breath affer of friendship, this is too much for
Ihuoma, and she goes home lamention her fate as a widow, on hearing her wail,
nnadi gather from her what has happened and rushes at madume.
They start fighting but soon fighting, but separed by villagers. To prove he owns the
land, madume swaggers off to cut another plantain. As he does so, a cobra spits
verom inyo his eyes and disappers. In great pain madume sends for Anyika, who
refuse to budge wolu then goes to plead with Anyika, butAnyika wants todevine the
cause of the incident, before he can venture out of his home. By this time, this is
done, and the sacrifice, performed madume blind. For two months the blind man
terrorizes his family. The villagres try to interview but to no avail. Eventually, his
wife and children run away and he hangs him self. His body is thrown into minita the
evil forest.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TWELVE

40
Madume, the hunter who has been not satisfied with a small game, has now carried
home an elephant. In other words he pays for his greedy. Before he commits
suicide, he shows his cruelty,frustration and despair and self- pityend and all
himself. Also, Anyikas refusal to attend madume immediately is important in several
ways, he knows that a very powerful God is probably involved in this and makes us
suspect the cobra is this god‟s medium. This god is the sea-king. Another is that
Anyika has warmed madume earlier when he prescribed the costly sacrifice, and
inomically, madume at first gives up, Ihuoma to spare his life. His change of heart
contributes. His body is thrown at the minita forest

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ihuoma then finds herself, thinking more and of Ekweume,she is even talking
to Nnenda, about him. When he, and wolu wakiri, met they are left alone together.
The next day. His mother asks him to fix him but he just leaves and goes to see
Ihuoma. He puts off the issue of roof mending; they pass a pleasant moment and an
hour laughing with Ihuoma

Ekwe promises to return the next, and the momen passes happily to fix. Her mother
hut both Ekwe and Ihuoma spend more time together a fact that ekwe neglets his
traps.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Ihuoma liking for Ekwueme is now clear she fondly thinks of him as a nice young
man and we encourage you to find more evidence of this affection in the chapter.
Ekwueme‟s youth and in experience in love and illustrated by his behavior. To hide
his slyness and gain confidence he spoke loudly, laughing rather axpansively. The
song also reveals the presence of the cultural activity. This chapter also reveals a
religion theme of Ofo, and Ogu, the gods of retribution are mentioned in here. Note
also, the humorous wakiri.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ekwueme visits Ihuoma after helping her to tie yams, so he goes home and returns
to join her for supper. The meal over, Ekwueme proses to her, but she doesn‟t
respond. Frustrated angry he prepares to leave but Ihuoma calls him back. She
admits that, she loves him, but gives him yhe reasons why she cant marry him.
Chief of these facts is that, she is engaged to Ahurole and Ihuoma would ruin her
reputation if she helped him break the child hood engagement. Ekwueme returns
home miserable. His mother persuade wigue to speed up, the marriage negotiations
for Ahurole

COMMENT ON CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The reasons,Ihuoma gives for refusing Ekwueme offer stress her matuarity and
principled nature. She will note, compromise on the society rules for proper social

41
behavior. She is so strong minded the , she will go for hapiness she would otherwise
enjoy with Ekwueme. Also, she is responsible that, she wants look after her late
husbands compound and children. On the other hand, Ekwueme appears
dertemined, hence her proposal. However, he behaves so childishly, when his offer
is rejected. Note, all the references to a lizard once again. Ekwueme is associated
with a lizard, (pg. 87) later, he is killed by an arrow meant for one.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ahurole and Titi, her friend, fetch water from the well before they part, they agree
titi will help with the cooking when Ekwueme and his people visit. On arrival at
home, Ahurole discusses with her mothey and is told how to behave. A supper-time
Odum, her young brother teases her. Suddenly, she rushes to the bedroom and
bursts into tears. Such unprovoked crying has been worrying Woruma her mother,
for the past year and apparently it is Ahurole personal Aguu that is to blame. The

following evening, wagbara, her father finalize plan for the next day visit from his
prospective in law

COMMENT ON CHAPTER FIFTEEN

We meetAhurole for the first time, she is described as intelligent and dutiful. When
she is not weeping over nothing. She is cheerful, boisterous and has practical jokes
with friend Titi; her main problem is Aguu, no wonder Ekwueme will cope with it.
Note however, the child hood engagements are an aspect of marriage negotiation
we should therefore look out for the party played by women in this society
depending on the information. The illustrates the conservation about Wakanchi.the
problem seem to believe in the power of the so, called dwarfs suggest the villagers
ignorance of the life outside of their community

CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Ekwueme rufuses company his father to Omigwe for the start of negotoations.
Dumbfounded, Wigwe orders his wife to find out why. Ekwueme refuses to
cooperate, but he is forced out the truth for him. He wants to marry Ihuoma
instead, when he fails to convince him not to shame by, breaking the child hood
engagement she informs Wigwe. He to fails to dissuade Ekwueme when he goes on
to claim that Ihuoma accept his proposal. Wigwe doesn‟t believe him, so he decides
that Ihuoma has to confirm this to him Ekwueme. Presence, meanwhile, he sends
mmam, to Omigwe, to postpone the visit Ekwueme frantically, looks for Ihuoma
everywhere to plead with her to accept him before his father‟s visit. But all is in vain

COMMENT ON CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The chapter shows the extent of Ihuoma‟s reputation. She is regarded a young
woman of the great moral courage, who would rathe die than do anything that

42
would hurt anyone seriously. On the other hand,Ekwueme‟s passion for Ihuoma
threatens Ahuroles love with Ekwueme.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
When Ihuoma returns from Omigwe, Nnenda tells tha Ekwueme was looking for her.
Ihuoma is still wondering why when wigwe and Ekwueme arrive. Nnand falls to ask
who is visiting so late. This action makes wigwe realize the visit is unconventional.
So he changes the approach and ask her to marry his son. As wigwe had expected
Ihuoma refuse and Ekwueme is humiliated barely control his fears. The next day he
disappers and comes with large deer from his traps, his father skins and cleans it
meanwhile Ihuoma feels humiated by the visit.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The visit, advance the action of the novel; because it prepare us for Ekwueme
involvement in the marriage negotiation ready to marry Ahurole, once again, the
intention, is focus on Ihuoma‟s character and situation. She is impeccably well
behaved and polite. For the first time, since her husband death, her courage seemed
to desert her. Her plight was made worse by the fact that, she was very

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ekwueme reluctantly accomparies his father and others to Omigwe to start the
negotiation for Ahurole. The negotiation process begins and takes a long time,
during which Wgbara, choosing Nwemikes as Wigwe‟s right- hand man. The process
takes a long time during which Ekwueme gets used to prospect for marrying
Ahurole. But she avoids him during those visit and eventually he corners her.
Eventually, Ahurole, makes the traditional return visit her in laws, many villager sit
her. Including girls of age group. Ihuoma being from Omigwe, visit her propriety
demands

COMMENT ON CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

A note of foreboding is introduced in the forthcoming marriage between Ekwueme
and Ahurole .Ekwueme reliezes instinctively the he would have conted with her .We
wonder how the gentle, and whether soft spoken.Ekwueme,will provide with the
kindness love that,stubborn child this capricious energetic ,overshy,young women
needs.the chapter gives us further insight into marriage custom of the
society.further wakins role as a friend,a sense of humour and a responsible villages
are shown by his participation in the negotiations.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.
I huoma is relieved that Ekwueme and Ahurole are getting married,though she is
food of

43
Ekwueme .she has ably suppressed,in difference to the society which insight on
traditions, propriety and decorum.so,she is able to talk to Ekwuene freely when they
meet at a dance.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER NINETEEN.

The chapter stresses the philosophy of the village .one must respect the
traditions,propriety,correct moral behaviour,especially between a man and a women
and the respect for decorum,good manners.Excessive emotion is greatly
discouraged.perhaps that why madume was news popular hving been so greedy.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Ekwueme and Ahurole are now married ,much to wigues relief.Ekwuene realizes that
his earlier rout has hardly changed and so he finds necessary to try and behave like
an adult.in reality hewever,he is still devoted to his mother. He was only child for
twelve years which her mother spoilt him, consequently, he grew up, everything he
did was to please in order to please her
Unlike other boys he never felt excited by girls and from his mother, the only woman
he liked was Ihuoma so, when he and Ahurole have their first meal together they
ended up quarreling. Adohu had to intervene.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TWENTY

Marriage has so far changed, neither Ekwueme nor Ahurole, Ekwueme is still his
mother‟s boy and still for the food left overnight in his mother‟s kitchen. Ahurole
continue to sulk over nothing. All does not aught well for the marriage. The pair is
so immature that even their moments of peace are epitomized by childish as in the
case of prank over smoke. Note also the write use of flash back teqnique to outline,
Ekwueme‟s children. This device helps us to understand his present behavior

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Ekwueme soon realizes that he faces many problems with his unpredictable wife, not
wanting quarrels, him and her. Adaku tries to mediate between them but soon gives
up. When Ekwueme grows more and more indifference to the marriage, wigwe
intervenes. He advises Ekwueme to ignore her crying, but this due not help.

That night, Ekwueme conjures, the image of Ihuoma, and is able to sleep. The next
day, there is another quarrel and Ekwueme beats her, and ahurole returns to her
parents. As is the custom, the case is discussed by the elders and the couple returns
home determined to make the marriage work. But soon the quarrels begin again and
now they now hardily speak to each other. The gulf widens

CMMENT ON CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

The marriage is gradually falling apart. We also see Ekwueme increasing bitterness
and alienation from parents and friends including Wolu wakiri, the feeling of
loneliness was unnerving. Consequently, he fantasizes over Ihuoma‟s whose image
44
comes to him like rain after a long dry season. But as the saying goes it takes two to
make a tango. Neither partner meets each other axpectation Ahurole, expects far
more gentleness than her husband cold give. On other hand, Ekwueme ideal wife
was a roared, soothing and loving‟‟

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

The villagers are returning from the waterside market. A depressed Ekwueme
accidentally meets Ihuoma, and the two chat along happily and contentedly.
Unfortunately Ihuoma out of politeness enquires about Ahurole. Ekwueme begins to
complain about her and Ihuoma is frightened. She is only relieved, when they reach
Omokachi, some days later, Ihuoma is harvesting cocoyams when Ekwueme comes
joins her, claiming that, he is on way to inspect his traps. Again he enjoys talking
with hare and Ihuoma has to cleverly get rid of him. So, when he appears to him
again the next day, she complain of the regular visit are endangering her
reputations. Later she confides in Nnenda, and even momently wants her to tell
Ekwueme not to visit her again. Nnenda greatly sympathizes with this beautiful
young and lonely widow.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Ekwueme marriage is in the rocks. He can only she his burden of unhappiness, when
he is Ihuoma, hence visits; we also note that Ihuoma‟s determination to observe
property. Her dread of being “branded as a husband snatcher” therefore makes her
uncomfortable with a man whose presence warms her heart. This clash between
individuals, interest and those of the community is ably captured in the paragraph.
Ihuoma loneliness seems too high a price to pay, for the good reputations she
enjoys. No wonder she feels that as if she is being confined to an over narrowing
prison. Also the chapter shows how society accepts madmen Otudo. One of the
men, returning from the market and saying that one met Otudo,on his way back,
was another in of starting that one came, back very late from the market. In this
connection, the reference to madmen prepares us for Ekwueme insanity.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Ahurole special goat disappears and Ekwueme looks for it in the course of this
search he injuries, from Ihuoma, unfortunately, as he is leaving the compound, he
meets Ahurole who a causes him of unfaithfulness. She says Ekwueme had gone to
see his loves, Ihuoma, instead of looking for goat. That evening he cannot sleep,
because of Ahurole‟s incessant grumbling. So he advises wakiri for advice. To
comfort his friend, wakiri improvises some instruments and the two friends crown
their sorrow in song. The next day, Ahurole, rushes to her mother in Omigwe, and
blames Ihuoma for the rift between Ekwueme and her self. So her mother advises
her to give Ekwueme a love potion. This potion will ensive that Ekwueme loves
45
Ahurole again, so, she claims. However, Anyika refuses to give it to Ahurole,
because it might harm Ekwueme. So Woruma resolves to go to chiolu to look for it

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Woruma collects love potion; that next evening, Ahuroleputs it in Ekwueme soup
several days later, Ekwueme begins to suffer from one disease to another which
leaves him dull, and indifferent to everything his parent are alarmed at his change
and Adaku is convinced that he is sick. But Ahurole claims that she has not noticed
anything wrong with him and Adaku berates her for the sickness. Ekwueme parents
then decide to consult Anyika, mear while, Ekwueme, grows emaciated and neglects,
his traps, when wigwe ask him, about the traps, he only laughs wildly, conviced that
his son is not all right,been be witched, wigwe runs off to consult Anyika, sadly,
about their son, strange behavior and so, she goes to talk to him, offended by her
concern, Ekwueme quickly leaves home

COMMENT ON TWENTY FOUR

Anyika was right. The love potion is harmful; and thi is not what Ahurole expected.
Too late, perhaps, she tries to be a better wife, notice, the irony behind wigwes, joy
fascination at this stage in Ahurole, the young couple, had passed over the difficult
phases. The reverse is indeed the case

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

Adaku is unable to stop Ekwueme and so she shouts in desperation alarmed wigwe
tries to intercept him but is untidly, flug to the ground instead. So he collects nadi
and wakiri, and they go off in search of Ekwueme as it happens, this time, Ahurole is
returning from the farm, to her surprise, she sees Ekwueme, running aimlessly
towards her, when he recognizes her, she chase her foaming at the mouth, but
manages to hide. When he spots her again later as wigwe, leaves, to fetch Anyika,
Ekwueme escepesagain , again, the same time Anyika is collecting the herbs, he
sees Ahurol, running towards home he informs wigwe, also assues he can cure
Ekwueme, if he agrees to take medicine with no sign of their lost son wigwe and
Adaku try to reassure each other

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

The chapter tries to summarize the effects of love potion. For example, Ekwueme
drinks water like a “ thirsty fog” likewise, Ekwueme‟s clash with Ahurole in the forest
and his breaking the water pot, symbolizes the split between himand his wife.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Early in the morning the search party returns home for a batch and a breakfast
before resuming their task. The villagers gather once again. They discover Ahurole
46
cincetrates in Ekwueme‟s traps and are even take wigwe dog eventually they find
Ekwueme siting up a tree dangling his legs absent mindedly and biting his left thumb
he refuses to come down and when mmam climbs up to coax him to do so he
threatens him with a club in the end Nwokekoro orders him to come down and
Ekwueme demands to see Ihuoma when she arrives Ekwueme descends the tree
quickly.

COMMENT ON TWENTY SIX

This is a moving chapter that shows Ekwueme alienation of from his society because
of love potion this gap is shown in the image of Ekwueme up in the tree from which
he keeps, others cut bay, the break off of their marriage is sharply constrasted with
the hen feeding her chicks as Ekwueme climbs down from the tree, note that, the
moment of absolute silence as he does so.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

Ekwueme eats his food, refuses to bathe therefore wigwe fetches Anyika, but
Ekwueme refuses to talk to him. Instead, he tells father, that he wants to marry
Ihuoma, and when he arrives, she sits next to him. Alyhough she is smelling she
even promises to marry him so he takesthe medicine and agrees to bathe change
his wrapper (clothes) and sleep thet done Ihuoma goes to feed her children leaving
wigwe and adaku, wondering how best to pay her kindness when Ihuoma returns
late Ekwueme readily takes the medicine and as she chat with him she realizes that
Ekwueme is no longer.

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

The focus is on the role played by Ihuoma in Ekwueme recovery. Notice that
Ihuoma, “ seemed to have absolute over him” which is a hint of her special nature.
Also in evidence is her character she is decorous that she not only informs Nnadi

before going to see Ekwueme but also behaves decently once seems Ekwueme is
not mad anymore she realizes in a moment that she was not dealing with an in
same person with that he discarded her forced bravado and feminine
punctutillioness ( property) took over she is also humble and brave he is stinking for
a lack of a bath and he is mad but Ihuoma sits next to him we should also note the
easy but flow of and realistic nature of dialogue used here like that between Ihuoma
and Ekwueme.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

Ekwueme recovers quickly at first he stays in doors doing odd jobs, too embarrassed
to leave the compound he and Ihuoma visit regularly and gradually they appear in
public. Eventually they agree to marry and Ekwueme divorces Ahurole only Anyika
objects the proposed marriage he perfoms a divination and reveals that the marriage
47
will not work he reveals that Ihuoma is the wife of the sea-king she asked to be
reincarnated into human form and because he loved her most of the all wives he
reluctantly agreed so he granted her wish she would live her normal life span and
would come to rejoin her later however he is so jealous so that he will destroy any
man who comes to possess her in love affairs and marry her otherwise Ihuoma can
only be someone “concubine” Anyika attributes Emenike and madume death to the
sea-king jealousy but Ekwueme is not moved. However he decides not to tell he
vows to go on with the marriage arrangements and dertemined to marry Ihuoma.
However he decides not to tell these news because she might back out of the
engagement to spare his wife he simply tells her that marriage negotiations with go
on as planned

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

We note the growth of the love affair between Ekwueme and Ihuoma because of
this love Ihuoma fells very secure and at peace so she carries herself proudly and
gracefully and a new radiant form of beauty suffused his face. This is her happiest
period since Emenike‟s death and she can now ignore the gassip; no wonder
Ekwueme finds a new Ihuoma but the flash back the author uses to explain origins
in the spirit world sets the whole action in a new light we realize that there are
forces at work which are beyond human control. Ekwueme‟s defiance of the sea-
king, reminds us of romeo defiance of fate of romeo and Juliet when he learns of
juliet‟s apparent death. The flash back convince us Ihuoma is a concubine referred
to in the title.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

adaku convinces wigwe they should consult another dibia, or medicine man.
Therefore wigwe and Ekwueme travel to aliji where they consult Agwoturumbe the
famous dibia his divination is un marry ways similar to anyika the main

difference is that he claims to bind the sea-king and prevent him from doing any
harm he prescribes elaborate sacrifice which has to be formed in a canoer by river
creek at night by mid night since the items for the sacrifice are many it is agreed
wigwe needs eight days to get ready but they are free to proceed with the marriage
negotiations except the payment of dowry, back in Omakachi the negotiations are
soon complited a village dance is held and Ekwueme and Ihuoma noe accept as
lovers enjoy it immensely, afterwards they chat hapilly together but ihuoma refuses
to consummate the marriage before dowry is paid Ekwueme tells her about the visit
to Agwoturumbe, but he leaves out the part that involves Emenike and madume, the
next day, he visit her before inspecting the traps he catches two huge animals which
he later cuts up to give to his he gives her some of the items for
sacrifice as for the lizard, Nwonna will collect later

COMMENT ON CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

48
There is a sharp contrast between Agwoturume‟s claim and anyika‟s earlier assetion
that noting can enable the marriage to take place similarly there is a contrast
between Agwoturumbes him self- confidence and the understandable doubts of
Ekwueme also the main section of the chapter dwells on extremely happy time
lovers this pleasant scene, act as a contrast to the very sad events of the next
chapter in addition you should note again the mention of the lizard. Nwonna‟s
expected hunt for it prepares us for the tragedy of lovers there is an irony in Adaku
triumphat statement to her husband. I told you Anyika, didn‟t know everything. Also
it is ironical that Iluoma means good luck, We should also, note that Iluoma is so
virtuos that she refuses to sleep with Ekwueme before marriage negotiatitions are
completed.
30. CHAPTER THIRTY.
Agwoturumbe returns to Omokachi with great pomp. Many villagers come to meet
him, for divination. The next morning he goes to collect medicines and meets Anyika
on the way. Because of the respect they have for each other they chat briefly and
politely. Anyika even offers him some of the rare herbs. Meanwhile Ekwueme feels
nervous about having to perform the sacrifice at midnight in the canoein the middle
of the niver, which should be the domain of the sea-king. But Agwoturumbe
reassures him. So Ekwueme goes to the rivers and hires the boat the boat man
rather doubts the existence of the sea-king and this stedies the Ekwueme nerves
when he returns home he has a meal with ihuoma he tells her that he will pay the
bride price on the following day and the two lovers hapilly look to the future
Ekwueme embraces her and full of joy he goes see how Agwoturumbe is getting on
with the preparations but just as he leaves the door he is shot in the stomach with a
barbed arrow Nwonna had just missed a big red lizard with his arrow, Ekwueme
collapses bleeding profusely he is carried to his room while

Adaku and Ihuoma are besides themselves with gries and despair Agwoturumbe
finally pulls out the arrow and shortly after midnight Ekwueme dies
COMMENT ON LAST CHAPTER
The chapter is a fitting conclusion to a moving and enjoyable novel our sympathy for
the tragic lovers is aroused by the very happy moments they share just before
Ekwueme is fatally shot see how the author prepares us for the tragedy at one stage
Ekwueme felt he was fighting for life and a wave of desperation swept over him.
Furthermore there is a touch of foreboding in Ekwueme‟s remark that “tomorrow
seems so far away” the sense of tragedy is highlighted by the authors use of irony
Ekwueme instructs Nwonna how to kill a lizard, without knowing he is preparing and
planning for his destruction it is ironic that he is killed by an arrow from Ihuoma‟s
son and not from son‟s little friends moreover, the required lizard eventually killed by
Ihuoma‟s playmates.

49
STRUCTURE AND STYLE OF THE NOVEL
1. PLOT STRUCTURE
The novel “ the concubine” follows a simple plot structure thus we follow Ihuoma
fortunes from Emenike fight and death her mourning and madume death and suicide
her widowhood and Ekwueme‟s court ship and the sudden death. Every incident has
been described is related to the straight forward movement of the novel, the only
exceptions flash back about Ekwuemes child hood and Ihuoma‟s origins in the spirit
world

2. SETTING
This refers to the place and time in which a work of literature happens. The setting
of concubine is a small traditional village society, in Eastern Nigeria before the arrival
of the white men and modernization it is a close knit society is traditional life
balanced by the conflicts, anxiety and misfortunes of the people of Omokachi

3. THE NARRATOR
The narrator of the novel uses the third person the narrator here is an observer who
refers character as “he” and “she” through the forest where the thick foliage like
back rain cloud cut of the sun completely. “during the fight,Emenike and madume
are tread down bushes like antelopes caught in rope trap”
“ thus madume throws Emenike with elephantine fury”

4. PROVERB
the author uses the proverb the hunter is not satisfied with a small game may be
obliged one day to carry an elephant one day to shame madume‟s greedy and

selfshiness.wigwe again compliments, Ihuoma exemplary behavior as he says. “

when a child washes his hand clean, he may with the kings”

5. DIALOGUE:
the aspect of the style is extensively is used in the novel one of its function is to
done the plot it shows elders speak with dignity and wisdom
6. IRONY
is the difference between the way things se to be and the way they are actually are
the difference may be verbal or situational most of the irony found in this novel
situation e.g. madume plans to marry Ihuoma, now that Emenike is dead he doesn‟t
realize he is inviting death
7. HUMOUR :this is the technique used to liven up an otherwise sad story. The
humour is present through Wolu wakiri speeches and actions “ your foo-foo
ball are as big as the head of a baby” every ball leaves a big gap in the
plate”

50
 8. MOTIFS: A motif is an recurring literary convention or an element that is
created within the literary work. In the “concubine” Elechi Amadi uses
Omens, dreams and lizards as motifs and the main idea is to add the
religious theme. In the concubine the lizard has been a dominant motif
9. SONGS: one of the major functions of the songs is to break the monotony of
the narrative. This is reflected through the song of Emenike‟s death as the
song says Emenike, eeh………E…………..eemenike is dead.
10. FLASH BACKS: a flashback is a scene, that breaks the normal time order of
the plot, to show an event that happened in the past. In the novel there are
two flashbacks, one is Ekwueme‟s behavior in the novel, the second reveals
about Ihuoma‟s origin in the spirit world”
11. PERSONIFICATION: in the middle of the compound, there stood her husband
grave (pg. 21)
12. SIMILE he rumbled like a thunder (pg. 9)
13. SAYING: the sun is going to chiolu (sunset)
14. SYMBOLISM: madume big eyed (symbolizes selfishness)
15. PERSONIFICATION: the gods are behind it
16. SIMILE: as if all women were fools
17. SIMILE: Ihuoma you are treating me like a goat
18. PERSONIFICATION: kind words greeted her, and was happy
19. SYMBOLISM: the name Ihuoma symbolizes “good lick in the igbo language”
20. PARADOX: my illness is a blessing in that respect (pg. 179)
21. HYPERBOLE: look at Ekwueme for example dying of Ihuoma (pg.93)
22. HYPERBOLE: being with you is being drunk, (pg. 237)

23. PROVERB: when a child washes her hands clean, she can eat with the kings
(pg. 133)
24. SAYING: one can‟t learn to be left- handed in old age
25. HYPERBOLE: wolu wakiri you will make us die of laughter,
26. PERSONIFICATION: silence reigned at the shrine of Amadioha.
27. SAYING: Ihuoma is a quite dog,that eats up hen‟s egg without a bark.

