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Resian strongly argues against men and their barbaric ways of continuing insisting on FGM for women and the way it is performed forever. Immediately, Resian sees Oloisudori, ole Kaelo s business partner, she becomes infuriated and hates him. She tells her mother, Whoever he is, Yeiyo, said Resian angrily, he is a manner less dirty old man! 95 . Resian is presented as a character who questions a lot on the things that she feels is not right. She is not comfortable of the fact that Joseph Parmuat is to coach them about the community values. She says to Taiyo, I am beginning to think it disadvantageous being a woman in this society 74 . She further questions,89 But I keep wondering what would have happened had we been sons rather than daughters. Do you think father would have looked for a clan sister to coach us and take us through the dim cultural paths of Nasila? 74 . Resian deconstructs, as well as, reconstructs the idea that women cannot stand up and question anything. She is so enthusiastic that she does not fear her eldest aunt whom other children, as well as, wives had so much fear. Taiyo also does not want to be left behind. She wants to join Minik together with Resian so that they can fight the aspect of FGM. Resian at any given moment finds time to rebuke men. She believes it was men who originated the story about women initiating FGM. She says men started such myths so as to blame women for everything that works against them . Resian is presented as inquisitive and intolerant to cultural practices that dehumanize women. She puts her mother to task by arguing against FGM. For her, she says, if one discovered a nasty but potent medicine that once taken cured an ailment, must they continue to swallow it every day-tenyears down the lines 91 . She says, she finds such a kind of thing not only ridiculous but also absurd 91 . Resian questions her mother on what is the value of FGM to women. When her mother questions whether men are the ones who are continuing the cultural rite, Resian answers so intelligently so that the narrator says that she has done it philosophically.
She says, she finds such a kind of thing not only ridiculous but also absurd 91 . Resian questions her mother on what is the value of FGM to women. When her mother questions whether men are the ones who are continuing the cultural rite, Resian answers so intelligently so that the narrator says that she has done it philosophically. She says, Even if I am reluctantly convinced that it was women and not men who initiated that obnoxious ritual who provoked the women to do so? The Ilarinkon who were purported to have pushed women into mutilating their sexuality were men. And the ancient Ilarinkon were no different from today s Ilarikon. The ancient Ilarikon were sadists and despotic. Today s Ilarikon are worse. In addition,90 to being despotic, they are oppressive tyrants; and no one of their ways of oppressing us is to demand that FGM be perpetuated against us forever! 92 . Taiyo is also presented as being inquisitive. She felt that his father was troubled therefore, she found herself questioning him, Papaai Is something wrong? She further questions the father about Oloisudori, ole Kaelo s business partner. She asks him whether she was the one who had financed their business. Taiyo questions a tradition that is hardly questioned. She is also ready, just like Resian, to go against the traditions of the society. She openly questions Parmuat whether he loves her, Joseph deny before me right now that you love me. Do it right now! 135 . Taiyo is more determined to stand against the culture that is inconsiderate to her feelings. She firmly says, I cannot accept that a culture that does not feed me, clothe me, or house me comes to control my life. Our lives belong to us, Joseph. The destiny of our lives is in our own hands. We should guard it jealously 136 . Taiyo is presented as being overwhelmed by Parmuat s love such that she goes to look for him in his house. We see her requesting her parents to allow Parmuat to coach them about the culture of Nasila. Taiyo knows that Parmuat comes from the same clan as her family but she does not want to hear that is the reason as to why they should not be together. She says that she does not care about the oppressive Nasila culture.
We see her requesting her parents to allow Parmuat to coach them about the culture of Nasila. Taiyo knows that Parmuat comes from the same clan as her family but she does not want to hear that is the reason as to why they should not be together. She says that she does not care about the oppressive Nasila culture. She asks why she should care about the violating culture while it did not care for her own rights. She is not shy and she tells him that she knows he is in love with just like the way she is in love with him. Resian is very observant and can easily foretell when the father is in trouble. For example the narrator says that, Just then, their father returned. Resian looked at him and perceived something queer about him. She was alarmed. Did she imagine it or was there something unnatural about91 him? She wondered. And what was it? 105 . As a keen observer she can be able to detect a slight tremor in his father s voice upon seeing Oloisudori. She also detects a measure of desperation and fear in his father. Faint sheen of perspiration was also noted by Resian, who is very observant and keen expressing her highly levels of intelligence which is extraordinary. Resian is quite observant and proves her reasoning with facts. She meets the father smiling in the morning and she detects that there is something unusual. She finds that her smile was artificial. She thinks that he was insincere. She questions herself, Where was his usual insensate anger that she had come to expect whenever he found her in a room? Why were his eyes shifty and withdrawn into their sockets like one who had little or no sleep at all? 122 . When she feels like asking the father so as to be allowed to go to Nakuru and enroll as a student at Egerton University she feels a kind of premonition that all is not well. The two girls are brilliant and have plans made without their parents knowing of how to exhort information from Oloisudori without him knowing. They are good at observing their parents and that they are ready to beat them at their own game. The narrator says that the girls also wanted to show that they were young modern women who had their own pride, self-respect and selfesteem, They wanted him to know that they were not rudderless objects drifting in the sea without direction 200 .
