She bids Aloo not to smoke nor drink and not to marry a white woman. Her fears allayed, she sends Aloo to America for further studiesConflictThis story is about Aloo s determination to study medicineThe first conflict he faces is bureaucracy and corruption. On pp 35 the narrator hints at this:But some bureaucratic hand, probably corrupt, dealt out a future prospect for him that came as a shock. This explains why the family does not want to question the university about Aloo s placement. Clearly, with his straight A s deserved a place in the medicine class. However, the family does not even think about arguing his case with the varsity would be an exercise in futility. Nothing would come out of it. The second conflict is developed by Velji andAloo s mother on pp 3 he tells Aloo s mother, But if you send him, you will lose your son. It s a far place, America, It is his mother, however, who fully develops this conflict on page 35, after Aloo has overcome his shock of getting CIT placement and scholarship, we are told:But first he had to contend with mother. 17She does not believe it and thinks that he is teasing her. Next she raises issue with the money required. 3000 shillings is required for pocket money. She further questions where they d raise his air fare from- it was not a little money that needed. She concludes that no one in Dar would help himPp 36 she gets angry at him and asks him why he wants to go away, so far from them and wonders whether they mean so little to him. Further, she is worried that something might happen to him. Her final resistance to his leaving is on page 39- she asks him to promise that he will not marry a white woman, nor will smoke nor drink. At this point we now understand her fear at telling him go: she would lose him to a different culture that all the values she d taught him would be in vain. Characters and Characterisation. Aloo a intelligent scores straight A s in his final examrespectful -pp 36 He had raised hisvoice to her, the first time I saw him that. -pp 37, they stood up whenVelji came in.


Characters and Characterisation. Aloo a intelligent scores straight A s in his final examrespectful -pp 36 He had raised hisvoice to her, the first time I saw him that. -pp 37, they stood up whenVelji came in. C determined: - studied hard in order to study medicine- wrote many applications with the aim of getting a varsity in America. Mother18-hardworking raised the children as a single parent upon the death of her husband-Cautious sought Mr. Velji s opinion on Aloo s case. -loving - feared to lose her son. 5.ThemesFamily family valuesThe narrator s mom has raised her children well. Marriage therefore is an important institution for them. It is not important that they marry into riches although Razia does. What is important is that they get married. The family is also supportive. Firoz was not good at school but they encouraged him to go far as he would. What is more, he has been taught the importance of work ethic. So after dropping out of school he is gainfully employed as an assistant bookkeeper. The narrator and Aloo are morally upright young men. They respect their mother and the people who come into their lives. First, they do not raise their voice at their mother. Second, the boys stand up when Mr. Velji comes into the room. Finally, although they disagree with Mr. Velji, they do not raise any objections when he says it s a bad thing to send Aloo to a foreign country: they respect his opinion. Finally her children neither drink nor smoke. 19Education. The two sisters are taken to school. Firoz is encouraged to go as far as he possibly would at school subsequently he got employed The narrator and Aloo go to university. It is instructive to know that their mom laid her hopes on them. This shows that she understands that through education her children would improve their lot. FearThe main conflict in this story is Aloo s mother s reluctance to let him go study in a foreign country. This conflict is borne of fearThat her son doesn t care much for the familyThat something could happen to himThat he could start smoking and drinkingThat he could marry a white womanPOVThis story is told from the 1st person pov.


This shows that she understands that through education her children would improve their lot. FearThe main conflict in this story is Aloo s mother s reluctance to let him go study in a foreign country. This conflict is borne of fearThat her son doesn t care much for the familyThat something could happen to himThat he could start smoking and drinkingThat he could marry a white womanPOVThis story is told from the 1st person pov. The narrator is the 2nd last born child in a family of 3 boys and 2 girls. It is an inspirational story of how upbringing influences the destinies of he and his siblings in general but Aloo in particular. He reports objectively the factors that influenceAloo s destiny. We trust his judgment because he is not only an adult but he is at the university. He wished his brother well from the start and in the end it comes to pass. In the end we do not just read a story for entertainment value. Stories also have information value. For us to exploit this fully we need to answer 3 questions. Is the title appropriate? 20Yes, all the 5 siblings and their mother are involved in leavings of sorts. What is the significant event? Mr. Datoo s visit is. He inspires Aloo to be all that he can be. This is so important because schools are yet to find a place for alumni. Without a doubt they influence the destinies of students and they should therefore be incorporated in career guidance activities. What is the author s intention? First of all the author s main audience are parents. Parents should learn that the way they bring up their children determines how positively they live life and how successful that life is. The author s second audience is the youth: although the environment in which you are brought up matters; ultimately, there is no success without input. The contrast between Firoz and Aloo exemplifies this. 21The War of the Ears by Moses IsegawaSettingThe story is set in a rural Uganda during a period of civil strife. A rebel group, God s Victorious Brigades, is fighting to stamp corruption out of the country in the light of their interpretation of the Ten Commandments. The ultimate sufferers are civilians. The story s main setting is Nandere Primary School with episodes in Ma Beeda s home and the forest.


A rebel group, God s Victorious Brigades, is fighting to stamp corruption out of the country in the light of their interpretation of the Ten Commandments. The ultimate sufferers are civilians. The story s main setting is Nandere Primary School with episodes in Ma Beeda s home and the forest. Most of the activities take place in the night. Darkness symbolizes the evil that has befallen the country at large and is about to befall Ma Beeda s village in particular. PlotThe story opens at the close of day at Nandere Primary School. Beeda is confronted with a problem: the world outside school is full of questions he couldn t answer and things he couldn t control. This drives him into a panic that it is possible that these events beyond his control could stop the children from coming back to school. Indeed, his fears are fanned by the letter that arrives in the school that day. The rebel group, God s VictoriousBrigades, says it is the last letter they send to warn Ma Beeda of dire consequences should she fail to close the school. She however swears to defy them and believes that they have government protection. Beeda, however, is clearly terrified and feels helpless because he does not believe the government s promise would come to much. We learn that his father had died when he was four, and now as a secondary school student, he doubles up as a teacher at his Mother s school. 22To prove their point, the rebel group has dispatched four child soldiers to Nandere Primary School, the only surviving school in the region. They are led by Major Azizima who is 14. The other 3 boys are his juniors. His immediate superior, Colonel Kalo, is 17. Upon reaching the school, Azizima awaits instructions from Kalo to burn it down. We learn that the supreme leader of the rebels is Generalissimo who is revered because he spoke with God. All the rules and guidelines come from him. This involves indoctrinating the child soldiers with his interpretation of the Ten Commandments and heavy doses of barbaric punishment for offences against his rules. Similarly, the soldiers mete out barbaric punishment like chopping off the ears of those who do not support the course of the rebels.


All the rules and guidelines come from him. This involves indoctrinating the child soldiers with his interpretation of the Ten Commandments and heavy doses of barbaric punishment for offences against his rules. Similarly, the soldiers mete out barbaric punishment like chopping off the ears of those who do not support the course of the rebels. The arrival of these rebels in Beeda s village brings to his door step those things he d feared he has no control over. At school first they are confronted with the pane Azizima had broken the previous night, Next, Miss Bengi informs them that a man s ear had been cut off the previous night and because of this insecurity, she intends to leave the village for the city. The gunfire later that night is the last piece of evidence that the war of the ears had finally come to their village. ConflictExternalThe first conflict we meet is between Ma Beeda and the rebels. They have been sending her letters telling her that she is a government agent and that she should close her school. The final letter is23signed by Colonel Kalo. It tells her that her punishment for defying them will be both heavy and harsh. She continues to defy them in the hope that the government s security apparatus will protect her and her investment. Secondly, we learn that the teachers too are in direct conflict with the rebels. We are told that Beeda s is filling in for a teacher who had fled weeks ago. Further, Ma Beeda s says that she spoke to the teachers and 2 or 3 want to run away pp 46 . Then there is Miss Bengi who announces her desire to leave for the city after a man s ear was cut off pp 59 The major conflict is between the government and the rebels pp 46 A war was going on in the forest and hills where government forces occasionally clashed with the rebels. This is also confirmed in the letter sent to Ma Beeda in which she is called a government agent. Their professed goal is to stamp corruption of out of the country. The conflict between the rebels and the government has also brought on conflict between the civilians and government on one hand and civilians and rebels on the other. Major Azizima s father died in the hands of the government security apparatus.


Their professed goal is to stamp corruption of out of the country. The conflict between the rebels and the government has also brought on conflict between the civilians and government on one hand and civilians and rebels on the other. Major Azizima s father died in the hands of the government security apparatus. They had alleged that he was collaborating with the rebels pp 51 We are also told that in between engagements with rebels, government forces looked for rebel collaborators pp 46 . 24Then there is the conflict between rebels and civilians in general. We are told that in the period between engagements with government forces the rebels attacked civilians pp46 Major Azizima tells us that his mother was killed by the rebels. What is more, he d been asked to cut off her ears pp 51 . Major Azizima also cuts off the ear of a villager who was looking for medicine for his sick wife. Pp53 . Further, after this act, they trained their rifles on the shops in case people confronted them. No one did. In the letter to Ma Beeda the rebels state that the war of ears had begun. This is in reference to cutting off the ears of civilians who defied them pp 45 . Finally the village is awakened deep in the night by gunfire. Pp61 The other conflict developed in the story is internalBeedaIn front of the class he knew everything and there was nothing he could not do. However, the world outside was full of questions he could not answer and things he could not control pp43 it is a flash-forward in the problems the villagers face from the government and rebels AzizimaHe thinks of escaping from the rebel base but if caught by the government soldiers he would be tortured or killed or both. If caught by the comrades he would be killed. Either way he would die but he wanted to live to25avenge his parents. Besides he wanted to find out what had happened to his siblings who had disappeared. Further, at school Nandere he felt a yearning to return to school, to study and get a certificate but he hated having to take orders from teachers. Moreover it would mean surrendering his power something he knew he would not do freely. Characters and Characterisation. Ma BeedaA widow, entrepreneur and a single parent, she has a son, BeedaHardworking started her school under a mango tree but is now a full-fledged learning centre.