THEMES IN THE NOVEL

A theme is the main idea of a literary world the outsiding themes in the nivel, the
concubine are;-
1) ROLE OF SUPERNATURAL:
in the novel, the concubine Amadi shows us a highly religious society believing in
gods and spirits with high respect to priest and medicine man
i. People believe that they are created by Chineke who is the creator of the
spirits. He is often invoked in exclamations and does not appear frightening

51
 ii. The most powerful “god”is Amadioha, “ the god of the thunder and the skies”
who also controls life and death. He is served by Nwukekoro, the only priest
in the novel.
iii. The next powerful god is Ojukwu, who is said to control smallpox. This
disease is highly feared as it is called the “ good thing”
iv. The novel is dominated by the invicible god, who is called the sea-king who
kills, Emenike, madume and Ekwueme
v. There are gods whose power is not great, like Ofo and Ogu, the gods of
revenge and sacrifice.
vi. Every aspect of villagers life is controlled by th gods and their relationship.
Dibia is there to divine for peoples future holding
vii. Ther is a gods of min- wekwu, a stream that forms the border between
Omokachi and chiolu
viii. Amadi refers to ancestors and other spirit for example, Anyika offers sacrifices
to the gods and ancestors before divination
2) FATE/DESTINY

Fate refers to the intervening force or power which man sees as controlling all
events and over which he has no control. This theme is introduced first in the poem
at the beginning of the novel
“the thunder-god feasts in his grove” then the naps twist rainbows up and above
“but justice suffers here below”
“And we know no way which to go”
Thus the individual is at the mercy of harsh gods and has no control over his
destiny. The theme of fate is closely tied to the theme of role of the supernatural
powers. The belief that one‟s destiny is controlled by forces of gods Emenike dies

of lock- chest, madume dies of spitting cobra and Ekwueme dies of the wounding
arrow at Ihuoma‟s compound
3) LOVE
The theme of love is developed at different levels parental, marital, between friends
and romance. One of the parental love is Aadaku‟s parental love of the marital love
is between love Ihuoma and Emenike.the theme of love is largely explored in the
relationship between Ekwueme and Ihuoma. The joyful, intense love and peace
between them is captured by the dialogue as narration. But this beauty is too good
to last the jealous sea-king puts an end to this romance.
4) RESPONSIBILITY
The theme of responsibility or duty throughout the novel, there is a duty of one‟s
family, society and the ancestors and gods. We see Ihuoma‟s strong sense of the
husband. Nnadi too feels duty bound to protect Ihuoma,
It is the duty and responsibility of an individual to give sacrifice to the gods

5) UNITY

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Certain convention govern the individuals relationship with others when Ekwueme
refuses to honour a childhood engagement with Ahurole, wigwe is worried Ihuoma is
for example, helped by different people during the ceremony of second burial of her
husband. The greet of the elders must be greeted with courtesy and respsct. The
dispute of threatening to disturb the social harmony is not agreed to:
6) AFRICAN TRADIONS AND FAMILY
In this novel, the novelist, Elechi Amadi has portrays and depicted some of the
tradional issues very common and prevalent in the igbo society of Eastern Nigeria
a. Emenike dies of lock-chest, or internal injuries and bleeding, this is the result
of the fight between him and madume over possession of a piece of land
b. Ahurole uses the “love potion” a common traditions belief in most African
states to win love and attention from her husband Ekwueme. But eventually
as it is seen, the love potion brings harm to Ekwueme and eventually turns
him mad and crazy in love affairs
c. Emenike is highly regarded in the village, because of respect, kindness and
popularity. This one of the core and very common African traditional society
d. The igbo people upon facing an obstacle or dilemn in life, or certain awkwards
situation, usually consult the dibia who is called Anyika or Agwoturumbe for
divination.
e. Nuokekoro is the priest Amadioha god of Thunder and skies.
f. Both Ekwueme and wodu wakiri prepare a song in the memory of Emenike
and during ceremony of the second burial and Iluoma the wife lies weeping
loudly during the ceremony.
g. Madume tears a toe-nail and believes Emenike incident is responsible for that
trauma.
h. Ekwueme is engaged from childhood to Ahurole a tradition of childhood
betrothat or engagement is very common in most of the African states.
i. The inlaws send a pot palm wire, to formali the marriage negotiations
between the two sides.
j. Ahurole is usually troubled by a personal spirit called agwu and it makes her a
frequent crier
k. The villagers of chiolu believe that the sea-king and the powers of dibia, gods,
ancestirs like Ojukwu
l. Nwokekoro is portrayed to be the rain maker, and he uses the the white
stone in making rain
m. The villagers call “smallpox” they call it as a good thing.
n. Otta ochara, applies charms, omens totems pg.(25)
o. When igbo people wish one another good luck at right they say “may the day
break”.
p. Chineke is considered to be the creator of everything
7) CONFLICTS/MISUNDERSTANDING

A conflict is simply a misunderstanding between the two sides, and the other sides,
in the novel concubine, conflict has been portrayed as;-
53
 i. There is a conflict between madume and Emenike and they fight over a piece
of land
ii. Conflict between Okach, Ihuoma‟s mother and Ihuoma, because encourages
Ihuoma to marry after second burial
iii. Conflict between madume and Ihuoma because madume cuts down the
plantains which belongs to Ihuoma
iv. Conflict between madume and Nnadi because madume bullies Ihuoma at the
farm, when she harvest plantains
v. The sea-king is naturally in conflict with three lovers of Ihuoma who are
Emenike, madume over Ekwueme.
vi. Conflict between wolu and her husband and madume over thatching the roof

8) PROTEST

The protest means complain show classification in the novel the concubine the
author has depicted the following protests:-

i. Ihuoma protest of Ekwueme‟s frequent visit to the farm and compound that
the villagers start to gossip about it
ii. Ahurole protest of her husband Ekwueme, closer involvement with Ihuoma
and closeness in love affairs.
iii. Wolu wakiri would protest of madume‟s behavior of being big-eyed
iv. Anyika the dibia, protest of marriage between Ekwueme and Ihuoma, “ the
idea, doesn‟t sound right”

9) SELF AWARENESS AND PERSONALITY

Awreness is knowing what is happening around]
a) The villagers are aware of the fight between madume and Emenike, caused
by the conflict over possession of a piece of land
b) Ihuoma is aware of her beauty but she is not spoilt by her beauty she
dedicates her time in caring the farm and the husband.
c) Ekwueme is told and warned about the presence of the sea-king by the dibia,
but he doesn‟t heed the call
d) Both ekwueme and ihuoma are aware of the child hood engagement and it is
unbreakable
e) The villagers of chiolu know madume is bully selfsh, big-eyed

10. POSITION,STATUSOF WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY

An African womanhas been portrayed in the following capacity;-
i. A woman has been portrayed as a wife, eg Ihuoma, wolu, okachi, adaku,
aleruchi.
ii. A woman has been portrayed as a parent, mother
iii. A woman has been portrayed dedicated and commited, Ihuoma

54
 MESSAGES OF THE NOVEL
i. In life we should not be arrogant, Ihuoma was beauty, yet simple and humble
ii. Anything good or bad you do in this world, there is always the reward or
payment as madume was bully, selfsh, was rewarded with death
iii. Couples should read and understand one another before falling in love to
avoid conflicts in relationship and marriage.

RELEVANCE OF THE NOVEL

The novel though written long time ago, it is relevant and evergreen since
publication in 1966, because;-
i. It addresses traditional life before arrival of white men in African continent
ii. It addresses love affairs, that we be careful in love affairs by involving,
Emenike, madume, and ekwueme
iii. Talks on the presence of the supernatural beings, gods, goodness, amens and
the sea-king
iv. It still insist on the importance and centrality of the African traditions and
family

TITLE: THE GOVERNMENT

INSPECTOR AURHOR:NIKOLAI

GOGOL SETTING:RURAL

RUSSIA,1834 GENRE:PLAY

INTRODUCTION TO THE PLAY

>The government Inspector is the greatest comedy written by Nikolai Gogol.It
exposes how the main character Ivan Alexandrovitch Hlestakov the junior civil
servant who is mistaken and act as Nemesis The Inspector General.

>The Inspector General would be travelling incognito from St.Petersburg to the

interior of Russia,It ensues Panic among the town officials whereby
irresponsibility,corruption are clearly exposed.

CHARACTERIZATION

1.ANTON ANTONOVITCH DMUHANOVSKY(The mayor)

>He is the husband of Anna Andreyevna

>He is the father of MaryaAntonovna

>He has grown old in the service

55
>He has taken bribes for many years

>He passes hard times during the visit of The Government Inspector

2.ANNA ANDREYEVNA(Mayor‟s wife)

>She is Mayor‟s wife

>She supervises household duties

>She is the mother of MaryaAntonovna

>She sometimes dominates her husband

>She changes the clothes four times per day

3. Their daughter)

>She is the most beautiful girl of the town

>She lives with her parents

>At the end of the play,she is expected to be married by Ivan

AlexandrovitchHlestakov

4. VAN ALEXANDROVITCH HLESTAKOV(JUNIOR CIVIL SERVANT)

>He is the main character in this play

>He is a mistaken government inspector

>Dressed in the fashion of the period like the Government Inspector

>He lies passionately

>He is in love affairs with

MaryaAntonovna5.YOSIP OSIP

>He is the servant of Ivan AlexandrovitchHlestakov

>He is clever than his master

>He wears a blue coat

6.PETER IVANOVITCH DOBCHINSKY AND PETER IVANOVITCH BOBCHINSKY

>They are town land owners

>They are middle aged and much alike

>They speak quickly

07.OTHER CHARACTERS
56
-Ammos FyodorovitchLyapkinTyapkin-The Judge of the district

-ArtemyFiliponovitch-The Charity Commissioner

Ivan koosmith-The postmaster

-Luka Lukitch-He supervisers the school in the district

-StepanIlyitch-Supervises security in the

districtTHEMATIC ANALYSIS

1. CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY

>Ammos Fyodorovitch confesses to take the bribes ,he confesses it to the mayor
Anton Antonovitch as he says;

„‟Well there are sins and sins,I freely admit I take bribes,but what sort of
bribes? .......... ‟‟(pg 26)

>In act twothe mayor confesses to take the bribes,he says;

“My official salary doesn‟t pay for the tea and sugar,if I have taken bribes they
were only little ones”(pg42)

>The mayor bribes Hlestakov so that he doesn‟t react and send the report to the
st.Petersburg.

>Ivan AlexandrovitchHlestakov takes 400 rubles as a corruption from

ArtemyFiliponovitch as a bribe he is given as kindness

>Hlestakov also is given 800 roubles as a road money by the

Mayor,AntonAntonovitchDmhanovsky

2. IRRESPONSIBILITY AND POOR LEADERSHIP

>The teachers instead of teaching they spend time showing off to the students.

>The street haven‟t been swept, signifying irresponsibility

>The mayor confesses to take little bribes as a sign of irresponsibility

>Hlestakov kisses and romances MaryaAntonovna even in the public,yet wants

relationship with her mother,AnnaAndreyevna

3. LOVE AFFAIRS

>This is an instance of loving someone

>The playwright depicts love affairs between Ivan AlexandrovitchHlestakov and

MaryaAntonovna to the extent they near marriage issue
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>Hlestakov is even convincingMarya‟s mother to make love with him(Pg77)

4.INSPECTION

>Is an act of checking to see whether the seniority orders given are implemented

>Nemesis is the Inspector General of Russia

>The junior officials run into panic when they hear that the government inspector
will be travelling to inspect the area incognito

5. CONFLICTS

>The conflict between the mayor and traders/business people of the town
because mayor takes people‟s things from shop by force

>The conflict between Peter IvanovitchDobchinsiky and the judge whenever Peter
IvanovitchDobchinsky leaves the house,The judge sleeps immediately with his wife.

>The conflict between the mayor and the sergent because mayor makes love
with the wife of sergent

6. BETRAYAL

>The mayor betrays the government for being irresponsible,ineffective and

corrupt.He takes the bribes from the traders and other businessmen in the council

LANGUAGE USE IN THE PLAY

The playwright Nicolai gogol has been very effective in the creative use of
language in the following ways;

i)Personification

>“Why not take every letter that passes through your office”(pg 28)
>“My heart burns with

love”(pg76)ii)Hyperbole

>Yosif says “I am so hungry, I could eat the whole

world(pg37)iii)Simile

>‟The town is like a pothouse‟(pg 31)

>‟I saw everything shocks and trembled like an earthquake‟(pg57)

>‟My father is as stupid as an obstinate stubborn goat‟(pg49)

MESSAGE

i) All people must perform their responsibilities effectively so as to bring

development
58
ii) Punishment should be provided to the corrupt leaders

iii) Education should be provided to the people so as to fight against

various problems

iv) We must think before making

decision RELEVANCE

i) People who receiving corruption are still exist in the society

ii) People who fear from to be inspected are still exist in various institution
iii)Conflicts among people are still exist in our society

iv)In our society, there are people who have true love

TITLE:THE LION AND THE

JEWEL
PLAYWRIGHT:WOLE SOYINKA
SETTING :YORUBA VILLAGE OF ILUJINLE

GENRE:PLAY-COMEDY
PUBLISHER:OXFORD UNIVERISITY PRESS(OUP)

THE TITLE
>The title is symbolic used to represent Baroka who is the lion and Sidiwho is the
Jewel

>Baroka is the lion because;

i) He represents the male dominated society represented by chief. Thischief is

using his power to oppress and humiliate women.

ii) He is brave and strong person

iii) At the age of sixty two no one among his wives reported a failing inhis
manliness. And when he slept with Sidi,she appreciated his manliness and the
strength he had given her after the event(pg63)

iv) At the age of sixty he has defeated the men in the long tossing match
59
 v) He used to hunt leopard at night.

>Sidi is The Jewel because;

i) She is most attractive girl in the whole village of Ilujinle

ii) She was used by Baroka as his property to raise his manhood aboveher
beauty

iii) She protects the traditional ways of her community.

iv) She represent women who are victims of men‟s oppression and
humiliation

CHARACTERIZATION01.LAKUNLE
>He acquired formal (western) education and become a teacher of abush school.

>He wanted to marry Sidi without paying bride price

>He has been portrayed with the following traits;

i) Sympathetic
>He told sidi that it was so unwomanly to carry a pail of water on thehead.

ii)Modernist
>He did not like the way village women dress

(He told Sidi that it was not proper for a grown up girl like her to walkwith her
shoulder naked)

iii)Sexist
>He told Sidi that as a woman she had a smaller brain than him(pg04)iv)Rude

>He used abusive language when he was talking with Sidi

>He called her uncivilized and primitive bush girl whwn refused to bekissed

v)Irresponsible

>He left his pupils in the class and followed Sidi when was passingoutside.

60
02.SIDI

>She is the most beautiful girl in the whole Ilujinle village

>She loved Lakunle but she did not marry him because he was not readyto pay her
full bride price

>She is portrayed with the following traits;

i) Hard working
>She went to fetch water

ii) Trusting
>She trusted Sadiku at once when she told her that Baroka was
important

iii)Traditional
>She refused when Lakunle wanted to marry her without paying brideprice

iv)Social
>She participated in the dance of the lost stranger(pg13)

03:BAROKA

>He is the chief of Ilujinle village

>He had many wives

>He has been portrayed with the following traits;

i)Selfish

>He prevented the public workers attempt to build the railway throughIlujinle for his
personal interest.

ii)Brave

>He used to hunt leopard in the night

iii)Womanizer

>He had many wives

iv)Social

>He liked to interact with people and he liked wrestling(pg43)

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04.SADIKU

>She was the last wife of Okiki(Baroka‟s father)and Baroka‟s eldestwife

>She has been portrayed with the following traits;

i)Obedient

>She obeyed her husband when he sent her to give Sidi his good wishesand to ask
her to be his new wife (pg10)

ii)Trusting

>She believed everything she was told by her husband

iii)Traditionalist

.She supported bride price and polygamy life

iv)Advisor

>She advised Lakunle to take a farm for a season in order to get moneyafter one
harvest to pay Sidi‟s bride price

05:OTHER CHARACTERS

>The first girl,The second girl,The third girl,Ailatu(favourite)-Baroka‟syoungest

wife.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS

A. Lakunle protested against

i) The dressing style of grown up girls like Sidi who left their breasts andshoulders
naked

ii) The paying of bride price

>He thinks that paying bride price is just like buying women like othercommodities
from the market

iii) Against polygamy life

iv) Baroka‟s desire to marry Sidi-He protested by warning Sidi not toaccept
Sadiku‟s message from Baroka

v) The way married women are being mistreated and oppressed in the
society(pg8)
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a) Sidi protested against various things like;
i) The desire of Lakunle to marry her without paying her full bride price

ii) The proposal marriage from Baroka who is very old

1. CORRUPTION
>The playwright has shown the problem of corruption in the society

>Baroka bribed a white surveyor in order to diverge railway fromIlujinle.

2. IRRESPONSIBILITY
>Lakunle is irresponsible leader. He left his pupils in the class and wentto Sidi who
was passing outside the class with a pail of water on her head (pg 2)

3. AFRICAN TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

i) In African society a person is allowed to marry after he had paid fullbride

price.

ii) The girls who lose their virginity before their marriage are never
respected in the society and no one could pay their bride price

iii) The married women were not allowed to sit together at the table andeat with
their husbands

iv) The married men when they wanted to marry a new wife, used theirsenior
wives to seduce the new wife

v) Men were allowed to marry many wives-Baroka has many wives.

vi) The last wife of the deceased king become the senior wife of the newking
4. EFFECTS OF FORMAL EDUCATION

i) The formal education which Lakunle had acquired alienated him fromhis society

>He did not want to follow the tradition of paying bride price

ii)People who get formal education are the pioneers for changes whichmay help
to transform the lives of the people especially women in the rural areas

5. POSITION OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY

i) Women do all domestic activities

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>Sidi met with Lakunle when she was coming from fetching waterii)Women

portrayed as obedient people

>Sadiku obeyed her husband when he had sent her ask Sidi to be hiswife(pg19)

iii) Women are good advisor

>Sadiku advised Lakunle to take a farm for a season in order to getmoney after one
harvest to pay Sidi‟s bride price

iv)Women are used as object of entertaining men(pg 26)

iv) Women are the upholders of the customs and traditions of the
societies

v) Women can never keep secret

7.CONFLICTS

i) The conflict between Lakunle and Sidi

>The source of this conflict is when Sidi refused to allow Lakunle to help her to
carry the pail when she was coming from the village streambut he decided to
seize it (pg4)

ii) The conflict between Sadiku and Lakunle

>Sadiku threatened to beat Lakunle‟s head for driving poor girl Sidimad.

iii) The conflict between Baroka and Sidi

>Baroka was not happy when Sidi refused to marry him.iv)The

conflict between Baroka and Lakunle

>Baroka and Lakunle are also in conflict because of competition overSidi.

LANGUAGE USE

(figures of speech used in the play)

01. Metaphor
>Sidi told Lakunle and Sadiku

“I am the twinkle of Jewel,but he is the hindquarters of a lion”pg 23

>Baroka told Sidi “Sadiku,my faithful lizard)pg 42

02. Simile
64
>Lakunle told Sidi

“But you are as stubborn as an illiterate goat” pg 02

>Lakunle told Sidi

“Do you wish to look squashed like my pupil‟s drawing”pg 02

03. PERSONIFICATION
>Lakunle told Sidi

“Can the stones bear to listen to this?”

>The third girl told Sidi

“The sun himself had been your lover”pg 11

>Sadiku told Baroka

“I thought the world was mad”pg28

04. HYPERBOLE
>Lakunle told Sidi

“You will have no neck at all”pg2

05. SYMBOLISM
>The lion symbolizes oppression,Baroka as the lion oppressed women

>The Jewel symbolizes beauty and virginity,Sidi is called the Jewel isbeautiful
and virgin girl

>Traditional dance performed by Sidi and other girls symbolizes Africantradition and
custom

>Bride price symbolizes African tradition

>Polygamy symbolizes African tradition

SETTING

>The setting of this text is Yoruba village of Ilujinle

MESSAGE

01. Outdated customs such as polygamy, widow inheritance should beperished

02. Women should be respected in the society

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03. We should fight against corruption because it‟s the source of
underdevelopment

04. People should be responsible in order to eradicate poverty

RELEVANCE

01. Poligamism is still exist in our society

02. People who are illiterate like Sadiku are still exist in our society
03. In our society, corrupt leaders such as Baroka are still exist
04. Irresponsible teachers like Lakunle are still exist in the society
TITLE: THE DILEMMA OF A GHOST
PLAYWRIGHT: CHRISTINA AMA ATA AIDOO SETTING: GHANA

AFTER INDEPENDENCE

GENRE:PLAY
About the play
>The play is about cultural difference of two people who share commonhistorical
background. Both people are blacks who originated from Africa.

>One of them is Ato Yawson ,a graduate Ghanaian who respects the traditional
and customs, and the other is Eulalie Rush an educated blackAmerican woman
who respect the western culture.She was born and grew in America since her
parents were taken from Africa by force as slaves during the slave trade.

>Ato Yawson leaves Ghana for further studies in America where he meets Eulalie
Rush.Ato and Eulalie fall in love and they agree to marrythough they have different
cultural backgrounds. When they come backin Africa,Ato‟s parent and relatives do
not accept that marriage which they consider unapproved by the customs.

CHARACTERS

1. ATO YAWSON

>He is the main character in this pay

>He is a young Ghananian graduate

>He is a betrayer-He betrays his society especially his mother who toileda lot to
66
make sure that he gets education

>He is jealous-Ato told Eulalie that he does not want to have the children yet
because he can‟t afford seeing Eulalie paying greaterattention to the children
than to him.

>He is a first born to Eskom

>He is an agent of change

>Heis the husband of Eulalie

2. EULALIE RUSH

>She is an Afro-American graduate

>She is aware of her African identity-Born in America, she still knowsthat her
origin is Africa.

>She is very extravagant when it comes to expenditure.

>She uses abusive language-Eulalie insulting Ato and his people by calling
them bad names like bastards, uncivilized,stupid and narrow minded and
says their land is rotten.This is the reason Ato loses his temper and slaps
her.She says:

“Do you compare these bastards,these stupid narrow-mindedsavages with

us? Do you dare……?”(pg 48)

>She is a cigarette smoker and a heavy drunkard

>She is the victim of cultural changes in her marriage

>She is rigid to change,She tells Ato;

“I have been drinking in spite of what your people say.Who marriesme,you or your
gaddam people?” (pg47)
>She is Ato‟s wife

3. ESIKOM

>She is Ato‟s and Monka‟s brother.

>Has a loving and caring heart

>She is poor-She lives a poor life in a house with a leaking loof

>She I very hard working

>She is Sympathetic.

67
>She is traditionalist-She believes in some outdated customs like choosing a wife
for her son. She went for Yah Mensa to ask his daughterto marry his son(pg
22).She also sells the sheep to pay the bride price forhim.

>She is illiterate. She has never been to school that‟s why she cannot even
pronounce the word Eulalie and pronounces it as Hurere (pg 51)

4. NANA

>She is Ato‟s grandmother

>She is a traditionalist who is able to maintain all the tradition andcustoms

>She is Esikom‟s mother

>She is talkative-she likes complaining whenever things are not goingwell.

5. MONKA

>She is Ato‟s sister

>She is ignorant about European ways of life

>She is atradionalist like her mother

6. PETU

>He is Ato‟s elder uncle

>He is kind

>He is a traditionalist

7. OTHER CHARACTERS

>Akyere-Ato‟s elder aunt

>Mansa-ato‟s younger aunt

>Akroma-Ato‟s young uncle

LANGUAGE USE,FIGURES OF SPEECH

1. SARCASM-The use of bitter or wounding words

>Nana says; “My grandson has brought home an offspring of slaves”

2. SYMBOLISM
>The snails and medicine-symbolize African traditions
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>Cigarette-Symbolizes western culture

>Ato-symbolise-Western and African traditions

>Eulalie-Symbolizes African traditions

3.HYPERBOLE

>The second woman says; “I hear she swallows money as her doescorn”

4.PERSONIFICATION

>The second woman says “Her food never knows wood fire”5.SIMILE

>The second woman says; “Her water must be colder as a hill stone”

THEMATIC ANALYSIS

1. AFRICAN TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

i) Love and forced marriage
>In Africa it is not a wrong decision if a mother makes a choice of a wife for her
son, or choice of husband for her daughter. Eskom does thesame for her son
before discovering that her son is married.

ii) Marriage and child birth

>The whole society expresses shock at the revelation that Ato and his wife
deliberately delay childbirth.Ato‟s people held a meeting to discusswhy Eulalie is not
becoming pregnant and they decide to bring along a herbal concoction(unusual
mixture of things especially drinks or medicines)

>Petu concludes; “When two people marry everyone expects them tohave
children… ....................... ”(pg 39)

iii) Traditional food

>Eating snails in this society is one of their customs and it is considered an

honorable food suitable for guests. Eulalie who came from a differentculture finds
it difficult to eat the snails and she throws away the snails her mother-in-law
brings them to asked Eulalie; “But how can you throw them away just like
that? Haven‟t you seen snails before?”(pg32)

iv) Wife beating

>Many men have been beating their wives as a way of silencing them and making
them submissive to their desires.Ato beats his wife becauseshe reffered to his
peole as uncivilized and they have no understanding.

69
v) Superstition
>Superstition beliefs are very common among African societies.Eulalieand Ato have
decided to use birth control and have children when they want them.But this
society believes there is something wrong with
Eulalie‟s womb so she must be purified to be able to conceive. Ato says;“Uncle, did
you say you are going to use the medicine to wash my

wife‟s stomach?”(pg43) Pg 43

2. CONFLICTS
i) The conflict between Ato and Eulalie
>The source of this conflict is when Ato beats her wife because shereferred
to his people as uncivilized.

ii) The conflict between Ato and his mother(Eskom)

>The source of this conflict is when Ato unexpected changed behaviorand finds
himself in a dilemma whether to side with his wife or his mother.

iii) Intrapersonal conflict within Ato.

>Ato struggles to balance relationship between Eulalie,his mother andhimself but

he fails because the cultural root of each part pull the relationship further apart

>Ato becomes frustrated to the point that he ends up beating his wifewho then
disappear from home.

iv) Intrapersonal conflict within Eulalie.

>Eulalie finds herself in the middle of dilemma because she did not understand
the cultural differences between the Africans in Africa andthe Africans in
America.

3. DILEMMA
>Is a situation in which someone finds difficult to make choice betweenalmost
similar options

>Ato and Eulalie find themselves in a dilemma whether to followAfrican or

American culture after their marriage

4. PROTEST
>Ato‟s people protest against;

i)Eulalie smoking habit

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 ii) Eulalie‟s behavior of drinking beer
iii) Eulalie‟s behavior of spending a lot of money buying machine
iv)Aulalie‟s behavior of throwing away snails

v)Ato‟s behavior /decision to marry stranger while a girl has already bechoosen
for him.

>Eulalie protests against;

i) Ato‟s way of living She thinks that it is a primitive way of life for themto eat snail
ii) Traditional medicine they brought her so that he can conceive.
5.POVERTY

>Eskom is the one of character who portrayed as poor by the way she struggled to
get the school fees to pay for Ato.Her roof leaks more than

before.She says “My knees are callous with bending before the
rich……..Apart from the lonely journeys I made to the
unsympathetic rich,how often did I weep before your uncles and great
uncles while everyone complained that my one son‟s educationwas
ruining our home”(pg 35)

6. POSITION OF WOMEN
i) A woman is portrayed as a hardworking and responsible person
>Ato‟s mother is shown as a hardworking mother who did all it takes tofinance her
son‟s education

ii) A woman is portrayed as a slave

>She does all the domestic chores without the help of other members.She
has to sweep the compound, cook as well as fetchingwater.The second
woman complains;

“ My sister you are not alone.But who would have thought thatI,whose
house is teeming with children… ..................................... ”(pg11)

iii) A woman is portraying as a caring person

>When Eskom hears that Ato and his wife have arrived from the city,she
brings them the traditional food saying

iv) A woman is portrayed as a symbol of immorality

>Eulalie smokes cigarette and drinks alcohol contrary to what is
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expected of a woman in this society.

v) A woman is portrayed as a sympathetic person

>When the first and the second women hear the noise from Eskom‟scompound
they feel pity thinking that the old woman (Nana) is dead.

>Also when Eulalie comes back after being slapped by Ato,Esikom rushes to
support and comfort her despite the fact that she did not likeher behavior.

7. DISAPOINTMENT
i) Ato is disappointed because he had expected to live happy life with thegirl he
brought from America but when the ply end we see it to be tragedy.

ii) Eulalie had expected a happy life however almost everything turnsagainst
and makes her disappointed.

iii) Ato‟s people disappointed with their son because Ato marries awoman
with different culture background against their wish

MESSAGE

i) Wife beating is not a solution to family conflicts. It should be

discarded.

ii) Educated people should use their education to solve the problems oftheir
people

iii) Change does not take place overnight,one should be given time toadjust
iv) We should not look down for women who are barren. Children aregifts
from God.

v) We should know our identity and be proud of the same no matterwhere

we are.

RELEVANCE

i) Cultural conflicts are common among Africans tribes especially in theissue of

marriage

ii) Betrayal and hypocrisy especially by educated people is still commonin Africa.
iii) Wife beating,bride price,superstition beliefs and forced marriage arethe
common Africans up to date

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iv) True love still exist in our society

THE OLD MAN AND THE MEDAL

THE OLD MAN AND

THE MEDAL.
TITLE: THE OLD MAN AND THE
MEDAL.

AUTHOR: FERDINAND OYONO.

SETTING: CAMEROON DURING

COLONIALISM
MAIN THEME: HYPOCRSY OF FRENCH
COLONIAL ROLE

73
INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL OLD MAN /
MEDAL
The novel of old man and the medal , is about meka , an old man
who has been converted to the religion of Christianity and very loyal to
the new religion and the French colonial role. He has sacrificed much
when fighting for the French against his fellow Africans the French
applied the policy of assimilation to capture the minds of the Africans
who were assimilated and accepted the French ways of living . the
district commissioner promised him that he would awarded a “medal” to
show that a meka is a true friend of the French and that the colonial
government respects his contribution . the whites (French) however ,
didn‟t sincerely mean the true friendship . during the awarding day meka
is neglected at the playground for so long time that he became
embarrassed . after the awarding ceremony the was a party, which was
held to entertain the whites. In the party , meka gets drunk , and
he was arrested , when he was going home at midright for being
suspected a animal. Meka respesents the Africans who abandoned their
traditional ways of life and adopted that of the whites; and acted against their
fellow Africans, but later returned to their previous traditional religion

CHARACTERIZATION
1. MAKALEY
_He is the protagonist of the novel.
_Is married to kelara,brother in law of engamk
_He is a poor old man
_He is pompous
_He is a catholic convert,He lives at mission a Dam.
_He is chronic drunkard at Mamy titi‟s place
_He is loyal to the white colonizers.
_He is religious, but not spiritual.
_He is awarded a “medal” but loses it.
_He is a victim of police brututality.
_He has a changing behavior.

2. KELARA
_She is meka‟s wife.
_She is a convert Christian.
_She has a true love.
_She is a victim of world war 2.
_She feels betrayed by her husband.
:_She is highy emotional easily heartbroken.
_She was betrothed, with while she was young.

74
 3. ENGAMBA
_He is kelara‟s brother, and meka‟s brother in law.
_He is greedy.
_He is very supportive.
_He believes in superstition.
_He was a polygamist.
_He is a traditionalist.
_He is a Christian convert.

4. AMALIA
_She is the wife of Engamba.
_She is very hard working.
_She was married in a polygamous family
_She is sympathetic.

5. .M.FOUCONI
_He is the chief administrator at doum.
_He is a cigar smoker.
_He is a hypocrite.
_He has a terrible temer.

6. .M.VARINI GULLET
_He is the white superintendent of the policemen.
_He is cruel to the Africans.
_He is a heavy cigar smoker.
_He is a hypocrite.

THE TITLE OF THE NOVEL, OLDMAN AND MEDAL

The title of the book is; The old man and the medal ; the title of the book is
relevant to the content because:-
i. The whole novel is about the old man called meka who has last two sons and
the land that was given to the whites. He is now very “old” and lives a very
poor life
ii. The old man is given a medal , because of the sacrifices he has made for the
French colonizers and they promised him a “medal” which he was to be given
on the day of 14th July by the High commissioner himself. However, he lost
it during the night of the same day. Because of being heavy drunk.
iii. The old man is promised another medal, when gullet later learns that he has
last the first medal that was given. Although up to the end of the book, he
has never received the second medal.
SETTING
The setting of the novel is in cameroon during colonialism, The novel shows the
dilemma the Africa find themselves in living in the two worlds, that of the black

75
man and his culture, and that of the white men [French] colonizers. The novel
father portray sub section as rural and urban setting.

RURAL SETTING PORTRAYED BY

This is portrayed, evidenced by mentioning of village like zourian, where even the
mode of transport is mainly walking on foot. Customs like, polygamy, widow
inheritance, early marriage, completes rural setting.
URBAN SETTING PORTRAYED BY
This is evidenced by mentioning towns like doum, where white men live, presence
of the police station, community center, European clubs.
STYLE OF THE NOVEL
The novelist Ferdinand oyono, has applied different style and technique to enrich
his work of literature
i. MONOLOGUE NARRATIVE; The novel has been written in a monologue which
the author is the narrator, the third person point of view is the dominant
one.

ii. DIALOGUE; The author has used dialogue to bring the events and characters,
which have been employed here and there.
iii. SONGS; The novelist has applied and employed style in the poem by using
the song, in [page 12] where,meka.

LANGUAGE USE
The language used is simple, and straight forward. However, there are some
words used purposely for effect. Abusive language /22,/3/.
i. SIMILE : The chief was sweating like a wrestler [page 92]
ii. SIMILE: Children today grow up like maize [page 57]
iii. SIMILE: In those days, kelara had breasts as lemons [page 37]
iv. SIMILE: We missionaries are like owls. [page 27]
v. PERSONFICATION: The hut was already alive [page
vi. PERSONFICATION: The hut was already alive
vii. METAPHOR: Now that har husband is going to have a medal, she will
become a white man [page 62]
viii. PERSONFICATION: The mouth has tired itself with talking [page 13]
ix. PROVERB: The chimpanzee is no brother to gorilla [page 151]
x. HYPERBOL: I am all alone, alone in the world [page 121].

CHAPTER ONE
Meka wakes up at day break , in a very poor hut and finds his wife kelara
still snoring . he wakes up wondering how she can sleep while her husband has
trouble. He has summons to see the commander this morning. They pray together

76
for the same. Then dresses and his wife praises him that he like and look an
American missionary. He ate his breakfast and left. His wife warns him to be
careful when he present himself before the white men. He makes his way to town
on foot, he comes a cross the European town and decides to stop at mammy Titi‟s
place to have arki . Arki is an illegal drink. That has been banned not to be distilled,
so that those who sell it do it in secret. We are given a flash back that Meka, gave
his plot of land to the catholic mission and now lives in a small hut in the village. He
was told that it was the will of God to give his land .
When he finished he started off to the white men. He was singing a song of
war they used to sing. Back in the village catechist Ignatus Obebe leads a mass of
prayers then they dispers. Kalera refuses to go, in but sits at the door insisting and
gazing the direction her husband had gon. Finally, he comes in a car sitting beside a
white man. He informs the villagers who come and gather around him that the great
chief of all the white men at Timba is coming to award him a medal on 14th July.
Many people come to his house to her the good news. Meka tells them how it all
happened. Even ignatus Obebe comes to her the good news . However he seems a
bit jealous and gives some remarks, that made him angry. He leaves they talk of
another catechist who loved the wife of the chief and seduced her.
CHAPTER TWO
This chapter shows the events, taking place at the village of zourian where
Kalera is born. His brother Engamba is eating, but he seems to hide behind the door
so that the passers –by may not join him. When he finished he gets out. There is
noise from the other side of the village. People come out from every direction they
see a stranger who introduces himself as Nkolo mendo, son of mendo of Ngolman.
many people are interested to know if he brings the good news. After a long wait of
leaving the villagers in suspense, he finally bring the news. He says that the day
before he goes to down to see his future parent in-laws and gives them a bunch of
stock fish they had asked her in order to marry the daughter. On top of that, he had
already given them, thirty thousands franks, a case of beer ,pith-helmet, a sack of
salt, thee machetes , thee ships; a wate bucket, a cast-iron cooking pot, and a sack
of rise and all that was left the stock fish.
He says when he got to doum, the place was so bus and the lorries were fill
of soldiers who were speech to town. They thought the war was about to start then
he cools them down, because it was not the
war, but the chief of the white from paris was coming to doum to give Meka a
medal. Engamba was happy to her that because Meka is his brother-in law Mbogsi,
suggest that, Engamba should introduce him to the commandant that, he is the
brother in law of Meka. Even the friends of Engamba want sue that to gain favours.
Finally all the villagers leave and Nkolo, is left with Engamba. We are
informed that Nkolo is a polygamist. He has five wives and is soon going to take the
sixth. More over we are told that when Engamba father dies, he left him six young
widows to inherit. He enjoys the issues of inheritance, because women compete in
his favour. Things began to change when the missionaries started to teach about

77
Christian marriage and some of his wives demanded their liberty to be baptize.
Engamba was the first of the pagans to be converted and Amalia to Christianity in a
church officially.
A flash back is then given that one day Meka passed through zourian and
Engmba
Egamba sees Meka as being lucky and calls him „The lucky devil‟. Engamba catches
one of his goat called Ebogo [the name of his youngest wife ]and start his way to
doum to attend the celebration of the medal award.
CHAPTER THREE
The preparation for the 14th of July had changed the atmosphere of doum,
just as Nkolo said. The place was busy preparing for the event under the supervision
of M. Fouconi, the chief administrator. Because of soldiers were moving here and
there in lorries, and practicing in the street, the Africans were in territory thinking
the war is back. After supervision the preparation, M.Foukon goes back to the
residence some Africans bring the crates of the drinks that will be used that day. To
be used on the celebration. He orders them to take the crates direct to the .Africa
community center where the reception party will take place. We are told that this
center was a corrugated iron hut. It was white washed all over to hide the colour it
had been before
Meka had gone to see the tailor-Ela who was seving his jacked, and was
worried whether it would be ready by the following day. Ela assires Meka that he will
make it ready and Meka will lobe it when the
tailor is done he gives the jacket to Meka, but he says button will be sewn by
Meka‟s wife because he is rushing to go and see his wife who is sick. Meka pays 500
franks and yet they depart.
CHAPTER FOUR
Engamba and his wife Amalia, were still on the war to doum ; They procced
ed like this until night fell own the bush. Engamba complained Amalia was going too
fast since he was pulling his goat A Flash back of Amalia‟s life is given. She used to
carry some heavy basket of wood when coming from the field, basket of sans for
the hut, basket of stones for the priest houses, so she could go to the confessi on
and the basket of food for the journeys. She had done so purposely because her
mother considered her lazy. Finally the villagers praised her saying. „A girl who will
know to feed her husband he will never die of hunger. Atema, Amalia‟s mother had
had a daughter among daughters. Amalia got ten offers of marriages. Among them
was wealthy Engamba of zourian. Amalia preffered this man, though he had many
wives. That was how Amalia married Engamba. They continue with their journey but
it was getting dark and come to Nkango, hamlet
Some one welcomed them to have a meal with them ; because the night
had many mysteries; The man recognized Amalia as entered the hut, while Engamba
was trying his goat outside. The man was Binama they talked of Meka, getting a
future of a medal at the old age. Agatha, binama‟s wife brings them food. When
food is over, Engamba raises to go. Engamba and Agatha escorts them to the river.

78
Binama tells Engamba that Meka, should tel;l the chief of whites they need a road to
the village. Theey passed through. several villagers at night and there was one
village left. They entered the village of Boton. They had to cross the whole of Europe
quarter pass a cross the African location before they came to Mekas house.

CHAPTER FIVE
Meka comes back from taking his jacket and find a number of people at
his place, all who come to celebrate with him. He greets them in a normal traditional
way, while joking and bursting into there were Engamba‟s and Essomba‟s ,all his
causins male and female were there

with their children,Everyo connected intimately or distantly with kelara, also were
there. For example there was an old women with nursed kelara mother who died
before WW1, there was Nua,Nti,Mvondo,Evina, The causin of meka, and his wife and
their brothers in law who had come there and post poned their departure. There
were also villagers who had come to honour their fellow country.
Meka, welcomes them all and they start the normal chatting. Meka retells
his story as he has been doing ever since. Kelara brings them the food, but for me it
was not enough as they finished, it before other managed to reach the plate. After
that kelara arranges the bedding for every body and announce the arrangement.
Others slept on beds, others on sleeping mats and others on banana leaves. Before
they sleep, they remember to tell meka to try his jacket. All others praise it exept
kelara who says it is over size, and not good. Kelara brings the leak shoes meka has
bought at madam pipiniakis, men had gon before foot until when he married kelara.
So his feet were disfigured and that was complicate by two little toes, which hung on
the each side of the feet. So when he had to bring the canvas shoes,he had to cut
two little windows. For the little does. At the shop he did try to them, on despite the
insistence. Of the white women since he did not want o display his suffering in front
of the stranger. Meka puts them, but they hurt him and says, he wouldn‟t get for
with them, the following day. Engamba suggest that they should fill the sand and
moisten the leather a bit to make them supple.Finally they say, their prayers and go
to sleep, while others are a sleep meka has been sleep less, night because a lot of
thought and imagination of the next cross in his mind, but eventually he fell a sleep.

THEMES IN THE NOVEL

1. AFRICAN TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
The novelist has portrayed the following themes;-
A. Bride pays, The author has portrayed that before a girl is married in
this society, the bride price has to be paid; Nkolo mendo pays a bundle
of stock fish.

79
 B. Superstition; When nkolo comes to Engambas house to bring the news of
meka‟s medal award, he warns one of the men who were there. Don‟t start your
witch craft.
When meka goes back home after the mistreatment he had received from
the whites, he decided to pick back his superstition believes, he had before he
become a Christian.

C. widow inheritance; this has been portrayed who Engamba inherit the
wives of his father.
D. Polygamy;In this society men mary wives for pleasure and enter
entertainment. Engamba had six wives, Nkolo mendo is a polygamist with five wive.
E. Early marriage; In this society, kelara is betroth to meka when he was
baby child.
F. Food taboos; In this society, the youth are not allowed to eat the etails of
the sheep with out permission of the elders. If one did, he was change and fined a
ram a punishment.

2. CONFLICT
Is a situation of the misunderstanding between the two sides; in the novel, Old man
and medal there are following;-
i) Intrapersonal conflict; This happen‟s when meka summoned to go to see
the commandant, he was wondering what would happen to him. He asks
kelara to pray for her.
On the 14th July, he was left in the hot sun, wait to be awarded a medal,
he was wondering whether to go away or wait for it.
ii) Personal conflict; This happens between meka andhis police men, this
happens when meka walk without a lamp at night and without an ID.
iii) Cultural conflict; There is a cultural conflict between the two cultures.
Europeans preach that the distilling and drinking of the local brand „arki‟
is a mortal sin, but imported drinks like wine and whisky.
iv) Political conflict; There is a conflict between the European and the African
are forced to labour for the whites.

3. POSITION OF WOMEN IN SOCIETY.

a) Women have been portrayed as tools of pleasure. Men mary many wives,
because they use them as the sourse of sexual pleasure. Nkolo has five
wives, Engamba had six wives.
b) Women are portrayed as people who are emotional they are portrayed as
people who cant handle disapporntments. When Amalia is reminded of her
dead sons, she cried bitterly as receiving news for the first time.
c) Women are portrayed as parents and caretakers in this novel we have
seen women playing the good role of good and care takers.

80
 d) Women are portrayed as sympathetic people. When kelara weeps for her
lost sons, and Amalia joins in the weeping.
e) Women are portayed as true love; Women are portrayed to have sincere
love, because the medal offered to meka as a compensation to her lost
son is a betrayal.
f) Women are portrayed as weak people Women seen to have no say in the
society, they are married in a polygamous setting and they are victims of
early child marriage.

4. AWARENESS
Is the knowledge of knowing what is going on around you. Awareness is portrayed
as;
1) Africans are a were of the hypocrisy of the white who tell them, they have
become more friends and they are now brothers.
2) Meka is a were of the hypocrisy of the white people and the friendship they are
talking about
3) Kelara is a were of the white men hypocrisy in awarding the medal to her
husband.

5. HYPOCRISY
Hypocrisy is a situation of pretending to have qualities or beliefs
you don‟t have; the white men are portrayed to be hypocritical;-
a) White praise meka for his contribution, but they don‟t mean it from
their hearts.

b) Mr. Fouconi, is a hypocrite, he lived with the Africa women but used to
hide her in the whenever he had visitors.
c) The white missionaries are hypocrite in a war they preach, that
drinking of „arki‟ is illegal and sin, but they drink imported drinks from
Europe.
d) Father vandermayer is a hypocrite, He is a religious leaders but
practices recisim.
e) Also, Father vandermayer, chases beggers from his church.
6. OPPRESSION
The white in this book are portrayed as oppressors to the Africans. Oppression has
been portrayed in the following ways.
a) Black are tortured and oppressed by the police constable led by. M.Virini-
Gullet. Meka was tortured and oppressed by the police when he was arrested
and sent to the police station. He is beaten by police including Gullet himself
despite the fact that he explained he was innocent.

81
 b) Africans had to walk with the ID and when he was found without an identity
card, He was arrested when the police found meka; the first thing they asked
was the papers when he failed to produce he was arrested.
c) Africans land was taken by force from the blacks. The Africans loses their land
to the French colonizers through the land alienation. Moist Africa had to go
and work for the Europeans to earn a living.
d) Africans are arrested for distilling and drinking local beer [arki]. Africans were
not allowed to make and sell local beer instead, they had to buy beer and
other drinks imported from France. Those who sold and drink the local brand,
had to do it secrety.

7. NEPOTISM
The people in this society portray the spirit of nepotism.
a) The whole village, close and distant relatives from distant place come to join
meka, in his celebration of the medal a ward, so that
b)

c) they can be know to meka, as a result they can be treated with preference.
d) The stanger suggest that it should not be confined in the sphere of close
relatives, but also to friends of meka.
e) They believe that even other development project like the construction of
roads have been treated under the guise of nepotism. Whe Binama and
Engamba discuss about the problem of road construction from zourian to
doum, Binama suggest that Engamba should inform meka, may send the
message to the chief of whites.
8 RACISM/ RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Racism means discrimination and abuse behavior towards other members of the
society based on their race [colour] in this book, racism is shown in the following
ways
a) Father vandamayer segregated meka because of being an African, while he
was white. He gives meka a lift at the back of the car when he drives to the
African community center. Father vandamayer is a racist.
b) The whites refuse mekas invitation to eat a goat, with him pretending that
they were going away. They said , they will eat his goat in through
c) On the celebration day, the whites sit alone on the plat and the blacks were
saying, there was no African on plat form.
d) There are special residential areas for whites and Africans. Africans lives in
their own local areas while European sit and lives in their own residential area
After celebration, European go back to European club, where M. Ripianikis
goes to celebrate legion d‟honneur.
e) M. Fouconi lived with an African woman but he used to hide her in the store
room, whenever he had the European visitors. And the day before the
governor arrival he is sent back to the African location.

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 9 MORAL CURRUPTION
In this society , people are morally corrupt in some ways. The following are few
cases in point;
a) Prostitution; Because of life difficult some women decided to engage
themselves in prostitution to earn a living. This causes serious moral
corruption in the society. The author uses ignatus to present the point.
b) Alcoholism; Alcoholism is rampant in this society both local and
imported. Moist Africans wake up and go at mammy titi; place to drink
alcohol on the day also of the award of medal, they were invited to
drink to the capacity to the level of bringing them to shame.

10. MESSGES/LESSON FROM THE NOVEL

The author has highlighted the following message in the novel;-
1) Polygamy, bride price, superstition, widow inheritance, early marriage, food
taboos. These are out dated customs. They should be discouraged as they
lead to the necessary conflict in the society.
2) We should fight against oppretion, hypocrisy, exploitation and classes, in our
societies.
3) Alcoholism and prostitution are not solutions the problems affecting our
society.
4) Nepotism and racism should be discouraged in the society.
5) We should be a were of the oppression, and injustice in our society fight it.

11. RELEVANCE
Although the novel is set back during the colonial period, there are themes still
relevant today, in our contemporary society in a number of ways;-
1) Classes, oppression, hypocrisy, and exploitation are still prevalent in
our contemporary society.

2) Polygamy, bride price, superstition, widow inheritance, early marriage,

and food taboos, and other out dated customs are still practiced in
most rural Africa communities
3) Moral corruption especially prostitution and alcoholism is prevalent in
big cities and rural communities.
4) Racism and racial segregation is still practiced in many countries in the
world. There are also few cases of racism in Tanzania as well.

83
THE GOVERNMENT IN SPECTOR

TITLE: THE GOVERNMENT

INSPECTOR
PLAYWRIGHT: NIKOLAI VASILYILEVITCH
GOGOL

SETTING: RURAL/ URBAN

RUSSIA/ MOSCOW

MAIN THEME, CORRUPTION,

INNEFICIENCY IN
GOVERNMENT

MAIN CHARACTER:IVAN
ALEXANDROVITCH
KHELASTAKOV

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TIME/ PLACE: IMPERIAL RUSSIA:
1836.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PLAY

The government inspector , is the greatest satirval play, or Russian
comedy written by the famous playwright of the time, nikolai vastly
vitch Gogol . It exposes corruption, irresponsibility, inefficiency of the
political leaders of our time. And it portrays vividly how the mistaken
identity of the government inspector , or inspector general ensues a
panic, horror and disgust among the local populace of the location . it
openly shows how the main character in the play Mr. Ivan Alexandro itch
khlestakon v a junior avil servant who is broke and starving with his
servant Osip , how they languish in poverty and penniless. Coincidentally,
when the duo are broken and starving at the town inn. They are
mistaken and dreaded as nemesis the real government inspector because
a word has been hinted by Tchimihov that the inspector would be
travelling incur nto , which brings panic and awe where by immorality,
corruption embezzlement, innefiency are publicly mocked and satirized the
play, and are exposed magnificently .
GLOSSARY OF RUSSIAN WORDS USED:
The playwright has applied barbarism of the following Russian words
1. Ruoble__A unit of money used in Russia and former union of soviet
socialist Republics
2. Vodka ___A type of sour drink, very common in Russia
3. Kopek___ Having no money, broken, penniless
4. Gorodnitchy___A leader in local area a prefect
5. Skovzinik ___A draught of air
6. Droshky ___ four wheeled, chair, used in Russia .
7. K ulak __Rich town land owner
CHARACTERIZATION IN THE PLAY
The play wright , Nikola vasilevitch Gogol pressure his dramatic work with the
following character

85
 1. THE MAYOR , ANTON ANTONOVITCH SKOVZINIK
DMOHANOVSKY
 Has grown old in the government services
 He taken bribe for many years
 He pretends to be a serious man
 He is neither talkative nor taciturn
 He passes through hard times , during the visit
 He is a corrpt official
 He is hypocrite official
 He is hot tempered and serious the government inspector
 He is alivays dressed in uniforms and with facings
 He wears military uniform

 He is the husband of Anna andreyvena

2. FALSE/ PSEUDO, GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR , IVAN
ALEXANDROVITCH KHLESTAKOV ,JUNIOR CIVIL SERVANT,
BROKEN/ PENILESS FROM MOSCOW
 The main character and leading role
 He is slim and almost skinny
 He is silly and scatter -- brained
 He acts without reflection
 He is in capable of sustained attention to any thing
 His speech is staccato, and words come out of his mouth
uncontrollably
 He is dressed like the real government inspector
 He is a failure as a leading role
 He lies passionately
 A junior official from , saint Petersburg who is starving in
the town country inn dreaded coincidentally as nemesis or
(The government inspector
 He is extravagant
 He is pompous and self __willed
 He is chishonest , triclcy, immoral and corrupt
3.ANNA ANDREYVNA (WWIFE OF MAYOR)
 She is the wife of the city mayor Anton Antonovitch
skovznik dhuhanovsky
 She is her early middle age
 Supervises house hold duties and maid servants
 A serious woman and a vain
 Sometime dominates her husband
 S he changes the clothes four times
4. MARYA ANTONOVNA ( THEIR DAUGHER)
 She is the most beautiful maiden of town

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  She live with her parent in the country
 At the end of the play, she is expected to be married by ivan
alexandrovitch khlestko
5. OSIP/YOSIF (IVAN ALEXANDROVITCH SERVANT/ SLAVE
 Is khlestakovs servant , an elderly servant
 He talks rather low and serious
 He is fond of repeating himself
 He takes an abrupt barsh note
 He is a rascal
 He wears a blue coat

6. PYTOR (PETER) DOBCHINSKY/ BOBCHINS (TOWN LAND LORDS

 There are town land owners or kulaks
 They are middle aged and much alike
 They speak quickly and volubly
 The break the news of the presence of the dreaded government
inspector , pseudo, ivan alexandrovitch khlestakov
7. AMMOS FYODOROVITCH LYAPKIN/ TYPKIN (THE JUDGE OF COURT)
 Is the judge of the district
 He has read five / six book in life
 A great spinner of theories and free thinker
 HE PONDERS WEIGHTY MATTERS
 He speaks in deep voice
 He is found of hunting geese and gosslings
 He is nervous
 He is hypocrite
8. ARTEMY FILIPOVITCH ZEMLANIKA (THE CHARITY COMMISSIONER)
 He is an irresponsible charity commissioner
 He is boastful
 He is corrupt , bribe s khlestakov with 400 rouble
 He is dishonest and agossper
 A fat man ,disproportionate and clomsy
 Anogue and intriguer
 He is bustling and official
9.LUKA LUKITCH KHLOPOV (SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT)
 He supervises schools in the area
 He is corrupt, he givens 400 roubles to khlestakov
 He is hypocrite
10. IVAN KOOSMITCHHH SHYPOKIN (THE POSTMASTER)
 A simple hearted to point of naivette
 He is a dishonest, irresponsible official
 He is corrupt

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11. SVISTUNON PUGOVISTYN, DYERZYMOR (POLICE CONSTABLES)

The watch security in the area

12. STEPAN ILYICH UKHORVOTORV

 Supervises security in the area

 C hief of security services
 Oversees security in the area

13. FEVRONYA PETROVNA POSHLOPICINA (LOCKSMITHS )

14. KHRISTIAN IVAN OVITCH HUEBNER (DO

 Public servant
 The doctor of the area
 He is an irresponsible servant

15. ABDULIN

 A business man , trader

 Corrup one

16. MISHKA

 Aservant

17. IVAN LAZAREVITCH RASTAKOVSKY

 A retired government official

18. STEPAN IVANOOVITCH KOROBKIN

 A retired government official

ACT ONE

A ROOM IN THE MAYORS HOUSE

The mayor brings the news of government inspector who is expected to

travel incognito from st. Petersburg and come to inspect the province he ,
read them a letter he has received from tchmihou warning them to take
precautions about the coming and arrival of the inspector The judge The
charity commissioner and the schools superintendent are all shocked at
hearing this .The mayor asks everyone in the room to make advance
preparations of the place of their work before the arrival of the
government inspector .He tells the charity

88
Commissioner to make thing okay in the hospital . he also tells the judge to make
every thing okay in the court house including like away the geese . he orders the

school super inter to manage the teachers well . especially the or who makes
grimaces .

The postmaster comes and the major asks to unseal or to break open , all the letters
pass by the office , through his pass office , and them to find out if they have
depreciation of major .the post maser tells him that he been doing so dobchinsky
and bob chinsky into the room panting , to inform them that government inspector
,has been there for two and already has inspected , as they saw him inspecting
the inn . they all panic and rush to scene .

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE THE ROOM – AT THE INN

Yosiflosip – khlestakovs servant is in his room sprawling on his bead . he expresses

dissatisfy of his master behaviors of misusing the money to the point of selling his
clothes to cover the exprenses , when khlestakov,comes , he tells yosiflisip go down
stairs and order food for him but he refuses because the landlord has said , he wont
him anything until , he has paid the bill he has spent for two weeks , yosuf goes to
call the waiter who come comes and comfirms the message , after series of
persuasion , the waiter brings him soup , but critiazes that it has not his status and
standards the waiter insists that, that is what the landlord can give him because he
doesn‟t pay the bills .

The major come to see him. The inspector is worried that the landlord has reported
him to the major , but the major is equally worried that may be they have not
treated him well. The major apologizes for whatever has happened and admits that
he takes bribes, because of low salary , the inspector having sensed the situation he
grabs the opportunity and asks for a loan from the major who instead of giving a
bribe of 400 robles to settle the bills. but before they go he asks him to inspect
some of the institutions

SCENE TWO

THE ROOM IN MAYORS HOUSE .

Anna and maryo are at home and dobchinsky comes in a hurry to bring a report of
the visitor who will soon visit their house he bring a note instructs the mayors wife
to prepare a room and wine for the guest as they prepare the place yosify brings
khlestakovs trunk and ask for food because he is hungry , the major and his
delegation continues to take .khestakov through the institution in the town , he
praises the dinner they gave him . they inform him that there were only few

89
patients in the hospital because of most had recovered due to honesty ;clean lines
and good order in the hospital ,

The major wife and daughter come and they are introduced to khestakov , as they
sit down khlestakov chats with Anna and says , how he was mistaken for the
commander in chief . he also tells her that he is a great author and has written plays
and bits of magazine , such as the marriage of Figaro Robert the devil and yuri
miloslauslay which is not true , he boasts of many things and exaggerated the
luxurious life in st . peters burg , he becomes drunk of wine , while he was drinking
and talking he goes to sleep

ACT THREE
SCENE ONE-THE ROOM IN MAYOR‟SHOUSE
The mayor wakes up, confused, because of the present of a distinguished guest in
his house. He asks what land of treatment his master would like and yosif grabs the
opportunity. He tells them his master likes being well treated and to be well
received. He adds,but be always see I‟m well treated they give him a bride, The
mayor orders the charity commissioner, The judge and to the school superintendent
to make sure that things are ok, in their place of work. They all plan the best way to
bribe khlestakov and choose the judge to be their leader in that mission. the judge
goes to meet him. He drops the money down andkhlestakov asks him to lend him
400 roubles because he was all cleaned all the money in card game promising to
refunds when he reaches home. School superintendent gives him money. But tells
him not to think of the money and return it.
Then the charity commissioner comes in and accuses his fellows to
khlestakov.he says the school superintendent is useless because he puts evil ideas in
the mind of the youth and the students he says, the judge, does nothing but,
hunting and sleeping with Dobchinsky‟s wife. He finishes by accusing the postmaster
of delaying the mails khlestakov asks him to lend him 400 roubles. Because he was
all cleaned out all his money in a game card and the charity commissioner gives him
the money Dobchinsky and bobchinsky enter and asks then to give him 1000 roubles
but they both give 65 roublesin total he takes it he wonders why they treat him like
somebody very important in the government his servant yosif, suggests that it is the
right him they leave because before the real man appears but he refuses
Suddenly the shopkeeper come with the petitions accusing the mayor of poor and
bad leadership and forcing them to give their best items from their shops. They give
him corruption to deal with the mayor, but he asks for a loan of 300 roubles instead
but they give him 500 roubles. Two women also come to accuse the mayor

of arresting her husband in advance of false accusation, that he has not stole
anything; but yet, he will steal one day.
Khlestakov, start seducing marya Antonouna and the mother, Anne andreyka, finds
and chases her away. He start seducing the mother as well. Manja Antonouna,
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comes back but now falls in love, with her again. The mayor comes and refutes the
charge against him. Khlestakon asks for her daughter hand in marnage, or el. se he
will kill himself. The mayor, gives them father blessing. Yosif comes to report the
horse is ready to leave, and promising to a meback.