Moreover it would mean surrendering his power something he knew he would not do freely. Characters and Characterisation. Ma BeedaA widow, entrepreneur and a single parent, she has a son, BeedaHardworking started her school under a mango tree but is now a full-fledged learning centre. Determined ResoluteHers is the last operational school. All the other schools have shut down at the behest of the rebels. Despite the numerous letters by the rebels that she shuts down her school, she defies them. OptimisticDespite the war going on around her, she is hopeful that it will not touch her school. She says that the rebels have no chance of victory and that they don t have the people s support. She also tells us that the government would hunt down all the criminals and punish them pp57 26SecretiveShe had a journal in which she entered the Nightcrawler s reports. Beeda was not allowed to look in the book. Pp 59 CuriuosHas set the Nightcrawler to find out details of what several people had heard and seen the night before. Perceptive pp 47 She had the ability to guess what her son was thinking and at times he disliked it intensely. BeedaHardworking stays at school teaching until late-plans his lessons in good timeConcerned pp 46 asks his mom whether shespoke to the teachers i.e. ask them to stay. -Wants to know the response of the regional commander in relation to their insecurity. Azizima -ambitious violent reflective determinedThemesHuman rights abuse crimes against humanity. Children are denied the right to education. Ma Beeda tells us that hers is the only school opening in the area, and even this is threatened to be short27lived by the rebels who have served her with a final notice to close the school. People are killed both by the rebels and the government. Azizima tells us that government forces killed his father for allegedly collaborating with the rebels. The rebels too killed his mother for an unspecified reason. People suffer mutilation in the hands of the rebels. The letter sent to Ma Beeda warns her that ears that don t listen to their master get chopped off and hers would be next. Azizima tells us thatBlue Beast forced him to chop off his mother s ears.


People suffer mutilation in the hands of the rebels. The letter sent to Ma Beeda warns her that ears that don t listen to their master get chopped off and hers would be next. Azizima tells us thatBlue Beast forced him to chop off his mother s ears. Azizima chops of the ear of a villager and keeps it as a trophy and proof to his superiors that he is loyal. Miss Bengi threatens to leave for the city saying she does not want her ear chopped off. DisplacementPeople are fleeing the village on account of insecurity arising from the war of the ears. Ma Beeda tells us that two or 3 teachers have expressed their intention to leave for the city. Beeda is filling in for a teacher who had fled several weeks before. Miss Bengi is thinking of going to the city to avoid the atrocities of the rebels. Enlisting of Child Soldiers. Major Azizima is only14 years old and is a soldier trained and armed by the rebels. The three soldiers he is sent to Nandere Primary school with are younger than he is. His superior, colonel Kalo28is only 17 years. These children are first abducted and then forced into fighting. Barbaric treatment of the soldiers at the base. Sex was forbidden at the base except for the four people in high command. Anyone who broke this rule got one hundred strokes of the hippo-hide whip. Rape was punished with amputation of the left hand. Dissention and theft were punished with death. There is no appeal against the words of the spies. They were made to chant Generalissimos hatred for the Ugandagovernment for hours on end. B Family relationsMaBeeda trains her son on the work ethic; he not only knows his house hold chores but loves his teaching job. Beeda is very respectful of his mother and she too of him. When his mother summons him, he drops what he is doing and goes to her for example when he was talking to Miss Bengi and his mother summons him he goes to her despite the fact he would have liked to continue talking to her. She too is respectful of him when he burns their supper; she resists the urge to raise her voice at him. Further, although she d lost her appetite, she respectfully eatssome of the food he serves her.


When his mother summons him, he drops what he is doing and goes to her for example when he was talking to Miss Bengi and his mother summons him he goes to her despite the fact he would have liked to continue talking to her. She too is respectful of him when he burns their supper; she resists the urge to raise her voice at him. Further, although she d lost her appetite, she respectfully eatssome of the food he serves her. ViolenceWar going on between government and rebelsGovernment torturing and killing rebel collaborators death of Azizima s father29Rebels mutilating or killing government sympathisers death of another chopping of the ears of a man. -breaking of a window pane at the school and its imminent burning down. Killing and mutilation of soldiers who break rules at the camp. Fear. Pp46 Beeda is afraid that teachers will desert the school; further, he is afraid that the promise of their safety by the regional commander may not hold water. He is afraid that something might have happened to uncle ModoPp 54 Most people went home early and were barricaded inside their house by nightfall. Pp 51 Azizimo is afraid that if he runs away from the base he ll be executed by the rebels upon capture. Further if he does escape he ll be tortured or killed by government agents upon capture. Pp 53 After Azizimo had chopped off the ear of a villager, the train their rifles on the shops- Nobody came out to confront them for fear of being killed or mutilated by the rebels. Pp 54-6 MaBeeda wakes up feeling that a messenger was at the door, waiting to break the news that her school was no more. It was a daily ordeal which reached its peak every morning. 30The Mirror by Haruki MurakamiSettingThe story is set in the narrator s house in the night. He is seated with some friends and they are relating scary stories or those of premonitions. There is however, another setting in which the narrator rebels a frightful moment in his life. This is at a school junior high school in which he was employed as a lone night watchman at the age of 18 or 19. The night was windy and hot. Mosquitoes buzzed all over amidst the noise of the wind.


This is at a school junior high school in which he was employed as a lone night watchman at the age of 18 or 19. The night was windy and hot. Mosquitoes buzzed all over amidst the noise of the wind. The broken gate of the swimming pool made banging rhythmic banging noises in the dark night. This description creates a scary mood which is consistent with his frightening experience. PlotThe narrator is hosting a number of friends and they pass time relating scary experiences or those of premonitions. The narrator says that there is a force linking the world of the living with that of the dead giving rise to the narrator of stories being related. These forces he says restrict people to either group those people who see ghosts are unable to have premonition and vice versa. The forces don t give people the ability to do both that is, they are mutually exclusive The narrator then distances himself from these experiences. He says that in his 30yrs he has neither seen a ghost nor had a premonition. However, he admits that he has had a scary experience which he narrates for the first time. He had kept it secret for fear that if he spoke of it then it might happen all over again. 31He relates how in his 2 am round on a scary night, he thinks he notices something in the hallway. Upon closer inspection it turns out that a mirror, which had previously not been there, gave his reflection. The mirror has him spell bound until he forcefully tears himself from it and shatters it rashes back to the janitor s room to sleep. In the morning, he goes back to inspect the scene of the incident. He finds the cigarette butt and his kendo that he dropped. However, that shattered mirror is not there. ConflictThe first conflict is about the nature of these supernormal experiences. The narrator tells his friends that all their experiences fall into two broad categories. The repetition of the phrase all your stories , suggests that his friends were not in agreement with him. The second conflict is that the narrator is immune to verse experiences. He describes an incident in an elevator with two friends who swear they could see a woman standing next to the narrator. He insists it was only the three of them in the lift. The third conflict is between the narrator and his parents. At seventeen they expected him to proceed to college after high school. He declines, and instead wonders all over Japan working at various manual jobs.


The third conflict is between the narrator and his parents. At seventeen they expected him to proceed to college after high school. He declines, and instead wonders all over Japan working at various manual jobs. The last conflict is internal. He believes that he is immune to the supernormal experiences. Yet he has this encounter with a non-existent mirror that32holds him captive and seems to control him. He keeps this event secret for over 12 years, but finally he relates it. What is more, he keeps away from mirrors. He is afraid the scary incident would happen again yet he swears he does not believe in supernormal forces. Character and characterisation. NarratorproudThinks that people that have encountered ghosts or have had premonition are not normal and that he is unique because he s never had those experiences. FearfulFeels apprehensive about mirrors and does not keep them around him. He was too scared to fix the broken gate because of the dark night. Terrified by the mirror incident he runs back to the janitor s room. RebelliousRefuses to go to college and chooses to do manual work. HospitableHosts his friends and having been entertained by their stories he too narrates one that he has kept secret in order to further entertain them. AnalyticalUpon listening to his friend s stories he separates them into two categories: those of ghosts and premonitions; further, he says a force links people to these things. He goes a step further and says the33impression he gets is that these experiences are mutually exclusive. 5.ThemesIdentity CrisisAt 17 when the narrator should be proceeding to college, he chooses to wander all over Japan doing manual work. This is a typical teenage problem as they try to identify who they really are, different from what their parents want them to be. What is disturbing though is that at 30, more experienced with life, he says he d do it all over again. This rebellious streak is stuck with him. He also believes that he is different from other people. Other people see ghosts; he doesn t. Other people have premonitions; he doesn t. Yet he is very much like them because of the encounter he had with an imaginary mirror that still controls his life. Appearances vs realityIt appears to him that the supernormal operates at two levels: ghosts and premonitions.


35Diamond Dust by Anita Desai1.SettingThe story is set in Bharti Nagar, an urban civil servants residential area in India. The events take us from Mr. Das house, to the streets of Bharti Nagar, into the Lodi Gardens and down the alleys of the town. 2.PlotWe are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Das and Diamond, Mr. Das problematic dog. It is not only a nuisance toMrs. Das but to service providers and children as well. To Mr. Das, he is a lovable pet hence the name Diamond. As a result of Diamond s nature C.P. Biswas asks Das why he named the dog Diamond and not the more probable coal after its black colour. Das wouldn t hear of this neither does he have an explanation for Mr. Biswas. What is more, Das outs his dog before family; on return from work he greets Diamond then the family members. Mrs. Das has a premonition that all this is not going to end well. But Das is unstoppable. He even frolics with Diamond in public something that displeases his colleagues. His friendsBiswas and Base see Das behavior as bringing shame to them before their superiors:- the undersecretary and the retired Joined Secretary. Mrs. Das too disapproves of this attachment to Diamond. Over the years she has had to clean after Diamond: its urine, smell and fur from floor rugs and seats. She has even sacrificed a cooking pot has to move out of the house for one hour as Diamond s36meat cooks. Her protests do not yield any change. Ironically, Das complains that an animal s nature can t be changed by domestication. Children, though they approved of Diamond, teased him when Das wasn t around. He cautions them against using sticks or stones against Diamond or running away from him. They protest that they d be bitten the way Ranu was if they don t run. However, the real problems begin when Diamond matures into a full grown god. He moves from a nuisance to a menace. First, there is his phobia for uniform. He bellows at the postman, chases him and tears his trousers. The result is Mrs. Das doesn t get her mail regularly for it is thrown at the hedge.


He bellows at the postman, chases him and tears his trousers. The result is Mrs. Das doesn t get her mail regularly for it is thrown at the hedge. Then there are the other service providers: electricity meter readers telephone repair men, and garbage collectors who do not render their services to the Das family because Diamond attacks them when they do. Finally there are the school children who cannot get to the bus stop without adult protection. Neighbours however do not report him to the police out of both propriety and pity. In the end, Diamond becomes a pain to Das during mating seasons. He disappears for long stretches and during this period Das spends days and nights in search of him. What is more, his behavior when he catches Diamond mating alarms parents. Mrs. Das too wouldn t have Diamond back in the house until he s been cleaned. Further, Diamond is a threat to his job. He spends time looking for him instead of going to work or when he does go to work he is distracted. 37Diamond s final escapade ends badly for both of them. Diamond is caught by the dog catchers and he faces certain death. Das sees him in the moving van jumps onto it and plunges to death. ConflictA conflict arising from Diamond s actionsDiamond Mrs. DasDiamond generally upsets Mrs. Diamond. He upsets the table, when she sets Das food. He knocks her down. He gets more attention than her children do. She had to mop after him when he was a puppy and constantly urinated on the floor. She had to put up with the smell of the dog in her next house. Diamonds further had to be constantly removed from rugs, sofas and armchairs. Her letters got lost or never reached her because Diamond attacked the postman when he made deliveries. She had to nurse Mr. Das when he caught flu in the cold nights in search of Diamond. Finally, her husband dies when he tries to save Diamond from the moving fog catcher s van. Diamond and the neighboursThe children would throw stones or sticks at Diamond, then he d break loose and run after them nipping at their heels or stopping when they fell in the dust. When his phobia for uniform grew he would chase children on their way to or from school. The result was that they could38neither go to the bus-stop nor come from it, without adult protection.


Diamond and the neighboursThe children would throw stones or sticks at Diamond, then he d break loose and run after them nipping at their heels or stopping when they fell in the dust. When his phobia for uniform grew he would chase children on their way to or from school. The result was that they could38neither go to the bus-stop nor come from it, without adult protection. During the badmashi days, Diamond would howl so loudly keeping the neighbours awake. This would go on until hesnapped his collar. B Conflicts arising from Mr. Das actions:-i Das and Mrs. DasMrs. Das complained that he gave more attention to Diamond than he did to his children or grandchildren pp 3 Not even about our children not even your first-born son or your grandchildren, have you made so much of us that dog. She also complains that on his return from work Das greeted the dog Diamond, my friend before greeting Mrs. Das, his grandchildren or anyone at all. She refuses to go to the butcher s for buffalo meat for Diamond nor would she cook the meat when Das brought it he had to do it himself. Further, she asks him to substitute milk and bread for Diamond s meat but Das would hear none of this. She complains that her letters don t reach her because Diamond attacks the postman when he makes deliveries. Das instead accuses the postman of being cowardly. When Diamond goes out on his last escapade in Nov. the night chill made Das sick and she39had to nurse him every time he came back empty handed. Further, she pleaded with him to give up Diamond before the search kills him to no avail. Das and his colleagues neighboursC.P.Biswas is convinced the name Diamond is too good for the dog and wonders when it was given such a name. He d rather it be named coal after its black coat. Das says he d never do such a thing to Diamond. His colleagues had caught him frolicking withDiamond in public like a child. They feel he s taken leave of his senses and this worries them. Further, they feel that his behavior embarrasses them before their superiors, the under-Secretary and the retired Joint Secretary. When Diamond starts running after school children, many parents went to complain to Das but he remained deaf to their pleas.


They feel he s taken leave of his senses and this worries them. Further, they feel that his behavior embarrasses them before their superiors, the under-Secretary and the retired Joint Secretary. When Diamond starts running after school children, many parents went to complain to Das but he remained deaf to their pleas. Parents also took offence too when he led the children in search of Diamond upon his first disappearance. What annoyed them was Das separating Diamond from his partner beforethe children. Das and DiamondDiamond, following his animal instinct would go out in search of mating partners. Das feared the dog catchers would catch up with him and kill him. So, he would go out in search of Diamond40every time he disappeared. Ultimately, it is the arrest of Diamond that leads to Das death. Diamond and Service providersThe postman suffers the worst attack of the service providers. Diamond bellows at him, chases him and tears a strip off his trousers leg. After this he delivers the Das letters at the hedge. The other service providers who decline to serve the Das indene officials of the BOE, telephone lines repairman and garbage collectors. Characters and CharacterisationMrs. DasTolerant tireless cleans after DiamondDoes not give up living with Das on account of Diamond Neat cleaned the puddles and fur Diamond left behind her own pet, a cat, fed neatly off its bowl. Mr. DasInconsiderateAlthough his pet makes many people suffer, he d not give it up. UnrealisticHe expects animals to remain true to their nature but nothis Diamond. ThemesObsessionDas obsessive nature towards his dog disrupts the lives of his family, neighbours colleagues and service providers41Animals natureWe should not expect animals to change their nature just because we have domesticated them. This is illustrated by Diamonds disruptive behaviour in Das life as well as that of his family and neighbours. POVThird person point of view. Appropriate because the first person would have been very biased. We are therefore able to experience Diamond s disruptive behavior in all spheres of Bharti Nagar. A Is the title appropriate? Dictionary .com defines diamond dust as pulverized diamonds uses as an abrasive. Diamonds abrasive nature rubs everyone the wrong way including its owner. What is the significant event? Mr. Das obsessive behavior towards Diamond.


What is the significant event? Mr. Das obsessive behavior towards Diamond. What is the aim of the author? The author cautions against obsessive behavior Mr. Das does because of the excessive love he has for his dog. Besides, he is oblivious to the pain it causes other people. The author also cautions against the danger pets pose to both their owners and society in general. An animal nature can t be changed simply because it is domesticated. Diamond stays true to this statement which ironically is made by Mr. Das. The other irony in relation to this statement is that Mr. 42Das personality does not change despite the many pleas from friends and family. Task: One person s pleasure can be a terrible displeasure to someone else. Write an essay that is in support of this statement with illustrations from Anita Desai s story Diamond Dust 43Arrested Development by Sandisile TshumaSettingThe story is set on a road trip from Zimbabwe s capitalBulawayo, to Beitbridge, a town bordering South Africa. The setting moves from Max s garage, to a contraband ferrying vehicle and ultimately to Beitbridge. This is at a time when Zimbabwe is experiencing hyperinflation. PlotThe narrator and tens of travelers are writing at Max s garage for vehicles to take them to their various destinations. The narrator is an academic researcher in search of data on order jumping. There is no public transport and so the travelers are at the mercy of private vehicle owners. As a result of the collapse of public service provision, the people of Zimbabwe have developed infinite patience in order to get anything they want. After three days of waiting, the narrator struggles with other passengers to get onto the back of a pick-up that has stopped next to her. They are charged an exorbitant fare. Though they pay up, the driver takes them back to Max s alleging that his costs will not be covered. Presently she is directed by a tout to a vehicle ready to leave for Beitbridge. She finds herself travelling in the company of two contraband dealers, the driver and the woman in mid-thirties. She learns that the police take bribes to ignore the contraband. She learns that the lot of the cross-border traders is way better than that of highly educated Zimbabweans. For example she and her friend Lihile who has despaired of her lot ever improving.