SCENE TWO
THE ROOM IN THE MAYORS HOUSE
The mayor is angry at those who brought complain against him promises to make it
hotter for them. He orders to fetch them all to his house immediately and calls them
ungrateful dogs” meanwhile, he thinks of moving to st. Petersburg where he can
have a higher rank as a general. Marya asks, what will happen when she gets
married? Her mother tells her, not to worry. The merchants arrive and mayor insult
them of the charges against him. The mayor speaks how he helped personally the
merchant to supply rotten clothes and makes a fortune of 100,000 roubles. He
shames abdulin, the merchant who got a contract of making a bridge of 20,000
roubles but he paid 1000 roubles.
Suddenly, the postman comes with the bad news, he tells them khlestakov wrote a
letter to his friend, trypitchkin, telling him, how people of the location mistook him
for inspector- general and how they have been giving him bribes and loans, and how
they are fools as mules.
Finally, they gendarme comes to report that his Excellency, the inspector- general,
appointed by the imperial decree has arrived from st. Petersburg and wants to see
them at the hotel. They are all horrifiend, worried and thunderstruck.
LITERARY DEVICES USED IN THE PLAY
1. SIMILE: (i) I am so hungry, my bell is rumbling like a regiment of drummers
(pg. 15)
(ii) Everything trembled and fell like a leaf
2. METAPHOR: (i) goodbye ! angle of my heart (pg. 64)
(ii) ungrateful dogs (mayor referring merchant)
3. LITOTES: (i) that is not impossible (pg. 49) which means possible
4. HYPERBOLE: (i) I am so hungry, I could eat the whole world (pg. 16)
5. PROVERBS: (i) a great ship must sail in deep waters
6. SYMBOLISM: “sugar” and “wine” symbolize the luxuriant life lived by the
mayor and his wife
7. SYMBOLISM: the word” cabbage” symbolize the rottenness and corruption in
the area

8. SYMBOLISM: the sword, or mayors “ sword” symbolize the mayors authority

and power
9. ALLEGORY: the play is allegoric of the last judgement when jesus or God, will
come unknown
10. DRAMATIC IRONY: mayor speaks to himself after being turned into a fool

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 11. SITUATIONAL IRONY: khestakov is a non- commissioner officer but pretends
to be inspector Dr. huebner is made speak Russian while he doesn‟t
understand
12. PARADOX: when the city mayor, governor engages with corruption
13. PERSONIFICATION: the whole town seems dead
14. PARALLELISM: the presence of parallel words and actions
15. ONOMATOPETA: count and princess jostling each other and buzz like so many
bees

THEMATIC ANALYSIS OF GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR

The playwright nikola vasilevitch gogol has intended to portray the following themes
from his reputable drama, which even today remains evergreen after its publication
almost 200 years ago. He has managed to high light many overriding themes which
happened in the Russian society of 1830‟s but still relevant to the Tanzanian context,
such issues are

1) INNEFICIENCY OF RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT BUREACRACY

The playwright Nikolai Gogol criticizes the innefiency of the central government is
St. Petersburg is running the government efficiently and with responsibility. Because
at that time Russian was the huge, sprawling empire in eastern Europe and the Tsar,
Nicolaus, lost grip control over the government especially in the rural areas, and the
soviet satallites. The government hierarchy and bureavcracy was arranged into
fourteen levels of rank and authority and they wore uniforms, which became difficult
causes, the false government inspector Ivan alexandrovitch khlestakov to pretend
the official government inspector and con and swedle the mass, who were ignorant.
The presence of bureaucracy and red tape, and formality in the Russian government
enable the protagonist to manipulate the environment for his again

2) MORAL CORRUPTION
The playwright has managed to highlight the officials that they are morally corrupt:-

I. The protagonist Ivan Alexandrovtch Khlestakov is morally corrupt because he

impersonates and pretends that he is the real government inspector and uses
the chance to con officials
II. The mayor, Anton Antonovitch Skovoznik Dmuhanovsky is morally corrupt
because he receive bribes for many years and collects it from the shops of
business men .
III. Ammos Fyodorocitch hyapkin is morally corrupt because ke likes hunting,
escapes responsibility and hides gooslings and geese in the courtroom
IV. The protagonist Ivan Alexandrovtch khlestakov is morally corrupt as he uses
the chance in the room to seduce the mayors daughter, marya Antonovna

92
 3) SELF IMAGE< POMPOSITY AND SELF PRESERVATION.
The play right Nikolai Gogol intention was to satirize, critiaze, the bureaucracy and
pomposity of the public officials of the government aas:-
I. The mayor walks around the false government inspector so that he can be
seen working smartly, while he is morally corrupt
II. The protagonist talks of the city life, and a water meloncosting of 700,
roubles as a preservation
III. The charity commissioner orders Dr. huebner to write the names of patients,
medicine, dosage to be seen, he is responsible, while he is not
IV. The mayor, Anton Antonivtch skovoznik Dmubanovsky orders the schools
superintendent luka lukitch khlopov to warn of grimaces of teacher
V. The merchant Abdulin, gives the mayor 300 roubles on St basil day to open
shop,and preservation

4) PLEASURE/LUXURY LIFE
The play right as seen and depicted pleasure to be a source of other problems e.g.
I. The city mayor, Anton Antonovitch skovzrik takes bribes from citizens so that
he can have luxuriant life
II. The protagonist Ivan Alexandrovitch khestakov with his servant chuck all the
money on the way and become penniless also whenever he goes he uses a
cabriolet for transiport
III. He lives in the town inn of pytor Dobchinstory and pytor bobchinstory but he
eats nice food but doesn‟t want to pay the bills
IV. The teacher of history bangs the chairs and of the school because of
the excitement gain from teaching the history subject

5) LOVE AFFAIRS
i) This is an instance of loving some0ne. In the government inspector, by
Nikolai vasilevidh Gogol, the playwright depicts the love affairs bet Ivan
alexandrovitch khlestakov and marya to the axant love flourishes to near
marriage. Has been portrayed as.
„Will you write a verse in my album‟ [page 76] khlestakov respond, I would much
rather offer my love which your beautiful eyes have poured in my hear [page 76]

The protagonist khlestakov, even covert marya mother Anne Andreyvena to

make with her love
6. INSPECTOR/ SUPERVISION/ GOVERNMENT
i. This is the central theme of the play, the play wright, Nikolai Gogol,
uses, the play and tittle , the government inspector , to portray the
immorarity , corruption, irresponsibility and inefficiency of the
government officials, such as the city mayor, the school
superintendent, the judge of the court and the commissioner of

93
 charity. They can work responsibility when they hear that, the
government inspector will be visiting their location
ii. It shows how the government has made a government with a
complicated bureawaracy to intimidate and horrify the citizens, for
example, namesis, the inpector- general of government is dreaded
and worried. He is aawesome.
iii. The protagonist Ivan Alexandrovitch khlestakov uses the chance as a
concidence to exploit the poor majority citizens of the rural town in
Russia, after sensing a weakness and loophole in the government
bureaucracy of the day

7. BETRAYAY
The municipal mayor and other leaders, like the school superintendent the
judge the charity commissioner have betrayed the masses;
I. The mayor takes bribes, oppresses people in the location by having an
affair with their wives
II. The officials don‟t discharge their daily duties as it is done. They are
lazy incompete and poor

8. CORRUPTION, BRIBERY.
It has been depicted in the play to be that corruption is a cancer that
erodes efficiency in the government, this is the burning theme of the play
government inspector, by Nikolai vasilevit Gogol
I. Ammos fyodorovitch confesses to take bribes he confesses to the
mayor, Anton Antonovitch skovoznik Dmuhanovslcy as he says
II. In Act two , the mayor confesses to take bribes but, they were little
failings‟[page 26]

III. The mayor bribes khlestakov, so that he doesn‟t react and send the
report back st. Peters burg he said that.; it is my duty to aid
travellers in any way [page43] he lends khlestokov 200 hunred
roubles as a bribe
IV. The mayorgives khlestakov a coupleof roubles for biscuit [page 61]
V. The judge, Ammos fyodorovitch proses that khlestakov, be given
finds for subscription [page 62]
VI. Klestakov is given 400 roubles and still he is enticed lured by mayor
daughter, marya Antonouna to keep him away as the senoosness to
deal with the mayor as the government inspector
VII. Again, khlestakov, takes 400 roubles as a corruption from artemy
filipovitch zemlanika. As a bribe given as a kindness

94
VIII. He takes 65 roubles from both bobchinsky and dobchinsky as a bribe
because their son was born out of wed lock
IX. The business man abdulin, takes 300 hundred roubles and gives the
mayor on st. basil day
X. On the day of. The journey, khlestakov is given 800 roubles as a
road money by the mayor Antonovitch skovonick Dmuhanousky .
Actually it was another bribery
XI. The mayor shames Abdulin, the business man who obtained a
fortune of 20,000 roubles on the contract of building a bridge uses a
thousands shillings. It is another corruption. He threatens to send
him to Siberia, a detention camp

9. CLASSES IN THE SOCIETY

Any society in the world is arranged into society classes of some
social hierarty. This bee evidenced in the following ways
i. The mayor informs of the citizens of the incognito v isit of the
government inspector, or the inspector general from st. peterburg
ii. The porter of Ammos fydorovitch keeps gees in the anteroom and
goslings. This symbolizers to be the lower class
iii. Avodtya is of the lower class
iv. The convicts haven‟t been fed, [page 31] they occur the lower
class
v. Prohov, symbolizes poor people of the lowest class, he is dead
drunk withtubful of water
vi. People who live in the country are symbolized to be of the low
class
vii. The salmon fish and altlets are for better people
viii. People who hails from st. Petersburg are held. And admiration,
those in the courty

ix. The mayor offers a private room to hlestake because he comes

from the town, thus he need special treatment.
x. When in st. Petersburg, khlestakov, has a watermelon that costs
700 hundred roubles from him buying it

10. CUNFLICTS/ MISUNDERSTANDING

Conflict is simply a misunderstanding between the two people or parties. In
the play, the government inspector, the play write Nikolai gogol has depict
the following conflicts
i. Conflict between the land owners, both yosif/ ospi and
khestakov, sleep eat , but don‟t clear their bills, I‟m going to the
police to complain says the owner

95
 ii. There is a conflict between the mayor and the traders or
business people of the town because the mayor takes people
things from the shop by force
iii. Whenever peter ivanovitch Dobchinsky leaves the house, they
judge immediately sleep with his wife.
iv. There is a conflict between the mayor and the sergent, because
the mayor would do love affairs to the sergent wife

HOUSE BOY
TITTLE: HOUSE BOY.

NOVELIST: FREDINAND LEOPOLD

OYONO.

SETTING: DANGAN, CAMERRON,

1956.

96
PUBLISHERS: HEINEMANN EDUCATIONAL
PUBLISHERS.

ORIGINAL NOVEL UNE VIE DE BOY.

PROTAGONIST TOUNDI JOSEPH

ONDOUA.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Ferdinand was born in Cameroon in 1929. He is the nephew of the author of the
play book tittle. Three suitors one husband Mr. Guillaume oyono mbia. He is a
Cameroon lawyer and diplomat. He was born in ebolowa and received his education
in Cameroon and then went to Paris in France, to study at the faculte droit and
government administration at the ecole‟ Nationale. He was interested in whriting
about the injustice being made by the French through their missionaries, in the year
1956, he wrote a noved called „Une vie de boy‟ which was translated in to English by
John reed, the English translator, with British nationality. After publishing the novel,
he left writing and be gan a career as a diplomat and represented Cameroon and
Liberia as the director of United Nations children fund.
INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL [HOUSE BOY]
The novel was written originally in French as „une vie de Boy‟ and was written in
1956, and in the year 1966, the British author and translator John reed, translated
the novel into English as house boy. Due to its significance to the English readers. It
narrates the work of the youngcameroonian native of dangan, called Toundi ondoua,
working for Europeans until his until may death. Toundi ondua start life in a poor
upbringing in a harsh loveless fmily where there is no peace and love. And this harsh
circumstance and environment causes Toundi ondua to abandon his family and seek
refuge at the resident of a catholic father, called, father gilbert of the catholic
mission as a „house boy‟ of a father gilbert for so long, and accidentaly Father gilbert
abruptly dies in a motor bike accident. During the interism and transitional period,
Toundi ondua works as the house boy of the assistant of father gilbert, one named
father vandermayer, and when the administrator of Dangan comes, the district
commissioner, Toundi ondua automatically becomes the house boy of the district
commandant. Toundi usually travels with the boss, on official occasions and
eventually changes as the „house boy‟ when the commandant and his wife arrive
from paris France. Unlike other work work this one

97
Displays, the day to day effects of colonialism.The life of a young Cameroon, who
needs to advance his life in the world of his masters. The novel directly investigates
the powerful themes such as gaze, and identity of power imbalance .during the
French colonial rule. It depicts how the black Frenchmen interest and the study of
white behaviour can ultimately lead to death and destruction and gives insight into
the colonial relations during the 1960s, in Cameroon and the would be interest of
the African house boy in the awesome world of white masters. House boy in as a
novel, reveals the psychological aspects of colonialism has on the victims of the
African ancestry like the protagonist, Toundi ondua who grows up in a loveless small
village, life in the village is poor, tough, cumbersome, and toundi ondua escapes
home after being punished and caned by the meraless father, who is also loveless.
He then, directly goes to lives with the catholic fatherof dangan mission, father
guilbert Toundi, lives and work as a house boy and is baptized by the name of
joseph.
The boys attitude toward his people and culture is negative andapparently,
he says openly. My ancestors are cannibals‟. After the priest is killed in a motor
accident, Joseph is sent to live with the commandant, there fore, Joseph isable to
see the odd behaviours 0f the whites, the world of his master which is both awkward
and awesome. The story takes a tragic turn, when the European man is robbed by
the lover of sophie whom Toundi ondua knows and have relationship, He is arrested,
beaten, as a conspirator. As with other works of the class, the novel, house boy
deals with the imbalance of the power Africans bad under colonialism. Joseph
[Toundi] now is arrested, and not given the due justice of the law of theattorncy
which would be a course in France He is arrested on the word of the white men who
is robbed, the Agriculture Engineer monsier magnot. Although all through the novel
toundi ondua is warned by baklu, the laundry man not to get too close to the white
men, he doesnt been the call until it is too late.
As a house boy „Joseph is given the birds view of the interaction with the
white men. It is Joseph watching the wife that Joseph comes to change the views of
the white men yet closeness to them, put him Toundi Ondua in danger. He is often
dragged into domestic squabble and he is accusedof spreading gossips of monsier
morew, love affair, with the commandant wife madame Suzy. Though that the love
affair is no secret to any body in dangani; In the village the husband didn‟t know.

SUMMARY OF THE NOVEL HOUSE BOY

The story start in Spanish Guinea, where the writer pays a visit. The writer says; The
last night of my holiday in Spanish Guinea became stealthily down, soon. I would be
leaving this country used by French men of Gabon and Cameroon. Still in holiday,
the French men hears the natives talk of the dying man in Mfoula village a
neighbouring village. The French men decided to go to mfoula, and finds the dying
man who was weak, almost dying and he subsequently speaks; I have never seen a
man die in my life‟ Toundi says quietly; I am a French man from Cameroon‟. A
maka. The dying man says toundi seems to regret keeping in touch with the white

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French man, in the Cameroon. Who certainly lead now to his death. He cries
towards to the French man. Brother what are we, what are we black French man‟
you see brother, I am finished‟. They gut me. I am dying a way from where they
are. My mother ever told me‟. What will your greediness bring to you Toundi‟
Then the French man was given, Toundi which was written in Ewondo, Toundi main
language. Therefore the book novel is written in a form of diary, and it contains two
diaries. First exercise book, and second exercise book Toundi ondua dies on the
same date, and was buried, on the same date, leaving a bag, khaki tooth brush, two
exercise book. Toundi ondua is a man who wants to be a man. One day he fight
with Tinati because of lumps of suganon that offence,

the father gives a severe beating, Toundi ondua runs from home and goes to lives
with father Gilbert who tells Toundi ondua and lures him by giving them lumps of
sugar. Toundi ondua‟s father who uses the meat of porcupine to convince his son to
return home but toundi ondua denies; Then Toundi ondua become the house boy of
the father Gilbert. The boys attitude towards his people and ancestors is seen aver
in the beginning.‟ My ancestors are cannibals
After wards the priest father Gilbert dies in a motor bike accident. Joseph
then lives with father vandermayer in the interim and Joseph is sent to live with
father vandermayer in the interim and Joseph is sent to live finally with the
commandant, and his wife, madame Suzy. Madame Suzy falls in love with the prison
director, monsier moreau, Madame suzy frequently abuse Toundi ondua and the
other domestic staffs. The wife madame Suzy, falls in love with proson director
Monsier moreau. Then toundi ondua learns how to read and write. And he is capable
of keeping a diary. Father Gilbert as a benefactor gives Toundi ondua, food, clothes,
father Gilbert teaches Toundi ondua how to conduct the mass. Toundi ondua really
loves father Gilbert more than Father vandermayer the assistant of father Gilbert,
who uses to address the Africans who commit adultery by punishing them when
Father Gilbert goes and travels to dangan to collect letters from the post office he
gets a motor bike accident and dies. Toundi ondua is very disappointed and cannot
believe the tragic accident. He says, I have died my death first; The next day, Father
Gilbert, is buried in Dangan at the European cemetery and at the funeral mass, is led
by Father vandamayer and who tells the believes who were houling; The Father of
us all, is dead. Pray for him

1. TOUNDI BECOMES HOUSE BOYOF COMMANDANT.

Toundi is baptised as Joseph, then becomes the. House boy of the
commandant in Dangan the commandant appreciate Toundi as a Christian and a
clean lad. Toundi lives in the location with married master; searched by Gullet the
chief of police man in Dangan. The police chief comes with the Africans who are
non- commissioned people. They search the house and leave the next day. Toundi
gets the story from his boss on Saturday. House boy are freed early and during the

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evenings European go to clubs in Dangan. Toundi meets with the agriculture
engineering house girl called Sophie who wants to rob money of the boss during the
evening. When Toundi ondua is in the European club. Owned by monsieur
Janopolous on the next day. When toundi arrives in the house, visits the local chiefs,
his fellow European, at the junior posts and the headmaster at Dangan shool school.
He also attends at the st. peter catholic church services when he visit the village,
with Toundi ondua before they come back there are news that the commandant wife
has arrived.

2. MADDAME SUZY, COMMANDANTS WIFE ARRIVES

She arrives with the commandant who went to younde to collect her, she is so
beautiful that everyone admire her in Dangan especially men, who admire her most
in the location she usually visit the European clubs in Dangan and Toundi ondua is
happy to shake hands with her and happy to escort her, wherever he goes, in the
market everybody screams at seeing her. She advises Toundi ondua to get married.
Even some Africans admit that, and want her for sexual relationship especially
Mekongo, the war veteran who is employed by as Balalu, a laundry man.

3. MADAME SUZY FALLS IN LOVE WITH MONSIER MOREAU

Madame Suzy, the commandant wife seems and appears to be expecting some one;
the next day, the prison director visit her and leaves. He discovers that they made
love, since it was the ffirst day to sleep with the prison- Directo. The next day,
madame suzy , wakes up apparenthy tired because of the weight of the mahogany
trunk. And the next day, She wakes up tired because of weight of the elephant man,
the mahogany trunk,The next day , the commandant, finds Madame tired and wakes
late and madame pretends sick.
4. LOVE AFFAIRS RUMOURS IN DANGAN
Madame suzy, love affairs with the prison director spreads in dangan. Althoug the
commandant is a way and not awere, The prison director sleep with madame suzy,
Toundi ia always sent as a messenger to inform the prison director that, the
commandant is out of town. As time go by, the relations, between madame suzy is
strengthened. But one day, a surprise visit of the doctor wife changes everything.
She tells madame suzy, that Toundi ondua spreads rumours and information about
madame suzy love affair with the prison director. Due to that leak of information,
the relationship between Toundi odua and madame suzy worse. And Toundi ondua
is perplexed when. He discovers the „little bags‟ in madame suzy, room, and the
chambermaid. She thinks that, madame suzy sleep with Toundi ondua and warns
him to quit the job. If he is not involved in commandant to come and discover, that,
there is love affair between his wife and the prison director and becomes funny, with
toundi ondua than his wife.

5. TOUNDI ONDUA IS ARRESTED

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One day, the agriculture Engineer house girl steals the money of monsier magnol
his boss; and monsier magnol is the Agricultural Engineer. The money is stolen from
the safe. She then escape to Spanish Guinea and in Dangan, toundi ondua is
arrested as a victim. The people and mass believes that it is the boyfriend of sophie.
At this juncture, the relationship, between Toundi ondua and the commandant was
worse, so the commandant allows, mr. Gullet, the head of the police man to arrest
toundi ondua.

6. TOUNDI ONDUA IS IN POLICE CUSTODY

While Toundi ondua was in police, custod, his residence is raided and searched.
Then Toundi ondua is punished severaly., and was injured on the left rib, and the
lungs, by Ndjangoulo‟s bullet back. Mendime me petit, takes toundi ondua to
hospital where at night, he escapes to Spanish guinea Where he dies a way from
home.
CHARACTERIZATION IN THE NOVEL.
Is order to get his message direct to the readers, the novelist and author Ferdinand
oyono, has used the following characters to depicts and portray his, message
openly;

1. TOUNDI ONDUA [JOSEPH] THE HOUSE BOY

 He is the main character [protagonist]

 He was forced to leaves his home due to family harshness, poverty and lack
of love.
 Reflect child labour in street in modern time
 He was neither French man nor initiated.
 He was ate the centre of domestic squabbles in the commandants
wife/family.
 Narrates his predicament in terms of a diary
 He is the victim of colonial oppression, exploitation and humiliation
 He is the tragic hero of the novel.
 A very tolerant and patient person
2. FATHER GILBERT
 He is the catholic missionary living in the mission quarters in dangan.
 He is portrayed as hypocrite and exploiter
 He is toundis benefactor
 He preaches gospet, but doesn‟t live it

3. FATHER VANDAMAYER
 He is an assistance of father gilbert
 He takes over church leadership after death of father gilbert
 Represents hypocrite and harsh religious leaders
 He recommends and sends toundi ondua to the comandant

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 4. MR. GULLET. CHIEF OF POLICE MEN
 He is the head of police men in dangan
 He is harsh and brutal to the africans

5. KALISIA
 She is madame suzy, chambermaid
 She arrives at the residence bare foot
 She advises toundi ondua to escape because the commandant was planning
to kill her

6. SENTRY
 He is the gentlemen who lives at the commandant residence
 He is portrayed lazy, and dozing

7. THE COOK
 He is the old cook of the commandant who is thirty year of age
 He is portrayed as competent at his Job. As seen by madame suzy
8. BAKLU
 He is the laundry man of the commandant
 He detect the prison director sleeping with madame suzy

9. MONSIER JANAP0LOUS
 He is the greek richest man in dangan
 He owns the European club in dangn
 He was saved from being eaten by animal in dangan

10. THE AGRICULTURE ENGINEER [MONSIER] MAGNOL

 He is the most hand some person in dangan
 He owns the European clubs in dangan
 He falls in love with sophie the house girl
 She is toundi ondua house girl
 She steals the money of the agriculture engineer money and moves to
Spanish guinea

11. SOPHIE

 She is the agricultural engineers house girl

 She is also, toundi girl friend
 She steals the money of the agriculture engineer and moves with it the
to Spanish guinea

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 12. MENDIME ME PETIT
 He is the assistant of police man who comes from gabon
 He loves toundi ondua and help him
 He is called [meat-water] by natives of dangan
 A cruel man onginatesfrom gabon

13. ANTHONY
 He lives in Spanish guinea
 He is portrayed as kind, but superstitious man

14. TOUNDS FATHER (MAR ONDUA )

 He is the father of Toundi ondua
 He is found of using abusive language and obscenities .
 He traps porcupines for food
 He is very old , selfish and arrogast .

15. MONSIEUR MOREAN

 He is a white man (prison Director)
 He is harsh and promiscuous (Womanizer)
 He dates sleeps with madame suzy , in absence of the commandant .
 He hates Toundi Ondua so much , believing is the one who spreads
gossips and rumours of their love affair .

16. MADAME SUZY

 She is the commandants wife and very beautiful and attractive .
 She has an extra marital affair with the prison director.
 She advises Toundi Ondua to get married .

17. MR MARTIN
 He is the head of all the catechist in Dangan
 He also believes in Africa traditions .

18. MONSIER DIAMOND

 One of the European settle in dangan
 His dougher was buried there .
19. ZAMA
 She is Toundis mother
 She is lovely , kind and passionate .

20. TINATI
 This is Toundis friend.
 He fights with Toundi Ondua in Fia , over lumps of sugar

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 21. NOJANGOULO .
 Assistant to Mr Gullet
 He beats Toundi ondua so much .
22. MONSIER AND MADAME SALVAIN
 They were teacher of Dngan primary school
 They have narrow out look on the Africans who are not circumcised

23. AKOMA
 He is the king and chief of the sos
 He like wearing rings
 He brought france , alliances , as medals
 He is portrayed as pompous man

24. MONSIEUR FERDINAND

 Neighbour of the commandant

25. MEKONGO
 The war , who fighting in the world war II

THEMATIC ANALYISIS OF HOUSEBOY

1. MENTAL COLONIZATION
i. The Africans are mentally colonized by the white man through the in
production of christicrity in dangan through father gilbert and through
father vander mayer
ii. The Africans poll of their hats to show obedience through , and before
the commandant
iii. Even when they are oppressed, they show obedience to the white men
eg. Even when Toundi ondua is beaten by father gilbert.
iv. Menguemes family, looses a brother in war as the service to the
madame suzy for the good extra service , to the kitchen by keeping
cleanliness .

2. EXPLOITATION .
i. The colonialist exploit the Africans
ii. Father gilbert kicks Toundi ondua as if he is a pet animal
iii. He gives him, old clothes no salary
iv. Even women at sixa, are exploited by the agriculture Engineer , the
bag , of luggage of nothing to them „‟
v. Toundi ondua carries the bag , of luggage of the white master to the
different locations.
3. BRUTALITY :
i. When gullet , the head of the police men visits Toundis location , he
searches Toundi ondua alone

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 ii. Toundi ondua is beaten to death , when is stolen from the agriculture
Engineer by Sophia
4. WHITEMEN INFERIORITY :
i. There are suggestion that, that the white men culture is inferior.
ii. Father under mayer out trips the adulterous believers for sexual
offences in the church
iii. The catechist obebe , has gonorrhoea , despite being the white men
priest of Catholicism .
5. CATHOLICISM EVANGELIZATION
i. Catholicism is portrayed as the French national religion.
ii. Father vandermayer stresses for catholics converts in dangan to pray for
father gilbert
iii. Even when Africans mourn father gilbert they are described as howling

iv. The church during the service sits in discriminatory rows , for both whites
and blacks .
6. OPPRESSION
Refer to the unfair treatment of the person.
i. Colonial oppression has been portrayed when, father gilbert given old
clothes to Toundi ondua
ii. Father vandermayer , maltreats Africans for accusing them false
mistakes especially Toundi ondua
iii. The commandant treats Toundi ondua harshly especially in the first
days
iv. Mr gullet , the head of policemen in dangan beats Toundi ondua to the
extent he loses consciousness .
v. Mr Janopolous , also counts Africans as dogs

7. VICTIMIZATION .
This is the deliberate subjecting of an innocent person to lies and false
accusation.
i. It is shown how Toundi ondua was arrested they talk to each other
,Brother , what are we to them „‟?
ii. Even madame suzy . victimize Toundi ondua for spreading rumours about
the love affair
iii. Madame suzy victimize Toundi ondua for revealing sexual relationship
between her and the prison director , monster more to the commandant .
8. FRICAN TRADITIONS.
There are social beliefs norms , culture indicate to portray African ness ,
identity and authentically
i. Hospitality is given to Frenchmen „‟ from both Cameroons and guinea.
ii. Traditional food and cassava , fish , are served to the French men and also
Toundi father traps porcupines .