She learns that the police take bribes to ignore the contraband. She learns that the lot of the cross-border traders is way better than that of highly educated Zimbabweans. For example she and her friend Lihile who has despaired of her lot ever improving. From the44passenger who joins them at Gwanda, she learns that ignorance is preyed upon in a very cruel way. This cruelty on one another wises up victims. Survival for con-artists therefore is a daily struggle. Zimbabweans are filled with loneliness and despair. Even for the cross-border traders, the risks are many. The best everyone can do is resign themselves to their fate like Lihile who now fetches water and easily contends with blackoutsThe narrator s research however offers a ray of hope that might salvage the youth from their endless troubles in search of a livelihood. 3.Conflicti Poor public service provision. The public looks to the government for the provision of public service. These have either broken down completely, like transport, or are not efficiently provided like electricity, water etc. The public is powerless to bring on any improvement and have resigned themselves to waiting. Ii Private transportWith the collapse of public transport, private vehicle owners have moved in to fill the gap. They charge fares that the public can bear. They even use unscrupulous means, like taking them back to the pickup stations, to Max on fares. 45iii The PublicThe public is its own worst enemy. They have perfected vigoroni: the art of getting ahead of the crowd and on top of the pile. A tiny old woman painfully elbows the narrator to earn her place on the vehicle to Beitbridge. The narrator in return scales the sides of the pick-up without regards to the less athletic woman. The passenger who joins them at Gwanda is conned of 780 rand. Payment defaulters in the cross-border trade are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburg . The traders are mugged by bandits who strip search them. They pay off every government officer they come in contact with for their businesses to continue. They pay off border officials, highway police, magistrates even farmers. For example, Gloria pays a border official in order to cross the border without a pass. The driver buys a ticket from the police to avoid paying more bribes on the way.


They pay off border officials, highway police, magistrates even farmers. For example, Gloria pays a border official in order to cross the border without a pass. The driver buys a ticket from the police to avoid paying more bribes on the way. Characters and Characetrisation i Narratora Observant-vividly describes the boarding of the twin-cab pickup -places the Gwanda passenger as a Tshumab Intelligent-an academician carrying out a research project46c FocusedThe wealth made by the cross-border traders does not make her give up the quest of improving the lot of the youth in return for quick riches in business. Cross-border traders: -opportunists-cunning-daring- crossing of the LimpopoGeneral populace-impotent powerless to bring about change not every via ballot -Greedy change exorbitant fees for services transport and products fuel - Police govt. Officials take bribes Government officials swindle cash meant fordevelopment projects like the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Pipeline. -con one another e.g. the Tshuma boys conned by the money changers. -Resigned- Lihile now fetches water and contends with the blackouts despite her education and exposure at the U.K. -Generous there who have found work in S.A send cash and groceries to their relatives in Zimbabwe. Themes. The best developed theme in this story is suffering. There are many other themes but not well developed. I Sufferinga No public service or they are inefficient. 47-the narrator waits for 3 hours before she gets transport. The Tshuma man had waited 18 hours for the mini-bus to Bulawayo to fill. The narrator had waited for 2 hours at the bank to withdraw money. Black -outs are common place and house taps are drypayment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburgtraders sometimes have to cross the crocodile infested river Limpopo. At times they are attacked by banditsThe practice of Vigoroni has robbed them of etiquette. The narrator is elbowed painfully by a tiny old woman as they scramble for space on a pick-upii Impotence-In the first two paragraphs, the word wait has been used five times and waiting once.


Black -outs are common place and house taps are drypayment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburgtraders sometimes have to cross the crocodile infested river Limpopo. At times they are attacked by banditsThe practice of Vigoroni has robbed them of etiquette. The narrator is elbowed painfully by a tiny old woman as they scramble for space on a pick-upii Impotence-In the first two paragraphs, the word wait has been used five times and waiting once. This apparent patience is actually the collective weakness not strength of Zimbabweans . But it is not in the nature of a Zimbabwean to question or complain. Pp 88-the educated like Lihile have despaired and put her life expectancy at 40 or just below . What is more, she has adapted to the dry taps and blackouts. Iii Corruption-pp 93 There is no palm that cannot be greased, apparently border officials, highway police, magistrates all take bribes -pp 87 people in high office swindle project funds-Matebeleland Zambezi Water Pipeline has never taken off. 48iv Human rights violationspp 93 payment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburg, traders are subjected to strip searchers by banditsv Insecuritytraders are mugged by bandits in the farmlands of Limpopo Province. Vi Lonelinesspp 93 I am struck by a loneliness that I have noticed in everyone lately. On page 93 Gloria tells us that: Trust no one, not even relatives. This lack of trust seems to be the source of the loneliness. POV1st person narrator makes the story more credible because of her high academic status and the fact that she is the only person doing something to bring about change. A Is the title appropriate? Yes. Arrested development, though a contradiction, points to the fact that the impotence of 12million people has ensured their quality of life does not improve. B What is the significant event? The discovery of the patience of Zimbabweans c What is the aim of the author? Unless people do something about their circumstances, their lot will never change. 49Sandra Street by Michael AnthonySettingThe story is set in a suburb street called Sandra. It is no ordinary street. It houses a residential area, a school and it leads into a forested hill.


49Sandra Street by Michael AnthonySettingThe story is set in a suburb street called Sandra. It is no ordinary street. It houses a residential area, a school and it leads into a forested hill. Sandra Street maintains a somewhat natural environment: there are no fences or gates, a few houses, a small population and its people live in harmony. Neighbouring residential areas are a little way off. PlotWe are introduced to Steve, the narrator; Mr. Blades, his new teacher who is a nature lover and Sandra Street. We learn about the natural environment of Sandra Street through a composition by Kenneth, a boy from the other side of town. His story leads t a conflict between boys from the other side of the town and those from Sandra Street. The Sandra Street boys feel that their town has been described negatively. Mr. Blades reads a few more stories, some of which say very nice things about Sandra Street. His delight at these did not appease most of the boys from Sandra Street. In a desperate attempt to calm them, he asks the class to write a composition on the other side of town. This only fuels the conflict between the boys. However, the narrator does an objective assessment ofKenneth s composition and finds that it was a truthful description of Sandra Street. He even begins to appreciate its beauty. He is so caught up in his reflections he does not realise the break bell has gone. It takes Mr. Blades to bring him back to the present. 50The following Tuesday the boys fight again as a result of what they wrote about the other side of town. More compositions are written on other subjects yet Sandra Street did not go away. Mr. Blades, who is new to Sandra Street, is waiting for the mango season to find out whether the boys had given an accurate description of Sandra Street during that season. What is more, Mr. Blades takes an interest in Steven s writing. The two of them appear at the window several times looking out at Sandra Street. With every discussion they have at the window, Steven s observation ability grows so does this love of nature. His interest in nature takes him to the hills where he explores the river, mango and banana groves and even gets to put away green bananas in the immortelle roots to ripen. In his last encounter with Mr. Blades at the window, Steven invites him to the hills to inspect his bananas. At the hills, Mr.


In his last encounter with Mr. Blades at the window, Steven invites him to the hills to inspect his bananas. At the hills, Mr. Blades, who had thought the trip was a nature trail walk, is disappointed that Steven only focuses on the ripening bananas and not the view of Sandra Street the hill affords them. ConflictThe main conflict revolves around Mr. Blades and Steven. Mr. Blades is a nature lover. He sees in Steven a similar spirit which is however latent. There is an uneasy relationship in which the master trains the pupil to appreciate his environment. The challenge is in showing Steve the beauty of his environment without telling him what stands out as beautiful. So it is a journey in which Steven awakens to the beauty that is his environment with Mr. Blades as his hands-off guide. 51NB: This journey is made up of a series of conflicts between Blades and Steven. Identify all of them. B Kenneth s work and StevenThis is one in the series of conflicts mentioned in a above. However it stands out because it runs through the entire story. Mr. Blades contrasts Kenneth s writing with that of Steve. Kenneth seems to have well developed observation powers Steve does not. It is Kenneth s composition on Sandra Street that Mr. Blades uses to arouse Steven s passion for nature. Although it is unprofessional, Mr. Blades uses Kenneth s work to criticize Steven s pp 103,106 . Further, conflict develops between the boys from Sandra Street and those from the other side of town. Each writes disparagingly about the other s residential area resulting in two bruising battles. What is the import of these fights? Steven gives us the answer. He had written in anger what I thought of now in joy pp 99. Each of these pupils has a latent love of the environment in them. It however is not well directed. Mr. Blades tries to direct Steven s love of nature and remove the juvenile jealousy and hatred he possesses. Steven experiences internal conflict. First, although he likes to hear the steel band they do not have one in Sandra Street he puts it in his composition to disparage the other side of town he describes its sound as horrible pp98 . As Steven begins to appreciate the beauty of Sandra Street, it also fills him with a sense of sadness.


Steven experiences internal conflict. First, although he likes to hear the steel band they do not have one in Sandra Street he puts it in his composition to disparage the other side of town he describes its sound as horrible pp98 . As Steven begins to appreciate the beauty of Sandra Street, it also fills him with a sense of sadness. He says52that certain sadness came over him as he looked over the houses across to the hills pp 100 . Iii Steven writes in his compositions about his experiences at the hills but hopes that Mr. Blades will not see the reality in it. He wonders how Mr. Blades had found out about the bananas; he put out to ripen in the roots of the immortelle pp104-105 . E Mr. Blades suffers internal conflictHis dilemma is how to make the pupils appreciate SandraStreets beauty without telling them what is beautiful. Thus, when he reads Kenneth s work class and appreciates it, he is misunderstood by the boys from Sandra Street. His attempts to placate them by reading stories that said nice things about Sandra Street fall through. Instead of telling them what to look out for, he gives them an assignment to write about the other side of town. His teaching style is allowing learners to discover. He makes a compromise by guiding one. 53TWILIGHT TREK by SEFFI ATTASettingThe story is set in Gao, Mali. It then moves through Mali and Algeria upto Tangier, a Moroccan coastal town. This is desert country ant the travelers suffer the heat of the scorching sun and constant sand storms. The trek itself must take place in the night- it covers two nights. The travelers stop at a camp on a mountain just outside Tangier. It is a stinking mess. PlotThe story opens with the narrator receiving a fake passport in the name of Jean Luc from an agent in Gao, Mali. He narrates how he sold marijuana to raise his fare. Impatient that the money was not coming in quickly enough, he steals from his employer. He threatens to send a gang to sodomise him then slit his throat. The narrator scales up his immigration time-table and starts his illegal immigration journey. At the start of the journey he meets Patience, a girl he travels with to the Tangier camp. During the journey they face a lot of suffering.


The narrator scales up his immigration time-table and starts his illegal immigration journey. At the start of the journey he meets Patience, a girl he travels with to the Tangier camp. During the journey they face a lot of suffering. It is a bumpy ride and the sandstorms drive sand everywhere. In the day, they have to hide under the truck from the scorching sun. What is more, their guide increases the fare by 100 or he abandons them in the desert. They pay up and the second leg of their journey starts. Even this leg is disappointing. Their guide drops them at54the foot of the mountain and they complete their journey on foot. When they reach the camp the narrator is shocked by the insalubrious conditions. Men, women and children all live under plastic sheets and there are no sanitation facilities in sight. Further, they are warned to be wary of thieves, Moroccan security forces, conmen and plagues. Their final destination, Cueta, presents a challenge to get to. Obazee says that he s been trying for six years but keeps getting caught by the police who beat him up. The narrator finds out from Obazee how to cross the sea and what dangers each mode of transport presents and the cost. This information excites him and he shares it with Patience who has resorted to reading the bible for solace. He is ready to meet her crossing fee. She wonders where he would get the money from. He shows her where his money is hidden. They wake up in the morning to find that Obazee is moving the camp further away from the security forces. The narrator wouldn t move because he is still waiting for Patience who had gone to Tangier to find a samsara . He also discovers that she has taken his money. He waits to no avail. He has to start all over again. ConflictThe story raises conflicts at different levels. External conflict develops at two levels. First there is conflict55between people. Second, there is conflict between man and nature. The other level of conflict is internal. The narrator through his dreams understands that his mother s advice was worth taking yet he can t or wouldn t take it. We will now examine conflict in the chronological order that they are developed.


The other level of conflict is internal. The narrator through his dreams understands that his mother s advice was worth taking yet he can t or wouldn t take it. We will now examine conflict in the chronological order that they are developed. Illegal immigrant and foreign embassies pp109 The foreign embassies will not grant visas to illegal African immigrants effectively denying them an opportunity to move to Europe. The Africans believe they can still get to Europe. They will cross the Sahara and get to Morocco then cross the Mediterranean Sea into Spain. The narrator and drug seller pp 109 The narrator disagrees with his mother and runs away from home. To survive he sells marijuana. Dissatisfied with how much he was making, he steals from his employer. His employer in return promises to send a gang to sodomise him then slit his throat. To avoid this treatment he starts his journey to Europe. The narrator and his motherWhen the narrator was little his mother would dress him up like a girl. He would struggle during such treatment pp109 . When he got older, she tried to pimp him to a Lebanese man who liked light skinned boys. He runs away from home to avoid such treatment pp110 . Further, we learn that his dreams enhance this mother and56child conflict. His mother tries to dissuade him from making the trip by narrating to him horror stories of illegal immigration attempts. He is still in Gao and would have turned back but he doesn t pp110 . In the second dream, she alludes to the Promised Land, a story from the bible. However, the people who seek the Promised Land end up us taxi drivers, night guards, cleaners of plates and toilets and some become homeless sleeping in the cold of ghettos and streets. Yet others go on to become sex slaves or cultural slaves pp113 4 . In his penultimate dream, his mother uses strong images of death to hint at Jeans imminent failure. He still does not take her advice. In the final dream she dismisses Patience as a common prostitute and that her reading of the bible was of no value. She gives him more stories of frustrated immigrants. He does not heed his mother s advice that he stays away from Patience and the trip. Illegal immigrants and natureWhen the trek gets underway, the travelers find out that they can only travel in the night and the winds are very cold then. The sand too presents a problem.


He does not heed his mother s advice that he stays away from Patience and the trip. Illegal immigrants and natureWhen the trek gets underway, the travelers find out that they can only travel in the night and the winds are very cold then. The sand too presents a problem. It hurts their eyes, stings their nostrils and mats their chests. It is also in their food and57water. Their tongues swell so badly they cannot converse. Their legs are cramped. Others suffer from piles and wheezing chests. The conflict with nature continues when they stop in the day. They suffer the scorching sun and hide underneath the truck to avoid the heat. There is however no escaping the sand which is all over them including in their underpants pp112 113 . Travellers and Tuareg guideAt the start of the second leg of their journey, the travellers get blackmailed by their Tuareg guide. They are deep in the Sahara desert and the guide tells them to pay an extra 100 each or he abandons them. They pay up pp114 5 Illegal immigrants and environmentThe camp is insalubriousThe narrator describes it as an open sewer pp115 . There is lack of privacy. Men, women and children all sleep under plastic sheets. The environment is a health hazard. They suffer constant bites from fleas. Many are coughing. They are warned that even the air that they breathe may carry plagues pp115 6 . At the camp they are told to beware of thieves, Moroccan security forces and con men. 58The narrator and PatienceShe steals his money and heads for Tangier and the world beyond. Character and characterisationThe narrator Independent mindedWhen he was little his mother dressed him up as a girl and he d resist this. When she tried to pimp him out to a homosexual, he ran away from home. GiftedHe plays football very well. This is the main reason why he wants to travel to Europe where he hopes to develop his talent further. FriendlyBefriends Patience and helps her through the difficult times. He is willing to pay part of her fare. Na veTrusts Patience and tells her where his money is hidden. She steals it and abandons him at the camp.


He is willing to pay part of her fare. Na veTrusts Patience and tells her where his money is hidden. She steals it and abandons him at the camp. BraggartHe brags to Patience about his football skills and how he was going to make a career out of playing football in Europe. IrreligiousHis mother has not taught him religion. She says that Africans too can compile their stories in a holy book. 59When he reads about God promising the Israelites food, he says that he was tired and that the fairy wasn t going to help them. ThemesSufferingThis is the best developed theme in the story. Identify all the instances of suffering that the travellers go through. PovertyThis is the real cause of the trek. The narrator s mother earns a living as a prostitute. The money she earns barely covers expenses. She sells ground nuts to supplement. What is more, she is ready to pimp her son to homosexuals to augment her earnings. The Muslim women in Gao cannot afford to share their meal with strangers. There just isn t enough to go round. The highways are full of potholes and the taxis are in a state of disrepair. OpportunismThe narrator takes advantage of the trust his boss has in him and steals his money. His mother is happy to have a child of mixed race. His light skin is particularly favoured by homosexuals and she had been grooming him to earn money from the trade. 60The Tuareg guide blackmails the travellers in the desert. He raises the fare by 100 at a time he knows they can t default. Patience takes advantage of Jean. He trusts her enough to tell her where his money is hidden. She steals it and does not care about his plight. StyleSatireSatire is made up of three literary devices: irony, wit and humour. It objective is to expose the vices and follies of individuals or societies in such a way that they appear ridiculous. It is the heavy presence of irony in this story that directs our attention to satire. Let us now consider some of the outstanding instances of irony. IronyThe most important instance of irony comes at the start of the story and it s concluded at the end. The narrator dupes his master and steals his cash. During the trek he befriends Patience.


IronyThe most important instance of irony comes at the start of the story and it s concluded at the end. The narrator dupes his master and steals his cash. During the trek he befriends Patience. He builds a tent at the camp which he shares with her; he promises to meet the cost of her crossing the sea and to prove that he can he shows her the where the money is. She steals it and abandons him at the camp. It is the same money that he had stolen from his employer. Another instance of irony that runs through the story plays out between the narrator and his mother. She raised him with only one purpose in mind: to pimp him61out to homosexuals. He flees from home because of this. However, throughout the trek she remains the only voice of reason through his dreams. She constantly impresses upon him the folly of his action. Obazee is also an ironic figure. He holds a degree. His knowledge and skills ought to be used in the service of the people of his country. He is however portrayed as lacking in imagination. For six years he is stuck in the camp described as an open sewer. All his attempts to get to Cueta have been thwarted by the Guardia Civil. He fancies himself as the leader of the camp. This is a complete waste of university education. NB: Find more instances of irony. Notice that each of these ironic situations points to a human weakness. That is satire. Now let us examine the things that have been satirised in this story. Opportunism callousness of human nature andgreed The writer satirises the callousness of human nature in taking advantage of those around them for personal gain. The opportunists satirised in this story include: The narratorAt the time Patience steals from him he has 1000. This means that he stole a lot of money from his employer. The money has not brought him any benefit. First, the journey through the desert has been a very difficult one. Now far away from home he is not only destitute but he has no way of salvaging himself. Further, his inexperience has made him prey to the older Patience. 62 The narrator s employerHe deals in marijuana. This drug corrupts the youth. What is more is that he uses the young Jean to peddle his drugs and pays him peanuts.