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iii. Akoma is portrayed as a chief among chief
iv. Also , the issue of initiation , is seen as a period of passing from childhood
to adulthood
v. Parental care, when Toundi ondua , father beats Toundi ondua severely ,
for fighting with tinati over lumps of sugar in tia.
vi. Toundi ondua describes ancestry my father a najem and mother a maka .

9. MODERNITY AND CIVILIZATION /WESTERNIZATION

There are modern ways of life , introduced by the Europeans and Americans
introduce in dangan new ways of life like :
i. Presence of the European club in dangan
ii. Introduction of the colonial bureaucracy and administrative
systems such as the commandant , the police chief , gullet , the
agriculture engineer ,monsier , such as the st . peter catholic
church in dangan

10. IMMORALITY AND CORRUPTION

Is an instance of moral pollution in the society;-
i. Two people are caught in the connection with theft and robbery at the
residence of monsier Jonopolous .
ii. Unfaithfulness is revealed through the novel when the prison director
falls in love with the commandants wife.

iii. Prostitution has been portrayed through kalisia , the chambermaid , a

character from the coast
iv. Toundi ondua escapes during circumcision which shows immortality in
the society

11. CONFLICTS .
Is a misunderstanding, between two parties?
i. Toundi ondua fights with tinati , a neighbour over possession of
lumps of sugar .
ii. Toundi ondua is in conflict with father ondua over toundis
disobedience behaviour his father and Toundi ondua ashames father
when the fights with tinati over lumps of sugar
iii. Madame suzy is in conflict with the husband because madame suzy
was having an extramarital affair with the prison director monster
more.
iv. Also Sophia the house girl is in conflict with the boss, the agricultural
engineer, because he was having dual friendship at the same time
with toundi ondua , which angered the agricultural engineer , monster
, magnol.

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 v. The natives are in conflict with the whites because, the whites
oppress the Africans.
12. BETRAYAL :
Is an instance of going against the previous agreement agreed unanimously:-
i. Toundi ondua deserts the family and goes to live with father gilbert at
the catholic mission of dangan
ii. Toundi betrays his traditions of initiation by aiding it and runs away on
the day circumcision and initiation ceremony into adulthood.
iii. Parents of toundi ondua , and tinati betray the community of quarrels
caused by toundi ondua
iv. Madame suzy , betrays the husband by having an extra – marital affair
with monsier more
v. Sophie the girlfriend of the agricultural engineer betrays her boyfriend
and had love with toundi ondua .

13. RACISM
Is an act of treating people interest on the basis of their race? in the novel ,
there are following occurrence of racism .
i. Europeans have their own European club. Which is owned by the
Europeans , called monsieur s Janopolous .
ii. In the church , there is a separate row for the Europeans and white
versus a row for blacks .
iii. All the servitor and paying posts are all led by the whites , compassed
to the low paying jobs held by the Africans.
iv. Africans when meeting Europeans pull of their hats to show obedience

14. CLASSES ;-
There novelist shows classes in the society such as ;-
i. There is a class of superior people of the Europeans origin led by the
commandant, monster more and the class of poor Africa who assume
the low class.
ii. Back says “ours is a world of magic my and there is a world of brings
the world to daylight „‟
iii. Madame suzy tells toundi ondua . that everybody got a place in life I
am the boss you are a houseboy „‟ this is madame suzy utterance to
Toundi ondua

FORM / LITERARY DEVICE USED IN THE MOVE

In order to present the message effectively and successfully to the audience , the
novelist Ferdinand oyona has applied the following literary devices throughout the
novel ;-
1. SYMBOLIC TITLE :The title of the novel house boy „‟ refers to tuondi ondua
who becomes a houseboy at the mission of dangan after serving three bosses

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 i. Father gilbert of the catholic miss of dangan where he works as a
houseboy
ii. Father vandermayer , the successor of father guilbert , assistance of
gilbert
iii. The commandants of the district , of dangan,the little houseboy ,
denotes humiliation, suffering , exploitation ,degradations , and
maltreatment of Toundi ondua .

2. SETTING :the novel is set in dangan , Cameroon , during the epoch of

colonialism in the Cameroon whereby there is great inequality between whites
versus the back intrest as portrayed by the protagonist Toundi ondua who
become a sample of colonial Exploitation , oppression and torture , through
the 1950‟s in the Cameroon.
3. PLOT : the novel is arranged chronologically .with a direct narration in terms
of a diary , narrate by the author in terms of a diary written in euondo , the
main language of Cameroon , and the novel has got a straight forward
narration except in the beginning where there is a flash back where by
Toundi ondua dies in Spanish guinea .
4. FIGURWS OF SPEECH USED ; The novelist has achiever to use the
following figures of speech to crown and decorate his work artistically ;-
i. SWEARING :-if you dodge me , you are capable of taking your grand
mother
To be (pg3)
ii. OBSCENITY :your way back through the house will pass through the
arws (pg 11)
iii. PERSONIFICATION :the aroma of the porcupine made my mouth
water (pg 12)
iv. PERSONIFICATION:the speed of the motorbike intoxicate me (pg
13)
v. SIMILE :my skin on my knee is as hard as that of a crocodile .
vi. HYPERBOLE :I have died my first death „‟ pg 13
vii. SAYING : the dog of the king , is the king to a other dogs .
viii. RERSONIFICATION .my eyes shone with pleasure and pride .
ix. SIMILE : A great chief like commandant uncircumcised(pg 28)
x. PERSONIFICATION :my eyes , met hers over the show (pg 49 )
xi. PERSONIFICATION :see the way . those buttocks go „‟
xii. SIMILE: life is like a chame lone changing colour all the times.
xiii. SIMILE :sophie my arse is just as delicate as arses of white ladies
(pg 38)
xiv. HYPERBOLE : a sea of human being , filled the central square in the
village .
xv. SAYING : the dog can die of longer ,beside his master , meat
xvi. SAYING :the river doesn‟t go back to its spring (pg 56)

108
 xvii. IDIOM :Mekong says ,I could break the sixth commandment
(meaning . he could common adultery .
xviii. METAPHOR :my year is a tomb. (pg 62)
xix. SAYING : our once story said; A women is a cob of maize for any
mouth that has teeth to devour .
xx. PERSONIFICATION : do corpses feel shame ?(pg 81)
xxi. HYPERBOLE : they are everywhere , except where you want them
(pg 85)
xxii. SIMILE : he was like a gorilla, approaching a tree
xxiii. PERSONIFICATION : There are times , when anger of white men
leaves you completely blank (pg 86)
xxiv. SAYING: out side a hole , the mouse , doesn‟t defy a cat .

xxv. SAYING : these whites are crazy for putting

xxvi. SAYING : they are unciramcise , yet they find something to put
around it (condom)
xxvii. RIDICULE : she is a town girl (alienated )
xxviii. HYPERBOLE : all the whites are crazy about her behind (pg 90)
xxix. SIMILE : a white women with eyes like bers , wont do , without a
man (pg 96)
xxx. BARBARISM : the commandant says: to them I was like a ngovina
ya ngal ,zut bisalak , a be metua , meaning every where I go ,I was
like a commandant whose wife opens her legs in ditches and trenches .
xxxi. SAYING :our ancestors said you must escape when water is still in
the knee(pg 100)
xxxii. PERSONIFICATION :all my blood had trembled .
xxxiii. SYMBOLISM :they are men because , they happen possess the balls .
xxxiv. PERSONIFICATION :my knees were almost bleeding
xxxv. HYPERBOLE :his back was covered by blood
xxxvi. SIMILE : My head burSt like a bomb (pg 120 )

POETRY
Poetry, is an art, which is represent in a condensed, concentrate, formulated versed
stannic form using language creatively and imaginatively addressing social, economic
and political realities as presented by the poet involving deeper emotion
DIFFERENT BETWEEN POETRYAND OTHER GENRES OF LITERATURE
Poetry as a literary genre is always different from other genres of literature like
navels and drama in the following parameters:-
1. Imaginative in nature: poetry is always imaginative in nature ,the poets
quite right think and imagine of some issues in the society and compose an
imaginative poem about it, e.g. The poem,
“If we must die” by Claude McKay
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2. Arouses emotions and feelings: when the poets singers, performers, using
and perform they always exhibit emotions and audience mass, and the
general
3. Rhythmical in nature: poetry always contains both the stressed and the
unstressed syllable or rise and fall in melody.
4. Full of figure of speech: poetry contains a lot of figure of speech like smiles,
metaphor, hyperboles, proverb, Barbarism etc.
5. Brevity: poetry is characterized by shortness and density and volume.
6. Complex language: poetry uses and applies very difficult, words, and
complex language very difficult to be convinced by the analyst and the
audience.
7. Language economy: poetry uses very few words to express, complex, and
big profound ideas expressed in the society.
8. Recitation: poetry is meant to be recited, sung one line after the other
loudly.

TWO MAJOR TYPES OF POEMS

In the world of poetry, there are two only major types of poems; these are

1. CLOSED POEMS/ (SONNET): these are types of poems which strictly adhere
to the pen tame iambic composition of a poem. Characterized by rhyme and
rhyme eg. If we must die=Claude McKay. Let me not, to the marriage of
minds. = William shakes pear.
Sonnet = William shakes pear

Nozizwe = mazisi Kunene.

Sunrise = jwani mwaikusa.
2. OPEN FORM/FREE VERSE: these are sometimes called open forms verse
poems which vary in form and length and composition. These are many and
numerous

MINOR FORMS OF POEMS

Basically, there are following kinds of poems:-

1. NARRATIVE POEMS: these are the poems which either tell or narrate a story,
or an event, or a story. example of narrative poems are; songs of lawino and
Okot p‟ bitek
2. DIDACTIVE POEMS: these are types of poems which give instruction to the
reader. Eg the sheen queen
3. LYRIC POEMS: these are poems which express deeper emotion and feelings
eg. I love you my gentle one- ralph Bitamazzire

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4. EPIC POEMS: these are poems which address the heroic deeds, done by
either heroes or heroines in the context. E.g. your pain= Armando Emilio
guebuza
5. SONNET: these are types of poems which contain fourteen verses in all.
They strictly adhere to the pentameter iambic composition of poems
6. BALLAD POEMS: these are the poem which tells of a story of two related
people, always in a tussle or disagreement eg. The ballad of land lord by
Langston Hughes
7. REFLECTIVE: is a thoughtful poem in which the debates on issues and come
to a thoughtful conclusion eg. “lost beauty” by jwani mwaikusa
8. ELEGY POEMS: is a lyric poem that express sadness, especially for someone
who has died
“The funeral of martin Luther” by nikka lovan

COMMON TERMS USED IN ANALYSIS OF POEM

1. Poem: any metrical composition involving a poet metrical composition of
some length, rhythmic using language expressing human realities
2. Poet: a person who writes, sings, or composes a poem. E.g. Okot p‟ Bitek,
song of lawino
3. Persona :a person who speak in a poem

4. Tone: is the general feeling of either a person or a poet. Tone can either be
happiness or sadness, militant or neutral
5. Diction: this is the deliberate choice of word and vocabularies, to be used in
a certain work of literature
6. Rhythm : this usually refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed
syllables in a poem.it is the rise and fall in the melody of a poem
7. Rhyme: is the placement of similar letters at the end of the words of poem
e.g.

“wool”
“cool”
“mool”
“Week”
“Meek”
“Peek”
8. Verse: single line in poem
9. Stanza: a combination of group of line/ verses in a poem more than one line
make a stanza
10. Alliteration: is repetition of the same consonant at the beginning of the
words e.g. girls, Google, gees.

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11. Assonance: is the repetition of similar vowels sound in a verse or line e.g.
early, eel, and eagle.
12. Refrain : this is repetition of either words or sentence at a regular interval, of
either a stanza
13. Poetic licence: is the permission and freedom enjoyed by the poet to break
the gramatic rules to effectively present his or her message
14. Vocabulary obscure : is a characteristics very common to all poems, most of
them have hidden difficult language not easily understood by the poet or
audience
15. Rhetorical questions: these are question which don‟t need answer back post
by the speaker addressed to the audience e.g. who cares? Who knows?
16. Archaism: the of outdated, obsolete, language in a poem, e.g.
thee,thou,shalt and brethren
17. Barbarism: use of word in a poem, that doesn‟t use formal English words.
E.g. the word “rubindi” and “mwananchi”

18. Attitude : refers to the persona, personal feelings, towards the subject
matter, that is revealed by tone
19. Mood: these are emotions; certain emotions are used and created by
atmosphere in the poem.

IMPORTANT ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE

CRITICISM/ APPRECIATION OF POEM
When an audience wants to analyze a poem, the following are important
things to consider:-
1. THEME: this is the central idea advocated or addressed in the poem; themes
in the poem can be tradition, conflict, love, betrayal, protest etc.
2. STRUCTURE/ FORM OF POEM: this can be looked at how the poem is
arranged in verse, stanzas
3. TONE: this is general feelings of a persona, it happiness, sadness, militancy
4. FIGURE OF SPEECH/ LITERARY DEVICES: this look at how the poet, been
able to use the language in a special way. E.g. similes, metaphors,
hyperboles, symbolism, archaism, and barbarism.
5. LANGUAGE USE: what kind of language does the poet apply? Is it, simple,
medium or complex? Does it connotate or collocate? Is it a register
6. MOOD: is the state of mind, attitude of the poet, and the desirability of what
is being said. A mood can be happiness, sadness, anger, irony, sarcastic, and
seriousness
7. LESSON/MESSAGE: what are important things we learn in a poem
8. RELEVANCE: is the poem relevant to the society and discussion, does it
match with the reality in the society

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 SELECTED POEMS FROM (TIE) AND FROM GROWING UP
WITH POETRY. (DAVID RUBADIRI)

1. AN AFRICAN THUNDERSTORM (TIE) GROWING UP (David Rubadiri)

From the west
Clouds come hurrying with the wind
Turning
Sharply

Like a plague of locust

Whirling
Tossing up things on its tail
Like madman chasing nothing
Pregnant clouds
Ride stately on its back
Gathering to perch on hills
Like dark sinister wings
The wind whistles by
And trees bend to let it pass
In the village
Screams of delighted children
Toss and turn
In the din of whirling wind
Women-
Babies clinging on their backs
Dart about
In and out
Madly
The wind whirls
Whilst the tresses bend to let it pass
Clothes wave like flags
Flying off
To expose the dangling breast
As jiggered blinding flashes
Rumble, tremble, and crack
Amidst the smell of fired smoke
And the pelting march of the storm
Question
1. What is the poem about?
The poem is about, two separate situations according to either
surface, or deeper meaning in a surface meaning, the poem is about

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 a village in a certain African location, expressing a sudden storm as
the poem says “from the west”

“Clouds come hurrying with the wind”

“Tossing things on its tail”
In a deeper meaning, critical analysis, the poem narrates about the
tragedy of the African countries or societies being conquered by
colonialism and imperialism.
2. What are the four possible themes of the poem?
The four possible themes of the poem could be:-
i. Poor weather/ African turbulent storm: it is believes in the
poem, that the people in the village undergo a sudden change
of weather where they are no longer at peace. As the poem
says:-
“From the west”
“Clouds come hurrying with the wind”
“Tossing things on its tail”
ii. Colonialism/ imperialism: this is one of the major things that
have been portrayed in the poem that the African people were
culturally, economically, socially subjected by the coming of
colonialism.
iii. Ignorance: this is the one of the major theme, that even
Africans were subjected by the colonialist they continued to
enjoy and praise their conquerors.
iv. Instability: in the poem, the villagers include men and women
and children, are not stable, because the women, the wind has
disrupted the nature of lifestyle.
3. How many verses, and stanzas, does it contain?
The poem contains three stanzas and 35, verses,
4. What is the tone of the poem?
The tone of the poem is sympathetic because:-
i. The villagers are expressing a sudden storm
ii. The thunderstorm (colonialism) has caused awe panic, instability
among the villagers.
iii. The parents are afraid and worried about the where about of their
relatives, children and women
5. What lesson or message, do you learn from this poem?
The message I learn from this poem is that, when people are under
poor situations they experience instability.

6. Show any poetic devices used in the poem?

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 i. Symbolism: the word thunderstorm symbolizes instability
because of coming of colonialism to Africa
ii. Personification: clouds come hurrying with the wind.
iii. Simile: like a plague of locust.
iv. Like madman chasing nothing. (simile)
v. Symbolism: women (symbolize coward Africans.
vi. Children-symbolize the ignorance of the Africans upon conquest
vii. Paradox-the poet has applied paradox in poem „like mad man
chasing nothing‟
viii. Symbolism-the word „rain‟ symbolize pleasure as well as
destruction.
ix. Personification-pregnant clouds Europeans with bad intentions.
x. Onomatopoeia-the word rumble,crach,tremble,Signify the
repetition of sounds
7. What is the mood of the poem? The mood of the poem is in sympathetic
mood because:-
i. There is an invansion and occupation of the African continent
by the coming of colonialism .
8. What is the relevant of the poem to your society the poem is relevant to
my society because ,
I. There is always poor weather in the village and the
people are settled.
II. There is an invasion of the African village or the
community by the coming of the white men to the
African continent who caused the political unrest and
instability to the African countries.
2. DEATH BE NOT PROUD (GROWING UP WITH
John Donne (England)
Death, be not proud, though some have called the mighty and dreadful, for thou art
not so;
For those whom thou think‟s thou dost overthrow, Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst
thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy picture be, much pleasure: - then from there
much more must flow and soonest our best men with thee do go, rest their bones
and soul‟s delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance kings and desperate mean and dost which poison,
war, and sickness dwell.
And poppy or charms, can make us sleep as well and better than thy stroke, why
swell‟ thou then one short sleep past, we wake eternally, and death shall be no more
death, thou shalt die.

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QUESTIONS
1. What is the poem about?
The poem is about DEATH, which occurs to people unlenowingly
2. What are three possible themes of the poem?
The three possible themes of the poem are
i. Death : this is the central theme of the poem as the poem says;
Death be not proud though some have called thee‟‟
ii. mystery :when people die they go to the unknown world
iii. Pleasure: there is pleasure in death because , when people die they
expect pleasure in
death
3. How many verse and stanzas are in the poem?
There are FOURTEEN verses in all, and ONE stanza.
4. What types of a poem is this?
It is a traditional poem, a SONNET because it adheres and follows the
pentameter iambic composing of the poem.
5. What are poetic devices shows in the poem?
i. Archaic words : the poet has applied archaic words like ,
Thee, thou-you
Canst –can
ii. Rhyme pattern:- thee ,me
So , throw.
iii. Poetic licence :-think‟st
Swell‟st
iv. Personification :- Rest their bones and souls delivery
v. Simile: - And poppy or charms, can make us sleep well.
6. The tone of the poet / persona is neutral.

7. Is the poem relevant to your society

The poem relevant to our society, because people in the world die on a
daily basis , there is no one to fear death because it happens to all
people.
3. I LOVE YOU MY GENTLE ONE (TIE)
(Ralph Bitamazzire)
I love you my gentle one:
My love is the fresh milk in the rubindi .
Which you drank on wedding day.
My love is the butter we were smeared with.
To seal fidelity in to our hearts.
You are the cattle – birds eggs
For those who saw you are wealthy.
You are the papyrus reed of the lake.

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 Which they pull with both hands
And I sing for you withtears
Because you possess my heart.
Love you my gentle one.

QUESTIONS
a. What is the poem about
The poem is about love, someone expressing his feelings of love to
his wife. This can be justified when we read the stanza one, two
and.
„„I love you my gentle one ‟‟
„„our love is the fresh milk in the rubindi ‟‟
So, with these two verses we see love has been compared to milk in
the rubindi which is delicate, nutritional and vitamin.
b. Who is the persona in the poem?
The persona in the poem is a man, because he is praising his coved
one from the beginning of the poem .
c. What is the tone of the poem?
The tone of the poem is romantic as the man express deeper
feelings to his life.
d. How many stanzas are in the poem?
There are two stanzas in a poem.
e. Comment on the language use in this poem?
The language used in the poem is simple clear, and easy to understand,
however the poet has uses traditional word as rubindi .
f. Mention the figures of speech used in the poem?
i. Metaphor:-my love is fresh milk in the rubindi
ii. Barbarism :- my love is fresh milk in the rubindi
iii. Paradox:- I sing with you with tears.
g. What are four possible themes?
The four possible themes are:
i. Love
ii. Fidelity
iii. Traditional marriage
4.BUILDING THE NATION (GROWING UP /TIE
Henry Muwanga Barlow
Today I did my share
In building the nation
I drove the permanent secretary
To an important urgent function

The menu reflected its importance.

Cold bell beer with small talk

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Then fried chicken with niceties.
Wine to fill the hollowness of laughs.
I ce – cream to cover the stenotype jokes.
Coffee to keep the PS awake on return journey.

I drove the permanent secretary back

He yawned many times in the back of the car
The to keep awake, he suddenly asked
Did you have which friend?
I replied looking straight ahead.
And the secretary smiling at his belated concern.
That I had not, but was slimming.
Upon which he said seriousness.
That amused me, more that annoyed me.

Mwananchi , I too bad none!

I attended matter of state.
Highly delicate s diplomatic duties you know
And friend it goes against my gram?
Causes me stomach ulcers and wind:

Ah. He continued, yawning again.

The pains we suffer in building the nation.
So the PS had ulcers too!
My ulcers I think are equally painful.
Only they are caused by hunger.
Not sumptuous lunches

So this evening two nation builders

Arrived home this evening
With terrible stomachs pains.
The result of building the nation.
Different ways.

1. What is the poem about?

The poem is a satire , about the wrong concept of nation building , this
has been port rayed trough the two national builders , the driver who is
present the common people , and the permanent secretary who
symbolically represents the government leader from the poem we real
.how the driver , faithfully builds the nation by doing his job , responsibly
while the permanent secretary exploits the national
2. Who is the persona in the poem?

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 The persona in the poem is the driver of the permanent secretary,
because he narrates, how the day work has been as they struggle to
build the nation
3. What type of a poem is this?
The poem is a narrative form because the persona is narrating his
experience at work , with his boss (the permanent secretary ) he is
narrating what besides, the poem is a moders, open free verse , because
the length of the verse in each stanza vary consider lably ,
4. Consider the structure of the poem?
The poem has six stanza (6)
Stanza 1 has (five) verses,
Stanza 2 has (six) verses
Stanza 3 has (seven) verses,
Stanza 4 has (nine) verses
Stanza 5 has (four) verses,
Stanza 6 has (five) verses
5. Comment on the language used?
The language used is simple, clear, and easy to understand however the
poet has used symbolic language and abstract figures of speech which
might be not easy for the reader to understand.
6. Discuss the figures of speech used in the poem?
I. .Irony /sativa .the title of the poem used in the entire poem is ironic
, it is indented to satirize the government leaders who misuse
hypocritically the public funds for their personal gains
II. .hyper bole:- this refers to the exaggeration of the truth to show
the importance of the something .for example
III. Alliteration : this is the figure of speech which shows the repetition
of the initials of the consonant sounds in succession in the line of
the poem, it is used to create musical effects
„„Tightly diplomatic duties your you know‟‟
IV. Rhetorical question: this is the types of question which doesn‟t
require the answer, it is obvious , the one who asks , in stanza 3
V. Acronyms: these are short initials of the capitals .
PS is permanent secretary
VI. Symbols: drivers represent low class workers or employees
PS – represent –higher government leader
7. What is the mood of the poem?
The mood of the poem is anger discouraging.
8. What is the tone of the poet?
The tone of the poet /poem is belter, on the part of driver or ironical
because the PS is not building the nation.
9. Is the poem relevant to your society?

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 Yes, the poem is relevant to the society especially the third world
countries including Tanzania
10. What are possible themes of the poem?
ii. Irresponsibility: the permanent secretary is an irresponsible
leader, instead of being in the office and planning and
supervising, he attends lunch with friend during lunch hours .
this occur at the Victoria
iii. Embezzlement /misuse of public founds? The Ps is said to be
be extravagant ,.the matters such as buying expensive drinks
for himself and friends .
iv. Hypocrisy : permanent secretary is a hypocrite , he claims to
have eater nothing , while he has taken heavy lunch
v. Other themes : selfish ness , classes , conflict , and protest .
5.A FREEDOM SONG /TIE / GROWING UP
( Oludhe macgoye)
Atieno washes the dishes
Atieno plucks the chicken
Atieno getes up early
Beds sacks in the kitchen
Atieno eight years old .
Atieno yo!

Since she is my sister child

Atieno needs no pay .
While she works my wife can sit
Sewing every sunny day
With her earning I support
Atieno yo!
Atieno scaly and jealousy
Bad example to the kids
Since she minds them like a school child
Wants their dresses shoes and beads
Atieno ten years old
Atieno yo!

No my wife has gone to study

Atieno is less free
Don‟t keep her school my own ones .
Pay the party union fee.

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 All for progress, aren‟t you grateful
Atieno yo !

Visitors need more attention.

All more when I work night .
That girl spends too long at the markert
Who will teach her what is right.
Atieno rising fourteen
Atieno yo !

Atieno had a baby

So we know that she is not barren
Fifty –fifty it may live
To repeat the life she had.
Ending the past – par turn bleeding
Atieno yo!

Atieno soon placed

Meat and sugar more than all
She ate in such narrow life
Were lavished on her funeral
Atieno gone glory
Atieno yo !

QUSTIONS
I. What is the poem about?
The poem is about the maltreatment of a young child girl called by her
blood uncle
II. Who is the persona in this poem?
The persona is Atieno‟s uncle, this can be proved when we read stanza
two .

III. How many stanzas are in the poem?

There are seven stanzas in the poem.
IV. What is the tone of the poems?
The tone of the poem is sympathetic, to the girl. Because, uncles behavior
of torturing the little girl, makes us feel angry
V. What type of a poems this?
It is a modern free verse narrative poem, because the poetesses telling us
a story of young girl Atieno , who was living with the uncle , and late she
got pregnancy
VI. Why do you think the poem is called a three song.

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 The poem is called a Freedom song. Because it meant to free children
have to be free from humiliation, exploitation, they should be free to get
education.
VII. Mention the figures of speech which has be found or used in the poem.
a) Euphemism : Atieno is gone to glory
b) Refrain: Atieno yo!
c) Simile: since she minds them like schools child.
VIII. What are possible themes found in the poem?
i. Child labour
ii. Humiliation.
iii. Exploitation.
iv. Segregation.
v. Hypocrisy.
vi. Early pregnancy.

GROWING UP WITH POETRY

GROWING UP WITH POETRY (D. RUBADIRI)

1. BUILDING THE NATION

By Christopher H. M. Barlow (Uganda)

Today I did my share

In building the nation.
I drove the permanent secretary
To an important urgent function
In fact to a luncheon at the Vic.

The menu reflected its importance

Cold Bell beer with small talk,
Then fried chicken with niceties
Wine to fill the hollowness of the laughs
Ice-ream to cover the stereotype jokes
Coffee to keep the PS awake on return journey.

I drove the permanent secretary back.

He yawned many times in the back of the car
Then to keep awake, he suddenly asked,
Did you have any lunch friend?
I replied looking straight ahead
And secretly smiling at his belated concern
That I had not, but was sliming!

Upon which he said with a seriousness

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 That amused more than annoyed me,
Mwananchi, I too had none!
I attended to matters of state.
Highly delicate diplomatic duties you know,
And friend, it goes against my grain,
Causes me stomach ulcers and wind.
Ah, he continued, yawning again,
The pains we suffer in building the nation!
So the PS had ulcers too!
My ulcers I think are equally painful
Only they are caused by hunger,
No sumptuous lunches!

So two nation builders

Arrived home this evening
With terrible stomach pains
The result of building the nation –
- Different ways.

INTRODUCTION.

Building the nation is a poem by a Ugandan poet Christopher Henry Muwanga

Barlow that principally explores the lifestyle of African bourgeoisie who came to
power after colonialism and ideally, simply replaced the coloniser. There is a need
for African leaders to create hope for those they lead but they are caught up in the
same evil lifestyle of their colonial predecessors. The aspects of nation building
which were supposed to dominate public and political policies have been thrust to
the periphery of human thought.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS.