62 The narrator s employerHe deals in marijuana. This drug corrupts the youth. What is more is that he uses the young Jean to peddle his drugs and pays him peanuts. The result is that Jean steals from him. The narrator s motherShe raises Jean with the intention of pimping him out to homosexuals. This is child abuse. She lamely tells him about the Lebanese: He ll only touch you . Her son runs away from home because he does not wish to be a homosexual. The Tuareg guideHis greed is satirised. Deep in the desert he takes advantage of the travellers and asks them for more money or he abandons them. The poor souls would die in the desert. They pay up. PatienceHer greed too is satirised. Jean was ready to share his loot with her so that they cross the sea into Spain together. She however steals his money and leaves him destitute. Brutality violenceThe policeThe last time Obazee tries to get into Cueta illegally, the Guardia Civil catch him and beat him up severely. It is the Medecins Sans Frontieres that saves his life. Pp119 BanditsThere is talk that travellers are sometimes attacked by bearded moslems and bandits when their trucks break down in the desert. There is no63guarantee that the police would arrive in time to rescue them. Such stories make some women turn back at the last moment pp111 . SamsaraIn his fourth dream, his mother narrates the story of the Senegalese girl who couldn t swim. The Samsara who carries her in his dhingy refuses to get close to the shore. He orders her to jump out of the dhingy into the sea and find her way somehow. Pp 121 Collective folly of illegal of illegal immigrationAt the end of the first dream, the narrator s mother tells him that the lesson to be learned from the deportation story is that the world is round and that means if one ran too fast, one might end up chasing the very homeland one is running from. In his second dream she tells him the story of disillusionment. Those who finally reached The Promised Land wonder what they were chasing.


Pp 121 Collective folly of illegal of illegal immigrationAt the end of the first dream, the narrator s mother tells him that the lesson to be learned from the deportation story is that the world is round and that means if one ran too fast, one might end up chasing the very homeland one is running from. In his second dream she tells him the story of disillusionment. Those who finally reached The Promised Land wonder what they were chasing. They end up driving taxis,, washing plates and toilets, guarding buildings at night, sleeping in the streets, serving as sex slaves and enslaving themselves to the West through marriage pp113-4 The illegal immigrants have neither clear plans nor the money to get them to Spain from the camp. The narrator says of the people in the camp: These people here are not like any64villagers; they are like refugees on television, squatting under plastic sheets: men, women and children. The implication is that they choose to lead a squalid life yet nobody sent them away from their villages which are more comfortable than the camps. Obazee gives a very poor show for an educated man. He lives a squalid life and fancies himself the camp leader demanding to be addressed with respect. How can a man who doesn t respect himself be respected by others. He should be using his university education to improve the lot of his people back at home. Six years have gone by with nothing achieved and many more will go by because he can neither go forward nor turn back. POVThe story is told from the first person point of view. It makes the story credible. We would not believe that people can be so wicked or so stupid unless we hear it from the horse s mouth. A Appropriateness of the titleHarrap s Essential English Dictionary defines a trek as a long journey usually on foot. Twighlight, on the other hand is the period immediately after sunset. Indeed the trek for the two days begins after sunset. In the day they rest to avoid the patrolling police. The journey is undoubtedly long although very little of it is done on foot. 65Figuratively too, the sun is not yet up for this would be immigrants. They are not realistic in their ambition to immigrate. B Significant eventThe notice of revenge on Jean by the drug baron is the significant event in this story.


65Figuratively too, the sun is not yet up for this would be immigrants. They are not realistic in their ambition to immigrate. B Significant eventThe notice of revenge on Jean by the drug baron is the significant event in this story. He says that he could not afford to be sodomised against his will so he flees pp109 . Aim of the authorShow the ridiculous lengths to which people will go to try and improve their lot. Show human suffering occasioned by poor decision making. Q. 1What are some of the elements that Sefi Atta exposes as ridiculous in Twilight Trek? Q. 2Discuss the suffering the illegal immigrants undergo in Twilight Trek by Sefi Atta. 66I STAND HERE IRONING BY TILLIE OLSENSettingThe story is set in USA after the depression and WWII but before the economy had fully recovered. The narrator is ironing the family s clothes on an ironing board in her house. The plotThe narrator, a mother of five in her late 30 s, stands ironing her family s clothes. She reflects on a question asked her by somebody handling her daughter, probably a teacher at school. The unnamed person wants her to visit and give information that could be used to help her withdrawn daughter, Emily. She doesn t think she should go because she believes she doesn t have an answer. She believes her 19 year old daughter has lived through experiences that have altered her life in ways a mother cannot understand. Through her reflections, we however get the picture. Emily, very beautiful at birth, is her first born. Her husband abandons them when she is only eight months. The narrator, a working class mother, could not afford to employ a nanny. At first she left the baby with an inconsiderate neighbour. Later she took her to her grandparents. A year goes by before Emily reunites with her mother. Two reasons are given for this long period of separation. First, the narrator could not raise the fare. Second, Emily suffered an attack of chicken pox. 67When she returns, their lot has not improved. She is shipped to school where she suffers in the hands of nasty children because of the scars left by chicken pox. She also suffers in the hands of inconsiderate teachers who sent her back to the bullies.


67When she returns, their lot has not improved. She is shipped to school where she suffers in the hands of nasty children because of the scars left by chicken pox. She also suffers in the hands of inconsiderate teachers who sent her back to the bullies. What is more, the economic hardship makes her mother send her back to her grandparents. When she returns, she finds that she has a new father. Things get worse for Emily when her siblings start coming: four in total. Her mother barely has time to smile at her, let alone comfort her in the nights when she has nightmares. She therefore feels rejected and unwanted. The only saving grace is that her condition, we are not told what it is, impairs her growth. She therefore looks much younger than her age. Inconsiderate children tease her because she does not fit the picture of the stereotype beauty. Her younger sister does not help much. She too bullies Emily. In the end, the narrator is less harassed by the task of parenting. The children have grown older and don t require much attention. She begins to pay more attention to Emily. At first these moments are rejected. Gradually, communication does begin to take place but only on Emily s terms. The narrator is therefore hopeful that ho intervention is requires and that her daughter will end up well. 68ConflictAll the conflicts in this story centre on Emily and the challenges she goes through from infancy to young adulthood. She is born to young parents who have no means of raising her. Her mother is only 19 and America is going through its worst economic crisis: the great depression. Clearly not ready for the sacrifices of parenthood, her father abandons them when she is only eight months old. She lacks a father s love throughout her life. Her new daddy does not fare any better. In the night when her mother is tired and cannot comfort her when she has nightmares, he does not step in. Her mother s love is not forthcoming either. At eight months she has to be with a neighbour during the day as her mother earns her keep. When the financial crisis deepens, she has to go and live with her grandparents for one year. During this period there is absolutely no contact between mother and daughter. This movement to her grandparents happens twice. When she reunites with her mother at the age of 2, she has to go to school. This is the only way her mother could go to work.


This movement to her grandparents happens twice. When she reunites with her mother at the age of 2, she has to go to school. This is the only way her mother could go to work. School exposes her to more loneliness. She is tormented by both pupils and teachers pp129-30 . Emily s conflict with her mother worsens when the clinic persuades her to send Emily away to the convalescent home in the country. For the first six weeks the narrator was not allowed to see her daughter. When she was finally allowed, she69could only speak to her daughter from a distance. The situation was made worse because Emily was not allowed to hold or keep the many letters her parents wrote her. They were only read to her once. Emily s mother also remembers a time when an old man living in the back told her that she should smile at Emily a little more when she looked at her. This was a t a time when Emily was an only child. The narrator remembers this when the other children had come and they were receiving the smiles but it was too late for Emily pp130 The other conflict develops between Emily and her siblings. When Susan was born, her mother was away in hospital for one week. Upon her return, Emily was not allowed near her mother or the baby for another week. She had to endure two weeks of loneliness. As a result, she became delirious with fever pp131 . What is more is that she didn t get better, and suffered nightmares. When she called out to her mother, she d ask her to go back to sleep because it was just a dream. She was too exhausted looking after Susan there was no energy left to look after Emily. There are more problems with Susan. The narrator refers to the relationship between them as poisonous. Their mother acknowledges that she solved the conflicts between the two very badly. She blamed Emily for them. She says that Emily had a corroding resentment towards Susan. 70Then there is the social contest between the siblings. Susan had the good looks that Emily lacked. Further, she was more confident and articulate than Emily. She stole Emily s jokes and riddles and the audience lived her. The most cruel thing was losing or breaking Emily s precious things without apology and getting away with it pp133-4 The instance between Emily and a boy she loved Emily loved a boy painfully through two semesters.


Further, she was more confident and articulate than Emily. She stole Emily s jokes and riddles and the audience lived her. The most cruel thing was losing or breaking Emily s precious things without apology and getting away with it pp133-4 The instance between Emily and a boy she loved Emily loved a boy painfully through two semesters. Months later she reported to her mother how she d stolen money from her purse to buy the boy his favourite candy. He however showed her no affection but liked another girl, Jennifer, better. She pleaded with her mother to tell her why this happened but she had no answer pp133 . SchoolSchool too presents a challenge; she was neither glib nor quick. To her teachers, she was a slow learner who kept trying to catch up. What is more, she was chronically absent. This was in part because of her illness and because her mother just wanted to have her children together, so she made her stay at home with her siblings who not of school going age yet pp133 . Susan too did contribute to her problems with school. She sometimes mislaid Emily s homework. Subsequently, Emily would go to school her homework not done. Her mother says71she d suffer over the unpreparedness, stammering and unsure in her classes pp135 . As a result Emily develops this attitude that there is more to life than school. On the eve of her mid- term exams, she tells her mother not to wake her early with the rest in the morning. She reasons cynically that there might be another atomic bomb in a couple of years that would kill all of them and that it would not matter that somebody had excelled at school pp136 . Emily and povertyAll though all of Emily s problems stem from poverty, there is one event that stands out: her ability to imitate. Her mother had suggested that she one day try it out in the school amateur show. She did and she won. She got invites to perform to thrilled audiences. However, because there was no money to develop her talent, it eddied, clogged and clotted in her pp135 . Character and characterisationThe main character in this story is well developed. She is brought out as a very ordinary woman who has both weaknesses and strengths. StrengthsDeterminedShe looks after her family despite the economic strain.


Character and characterisationThe main character in this story is well developed. She is brought out as a very ordinary woman who has both weaknesses and strengths. StrengthsDeterminedShe looks after her family despite the economic strain. She says that she d go out to work or go out to look for work pp128 . 72ResponsibleLooked after Emily as best as she could. When she couldn t be there, she left her with a neighbour or took her to her grandparents. ReflectiveAt the beginning of the story, someone has asked her to visit and give insights that might help improve Emily s lot. The rest of the story is her reflection on what her achievements and failures have been in bringing up Emily. HonestShe admits her mistakes in the upbringing of Emily. She was distracted both by poverty and the sheer amount of work involved in raising five children almost single handedly. She says that the first six years of Emily s life, she was either away working or Emily was away with her grandparents pp136 . When Susan was born she was too exhausted in the nights to comfort Emily when she had nightmares pp 131 . WeaknessesFearfulShe is afraid that she may not raise her child right. Emily is brought up by the book. She is fed when the book says she should and not a minute too soon pp127 . She fears to raise the child alone and often sends her back to her paternal grandparents home although her husband had deserted her pp128 . 73She is afraid of going to talk to the person who wants insights into Emily s life. In fact, she will not go. She says, Let her daughter be; the only thing that Emily needs to know is that she is not helpless pp136 . She sends her child to the convalescence home for fear she would be taken away from her. The child only returns when the social worker says so even though it was clear to her long ago that the home was not improving Emily. BiasedShe was more lenient with Susan than she was with Emily. She says that when it came to balancing the hurts and the needs between Emily and Susan, she did badly in the earlier years. This was because she felt that Emily had a corroding resentment towards Susan. She did not smile as readily with Emily as she did with the other children.


She says that when it came to balancing the hurts and the needs between Emily and Susan, she did badly in the earlier years. This was because she felt that Emily had a corroding resentment towards Susan. She did not smile as readily with Emily as she did with the other children. She remembers the old neighbour s admonition that she smiles more readily with Emily. This face of joy she admits she started wearing too late for Emily. She therefore does not smile as easily as the others pp130 . She readily made Emily miss school but is very strict with her siblings school attendance pp133 . 74ResignedShe is resigned to the fact that Emily is different from the other children. When she went to school to watch Emily s performance, she only recognized the Emily that nearly drowned into the curtains. She however cannot come to terms with the Emily that is spell binding and exuding control, command and confidence. Little wonder that she does nothing to nurture Emily s talent pp135 . That is to say that according to her Emily is a misfit and that is how things should stay. ThemesPovertyThe narrator is a working class mother. She says that she worked or was out looking for work pp128 . The long hours she spent ironing are indicative that she could not afford to employ somebody to do it. Her daughter asks her: Aren t you ever going to finish the ironing, mother? Pp135 . Of Emily s condition, she says: We were poor and could not afford for her the soil of easy growth pp136 . The goodbye note that Emily s father writes is another indication that they are poor. He writes: He could no longer endure sharing want with them pp128 . Want as a noun means a state of extreme poverty. SufferingEmily s life is one of suffering right form birth. 75Being a first born, her mother brought her up by the book. This meant that she had to endure hours of hunger because her mother only fed her when the book said that she should. At eight months her father walks out on them. She has to be left with a neighbour, who didn t like her very much, when her mother went out to work or look for work. Later she is sent to her father s relatives because her mother could not afford to raise her.


At eight months her father walks out on them. She has to be left with a neighbour, who didn t like her very much, when her mother went out to work or look for work. Later she is sent to her father s relatives because her mother could not afford to raise her. At her grandparents she comes down with small pox which scars her face for life. Then there was her stay at the convalescent home. For the first six weeks she is not allowed to see he mother. When she if finally allowed to visit, they can only see on another from a distance lest the children are contaminated. Further, the only friend that Emily makes, a little girl, is taken away from her. Emily laments that: They don t want like you to love anybody here pp132 . There is someone else Emily loved. This is the boy at school. She even stole money fromher mother s purse to buy him his favourite candy. He however liked Jennifer better. NB: There are many more instances of Emily s suffering. Identify and illustrate all of them. Do you think the narrator too undergoes suffering? Explain your answer. 76Family relationshipsTry to find answers to the following issues raised about Emily s family. Trace the development of the relationship between Emily and her mother. Give illustrations to show that the relationship between Emily and Susan is a sour one. Supply evidence to show that Emily s four siblings got preferential treatment. POVThis story is told by the first person. The events are made more credible through the use of stream of consciousness. The narrator s reflections and the memories jump from one thought to another as she gives us insights on why Emily turned out the way she did. 7. A Appropriateness of title The title is symbolicIt is a symbol of the poverty of the narrator and the general harsh economic period in which Emily was born and raised. Besides putting in long hours for the people who employ her, the narrator had to put up even longer hours to take care of her own household chores. It is also a symbol of the tortured thoughts and memories that go through the narrator s mind as she tries to understand why Emily turned out the way she did. Finally it is a symbol of hope.


Besides putting in long hours for the people who employ her, the narrator had to put up even longer hours to take care of her own household chores. It is also a symbol of the tortured thoughts and memories that go through the narrator s mind as she tries to understand why Emily turned out the way she did. Finally it is a symbol of hope. At the end of the story the narrator says that Emily should know that she is77not as helpless as the dress on the ironing board before the iron. Significant eventThe significant event in this story is Emily s father deserting his wife and daughter when Emily is only eight months old . Aim of the authorThe writer depicts the suffering endured by the working class families in America during the great depression. QuestionWrite an essay to show the suffering that Emily has endured in her 19 years. 78THE RETRACTION BY STANLEY O. KENANISettingThe story is set in three countries. First, there is the narrator s home country, Zambia. Part of it is set in his village and part of it in the capital, Lusaka. Secondly, it is set in Lilongwe, Malawi. The final setting is Johannesburg, South Africa. The movement between Botolo and Lusaka dominates the story. Another important aspect of the setting is the contrived setting. The contrast in the two contrived settings brings out the futility of the complaint letter against Tatha. The plotThe narrator receives an email from Tatha, a former airline hostess, with Malawi Air. She complains that she loses her job on account of a complaint letter that the narrator writes. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn exactly how he came to write the complaint. The airline served alcoholic drinks on the plane. However, the hostesses were under strict instructions to give additional drinks to passengers only after they had finished what they had been served. This was the only limitation. The narrator however comes from a culture in which pride at a drinking place depends on the number of bottles that one places on the table. Every time he rings for a hostess, it is Tatha that appears and politely declines to serve him an extra drink unless he has finished what he s been served. Towards the end of the journey, another hostess asks the passengers to write down their comments on slips of79paper that she provides.


The narrator however comes from a culture in which pride at a drinking place depends on the number of bottles that one places on the table. Every time he rings for a hostess, it is Tatha that appears and politely declines to serve him an extra drink unless he has finished what he s been served. Towards the end of the journey, another hostess asks the passengers to write down their comments on slips of79paper that she provides. The narrator confesses he was drunk having been drinking for two hours but still gives his comments. He alleges that Tatha had been rude to him throughout the flight. Tatha s email touches him so much that he sells most of the things that he d bought with the prize money and travels by road to Malawi, a 1000km journey, to retract his complaints and to personally apologise to Tatha. He does not get the responses he had expected and travels back home crestfallen but happy with what he had done. Years later, he sees Tatha in a magazine crowned the hostess of the year at Kenya Airways. 3.ConflictTatha and ZgamboThis is the main conflict in the story. Tatha s dream from childhood has been to work for Air Malawi. This she has achieved and wishes to develop her career. What brings her and Zgambo together is fate. Fate would have it that Zgambo would win an air ticket at a raffle draw courtesy of the Lundazi District council. Fate would have it that he boards the plane on which Tatha was on duty. Fate would have it that at drinks time, the less sophisticated Zgambo, would wish to invoke his tribal pride of beer drinking. Fate would have it that airline drink policy allowed for only one drink at a time and Tatha would politely advice him so. However, there was no upper limit. Fate would have it that Zgambo would take advantage of the upper limit policy and get drank. Finally, fate would have it that the airline, in a bid to offer world class services, had resorted to seeking passengers views on the flight and that the drunken Zgambo would80make his comments that Tatha had been rude to him throughout the flight. That s it. A man s ego took advantage of company policy and ruined ta fledgling career.