DISILLUSIONMENT
The kind of disillusionment portrayed in the poem is that which Africans have
towards their leaders who have adopted the very tenets of the colonisers from
whom they got power. Essentially, the idea of nation building turns out to be a very
complicated phenomenon where those who are central to the process have their
efforts wasted by leaders who can implement policies.
The persona shows more disillusionment by stating that at the meeting “the menu
reflected its importance/ Cold Bell beer with small talks/ Then fried chicken with
niceties/ wine…/ ice cream …/coffee… (lines 6-11). This reflects the triviality of a
meeting where serious issues were supposed to be discussed.

LIES AND HYPOCRISY.

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This has been a vital tool for most politicians when they want to win more votes
from their ignorant masses. They make heaps of lies on the optimistic crowds but
eventually everything turns out only a nightmare. The PS lies to the driver that he
did not have any meal just as did the driver yet you and I know that he had a very
heavy and sumptuous lunch. He even shows his hypocrisy more clearly when he
asks this question. “then to keep awake he suddenly asked/Did you have any lunch
friend?”. It is rather sad to note that he does not ask whether the driver has eaten
anything because he is concerned about his welfare, but it is simply to keep himself
awake through the journey.

CLASSES.
In a broader way the poem thoroughly depicts two classes in one society. There is
middle class and lower class. Both of them are supposed to mutually benefit from
the national resources. Yet the middle class that is represented by the PS exploits
the lower class that more often than not comprises those who are involved in the
modes of production. For example the driver drives the PS to the place where there
is feasting (eating) while the driver does not take part in the feasting. The role of
both classes is building the nation, but the middle class has just become the
parasites who feed on the national resources at the expense of the masses. They
are not building the nation at all but building their stomachs.

MARGINALIZATION AND EXPLOITATION

Furthermore in the poem, the two parties represent the two strands of nation
builders that are in most African states. On one side there are those represented by
the driver (the local masses) while on the other hand we have high class being
represented by the PS. The later is very busy misquandering the public funds which
can be used to rebuild the nations. The masses are the hardworking people whose
benevolence is easily taken for granted by those in power. There are those who eat
extravagantly and those who work on empty stomachs. The persona himself comes
from the marginalized class. His disillusionment is caused by lifestyles of African
leaders and informs his fellow countrymen what is actually happening.

AWARENESS
The poem paints a picture of awareness that those who are oppressed are now
aware that those in power are exploiting them. This is an important step as long as
the liberation of the oppressed is concerned. It is also a significant step if the nation
is to realise sustainable development where the national resources will be mutually
utilized for the benefit of not only the ruling class but the masses as well.
If we examine the end of the poem it seems to induce a kind of anger that should
lead to vengeance (revenge). The persona is appealing to the oppressed to rise to
the occasion and deal with the ruling class.

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 The fact that “two nation builders/ arrived home this evening/with terrible stomach
pain/the result of building the nation/different ways” is more like an appeal to
emotions where the persona seeks actions from the masses.
In a way, the persona calls for a reaction towards the ruling class‟s hypocritical
nation building where they pretend to have welfare of the masses at heart while in
real sense they just want to capitalize on their efforts.

VULNERABILITY OF HUMANITY.

Nevertheless, the persona seems to have hopes in some facts that both the African
bourgeoisie and the proletariats have their points of vulnerability. They both suffer in
one way or another because of their own actions and lifestyles. For instance the
driver becomes sick because of lack of food while the PS becomes sick for eating too
much.
So Ps has ulcers too!
My ulcers I think are equally painful
Only they are caused by hunger,
No sumptuous lunches!

MESSAGE.
If we wish to do well in nation building we must as public servants respect
everything that belongs to the state; money, property, working hours etc.
If the high class is not careful with nation building one day the oppressed may
revolt.

RELEVANCE

The poem is relevant in our country in a number of ways.

Today we have a lot of leaders who misuse the public funds while those who are
involved in the means of production live in dire poverty.
Hypocrisy has also become a way of life.
Classes, exploitation and marginalization are also major issues in our society.

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
a. What is the poem about?
The poem is about the concept of nation building as taken by African bourgeoisie
class who came to power after colonialism. The poet shows that independence was
just the change in colour but the leaders adopted the very tenets of their
predecessors.
b. Who is the persona? How do you know?
The persona is a driver who represents the low class.
In line 3 he says “I drove the permanent secretary”

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c. Suggest some literary and poetic devices used in the poem.
i. Alliteration
Highly delicate diplomatic duties..
And secretly smiling…
Cold Bell beer
ii. Barbarism
Mwananchi, I too had none!
iii. Onomatopoeia
Ah, he continued yawning again.
This is the sound of yawning
iv. Satire
To an important urgent function
In fact to a luncheon at the Vic.
Lunch is called an important urgent function, this is very satirical
v. Irony.
The title of the poem „Building the Nation” is ironical because the guys in the
poem were not building the nation.

d. Why did the PS ask the question “Did you have any lunch friend?”
He asked the question just to keep himself awake throughout the journey and not
because he is concerned by the welfare of the driver.

e. What is the tone of the poem?

The tone is both sad and ironical/satirical

f. The poet says in the last stanza „so two nation builders arrived home this
evening‟ were the two people building the nation?.
Not really. The poet uses this as a satire to criticise the idea that people always
claim to build the nation but they end up building their stomachs.

2. A FREEDOM SONG (BY Marjorie Oludhe Macgoye (Kenya)

Atieno washes dishes,

Atieno plucks the chicken,
Atieno gets up early,
Beds her sucks down in the kitchen,
Atieno eight years old
Atieno yo.

Since she‟s my sister‟s child

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Atieno needs no pay
While she works my wife can sit
Sewing each sunny day,
With her earning I support
Atieno yo.

Atieno‟s sly and jealous

Bad example to the kids
Since she minds them, like a school girl
Wants their dresses, shoes and beads.
Atieno ten years old,
Atieno yo.

Now my wife has gone to study

Atieno‟s less free,
Don‟t I feed her, school my own ones,
Pay the party, union fee
All for progress? Aren‟t you grateful,
Atieno yo?

Visitors need much attention,

Specially when I work nights.
That girl stays too long at market
Who will teach her what is right?
Atieno rising fourteen,
Atieno yo.

Atieno‟s had a baby

So we know that she is bad
Fifty-fifty it may live
To repeat the life she had,
Ending in post partum bleeding
Atieno yo.

Atieno‟s soon replaced

Meat and sugar more than all
She ate in such a narrow life
Were lavished in her funeral
Atieno‟s gone to glory
Atieno yo.

APPRECIATION OF THE POEM

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 INTRODUCTION
Marjorie was born in Britain in 1928 and travelled to Kenya to work as a missionary.
She met and married Macgoye in 1960. This poem was written out of her experience
in living among the Luo – a tribe of her husband. She criticises negligence of
nurturing children among African societies. Without proper guidance, the young girl
Atieno becomes pregnant which leads to her death.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
What is the poem about?
The poem is about a young girl called Atieno who is mistreated by her own uncle.
She works without pay and ends in death due to post partum bleeding.
What is the kind of the poem?
It is a narrative poem (telling a story) but it is a special kind of narrative poem called
“a ballad”
How many stanzas are there?
It has seven stanzas, each with six verses (lines) of unequal length and a refrain
“Atieno yo”
What is the tone of the poem?
The tone is sympathetic to the child.
Comment on the rhyming pattern.
Every second and forth lines end with rhyme,
Chicken/kitchen
Pay/day
Kids/beads
Free/fee
Night/ right
Bad/had
All/funeral
Who is the persona? How do you know?
The persona in the poem is Atieno‟s uncle. This is revealed in the second stanza
where he comments; “since she‟s my sister‟s child/Atieno needs no pay.

How does Atieno change over the years?

Atieno changes in behaviour in respect to her age. While she is eight she is just
working at home but as she grows fourteen, after puberty hits she stays long at the
market perhaps with boys. This eventually leads her to get impregnated.

Comment on the literary and poetic devices

 Refrain
Every stanza ends with a refrain line “Atieno yo”
 Alliteration
Pay party union fee
Atieno needs no pay

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 Rhetorical question
Who will teach her what is right?
Aren‟t you grateful Atieno yo?
 Poetic licence.
This is the freedom of the poet to break/violate certain grammatical rules to achieve
a poetic effect.
“Specially when I work night” the correct one could be „especially when I work at
night‟.
 Simile
“She minds them like a school girl”
THEMATIC ANALYSIS
CHILD LABOUR
The issue of child labour has become a burning issue that attracts the attention of
most social activists. Many children are employed informally, in the streets, homes
and some workplaces. We see them selling plastic bags, candies, washing cars,
helping the military rebels etc. Atieno in the poem is just one case in point. She
represents this class. She is working as a house girl at the age of 8 and strangely
enough without pay. At this age she should have been in STD 2. Yet she is
employed in her uncle‟s home.
EXPLOITATION AND OPPRESSION
Despite the growing awareness of the violation of human rights, the world is still
facing the problem of exploitation and oppression.
The young girl in the poem is not only exploited but also oppressed by her own
uncle. Although she works and does all the domestic chores she is not paid nor
given any good care. The poetess suggests that she even desires to have the
dresses, shoes and beads of her cousins since she is not given one. Here says the
poetess.
Atieno‟s sly and jealousy/Bad example to the kids/ Since she minds them like a
school girl/Wants their dresses, shoes and dresses.
Again in the second stanza she shows how Atieno‟s efforts are wasted without gain.
Since she is my sister‟s child/Atieno needs no pay

EARLY PREGNANCY
This is another common problem among the teenagers today. Parents are now very
busy than at any point in human history. As a result teens have been left without
proper parental care. Many girls today have failed to reach their educational goals
because when they get pregnancy, they are kicked out of schools altogether. At the
age of fourteen Atieno becomes pregnant. This is partly due to poor parental care.
As the poetess says that her aunt has gone to study and uncle is busy with the work
while poor Atieno has no one to teach her what is right.
Since she is still young to handle the delivery complications she dies of excessive
post partum bleeding.

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HYPOCRISY
There is hypocrisy from family level to national level when you come to think of it.
Most stepparents mistreat their stepchildren at home but in the outside they want
everybody to believe that they are taking good care of them. If you hear the tone of
Atieno‟s uncle you will certainly discover some points of sympathy. But the question
is; who is mistreating the young Atieno? It‟s her uncle. This is hypocrisy. On the
funeral, we are told that meat and sugar more than all that Atieno had eaten in such
a narrow life were lavished in her funeral. That translates into something like, “ I
loved the child” what a hypocrite!
POOR PARENTAL CARE.
While we are not told the reasons why Atieno is not living with her own biological
parents, it is evident that most parents have left the responsibility of taking care of
their children to the community like schools, churches or relatives. Because the
parents are busy, they have no time to make regular follow-ups to check the kind of
upbringing their children go through.
Parenting is the most important responsibility that parents are now avoiding. Atieno
goes to work in her uncle‟s home at the age of eight, and her parents are not
making follow-ups. Atieno‟s uncle is also portrayed as a bad parent since he
mistreats his own niece.

RELEVANCE
As we have seen child labour, hypocrisy, exploitation, oppression, poor parental care
and early pregnancies are all common phenomena in our country today. We see
many children in the streets selling things like plastic bags, washing cars; helping the
military rebels etc. many girls drop their studies due to early pregnancies. Every day
we hear of violation and abuse of children rights and parents are very busy today to
the point that they cannot spare time to be with their children and listen to their
problems.
DEATH BE NOT PROUD (JOHN DONNE (England))
(NECTA 2009) with reference to the poem below highlight the central
theme and relate it to what is currently happening in our society.

Death be not proud, though some have called thee

Might and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think‟st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure- then from thee much more must flow;
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones and soul‟s delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well,

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And better than thy stroke. Why swell‟st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

INTRODUCTION

This sonnet is about making death seem not-so-scary. Death has got the real
attitude problem in a sense that he thinks he is the biggest, worst meanest dude in
town. Everybody treats him like the king of the underworld. They think he has the
power to do the terrible things. Donne and other metaphysical poets in general are
masters of surprise ending and this one is no exception. In traditional Christian
theology, it is thought that when people die it‟s like they are asleep until the end of
the world or the judgement day. The poem like most sonnets has centred on only
one subject – death

THEMATIC ANALYSIS

MORTALITY / DEATH
The poem takes an assertive (clear) stand against mortality (death). It makes a
paradoxical statement that mortality is itself mortal - which is to say death can die.
But the speaker wouldn‟t make this statement if he doesn‟t fear that may be death is
the end. He shows that although people fear death terribly but in the long run death
will be no more and as a result there is no reason for fear.
He compares death with a „short sleep‟ in which people sleep but there comes a day
when they will wake up and live eternally and death shall be the loser.
He says;
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more, Death thou shalt die.

DREAMS AND HOPES

The big dream and hope in the poem is to defeat death and go to heaven. The
speaker is confident that his faith in God won‟t let him down. Nevertheless, that is a
thing about faith it doesn‟t always come with a guarantee. However, the speaker
shows that even himself, he has got no much option. He must die no matter what.
The difference it makes however is that, when you die in God you will rise again and
live eternally. This gives him enough hopes to face death.

COURAGE
The poem provides us with courage of confronting death without fear. Throughout
the entire poem, the speaker grows more confident by showing that death is not the
end of life. Although it claims people‟s lives now, a day is coming when death will
take its own life. In such a case we certainly have nothing to fear.
He says;

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 Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Might and dreadful, for though art not so.

RELIGION and FAITH

The poem seems to be centred on the subject of religion. It is only in religious
spheres people believe that after this life there comes a better life when this mortal
body shall put on immortality and death shall be defeated forever.
Even though, Donne puts a clear demarcation that this chance of rising and living
eternally is not just for everybody who simply die. He rather seems to be very
meticulous by adopting a more specific statement that only the good people (our
best men) are entitled to this privilege.

He says;
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones and soul‟s delivery

THE AFTERLIFE
The poet has the hopes of the afterlife. He even shows that the afterlife is better
than this life. For him death seems to be a blessing because it is only through death
that people are capable of enjoying the afterlife.
Here says Donne;
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure - then from thee much more must flow,
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
a. What type of the poem is this?
This poem is a sonnet because it is made up of 14 lines (verses)
b. In what sense is the “sleep of death a short sleep” (line 13)?
Although the dead remain in their tombs for hundreds of years, still Donne calls it a
short sleep since the dead know nothing. From the day they die they remain
unconscious and remember nothing until the day of resurrection.

c. The poem has no clear/overt reference to Christianity. Aside from the title
how do you know that this is a religious poem?
It is only in the religious context people have the assurance of afterlife (life after
death). It is the bible that describes death as a short sleep and further states that
death will one day be no more in the new heaven and the new earth. (1Cor 15:26)
d. Comment on the figures of speech;
 Personification.
Death is addressed as though it is a person. “Death be not proud though some have
called thee mighty and dreadful” “Death, thou shalt die”
 Symbolism
He has used common symbols in Christian theology “sleep and rest” to represent
death.

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 “One short sleep past, we wake eternally” (line 13)
 Apostrophe
Addressing a thing/person in its/his absence. The poet addresses death but death
does not respond. Eg he says „poor death‟ which is an embarrassing way to talk to
someone who considers himself tough.
 Metaphor. The poet compares „rest and sleep‟ as the pictures of death. Also death
is compared with a slave.
 Synecdoche.
This implies using part of something to represent the whole.
In the poem he uses the “bones of the best men” to represent the whole physical
body.
 Rhetorical question. The speaker asks “why swell‟st thou then?” it is just intended
to make death realize that he has no reasons to be proud, and not seeking for a
response.

e. Comment on the rhyming scheme.

Like most petrarchan sonnets, this sonnet has 14 lines and a rhyme scheme that
goes ABBAABBA and the last six lines are CDDCAA

RELEVANCE
Today in our society, there are these two basic concepts about death. On one
extreme there are those who believe that death is the end of life and human history.
Therefore, when they come at the point of death they face it with fear. On the other
extreme there are those especially in religion realm who believe that death is but
another door to a better life. For them, death should not be proud because they
aspire for afterlife which is better than the life we live now. They take death as a
blessing and not as a doom.
THE GRACEFUL GIRRAFE CANNOT BECOME A MONKEY
Okot P B‟TEK (Uganda)
My husband tells me
I have no ideas
Of modern beauty.
He says
I have stuck
To old-fashioned hair styles.

He says
I am stupid and very backward,
That my hair style
Makes him sick
Because I am dirty.

It is true

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I cannot do my hair
As white women do.

Listen,
My father comes from Payira,
My mother is a woman of Koc!
I am a true Acoli
I am not a half-caste
I am not a slave girl;
My father was not brought home
By the spear
My mother was not exchanged
For a basket of millet.

Ask me what beauty is

To the Acoli
And I will tell you;
I will show it to you
If you give me a chance!

You once saw me,

You saw my hair style
And you admired it,
And the boys loved it
At the arena
Boys surrounded me
And fought for me.

My mother taught me
Acoli hair fashions;
Which fits the kind
Of hair of the Acoli,
And the occasion.

Listen,
Ostrich plumes differ
From chicken feathers,
A monkey‟s tail
Is different from that of a giraffe,
The crocodile‟s skin
Is not like the guinea fowl‟s,
And the hippo is naked, and hairless.

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The hair of the Acoli
Is different from that of the Arabs;
The Indians‟ hair
Resembles the tail of a horse;
It is like sisal strings
And needs to be cut
With scissors.
It is black,
And is different from that of a white woman.

A white woman‟s hair

Is soft like silk;
It is light
And brownish like
That of a brown monkey,
And is very different from mine.
A black woman‟s hair
Is thick and curly;
It is true
Ring-worm sometimes eat up
A little girl‟s hair
And this is terrible;
But when hot porridge
Is put on the head
And the dance is held
Under the sausage-fruit tree
And the youths have sung

You, Ring worm

Who is eating Duka‟s hair
Here is your porridge,

Then the girl‟s hair

Begins to grow again
And the girl is pleased.

INTRODUCTION

This is a short extract from a long poem called “song of Lawino” which is almost
entirely based on the conflict between old and new ways of life. So it is based on
what Lawino thinks as a treasure for Africans as contrasted from what Ocol thinks on
his side. (Although their names do not appear anywhere throughout the poem).

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THEMATIC ANALYSIS
Although the poem is but a small part of a long poem with several themes, still some
of these broader themes can be narrowly extracted from this poem. These include;
identity and awareness, African culture vs European culture, traditional healing,
protest and the position of women.

IDENTITY AND AWARENESS

Africans need to be aware of their identity. In this poem Lawino reacts to her
husband complaint. While Ocol keeps complaining and regretting for being an
African, Lawino on the other hand turns her husband‟s complaint into a praise-song
for herself and her people. She does so by showing that she is aware of her identity
as a black African woman and proud of it. Just like all other women of other races
are proud of theirs Lawino sees no need why she should abandon hers. In lines 15-
20 she says;
Listen
My father comes from Payira,
My mother is a woman of Koc!
I am a true Acoli
I am not a half-caste
I am not a slave girl
AFRICAN CULTURE vs EUROPEAN CULTURE
In „Song of Lawino‟ the poet discusses a lot of conflicts in African culture against
European culture in most aspects. This small part of the poem centres entirely on
hairstyles alone. Lawino shows that all people were created naturally beautiful and
should be proud of how they are. For Lawino there are no reasons for Africans to do
their hair like white women because white women never wish to do theirs like
Africans. She uses the images ostrich plumes, chicken feathers, crocodile skin, etc to
show that every creature has a point of departure from other creatures. No one
creature should ever try to change and be like any other. The same applies for
people from different races.

TRADITIONAL HEALING
Moreover, Lawino shows how Africans used to deal with different social and natural
phenomena. Although it might seem as a kind of incantation, but it helped to deal
with unusual phenomena. For example she says if a ring-worm has eaten the little
girl‟s hair, all they do is put hot porridge on the head, hold a dance, sing a song,
then the hair grows again. This traditional ritual is still relevant to some societies
today.

PROTEST
Lawino shows an open protest against European culture that is invading African
culture. She does all it takes to educate African women to love and care for what

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 they have, believe in who they are, and what they want to do with their lives. She
protests doing her hair like white women. She says;
It is true
I cannot do my hair
As white women do

POSITION OF WOMEN
 True and strong upholder of African culture
Lawino in this poem represents a class of women who are proud of their culture and
identity. They can‟t compromise their standards just to please their husbands
 Care taker for children
Lawino shows that she behaves the way she does because her mother took time to
teach her. It is always believed that most of the behaviours that we have, we picked
them during childhood. It is up to parents to teach their children good manners and
they will not abandon them to old age. She says; my mother taught me/Acoli hair
fashions/which fits the kind/of hair of the Acoli/and the occasion
STUCTURAL ANALYSIS
a. What does the title of the poem “the graceful giraffe cannot become a
monkey” mean?
The poet uses the symbol of the “giraffe” to represent the Acoli (Africans) and
“monkey” as a symbol for whites. As the giraffe cannot become a monkey, neither
can Africans become white people by their artificial designs.

b. Comment on the figures of speech.

i. Simile expression of comparison by using conjunctions
 A white woman‟s hair is soft like silk
 And brownish like that of a brown monkey
 The Indian‟s hair resembles that of a horse, it is like sisal strings
ii. Symbolism using one thing to represent another.
“a graceful giraffe” represents Africans
“A monkey” represents Europeans
iii. Personification giving human qualities to inanimate beings.
Here the song is sung to a ring worm as though it is a human being
You, ringworm who is eating Dukas hair, here is your porridge
iv.Anaphora (repeating words at the beginning of neighboring clauses)
I am a true Acoli
I am not a half-caste
I am not a slave girl
c. Who is the persona in this poem? How do you know?
The persona is an African woman (Lawino) although her name is not in the poem.
We know she is a woman because she says “my husband tells me” and the way she
describes different hair styles.

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d. How does Lawino see her identity?
Lawino sees her identity as something to be proud of because she believes that she
is beautiful just the way she is and is not ready to change.

e. Who is surer of his/her identity? Lawino or her husband? Why do you say
so?
Certainly, Lawino is surer of her identity. This is due to what she expresses from the
beginning of the poem to the end. While she admits that all other women of other
races are beautiful she is not ready to compromise her identity and be like them.

f. How does Lawino react to the complaint of her husband?

Lawino does not insult back her husband but rather she turns her husband‟s
complaints into a praise song about herself and her people. In the process she
gently tries to advise her husband to regain the identity he is busy losing.

g. Who is Lawino speaking to in the poem?

Lawino is speaking to both her husband and Africans in general. When she says “My
husband tells me…” she speaks to the audience (Africans) but then turns the
attention to her husband “you once saw me” here she speaks specifically to her
husband.
MESSAGE
 Africans should be proud of their identity.
 No matter what they do Africans will remain Africans.

RELEVANCE
The poem is relevant today in a number of aspects.
 There are African women today who wish to do their hair like white women do.
 There are black women who never wish to do their hair like white women. They
remain natural and proud of their identity.
 There are men who pressurize their wives to do their hair like whites.

3. AFRICA (BY David Diop (Senegal)

Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in the ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins

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Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
The slavery of your children
Africa tell me Africa
Is this you this back that is bent
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous son that tree young and strong
That tree there
In splendid loneliness amidst white and faded flowers
That is Africa your Africa
That grows again patiently obstinately
And its fruit gradually acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.

INTRODUCTION

This poem is written by David Diop - A Black African who was born in France in
1927. His father was from Senegal and his mother from Cameroon and he grew up
in France and West Africa aware of both cultures and traditions. He was deeply
concerned by the question of independence from colonial rule.
This poem is a dramatic monologue where the speaker seems to be in conversation
with Africa. The poem can be thematically divided into three parts; pre colonial
Africa, colonial Africa and post colonial Africa.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS.

EXPLOITATION
There are evidences of exploitation in the poem in the fact that the poet expresses
how the sweat of Africans was lost in vain.
The blood of your sweat
He sweat of your work

All this was done at a time when Africans were turned into slaves and worked for
their masters without any benefit.
The work of your slavery
The slavery of your children
OPPRESSION AND HUMILIATION

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 Oppression and humiliation were common practices in colonial time. They were used
to force Africans work for colonisers without objection. This has left scars to Africa
that we still depend on them even when they seem to mistreat us.
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun

IDENTITY AND AWARENESS

The poet however seems to be aware of his identity as black African. Although he
grew up in France he shows that black blood flows in his veins, which is to say he is
still an African regardless of where he grew up.
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
The voice that answers Diop sums up his African identity.
Impetuous son that tree young and strong
That tree there
In splendid loneliness amidst white and faded flowers
That is Africa your Africa.

EFFECTS OF COLONIALISM
The poet concludes his poem by showing the effects that colonialism had on African
continent. Nevertheless, he seems to be optimistic that at least Africa is growing up
again just like a young tree.
That is Africa your Africa
That grows again patiently obstinately
a) What is the poem about?
The poem is about the effects colonialism has had on Africa. It traces the history of
pre-colonial Africa, then shows the torture that Africans underwent in colonialism
and how Africa is starting afresh like a young tree.

b) What does the symbol „that tree young and strong” suggest?
First of all the symbol refers to Africa. It suggests that after colonialism Africa began
to grow up again just as a young tree.

c) Why do the fruits acquire a bitter taste of liberty? Why does liberty taste
bitter?
The fruits acquire a bitter taste because liberation of the oppressed is not a simple
thing. It needs sacrifice and determination. Some people lose their lives in the
process. So in such a case liberty is never sweet but bitter memories.

d) What do these words symbolise?

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 „Scars‟, „whip‟ and „blood‟. They stand for the torture that Africans went through
in colonial time.

e) What is the tone of the poem? The tone changes from the beginning it is happy
in the middle it becomes sad but at the end it becomes optimistic.
f) Why does the poet say that “black blood flows in his veins”?
Black blood in this poem symbolises Africanism as there is no blood that is black in
colour. So he shows that although he grew up in France he is still aware of his
African identity.

g) How have the past effects of colonialism shaped the Africa‟s present?
The socio-political and economic state of Africa today was seriously affected during
colonial time. So Africa was paralysed and is just starting afresh as a young tree
while the colonisers are well off.

h) Comment on the figures of speech and poetic devices.

 Anadiplosis; the repetition in which the last expression of one statement
becomes the first expression in the following statement
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
The slavery of your children

 Rhetorical question a question that does not need a reply.

Is that you this back that is bent

 Symbolism
 Scars‟, „whip‟ and „blood‟. They stand for the torture that Africans went through in
colonial time.
 Black blood- symbolises African identity
 Personification.
The poet addresses Africa as though it is a human being and has blood that flows,
and can sweat etc.
 Alliteration- repetition of similar consonant sounds at the beginning of
consecutive words
You beautiful black blood
 Repetition (for emphasis)
The word Africa is repeated 7 times throughout the poem
Eg. Africa my Africa.
 Under exaggeration.
Your beautiful black blood
This is under exaggeration because there is no black blood in colour.

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 MESSAGE
 Colonialism paralysed Africa so it is up to us to make Africa‟s hope alive again.
 We must know our identity as Africans, where we come from, where we are and what
we need to do to get where we are going.
LET ME NOT TO THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS
(W. SHAKESPEARE (ENGLAND)
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is a star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth‟s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love‟s not Time‟s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle‟s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error, and upon me prov‟d
I never writ, nor no man ever lov‟d

INTRODUCTION
This is a sonnet also called sonnet 116 written by a British metaphysical poet William
Shakespeare (1564-1616) that tries to fill the vacuum of infidelity and unfaithfulness
in marriage relationships. The poet shows that at least true love based on truth and
understanding can exist. He presents two glorious lovers who come into relationship
freely and are trustful to each other.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
TRUE LOVE
The kind of love that Shakespeare brings out here is the one that stands firmly even
if there might be consequences to shake it. He says that such kind of a love does
not alter/change when it alteration finds. For him true love is like “an ever-fixed
mark” which will survive any crisis. In lines 7-8 he continues to say although we may
be able to measure love to some degrees, this does not mean we truly understand
it. Love‟s actual worthy cannot be known- it is a misery.
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is a star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth‟s unknown, although his height be taken
This kind of love that Shakespeare expresses is the one that is unchangeable even
when challenged by some circumstances. Love is not flat but he warns that even if it

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 means to go through upside downs they should remain firm. It‟s like a North Star
that guides the ship (bark) in deep sea.
On the marriage day there may really be no impediments (obstacles) but in the long
run, changes of circumstances, outward appearance and other conducts may
challenge the relationship. But lines 9-12 reaffirms that, this kind of love is
unshakable throughout time and always remains so.
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

UNFAITHFUL LOVE
On the other hand he shows that there is another extreme of love that is not based
on mutual love. If something happens to challenge the relationship it breaks away.
…………………Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:

Lastly, in the final couplet the poet declares that if he is mistaken in his view of the
unmoveable nature of true love then he must take back all his writings on love, truth
and faith. Then he says if he judged love inappropriately no man has ever really
loved in the ideal sense that the poet professes.
If this be error, and upon me prov‟d
I never writ, nor no man ever lov‟d

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

i) Comment on the Tone of the poem.