Finally, fate would have it that the airline, in a bid to offer world class services, had resorted to seeking passengers views on the flight and that the drunken Zgambo would80make his comments that Tatha had been rude to him throughout the flight. That s it. A man s ego took advantage of company policy and ruined ta fledgling career. This conflict is further developed when Zgambo visitsBlantyre to retract his comments. He goes to Tatha s home and she bluntly refuses to welcome him despite the rain. She claims that the apology would do her no good, nor will the retraction amount to anything. Finally, he turns to leave and she runs up to him to ask him in until the rains die down. She adds that she was confused by the whole event. He declines to go in with her. Zgambo and the airline s CEOZgambo gets to Blantyre and visits the Malawi Air office. His intention is to meet the CEO and retract his comments. He does meet the CEO but finds out that the retraction is not a one man affair. The CEO has to present the matter to the disciplinary committee. There was nothing more for Zgambo to o but leave. Zgambo and other service providers. Zgambo and the caf receptionistShe was downright rude to him. He says there was a trace of irritation, sarcasm or both in her voice. Further, she does not wait for his full name but fills the entire space with his surname in block letters and in very poor handwriting. She then tears off the receipt before he finishes spelling his name and hands it to him. This is because she was in a hurry to close. 81Zgambo and bus service to BlantyreThe buses were small and jam packed with sweating humanity. The bus industry sacrificed human comfort for the sole purpose of maximising revenue. What is more, they did not entertain comments on the services they provided. Zgambo and Malawi Air receptionistThe receptionist spoke endlessly on the phone as she served Zgambo. She dismisses his pleas the he sees the CEO sooner just so that she can get back to her telephone conversation. Hardly a world class service. The call was not a business one.


She dismisses his pleas the he sees the CEO sooner just so that she can get back to her telephone conversation. Hardly a world class service. The call was not a business one. Character and characterisationZgamboCareless irresponsibleHe made disparaging comments about Tatha s work to take revenge on an employee who had declined to soothe his ego because what he demanded was against company policy. As a result, she lost her job. ReflectiveUpon receiving Tatha s email about the consequences of his actions, he reviews the events on the plane and says that he had not acted judiciously. He seeks to correct his actions by retracting the comments he d written. DeterminedHe seeks the most effective way to make the retraction. It turns out emails are not taken seriously and the Zambian postal system is ineffective. He is left with only one option: travelling to Malawi. To achieve this he has to sell most of the things that he d82bought using the gift shopping voucher from the raffle. He sold most of the things at a fraction of their cost. Further, he endured the discomfort of the buses and inns to make the retraction in person. Finally, he patiently waits for several hours to meet the CEO and makes his retraction. ConcernedHe is bothered that his comments resulted in Tatha losing her job. After meeting the CEO he walks out feeling assured that Tatha would be reinstated. He is relieved when he finds out a couple of years later that Tatha got a new job and was excelling at it. ThemesIntegrityThis is the main theme of the story. Many characters display a lot of dishonesty in this story. For example, the narrator only learns that his actions on the plane lacked integrity after they had caused Tatha her job. Most of the service providers he meets lack integrity and are merely concerned about themselves. Therefore the services they offer are poor at best. Malawi Air too is a prisoner of its own policies. They were quick to dismiss Tatha on account of a comment from a solitary passenger who was drunk. The claims were not verifiable. What is more, they were at pains to rescind an unfair decision that they had made even after a personal retraction by the complainant.


They were quick to dismiss Tatha on account of a comment from a solitary passenger who was drunk. The claims were not verifiable. What is more, they were at pains to rescind an unfair decision that they had made even after a personal retraction by the complainant. They also have double standards: passengers on their planes are asked to make comments on the quality of service but visitors to their offices are given such an opportunity. As a result,83the receptionist uses company resources, time and phone, for personal benefit without fear of retribution. Finally and most importantly, Tatha acted with integrity but lost her job on account of bureaucracy. However, because of her integrity she lands a similar job in a different company and is soon crowned Employee of the Year. Integrity pays. SufferingAnother theme worth examining is suffering. Find out all the characters that undergo suffering in this story. Name them and illustrate the suffering they go through. 6.StyleIronyThe chief device that the author uses in this story is irony. The narrator had complained about Tatha s alleged rudeness on the flight to South Africa. Her behaviour is contrasted with the other service providers who are downright rude to him. This makes Tatha s integrity stand out. SymbolismThe rain is a symbol of suffering. We encounter rain in the evening the evening that Zgambo went to visit Tatha. We are told that it was raining when the taxi they were in pulled over in front of Tatha s house. The narrator steps out of the cab and into the rain. In the seconds that it takes him to reach the door, he was heavily soaked. His entire conversation with Tatha is held with the rain hitting him hard. He pleads with Tatha to let him in because it was freezing cold in the rain. After Tatha dismissed him and shut the door in84his face, he stands facing the door for a long time oblivious of the rain. When he chooses to walk away, Tatha calls him back but he walks on. She joins him in the rain and tries to convince him to stay in the house until the rain stops. She says that her actions were as a result of the pain she was filled with. The rain therefore symbolises the suffering that the two undergo. POVThe story is told from the first person point of view. The narrator makes a mistake for which he wishes to make amends.


The rain therefore symbolises the suffering that the two undergo. POVThe story is told from the first person point of view. The narrator makes a mistake for which he wishes to make amends. The story is about the challenges he faces in his attempt to retract his comment on Tatha s conduct on the flight to South Africa. Coming from the horses mouth, the story is credible. The honest remorse of the narrator is evident. 8. Appropriateness of titleThe retraction is an appropriate title because the narrator made a comment on Tatha s conduct that he should not have made. He tells the Malawi Air CEO exactly that. But the real story is in the lessons he learns as he tries to make the retraction. He learns that most people discharge their duties completely devoid of integrity and that he had judged the one person who served him with integrity wrong. Above all, he learns that his efforts to make the retraction did not go to waste. Tatha did get a job at a new company and continued to excel. 85Significant eventThe significant event in this story is Tatha writing a email to complain to Zgambo that he has hurt her career. Without this email he would never have known that he had wronged Tatha. It is responsible for his making the retraction. Aim of the authorThis is a morality story. The writer cautions us against doing things just because we can. There is a need to reflect upon the possible outcomes of our actions on the people we deal with. People should behave with integrity whether or not they are being watched. The message in short is that integrity pays. TASKWe like to cause suffering to ourselves and those around us. Write an essay to show the validity of this statement using The Retraction by Stanley O. Kenani for your illustrations86The Bamboo Hut by Grace OgotSettingThe story is set among the people who live on the shores of Lake Victoria. It is a rural setting in the era of the African chieftaincy. The story is completely devoid of Western influence and examines the shortcomings of the inherited chieftaincy and how this affects the chief s family. Further, it examines the morality of the decisions these people make owing to the pressure of the inherited chieftaincy. The PlotChief Mboga goes to the foot of the Ramogi Hills to pray for a son.


The story is completely devoid of Western influence and examines the shortcomings of the inherited chieftaincy and how this affects the chief s family. Further, it examines the morality of the decisions these people make owing to the pressure of the inherited chieftaincy. The PlotChief Mboga goes to the foot of the Ramogi Hills to pray for a son. He is a man both stressed and depressed because none of his many wives have borne him a son to inherit his throne. This is the final plea he is making on this sacred spot. His wife, Achieng is pregnant and due to give birth soon. Unknown to anybody, she is carrying twins. Two months after Mboga s visit to the sacred hill she gives birth alone at the river bank where she had gone to fetch water. She is disappointed when she gives birth to a baby girl. Her disappointment is not long lived though because she goes into labour again and this time the twin is a boy. Overjoyed and desiring to please her husband, she abandons the girl child by the bank and takes the boy back home to the happy chief. Her secret tears at her heart but when she goes back to the river bank after staying indoors for the mandatory 4 days, the baby is not there. 87Many years later the chief encounters a girl that impresses him with her bravery and he wishes that his son marries her. His son, Owiny, too is impressed by the girl and vows to marry none other. However, the protocol of marriage in a chief s home has to be followed. It turns out that nobody knows the girl s father because her foster mother had found her abandoned by the river bank soon after birth. The right decision is reached at the chief s home: his son cannot marry a woman of unknown parentage. Owiny would have none of this. He had set his eyes on Awiti and no substitute would appease him. Achieng is a tortured mother. Awiti s story fits that of the child she had abandoned by the river bank. She has no choice but to tell the truth. The chief has a moral obligation to punish her for the wrong that she had done. It was taboo to throw away a new born child and she was therefore not worthy of being the chief s wife He chooses not to and instead organises a celebration and keeps his family together.


She has no choice but to tell the truth. The chief has a moral obligation to punish her for the wrong that she had done. It was taboo to throw away a new born child and she was therefore not worthy of being the chief s wife He chooses not to and instead organises a celebration and keeps his family together. ConflictMboga and the godsChief Mboga feels that the gods have denied him happiness. For many years he had beseeched Ramogi, the ancestor of the Luo people, to intercede on his behalf for a son. He is not happy because he hasn t a son to inherit his chieftaincy. Achieng She badly wanted to please her husband by being the first wife to bear him a son. So focused is she88that when she gives birth to twins se abandons the girl child by the river bank for she argues that she will spoil the fun. She soon finds out that this decision comes back to haunt her. She can neither find the child she had abandoned nor the peace of mind that should have come naturally to her for bearing the heir to the chief s throne. Owiny and MbogaOwiny is very disappointed when he finds out that he cannot marry Awiti. He tells his father that he has chosen Awiti over the beaded stool. Achieng and MbogaAchieng realises that she is the only one who can resolve the conflict between her husband and son. However, this comes with a risk to her personal safety. If she reveals that she had abandoned a new born baby, then the rules demanded that she be sent away. She chooses to tell the truth despite the consequences. The chief too has a problem because he risks breaking his family. He makes up his mind to keep Achieng despite the mistake that she had committed because losing her would break his heart. Further, he argues that she had borne a lot of pain when she lost the opportunity of seeing her child. Character and characterisationMboga: traditional, merciful, strict, authoritarian Owiny: resolute stubborn,Achieng : decisive89ThemesTraditionA number of Luo traditional practices are brought out in this story:Marriage, child naming, chieftaincy, religionClemency forgivenessAchieng had gone against the rules of the community.