The tone is lovely because the poet generally talks about love of two lovers
ii) What is the type Of the Poem?
It is a sonnet made up of 14 verses (line)
iii) Comment on the rhyming scheme/ Pattern
The poem has a regular rhyming pattern of
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG

iv). Comment on the Figures of speech and sound devices

 Metaphor
Love is compared to the star
It is the star to every wandering bark
 Allusion
The first two lines are a manifest of allusion to the words of the marriage service „ if
any one of you knows cause of just impediments why these two persons
should not be joined together in a holy matrimony‟
 Alliteration
….compass come.

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 Personification
The poet uses abstract things like Time and Love as human beings to show that they
can do of feel like human beings. He even uses pronoun „his‟ when referring to
them. Eg Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks

Is the poem relevant to your society?

In the society today there are people with true love though they are very few. Most
of them fall in the category of love which changes with circumstances. When
challenged by poor income, lack of a child, or any other challenge it easily breaks
away though on the marriage day they admitted to remain together until death
separates them. And that they will survive the coming impediments.
What lesson do you get from the poem?
1) We should cherish true love.
2) True love is unshakable and remains so throughout time.
o What are impediments? What do you think the marriage of true minds is?
In actual sense impediments means obstacles/ hindrances. In marriage service this
is a covenant that the couple should make to see to it that their love is free and
willing.

o What does the poet mean when he says that you can measure the height of
a star but not its worth? How can you apply this to love?
Always we can only judge outward appearance of something but inward characters
are difficult to be measured. So even in the case of love it is not what it always
seems to be in the outside. It‟s worth lie deeper into the heart of someone. There is
more to it than just outward appearance. No one can read someone else‟s heart.

o In Shakespeare‟s day the word „fool‟ could mean a servant. Why is love
„not Time‟s fool‟?
Love is not Time‟s servant in a sense that love is timeless. It does not last with time
but it endures forever as long as those in love have decided to remain in love no
matter what circumstance may challenge their relationship.

4. I REMEMBER (Naomi Mnthali (Malawi)

I remember, Countrymen,
The days of „Dawn Over the Land‟.
Of hopes and expectations
When I truly understood
Slavery was a thing of the past –
We, the people of the land,
Had been freed.
I was there when slowly
Darkness set in.

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The gradual destruction
Was there in front of me,
But I did not see it.
I continued, Countrymen, to live in the past.
And when I finally looked
It was too late, and even I
Had become a scavenger.

INTRODUCTION
This is a poem by a Malawian poetess Naomi Mnthali that tells a story of changes of
power and of hopes being raised and disappointed. The poem refers to Malawian
independence that brought hopes to the people of the land but later became only a
nightmare or a daydream. Although it is about Malawian independence it can also
describe other parts of African continent in general.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
DISILLUSIONMENT/DISAPPOINTMENT
Most freedom fighters did not ever imagine that the post independence life would be
like this. When they were fighting for freedom they believed that things will actually
change in their favour.
I remember, Countrymen,
The days of „Dawn Over the Land‟
Of hopes and expectations
When I truly understood
Slavery was a thing of the past –
That is however not what it turned out to be. They are still living the life of the past
and life has even become worse since they live like scavengers.
I was there when slowly
Darkness set in.
The gradual destruction
Was there in front of me,
But I did not see it

BETRAYAL
The leaders who took power from the colonisers have betrayed the common people
most of whom took part in the struggle for freedom. The common people live the
same life they lived before independence. To them independence makes no sense.
The poet compares this situation with destruction that lay ahead but he did not
notice it before.
The gradual destruction
Was there in front of me,
But I did not see it

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 He even shows that while some people live the modern life; he himself lives in the
past. The same kind of life they lived before independence.
I continued, countrymen, to live in the past.
And when I finally looked
It was too late, and even I
Had become a scavenger

POVERTY
A scavenger is an animal or a person who collects things by searching them from
waste or unwanted objects. The poet seems to come from a poor class that was
betrayed by the bourgeoisie class. This class always finds it hard to get their daily
bread. They have become scavengers in their own free countries. They eat the
leftovers thrown by the privileged few.
And when I finally looked
It was too late, and even I
Had become a scavenger
This situation is almost evident in all African countries

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

1. The poet talks about “the days of „Dawn over the land‟” what do you think
this means?
„Days of dawn‟ means the very days when independence was attained and became
like the outbreak of a new day.

2. There is one metaphorical expression in the poem. Mention it.

The metaphor is „...I had become a scavenger‟ he compares himself with a
scavenger.

3. „I was there when slowly darkness set in‟ what does this statement imply?
The poet confesses that he was aware as things began to change to worse.

4. What type of poem is this?

It is a lyric poem but a special form of lyric poems called aubade. This is a poem
about morning celebrating the coming of dawn.

5. What is the tone of the poem?

The tone is unhappy.
6. How many stanzas are there? And comment on the rhyming pattern.
The poem has only one stanza with irregular rhyming pattern and unequal length of
verses.
7. Comment on the use of allusion.

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 The poet has employed allusion in the first two lines by citing the very specific
historical event of Malawian independence. He shows that he actually remembers
what happened.

Is the poem relevant to Tanzanians today?

Oh! Yes it is. Like most African countries the issue of betrayal by the bourgeoisie
class is common. So even in Tanzania most people live in the same situation
described by the poet.

What message do we draw from the poem?

 Betrayal is not good in social and economic development.
 Those in power should recognise that the resources of the nation should benefit both
the proletariat class and the ruling class.
 Independence was just a handover of authority from white colonisers to black
colonisers, true independence is still to come.

Epilogue
Grace Nichols (Guyana)

I have crossed an ocean

I have lost my tongue
From the root of the old
One
A new one has sprung

INTRODUCTION

This poem was written by a black woman from Guyana (Grace Nichols) who later
moved to England. It expresses important ideas about separation and a new
beginning.

a. The poet says she has “lost her tongue” what does that mean?
It means she has adopted a new language. She no longer speaks her native
language.

b. Which ocean has she crossed?

While she has crossed the real geographical ocean (Pacific) from Guyana - Caribbean
all the way to England, “crossing the ocean” could also imply or symbolise other
changes that happen to people. As she crossed the ocean she never remained the
same because even her language changed.
c. What does she mean when she says “a new one has sprung from the root
of the old one‟?

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 Here the poet talks something about the development of languages. We all know
that languages are dynamic (always changing) and that they borrow words and even
grammatical structure from each other. Languages like creoles come of the blend of
two or more languages. So the language she speaks originates/emanates from the
old one.
d. What is the theme of the poem?
The central theme is separation and loss of identity.
The poetess shows that when most people move away from their motherland they
tend to lose their identity and adopt the culture of the foreign land including but not
limited to language.
 The poem could be about Grace herself who moved from Guyana to England.
 It could also be addressing all the Caribbean who left their homes and went to
England.
 But also all those people who left their own countries to go to the Caribbean in the
last few hundred years, especially all those who were taken from Africa in slavery;
 All black people all over the world whose roots can be traced back to Africa over the
centuries;
 All people all over the world, as scientists think that human life originated in Africa
thousands of years ago.

IF WE MUST DIE. (Claude McKay)

If we must die, let it not be like hogs

Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot.
While round us bark the mad and angry dogs
Making their mock at our accursed lot
If we must die, o let us nobly die
So that our precious blood may not be shed
In vain; then the monsters we defy
Shall be constrained to honor us though dead.
O kinsmen! We must meet our common foe
Though far outnumbered. Let us show us brave
And for their thousand blows, deal one death blow
What though before us lies the open grave?
Like men we‟ll face the murderous cowardly pack
Pressed to the wall dying but fighting back.

INTRODUCTION

Claude McKay was born in 1890 in Jamaica. He went to Kansas to study agriculture
at the time when Ku Klux Klan was highly active. He was therefore forced to move
to New York in 1914. In 1919 Washington DC newspaper gave stories of an alleged
(suspected) sexual assault that was said to be committed by an African American.

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 The stories sparked (caused) a series of twenty riots during the summer of 1919,
beginning with white lynch mob (murderous group) that targeted blacks in
Washington. There were 28 public lynchings (killings) in the first half of the year and
the following summer and fall came to be known as “The Red Summer” of 1919.
This was the motivation behind McKay‟s “If We Must Die”
He wrote the poem amid the violence and bloodshed of 1919, and in this poem he
encourages his community to take action and fight back.

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

a) What type of the poem is this?

It is a sonnet. It is made up of only one stanza with 14 verses.
b) Comment on the rhyming scheme.
The poem has a regular rhyming scheme that goes;
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
c) What is the tone of the poem/poet?
The tone is serious and angry
d) Who is the persona? How do you know?
The persona is a black American who is oppressed, humiliated and persecuted. We
know this from the history of the poet and the fact that blacks were hunted, penned
(locked in small cells) and killed like hogs (pigs) in America.
If we must die, let it not be like hogs
Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot.
While round us bark the mad and angry dogs
e) What sufferings does the person experience?
They are hunted (arrested), penned (locked in small cells) with angry and mad dog
guarding them and are sometimes killed without fair trial.
f) Is the persona afraid of death? Give reasons to justify your answer.
The persona is surely not afraid of death. The reasons for this are;
o When you die fighting people will honor you. i.e. it is noble to die fighting. “let us
nobly die”
o Whether he fights or not, he is bound to die someday. “ What though before us lies
an open grave?”
g) Comment on the figures of speech and poetic devices
i. Rhetorical question
o What though before us lies an open grave?”
ii. Metaphor
He compares the enemy/oppressors with the monsters. „The monsters we defy‟
iii. Images
The poet paints the pictures of;
Hogs (pigs) = pigs are killed mercilessly so they should not die the same death.
Mad and angry dogs = this is the picture of the oppressor who guards the Blacks
not to escape from punishment.

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 iv. Symbolism
“An Open grave” this symbolizes death. Which is to say whether we fight or not
death is there waiting for us. Death is the ultimate finality of human life.
„Blood” is a symbol for sacrifice
v. Repetition
The phrase “if we must die” is repeated for emphasis
vi. Hyperbole.
“For their thousand blows”
vii. Satire/Irony
The poet mocks both the enemy and himself.
“Like men we‟ll face the murderous cowardly pack.” He mocks the oppressor that he
is coward like a group of wolves. But how can someone coward press you to the wall
dying. He shows that he is himself weak/inferior to the enemy. Also shows that the
enemy is capable of dealing a thousand death blows but he can deal only one.
h) The poet calls his enemy “the murderous cowardly pack” what does that
mean?
A pack is a group of dogs or wolves hunting together. He compares the oppressors
as a cowardly pack because the Whites were hunting Africans in notorious mobs and
not individually. This shows that they were coward as well.

i) To whom is the speaker talking?

The speaker calls for action from his fellow kinsmen (the oppressed) or more
specifically Black-Americans.
j) Is the poem relevant today?
The poem is still relevant because it instills the sense of awareness, sacrifice and
determination when it comes to fighting for our rights. Also it is very true that those
who died fighting during this period of racial injustice in America are honored until
now in the history of America. Think of Martin Luther King Jr, and Malcolm X.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS.

SACRIFICE

In the fight against oppression, sacrifice is a valuable commodity. Few People need
to sacrifice their lives so that the majority may live in peace. In this poem the poet
(McKay) calls for actions against the enemy (foe). However, he shows that the
struggle may mean death. But if they must die, it is better to die fighting so that
they may be honored later than dying while doing nothing.
He says
If we must die, o let us nobly die
So that our precious blood may not be shed
In vain! …

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HUMILIATION/TORTURE/OPPRESSION
The poet and his fellow kinsmen go through a series of torture and mistreatment
from their enemy. They are arrested with no reason, jailed and killed like pigs. This
is a situation which affected most African American in the time of racial injustice in
America and when “Jim Crow laws” were in effect. The poet shows the experience
they are going through by saying;
If we must die, let it not be like hogs
Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot.
While round us bark the mad and angry dogs

MOTALITY (DEATH)
Due to this politically charged situation death at least seems the best thing to help a
person sort out what is important in life. The speaker speaks about death in a more
practical sense - he is actually facing it. It is not the question of whether he will die
or what will happen when he dies it is about how he will meet death. To him death
is an opportunity to show strength, nobility and purpose.
If we must die, o let us nobly die
So that our precious blood may not be shed
In vain; then the monsters we defy
Shall be constrained to honor us though dead.

SONG OF LAWINO AND OCOL

BY : OKOT P‟BITEK
POET: OKOT P‟BITEK
SETTING: ACOLILAND UGANDA
CHARACTER: LAWINO
PUBLICATION: 1966
THEME: CULTURAL DEATH OF A
HUSBAND.

PUBLISHER: EAST AFRICAN

EDUCATION PUBLISHERS
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INTRODUCATION TO THE POEM
Song Of Lawino :is both a narrative and epic poem composed by the Africa major
poet of our time, the late professor of creative writing .Okot P‟Bitek , who was born
in 1931 and tragically died in 1982 . it portrays the cultural debate of the fature of
Africa throught two main protagonists, lawino the defender and upholder of the
African traditions and Ocol , the westernized and alienated African . the poem
provides a hot debate and challenge over the culturel fature of Africa .

AUTHORS BACKGROUND :
Okot p‟Bitek was born in 1931 in Gulu northen Uganda he is an Achol . He attended
Gulu high school and the kings college Budo, and in 1952 he attended a teacher
training in Mbarara . he wrote two literary works
The wrote a novel LAK TAR , and poem HIAWATHA and in 1958 he went to British
with the Uganda‟s national team, he stayed in England to study , he did diploma in
education at british until and adegree in law at Aberyst with a beachelor of
literative in social anth at the university of Oxford . he then to work in Ugand at
makerer university he was appointed the director of Uganda culture centre in Africa
„he wrote the book African culture revolution (1978) the hare the horn bill (1974)
and the horn of my he returned to makerere as the proffessor creative writing ,
and died five month taking up the appointment in 1982
CHARACTERIZATION OF SONG OF LAWINO
The song of lawino and Ocol is central mainly on four major cental character
i. Lawino, the scorned African women
ii. Ocol the westernized , alienated
iii. Clementine: Ocol concubine mistress
iv. Ocal brother – the politician

1. LAWINO (WIFE OF OCOL)

 She is the protagonist .
 She is the wife of ocol
 A typical African.
 The defender and upholder of African culture .
 A sensible ,illiterate women.
 Proud of the African culture
 Despises and mocks Ocol the husband.
2. OCOL (HUSBAND OF LAWINO )
 An alienated African , westernized.
 A lover of clementine.
 Follower of the European culture
 Leader of the democratic party.

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  A brain washed African .
3. CLEMENTINE (OCOL‟S MISTRESS)
 The concubine of ocol .
 An illegitimate wife of ocol
 An alienated African
 An educated African
 Usurps the love of lawino from ocol
 Uses cosmetics and artificialities to beautiful herself .
 In love completion for lawino and ocol

4. OCOLS BROTHER
 He is a relative of Ocol , a brother.
 Leader of the congress party .

1. MY HUSBANDS TONGUE IS BITTER

In this chapter lawino complains and protests of the abuses and insults
from the husband ocol , because he maltreats her in a rough way , this
lawino complains , „My husbands tongue is bitter ‟‟
She say :-
„„husband you despise me ‟‟
„„you treat me with spite‟‟
„‟you insult me „‟
“you laugh at me „‟
“you say ,I do not know the litter A”
Lawino questions ocol ; who has ever uprooted the pumpkin in the old
home stead
“lawino protests further”
“my clansmen , I cry „‟
“listen to my voice „‟
“the insults of my man „‟
“are painful beyond bearing „‟

“ my husband abuses me together with my parent „‟

“and I am so ashamed !
“he abuses me in English .
And he is so ! arrogent‟‟
Ocol accuses lawino parent to be witches, kaffirs , and sorcerers and that they eat
rats , lawino confirms;
“ocols tongue is fierce like the arrow of the scorpion
Ocol say he is both a progressive and civilized man , who has read extensively and
widely ;
Ocol tells me;
“I am a village girl , women „‟

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 “Who cannot distinguish „‟
He say;
“I am of the old type‟‟
“and no longer attractive „‟
My husbands tongue , is bitter like the roots of the lawino „‟ lily‟‟

THEMATIC ANALYISIS
In this poem number one , the poet has commucated the following themes ;-
1. CONFLICTS : this is the misunderstanding between the two sides . in this poem
ocol the
Husband is in conflict with lawino the wife”
“My clansmen I cry „‟
“Listen to my voice „‟

2. PROTEST : when people are not satisfied , they usually protest , ocol is being
protested of , by
Wife lawino
“ my husbands tongue is bitter „‟
Ocol tongue is fierce like the arrow of the scorpion
3. BETRAYAL : the husband ocol seems to betray the wife , previously , they were
united as one
Thing have fallen a part,
“ the insults of my man „‟
“are painful beyond bearing „‟
He says; I am a village women „‟
4. TRADITONS : lawino is the defender women and culture;
“ my clansmen , I cry „‟
“he abuses me together with my parent
“who has uprooted the pump lain in the old home stead‟‟?

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE .
The poet has deliberately used the language of poetic like
1. SIMILE : is a comparison of two similar things using as ………….as …or like
ocol‟s tongue is
Fierce like the arrow of the scorpion
2. SYMBOLISM : the poet has applied symbolism like
“ the pump lain „‟ symbolizes the African culture ;

2.THE WOMEN WITH WHOM I SHARE MY HUSBAND

Lawino accuses ocol the husband for the grand negligence of her , she protests ;-

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 “Ocol rejects the old type‟‟
“he is in love with the modern women „‟
“he is in love with a beautiful girl‟‟
“who speaks English „‟
Lawino accuses ocol of neglecting her ;
“ the is in love with a modern women „‟
“ the name of the beautiful one is clementine „‟
But we are informed that Tina , like to dust herself with powder and cosmetics , and
slimming herself ;-lawino accuses clementine :-
“she dusts the ash –dirt all over her face „‟
“and when little sweat‟‟
“begins to appear on her body „‟
“she looks like the given fowl‟‟
Lawino sympathesises with Tina , because she is slim , skinny , and her breasts
completely shoveled up , they are all folded dry skins.
“O my clansmen „‟
“how aged modern women „‟
“ pretend to be young girls‟‟
Lawino attacks clementine for two more things abortion and slimming herself
much .
“ the women with whom I share my husband walks as if her shadow,‟‟
“ has been captured „‟
The women with whom l share my husband doesn‟t not like eating”
“actually she fears getting fat „‟
“ actually she is starving „‟
“she is meatless‟‟

“my husband says „‟

“ he laughs at me „‟
“he says he is too good to be my husband‟‟
“who has discovered medicine for thirsty ?

“in the dry seasons , the sun shines .

“and rain falls in the wet season „‟
“women hunt for men „‟
“and men want women „‟

“the competition for a man‟s love „‟

“ is fought at the cooking place „‟

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What lawino ask from the husband is just the husband be fair and treat her
decently.
“all that I ask is;
“my husband should stop the insult and abuses‟
“listen the pumpkin in the old home stead
“ must not be uprooted “

THEMATIC ANALYISIS
1. TRADITONS CULTURE: The poet has depicted the presence of the African
culture ;
“I don‟t like dusting my self with powder „‟
African don‟t cream their face .
Also lawino is familiar with polygamy
“I don‟t block my husband from his new wife „, all that I want , should
stop abuses
Also , the competition for a mans love is fought at the cooking place „‟
On top of that ; Africa are not allowed to uproot the pumpkin in the old
home stead even though , theynare moving to a new settlement .
2. CONFICTS : there are two conficts in here;
i. Conflict between lawino the wife , verse ocol , because of abuses.
ii. Conflict between lawino and clementine because of love
interruption.
“my husband is in love with the modern women „‟
iii. Conflict between the two culture depicted through the three people
(western culture and African culture
3. PROTEST : lawino the protagonist , protests of the women with whom , I
share my husband
Clementina „‟

4. BETRAYAL : In this poem , there is betrayal theme ocol has betrayed lawino
over clementine

3.I DO NOT KNOW THE DANCE OF WITH PEOPLE

Lawino protest of the European dance he weighs the advantage dances . he

is .

“it is true ocol ; Iam ignorant of the dance of white people , and the foreign
“I cant dance both samba and runs „‟
“you once saw me at the ocol dances „‟
“the dance for our youth „‟

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 In the African dances , you don‟t come the dance , dead drunks.
A man‟s man lines is see at the area no one touches another man‟s testicle
the African dance .is danced in the broad daylight

“you can hide anything „‟

“bad stomachs that have swollen up „‟
“skin diseases on the buttocks „‟
“small breast which are emerging „‟
“big breast that are tired , are about to „‟
“are all seen in the area‟‟
Lawino confesses that , she is ignorant the dance of white men .
“I can not dance the ball room dance „‟
“being held so tightly in public‟‟
“I can‟t do it „‟
“ it looks shameful to me „‟
Lawino attacks the immorality involved in the European dance , that they kiss
openly,
“and they dance inside a house „‟
“And there is no light „‟
“Each man has a women „‟
“Although she is not his wife „‟
The kiss on the cheek , suck slimy saliva and romance .
“And as they dance „‟
“Knees touch knees „‟
“And when music has stopped „‟
“ Men put their hands inside the trouser pockets‟ Lawino goes on
atlacking them that , there is no respect for relatives”
“Girls hold their fathers „‟
“Boys hold their sisters close‟‟
“They dance even with their mother‟‟
“they dress as if they are in
“the white men country „‟

“They put on blanket suits „‟

“And woolen socks from Europe „‟
“They wear long under –pants”

There is no respect in the bar;-

“You meet a big women „‟
“she stagger towards you „‟
“Before she has untied her dress‟‟

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 “she is already pissing „‟
There are various types of dungs , and are mixed colours.
Lawino confesses that if some force to dance this particular dance .
“Dancing without a song „‟
“Dancing silently like wizards‟‟
“ she feels like hanging feet first „‟

THEMATIC ANALYISIS:
The poet has described the following themes
1. CONFLICTS : there is conflict between lawino and Ocol , because , Ocol prefer
the European dances
“I cant dance the samba and rumba
2. BETRAYAL :In this poem , Ocol is the traitor the African dances , he turn to
European dances , l
Like samba and rumba
3. PROTEST : there is protest in this poem
“I do not know the dance of which people „‟
“I will not deceive you „‟
“I can‟t dance the samba and rumba
4. AFRICAN TRADITIONS :There is samba and rumba African tradition in the
poem
“There is orack dance
“African dance are danced in broad day light.

4.MY NAME BLEW LIKE A HORN AMONG THE PAYIRA

Lawino confirms that , she was made the chief of girls , because she was active and
lively , she didn‟t grow up a fool
“I was made the leader of girls‟‟
“And my name blew „‟
“like a horn among the payira
Lawino goes on to attack ocols hypocrisy ;
“Ocol my friend , my husband „‟
“what are you talking ?

“You loved my giraffe tail bangles‟‟

“my father bought them in the East .
“you admired my sisters‟‟
“cooler full ten –strenged lion beads‟‟
“you trembled when you saw „‟
“tattoos on my breast‟‟
“you were fou of the gap‟‟
“In side my teeth‟‟
“my man, what are you talking „‟

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 “my clansmen ,I ask you „‟?
“what has become of my husband ?
“Is he suffering from the boils‟‟?
Now ocol , attacks lawino ;he says‟‟
“I am a mere puppy „‟
“suffering from skin diseases‟‟
He says, I can‟t tone radio luganda and Swahili lawino mocks the African who
pretend Europeans
Is “lawala‟‟ not a game?
Is “cooro” not a game?
“you turn to the dance of Europeans
“Shame and ignorance provoke you‟‟
And there is no a single buola song you can dance „‟
Lawino mocks those Africans who cover blanket suits ,it may be because ;-
“They are covering the bony hips and
“And scabies on the buttock „‟
“They are covering the swollen stomachs „‟
“In the blanket suits”

THEMATIC ANALYISIS :
There are following themes ;-
1. TRADITION AND FAMILY :The poet has portal lawino to be the lover
,defender upholder of the
The African culture „‟
“my name blew like a horn among payira‟‟
Is “lawala and cooro‟‟ not games ?

2. CONFLICTS :Lawino is in conflict with the husband ocol over ,despising her
“My name blew like a horn among the payira „‟
“My husband says ,I am a mere puppy
3. PROTEST :Lawino the house wife protests of husband .
“My clansmen ,I ask „‟
“What hhas become of my husband?
4. BETRAYAL :Lawino attacks and mocks both clementine and ocol , for turning
into slave and
Beggars of the white men , she mocks them ;-
“Didn‟t Acoli have games‟‟
“you turn to Europeans dances „‟
“As beggars‟‟
“Is cooro and lawala not games „‟?
“Cant you do the boula game „‟?
“Or the mock –fight at the funeral „‟
5. THE GRACEFUL GIRRAFFE CANNOT BECOME A MONKEY.

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 In this poem .lawino reaffirms her commitment of maintaining the African
culture identity , as she says the “graceful giraffe cannot become a monkey „‟
let the Africans maintain and uphold their identity , she protests;-
“My husband tells me „‟
“I have no ideas „‟
“Of modern beauty „‟
“that I have stuck
“to old fashioned hair styles „‟
Lawino says that she is a pure African, she is neither a slave nor a half –
caste ,she says;
“A monkeys tail‟‟
“Is different from that of the giraffe „‟
“the hair of the Acoli
:Is different from that of the Arabs .
When you want to go for the dance smear you r self with “lakora „‟ or “atika „‟
“ocol tells me „‟
“that I like dirt‟‟
“he says „‟
“she a butter causes „‟
“skin diseases”
Ocol says
“Acoli adornments „‟
“Are old fashioned and unhealthy‟‟
“He says „‟I soil his white shirt‟‟
“if I touch her „‟
“my husband treats me „‟
“As if I am suffering from „‟
“The don‟t touch me disease‟‟
He has soured that
He will never touch me again

“my husband „‟
“Is in love with Tina‟‟
“The women with the large head „‟
“ocol dies for clementine „‟
“ocol never sleeps‟‟
“for the beautiful one „‟
“who has read‟‟
When the beautiful one with whom I share my husband returns from cooking her
hair .
“she resembles a chicken
“that has fallen into a pond‟‟
“there is hot water and cold water „‟

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 “In side my husbands house „‟

“she uses strange perfumes‟‟

“To overcome power full smells‟‟
“As they treat a pregnant coffin‟‟

“some times she wears‟‟

“The hair of some dead women „‟
“of some white men „‟
“Who died a long time „‟
Lawino confirms of her pride in African identity ;-
“I am proud of the hair „‟
“with which I was born „‟
“I have no wish „‟
“To look like a white women „‟
“No leopard , would change into a hyena‟‟
“The long – reached and graceful giraffe „‟
“Cannot become a monkey „‟
THEMATIC ANALYISIS :
1. TRADITIONS :The poet has portrayed traditions in the poem , when they
want to go for dance
They smear with lakura‟‟ or „‟atika‟‟ the arom lasts al day
long
2. Betrayal :In this poem there is the them of betrayal .Ocol treats the wife the
diseased one as the
Poem confirms:
“My husband treats me „‟

“As if I am suffering from „‟

“Don‟t touch me discuses „‟
3. Protest :In this poem , the poet through the persona complains of the
maltreat
“The graceful giraffe „‟
“Cannot become a monkey „‟
4. CONFLICT :In this poem, there is an obvious conflict between ocol and lawino
over modernity
And traditions lawino wants to maintain her identity , where as ,
ocol wants lawino to westernize
LANGUAGE USE :
HYPERBOLE : The poet has applied a hyperbole the poem;-
“ocol never sleeps for the beautiful who has read‟‟
“ocol dies for clementine „‟

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6.THE MOTHER STONE HAS A HOLLOW STOMACH
Lawino confesses of her ignorance of the appreciation of the white men foods like
chicken , raw eggs , tortoise , tin of lobster , frogs and shells that ocol tells her to
eat and prefer .
“My husband says „‟
“He rejects me „‟
“Because I do not appreciates‟‟
“White men foods‟‟
“ That I do not know „‟
“How to hold‟‟
“The spoon and the force „
Ocol complains that lawino doesn‟t know how to use the white men cooking stove ,
that he cant use the primus stove , and the charcoal stove lawino hates the charcoal
stove , because your hands are always charcoal – dirty , any thing you touch is
blackened ,
“It is so difficult to start‟
„‟They wonders of white men are many „‟
“They leave me speech less‟‟
Lawino says . white men stoves , are good for cooking , white men foods for
cooking foods for invalids , tooth less , and tasteless foods, tinned beefs , tinned
frogs , that were killed long time . lawino knows different types of fire woods
“cooro‟‟and kituba „‟ are useless as firewoods they burn like paper .

Lawino is alright , if it still green is used to chase men from the hot, ,who too close
to the cooking place , their eyes fixed into the pot.
“odure who does not listen „‟
“ When others sing‟‟
“Odure come out of the kitchen
“Five from the stove will burn your pens‟‟
Opok is easy the stove will burn like oil ,”Poi „‟ is useful as fire as a walking staff for
the aged ;
My mother cooks foods on the Lango types three mounds clay In lawinos mother
they use half –gourds .They don‟t use plates because half gourds return the heat of
the millet bread .Lawino confesses , they sit on earth not on trees like monkeys ,
they also use night –hands , this goods manners .
“you use right hand‟‟
“ Even if you are left – handed „‟
“This is good manners „‟

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Lawino questions , what is the good thing eggs „ cant it be found in other foods?
Ocol says ; Black people foods are primitive, buy what is backward about them?
But lawino confirms , her bones are strong she can dance all night long.

THEMATIC ANALYISIS
1. TRADITIONS AND FAMILY :Lawino still upholds different types of firewood ,
“poi ; labuori
African use right – hands , even if they are left –
handed , and they cook on three mounds of clay,
and also , they eat while sitting on the earth .
2. CONFLICTS: there is a confect between ocol the husband and lawino over
preference of foods ,
Lawino prefers , traditional African foods like ,
millet , bread , and ocol , prefers Europeans foods
like tinned frogs , snakes and fried chickens .
3. BETRAYAL : ocol has betrayed the African culture and foods and prefers the
Europeans foods
After attending school and being westernized .
4. PROTEST :Lawino protests to her husband over the way , she prefers
Europeans foods and forsake the culture of his people .

7.THERE IS NO FIXED TIME FOR BREASTFEEDING

Lawino proceeds on attacking those Africans who have been alienated , over
the behaviors of living a life of fixing times , every thing they do must

happen over a fixed time she challenges them of the Europeans and slavish
imitation of fixing.
Lawino laments ;-
“my husband is angry „‟
“because he says‟‟
“I cannot keep the time „‟
“He says „‟
“I am never punctual „‟
Lawino doesn‟t know the duration of moons , years , and decades. And ocol
has ways of telling what time is it .
Lawino also tells if in the African family there is a fortunate mother she
congratulate herself if here daughter has good manner .
“But if your daughter „‟
“has no manners‟‟
“if she is so loose „‟
“that men sleep with her „‟

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 “Even in the grass‟‟
“then even if you are ill‟‟
“you must go to draw water‟‟
“from the village well‟‟
Ocol who , is a slave of time , says every time he is busy, dominated by time
he never chats with any body , and has no to sit around the evening fires :-
“Time has become „‟
“My husbands master‟‟
“he rushes without dignity‟‟
And for greeting he says , what can I do for you
Lawino confirms ;-
“when the baby cries‟‟
“let him suck milk‟‟
“from the breast „‟
“there is no fixed time „‟
“for Breastfeeding „‟
Children in our home steads , do sleep at fixed times ,
“when sleep comes‟‟
“They sleep‟‟
“When sleep goes‟‟
“they wake up “
A lazy wife is rebuked , a lazy girl is slapped a lazy wife is beaten , a lazy
man is laughed at , not because they waste time , it is because they don‟t
produce .
“the Sabbath is a day‟‟
“for Christians „‟
“when protestants and catholic‟‟
“ shout and suffer from headache „‟
“we all know the moon „‟
“it elopes‟‟
“climbs the hills‟‟
“And falls down‟‟
“It lights the night‟‟
“youths like it „‟
“wizards hate it „‟
And hyenas howl when moon shines .
“periodically each women „‟
“seen the moon‟‟
“and when a young girls „‟
“has seen it‟‟
“for the first time „‟
“it is a sign „‟
“that the garden is ready „‟

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 “for sowing „‟
“and when the gardener „‟
„‟come with two lives seeds‟‟
“and a good strong hoe‟‟
“the rich red soil „‟
“swells with a new life „‟
“turning your back to your husband‟‟
“is a serious taboo‟‟
Acoli people are familiar with two season a year , the ager (wet season ) it
means hard work waking early in the morning , the dry season means,
pleasures, dancing , get – stuck dances , hunting , dry season mean eloping
and wooing women.
A person age is seen by looking at him , her but if you are unmarried , you
are not ocol, insists about a certain man , called Jesus Christ , he was born in
the year one and now it is one thousand ,nine hundred sixty six 1966

THEMATIC ANALYISIS
1. TRADITIONS AND FAMILY : in African society people show hospitality and
Ubuntu ,
When there is a visitor , and lawino is familiar with dry season and wet seasons .
and also there is naming of the first born.

2. CONFLICTS : in this poem , there is opposition on lawino and ocol on the

question of Keeping time . ocol is a slave of time ,every thing he does
,must happen at a fixed time , lawino challenges him why make life harder
by fixing times?
3. BETRAYAL :Ocol the westernized blach , betrays the African ideal of
socialism and Responsibility where African live as a community sharing
things.“what can I do for you „‟?
4. PROTEST :lawino protests that , in African sense of life , time is plenty ,
when there is a Visitor you stop every thing and enjoy his presence
.Lawino affirms:“when the baby cries‟‟“let him suck milk‟‟“there is no fixed
time „‟“for breastfeeding „‟
8.I AM I IGNORANT OF THE GOODS WORD THE CLEAN BOOK

Lawino laments how her husband her roughly , she says , she is ignorant the good
word (gospel) in the (cleans book bible . that she doesn‟t posses a chrism name
and that she is not baptized .protests on how the Christian priest their believers and
converts , on how over work them when they are stuggling for baptismal : she
laments:-

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 “ I refused to join‟‟
“the protestant catechist class‟‟
“because I didn‟t want „‟
“To become the house girl‟‟
“To a women with whom‟‟
“I share my husband „‟
“oh how young girls‟‟
“lab our to buy a name‟‟
“ you break your back „‟
“Drawing water „‟
“for the wives of teachers‟‟
“Your hands hardens and peels off‟‟
“you split fire wood „‟
“you work as if „‟
“you are a newly eloped girl‟‟
Lawino shouted the things that she did understand . they shout a strange language
made people

“the milk‟‟
“in our ripe breast boiled‟‟
“and little drops of sweat‟‟
“Appeared on our foreheads‟‟
“you think of the pleasure „‟
“of the girls‟‟
“dancing before their lover „‟

“then you look at the teacher „‟

“barking meaning Lesley‟‟
“like the yellow monkey‟‟
Lawino laments the good time when lover should meet is wasted in shouting thing
no one under stands.
And lawino accuses that even the padres who are not allowed to marry are troubled
by health . ocol wants lawino be baptized as benadetta : lawino goes on to attack
ocol the husband over the pronunciation of European name which pose her a
challenge
Jekcon – Jackson
Paraciko – Francis
Tomcon – Thompson .
Gulyelmo- willium
Iriko –Eric
But my husband name
Is so difficult to pronounce
It sounds like,

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„‟it sounds to me like‟‟
„Give the people more vegetable „‟
„Foxes make holes in the pathy way‟
In Acoli language and culture people named according to who are they:-
If you are a bill,you arecalled

„‟Eliya Alyeker‟‟
„‟Twins are called Apiyo and Acen‟‟
„‟Akelo is the one who come after twins „‟
„‟Ajok and Ajura‟‟
„‟Grow extra fingers‟‟

The first boy is always called Okang.

The second born is called Oboi.
The third is called Odai.
The last born and favourite of mother called Cogo.
Who understands the Christian names.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS;

1. TRADITIONS AND FAMILY; The Africans have formed names on naming of

a person they like to dance with their lovers and also have the traditional
beliefs on the witch craft, The bill names are also give to the leaders.
2. CONFLICTS; Lawino is in conflict with the leaders of religions, the priests
and the padres, who force people to pronounce the things they don‟t
understand . And also lawino is in conflict with the priest because they
seduce and women /converts and become they are troubled by health.
3. PROTEST : Lawino protest of the hypocrisy of the religious leaders ,
because they seduce their believers , and also , they are selfish . when
they are eating they send you to play the board game under the mango
tree.
4. BETRAYAL : Ocol the husband is the great traitor of his traditional customs
and culture , he has nick named himself melckzedeck Gregory which
pose difficult for lawino to pronounce

9.FROM THE MOUTH OF WHICH RIVER?

Lawino complains of the evening speakers class teachers that they hate questions ,
and also , she hate the recitation of the numen‟s prayers : she goes on to protest
“but our teacher „‟

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 “hated questions‟‟
“protestant and catholic priest „‟
“are all the same „‟
“they don‟t like questions „‟
Lawino asks ?
“Do they buy the places‟‟
“in the sky and with monkey „‟
“ they are angry with me „‟
“as if it was I who prevented „‟
“Them from marrying „‟
“To them , the good children‟‟
“Are those who ask no Questions‟‟
“who accept everything „‟
“like the tomb‟‟
“ And those who ask no questions „‟
“are given a ride „‟
“ guavas and banans”
“they take a ride „‟

“ In the padres car „‟

“My mother was a well – know potter “
“she dug the clay from the river of „‟
“mouth oyitino „‟

“the hunchback?‟‟
“where did he get „‟
“the clay for mounding the sky land
“ and when the hunch back was digging the clay „‟
“where did he stand ?
My husband says I ask questions that are waste of time ?
“typical questions of uneducated people „‟
“he says , when he speaks ,
“even if he tried tried to answer my questions „‟
“in acoli language .
“I would still heed on interpreter.

he says ;-
a university man
must have a use talk
to another university man
or women
lawino asks these numerous qustions:-

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 “How did the hunch back
“Get the clay for mounding thing „‟?
“and the qustions hurn inside me „‟
“They flow end Lesley „‟
“like the nile waters”

“and when they teach‟‟

“that the mother of Christ „‟
“did not know a man „‟
“I can not understand it „‟
“but the teachers of reliogion”
“hate qustions”
“but what I know „‟
“they hate questions „‟

THEMATIC ANALYISIS
1. BELIEFS : lawino believes in the herbalist ancestors , diviner priest , she
doesn‟t believe in God , Jesus and they holy Ghost
2. CONFLICTS : Lawino is in conflict with the priests ,and the teacher of the
evening speakers class
3. PROTEST : Lawino protests how the priests other believers force her to
believers the trinity , without answering the common troubling question
about myth of creation of universe .
4. MYTH OF CREATION :Lawino asks very difficult questions which ought to be
discusses someone who has been to school like ocol who pretends to be read
so much .
“My husbands preoccupation
“Is to boast at the market place „‟
5. BETRAYAL :In the poem it seems ocol has betrayal the traditional beliefs of
the ancestors ,fore fathers , diviner priest embraces the white men religions.

10 THE LAST SAFARI TO PAGAK.

Ocol the husband protest of lawino because she says , she doesn‟t kow the
use of quinine and to look after the sick , and my husband has me that I like
visiting the diviner priest .
“my husband complains end lessy,
“because I encourage visitors‟‟
“who should not come into the house „‟
“because they bring dirt and house flies „‟

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 “he says
“my old relatives small horribly „‟
“and they have terrible diseases „‟
“leprosy and tuberculosis „‟
„‟And they have both lice and jiggers‟‟
„‟They should not visit me‟‟
„‟He cares very little of his own relatives either‟‟
„‟of his own mother „‟
„‟Ocol says‟‟
„‟she smokes some nauseating tobacco‟‟
„‟And when his mother comes to visit him‟‟
„‟Ocol locks the door‟‟
„‟And says‟‟
„‟He has an important meeting‟‟

„In the town‟‟

„‟My husband complains‟‟
„‟About food‟‟
„ would think‟‟
„‟He earns sand‟‟
„‟He told his mothers brother‟‟
“There was no food”
“because he didn‟t write a letter
Ocol doesn‟t encourage the taking of the traditional medicine , visiting of the
diviner priest , my husband agrees by accident
“some of the herbs are effective „‟
“when a child is attacked „‟
“By an evil eye‟‟
“he doesn‟t allow the visit‟‟
“to the diviner – priest „‟

“or if it is Jok Omara”

“that causes mad ness”
“or Jok Odude that ties „‟
“the women womb „‟
“ocol laughs
“ocol says „‟
“the ways of fools are dark”
“and they are foolish beyond compare”

“when my child is ill”

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 “I try various Acoli herbs”
“I try the medicine „‟
“my mother showed me „‟
“the roots of bomo”
“for stomach aches”
“the roots omwombye;;
„‟I chewed for bad throats‟‟
„‟The wouds are treated with‟‟
„‟Ogali or Pobo‟‟

My mother showed me various medicines‟

„‟Medicine for barrenness‟‟
„‟medicine for men whose spear refuse to;-

„‟stand up‟‟
„‟medicine for big –milk less breast‟
„‟All misfortunes have a root‟
„‟The snake bite‟‟
„‟The spare of the enemy‟‟
„‟Why should lightening seek out your husband, while other
people‟s husbands are walking in the rain „‟
„‟Why should you‟‟
„‟And not somebody else‟‟
„‟Be made on orphan‟‟
„‟When your uncle cubes you‟‟
„‟You go on pissing on the bed‟‟
„‟And if your mother will lift her breast and say didn‟t you suck
this?
„‟know that you will be in deep trouble „‟
„‟And if your father will hold his penis and say
„‟Didn‟t you come from this?
„‟Ocol treats relatives‟‟
„‟As if they are enemies‟‟
Ocol behaves as if‟‟
„‟A witch‟‟

Lawino tells Ocol the husband;-

It is true
Whiteman medicines are strong;
But Acol medicines
Are also strong the sick gets cured because his time has not yet
come,

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 „‟But when the day has come‟‟
„‟For the journey to Pagan‟‟
„‟No can stop you‟‟
„‟Whiteman medicine‟‟
„‟Acoli medicine‟‟
„‟Crucifixes and rosanes‟‟
„‟Toes of edible rats‟‟
„‟None of them can block‟‟
„‟The path that goes to pagah‟‟
„‟you simply brush your buttoks‟‟
„‟And quit‟‟
„‟You must not resist‟‟

„‟White diviner priests‟‟

„‟Acoli herbalist „‟
„‟All medicine man „‟
„‟Are good and brilliant‟‟
„‟When the days‟‟
„‟It as not yet dawned‟
„ „‟For the greater journey‟‟
„‟The last Safari to Pagah.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS;
1.AFRICAN TRADITIONS ;The Acoli people as well as Africans believe in human
curse of a mother ,father .,uncle and ancestors. They also believe in the traditional
medicines ,Pobo ,Ogali, Bomo ,Lapena ,and on top of that ,they believe in witch
craft.
2.CONFLICT .Lawino is in conflict with Ocoli because Ocoli prefers the white men
medicines, and life styles ,using quinines and also ,hospitals but Lawino believes in
the herbalists diviners priests and witch doctors.
3. PROTEST : Lawino protests of how the husband treats her on the belief of the
white men medicine ,where as , lawino prefers the traditional medicines .
4. BETRAYAL : Ocol the husband has totally abandoned the Africans ways and
follows the culture of the white men .
5. DEATH :The persona , lawino confirms us that , the sick gets cured because his
time has not yet dawned for the great journey the last safari to pages .
“but if it has come „‟you don‟t resist
You cant resist „‟ you simply brush up your buttocks and go”
11. THE BUFFALOES OF POVERTY KN THE PEOPLE DOWS
Lawino the patriotic citizen goes on the selfish and hypocritical leaders who to be
busy , while they are doing nothing to develop the country ;

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 “with the coming „‟
“of the new political parties „‟
“my husband roams”
“through the countryside „‟
“like a wild dog „‟
Lawino goes on to attack the selfish and hypocrite politicians to be busy fighting for
independence :
“they are fighting for uhuru”
“but , what is the meaning of uhuru „‟
Lawino goes on to attack the irrelevance of the political parties :- she says :-
“I don‟t understand „‟
“the new political parties „‟

“they dress differently „‟

“ocol treats his brother „‟
“as if they are not relatives „‟
“my husband is the leader „‟
“of the democratic party „‟
“ocol doesn‟t enter his brother house „
“ocol dislikes his brothers fiercely”
“his mothers son hatred „‟
“resemble boiling oil”
“the new political parties”
“have split the homestead „‟
“as the battle axes splits the skill”
Lawino is puzzled , and goes on to ask
“is this the unity of uhuru „‟
“is this the peace independence brings „‟
Lawino continus to attack all the politicians because she doesn‟t understand , what
eats the
“the hearts of the politicians „‟
“is it the competition for position „‟
“is it the competition for money „‟
“ someone said „‟
“independence falls like a bull buffalo „‟
“and the hunters rush to it „‟
“with drawn knives „‟
“for carving the car cas „‟
“if your chest is small , bony and weak
“they push you off „‟

“if you are not a man „‟

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 “they frighten you with noise „‟
“but you return home „‟
“like a children beaten by the rain „‟
And other men „‟
“carry large pieces of fatty beef”

“you hear their horns cool and proud „‟

“and you eat green vegetables „‟
“and the children of other are fat”
“and their wives grow larger buttocks „‟
“and their skins of their legs „‟
“shine with health”
Lawino goes to attack the politicians ; that the stomach seems the powerful force
for joining political parties „‟

Lawino attacks the hypocrite and selfish politicians , who are busy fighting for
material gains ;-
“ the women yoded and make ulululotions „‟
“not that they understand “
“ they yoled and make ululations”
“because , they are tired of the „‟
“words of the politicians‟‟
“the many foreign words „‟
“uhuru , congress , freedom „‟
“minister „‟
“women are excited „‟
“they want to end the speeches „‟
“so that they can dance „‟
“the things ,he says „‟
“are painful as an unripe boil”
“and while those inside „‟
“eat thick honey and butter „‟
“those in the country side „‟
“die with smell”
“they re- eat the bones”
“that were thrown for dogs „‟
“and those who have fallen into things „‟
“throw themselves into soft beds „‟
“but the hip bone of voters „‟
“grow painful”
“sleeping on the same earth”
“they slept”
“they slept before uhuru
“and cover their legs , ulcers
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 “with animal skins „‟
“ocol says,
“they want uhuru „‟
“his brother says „‟
“they want uhuru and piece „‟
“why don‟t they join hands”
“and while the buffaloes of poverty , knock people „‟
“swallow the children „‟
“and ignorance stand there”
“like an elephant”
“the war leader are tightly locked „‟
“in bloody feuds, eating each others liver”
“when the the people will be finished „‟
“this will be the gift of the political parties „‟
Brought”
THEMATIC ANALYISIS:

1. CONFLICT:There is an open conflict between the leader of the political party

the leader the
Democratic party led by law husband , and the congress
party the is led
By ocols brother .
2. IRRESPONSIBILITY :The poems reveals some of irresponsibility , the leader
of the political
Parties have been portray irresponsible , instead of
fighting for the
Welfare of the citizens , they are fighting themselves for
benefits
3. BETRAYAL :In this poem, lawino the personal complains of the betrayal done
by the leaders of
The political parties they have betrayed the masses and
people and
Are busy , fighting one another , instead of fighting for
uniting the
People for the benefit all , lawino confirms:-
“once they have fallen „‟
“into the things „‟
“they become tare „‟
“they stay away and hibernate”
“they return to the country „‟
“for the next elections”

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4. PROTEST : lawino protest of the politicians for dividing the nation into two
bickering , factions , the democratic party and the congress , led by ocol
brother , lawino confirms:-
“I don‟t understand „‟
“the new political parties”
“they dress differently „‟
SONG OF OCOL
This is yet another song of the husband ocol in response to allegations and
accusations leveled agaist him by the wife lawinos in this poem , we shall
analyze , the position status , of women in an African society .

POEM “4”
POSITION , STATUS , AND VALUE OF WOMEN IN AFRICAN SOCIETY
Ocol the main character, questions on the status values and position of the
African women; as he says :
“ten stacks of firewood”
“five stack of grass”
“for starting the fire „‟
“do you know the slave „‟
“who split the firewood?‟‟
“show me the tractor”
“they used for cutting the grass”
“and the cart for bringing „‟
“the fire wood home”
“it is taboo”
“to throw down water pots „‟
“but taboos must be broken „‟
“taboos are chains „‟
“chains of slavery „‟

“you women from kikuyu land „‟

“let that burden slide “
“fall from you back”

“you are not a mere”

“donkey and cart”
“cut that mukwa cord”
“cutting a valley in your head”

“shut up you „‟
“bush poet from kiambo
“and you from nyeri „‟

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 “cease insulting my wife „‟
“with your stupid song‟‟
“my girl is not a „‟
“a camel „‟
Ocol the protagonist , challenges themselves women , from tuanda , and
burubdi
“here is a hammer „‟
“smash those pots‟‟
“of notten milk”
“you stagger into day light „‟
“your breast are two drums”
“can you see your belly button „‟

“women of African „‟
“sweeper , cook, ayah “
“washer of dishes”
“planter , weedier , harvester „‟
“runner of errands „‟
“cart , lorry „‟
“donkey „‟

“I see your husband „‟

“He has a little drink „‟
“His mouth drooling „‟
“Ash before lunch „‟
“chausiku after dinner „‟

“young Akelo after „‟

“midnight‟‟
“In Buganda „‟
“They buy you „‟
“with two pots of beer „‟
“the luo trade you „‟
“for seven cows „‟
“women of Africa „‟
“you are furniture”
“for man „‟
“whatever you call yourself „‟
“you are not a wife „‟
THEMATICS ANALYISIS :-
There are following themes of the poems;
1. SLAVERY : African women are seen and are assumed to be a slaves .

177
 “women of Africa”
“cook , ayah , planter , weedier”
2. STATUS :Their status in the society .
“is rather low”
“chausiku after dinner „‟
“young Akelo , after midnight „‟
3. OVER WORKING :It is portrayed that , African women are over worked ,
exploited .
“you woman from kikuyu land „‟
“let that burden slide „‟
“fall from your back „‟
“you are not a mere donkey „‟

GROWING UP WITH POETRY

(DAVID RUBADIRI)
1. (A BABY IS A EUROPEANS (EWE)

A baby is a European
He doesn‟t eat our food.
He drinks from his own water pot

A baby is a European
He does not speak our tongue
He is cross when the mother understand him not

A baby is a European
He cares very little for other
He force his will against the parent

A baby is a European
He is always very sensitive
The slightest scratch on his skin could result
In an ulcer

THEMATIC ANALYISIS
1. TRADITIONS : The poet has shown that the parents have their own
type of food that is
African, and they speak their tongue
2. CONFLICTS : The baby is in misunderstanding with the parents because
he cares very
Little for other, and because his own water pot.

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 3. PROTEST :The parents of this baby ate protesting over the behaviors of
their baby who
Pretends to be European but African in nature.
4. WESTERNIZATION : This baby who is an African in nature has been
alienated and
Pretends to be western, and follows the European way in
life style.
He strongly imitates the western culture.

2. BEGGING AID (DAVID RUBADIRI)

Whilst our children
Become smaller than guns
Elders become big
Circus lions
Away from home

Whilst the manes age

In the zoos
That now our home land
Have become
Markets of left over
Guns are taller
Than our children

In the beggar hood

Of a circus
That now is a home
The whip of the ringmaster
Cracks with a snap
That eats through
The backs of our being

Hands stretching
In prayer
Of submission
In a beggar hand
Of elders delicately
Performing the tight rope
To amuse the gate
For tips
That will bring home
Toys of death

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 THEMATIC ANALYISIS
1. CLASSES : In this poem , there is the presence of classes of the superior (the
masters) And the class of the poor people (beggars)
2. IMPERIALISM :In this poem , the persona complains that our home land have
become markers For the left overs .
3. PROTEST :the poet complains and protests that while our children become
smaller than guns , elders become big , like circus lions .
4. BETRAYAL : The poor people feel betrayed by the master , because , they do
nothing to improve the welfare of the citizen .
5. EXPLOITATIONS :In this poem , the persona complains that their society is
being exploited to the largest extend that they submit into beggar hood .

10 Questions from the first topic

TOPIC: 1
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE. 1
1) Define the term “Literature”
2) Mention and explain types of literature
3) Explain fire functions of literature.
4) What are the basic elements of literature?
5) Literature and society are inspirable disease
6) Why literature is an ART
7) What is the relationship between literature and Language
8) Differentiate 6 oral literature and written Literature?
9) What is literary devices?
10)Mention and explain (8) figures of speech.
11) Explain the importance of language in literature.
12)Give out example s of literary devices
13)What are things make-up on form and content?

TOPIC” 2
ORAL LITERATURE
1) Meaning of oral literature
2) Define some genres of oral literature
a) Anecdote
b) Epic

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 c) Fable
d) Folktale
e) Legend
f) Myth
g) Parable
h) Ballad
i) Riddle
j) Proverb
3) Mention five features of oral literature
4) What are the examples of oral literature in the society?
5) What are importance of oral literature in the society
6) What are the impacts of science and technology on oral literature?
7) Make a dialogue about Boarding school is better than daily school
8) How oral literature is usefully in the society.
9) To dramatize selected genres of oral literature.
10)Make a story about oral literature.

TOPIC NO 3:
WRITTEN LITERATURE.
1) Define the term written literature
2) Definition of terms used in written literature
a) Fiction
b) Non fiction
c) Prose
d) Novel
e) Novelete
f) Short story
g) Novella.

3) Mention five characters of novels.

4) Types of drama, and it‟s definition
5) Differences between dram and other works of art.
6) Definition of terms used in Drama
a) Act
b) Scenes
c) Drama
d) Play
e) Stage
f) Episode
g) Costume

7) Mention 6 stages in a play

8) What are the features of play
9) Explain two Elements of literature
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 10)What are the types of characters

TOPIC NO. 04
PLAYS ANALYSIS
1. Identify themes used
2. Identify lesson used
3. How characters are portrayed
4. Position of women.
5. Describe figure of speech used.

And any other relative/ technique questions from

1) THE DILEMMA OF A GHOST
2) THE TRIAL OF BROTHER JERO
3) THE LION AND THE JEWEL
4) THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR.

TOPIC NO. 05
NOVEL ANALYSIS
i. Identify themes used
ii. Character and characterization
iii. How figures of speech used
iv. Identify consults and censed poetized
v. What are massage used?

And any other relative Preston from the novel:-

1) The old man as the medal
2) A walk in the night
3) The House boy
4) The concubine

TOPIC NO. 06
POETRY ANALYSIS
Different selected poems
1. Eat more
2. You are lost
3. Freedom song
4. Your pain
5. Hollow heads
6. Bulding the nation

Questions.
i. What are the types of poems
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 ii. How poetry differ from other genres of literature.
iii. Identity the poetic devices from the selected poems.
iv. Comment language used
v. Mood of the poem
vi. Themes portrayed
vii. Lesson occurred in poem
viii. Define all terms used in poverty eg. verse, storage, line
ix. Structure of the poem
x. To identify the message used

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