The two girls are brilliant and have plans made without their parents knowing of how to exhort information from Oloisudori without him knowing. They are good at observing their parents and that they are ready to beat them at their own game. The narrator says that the girls also wanted to show that they were young modern women who had their own pride, self-respect and selfesteem, They wanted him to know that they were not rudderless objects drifting in the sea without direction 200 . They were wanted Oloisudori to know that they were redefined women and so: They already had their aims and projections that could only be enchanted by the lofty ideas they held and the desire for higher learning at university and career development. It was therefore, an insult to their intelligence, dignity and integrity to think that mere material things such as the gifts he lavishly gave them would sway them from the goals they had already set for themselves 201 . 92 Taiyo and Resian hate archaic culture of female circumcision which they considered obnoxious, repugnant and a threat to the health of the young girls 267 . They do not want to get married to a man who would never give them a chance to express themselves as their mother they concluded that if ever they too get married they would only enter into such a contract if they were considered as equal partners with spouses, and had a say in all matters that affected them They did not want to be like their mother who never participated in decision making. They want to be different women altogether. They declared that they would never lose their liberty and their rights in exchange of marital accommodation 282 . The women are also presented in different ways according to their dressing. Resian and Taiyo dress modernly. Resian s hair has braids which she styles with pins when Oloisudori is to visit their home, Resian is described as wearing maroon taffeta dress, cream and maroon silken scarf, golden colour earrings and a maroon handbag that matched the colour of her shoes 202,203 . Her mother too is described as dressed in modern clothes. During the home coming party the narrator says, She was resplendently dressed in purple silk 48 . This kind of dressing redefines them since before women wore lesos and shukas. The Maa community prefers boy children in a family and one who has them is highly regarded.
During the home coming party the narrator says, She was resplendently dressed in purple silk 48 . This kind of dressing redefines them since before women wore lesos and shukas. The Maa community prefers boy children in a family and one who has them is highly regarded. On the other hand a man has to marry more than one wife so as to be culturally accepted but for ole Kaelo, he only marries one wife, Mama Milanoi and even though she does not bear him boy children for him he is contented. Meaning that a child is a child whether a boy or a girl and marrying one wife for ole Kaelo is quite in order. Kaelo loves the wife and the narrator says that nature had not, however, been totally inconsiderate. It rewarded him with a gem in a form of his wifeJane Milanoi 9 . When Simiren, ole Kaelo s brother, informed ole Kulet about what the elders93 had said about him remaining married to only one wife and calling him he called the clan elders megalomaniacs who were still trapped in archaic customs and traditions that were better buried and forgotten 13 . This shows that ole Kaelo appreciates and respect his love towards his wife. Appreciation of femininity is shown through ole Kaelo who works to fulfill his dream. He builds them a good house. In his own words he says, This is the home that I have always dreamed I would one day build for you and my beloved daughters 31 . This shows that even though the wife does not provide him with a boy-child but still he appreciates that the wife bears him girls for to him a child is a child. The women, Mama Milanoi and her two girls enjoy freedom in their own family we see them happy especially when they are taken to their new home. The narrator says, while his wife and daughters jumped out of the pick-up excitedly and scrambled to the gate of their new house jubilantly, Parsemei ole Kaelo remained behind for a few minutes 27 . We see that the women are given freedom to be happy as opposed to historical culture where they are under oppression and cannot talk at all. Mama Milanoi, through her stream of conscious says that she always trusted her husband to do the best for her and her children 29 .
How terrible it would be, he thought sorrowly, to see her cry forlornly, while questioning the sincerity of his love for her, and asking him the reason for his betrayal. Even Resian, with her sullenness and gracelessness that he disliked he had found out surprisingly that he had a soft spot for her. He cried and his heart bled for her 113 . We see that ole Kaelo loves the two girls irrespective of their gender and does not want to just sell off her daughters with no love from any man. He treasures them unlike the community who would have found the reason to sell them off as any other woman. Kaelo, although has girls, but is presented as having a duty to defend them at all cost. When he heard about his daughters near rape incident he almost became mad. He raved like a buffalo that had been infected with the East Coast Fever that was known as Olmilo. He was aggressively spoiling for a fight. Every now and then he groaned loudly like one in pain and clicked his tongue like a madman, he muttered to himself, making nasty waspish remarks 160 . This therefore,95 shows that ole Kaelo appreciates the fact that he has daughters as children and that he is ready to shield them at whatever cost. Delegation of work within ole Kaelo s family gives equal responsibility to each member, making them happy and eager to make the party a success. Mama Milanoi is at the tables to ensure that the trays that came out of the kitchen laden with meat delicacies, were sorted out and arranged appropriately 41 . Taiyo was busy slicing chunks of ox tongue into manageable pieces a job she did with dexterous fingers and Resian was busy transferring glasses from the side board onto a nearby table 41 . Kaelo is presented as a person who values his wife and children and trusts that they will do a perfect job irrespective of their gender. The voice of women in decision making is shown through Mama Milanoi who has been presented as a person who is trusted by the husband. They discuss together what is challenging them in their home such as the threats made by Oloisudori to marry Resian. They collectively come up with the solutions to difficult situations such as marrying off Resian to Oloisudori. They also discuss how they will lure Taiyo into agreeing to visit Resian ironically so as she can be circumcised.
They discuss together what is challenging them in their home such as the threats made by Oloisudori to marry Resian. They collectively come up with the solutions to difficult situations such as marrying off Resian to Oloisudori. They also discuss how they will lure Taiyo into agreeing to visit Resian ironically so as she can be circumcised. The author presents a community that is ready to defend the girl child for example when the community of Ilmolelian learnt about ole Kaelo s daughters who were about to be raped, the community defended them by punishing the offenders thoroughly. After the girls awful incident of almost being molested the community started respecting them. The stares stopped and they were greeted with respect. The young men became friendly to them and the elderly too respected them. Nabaru, who was to nurse Resian back to health after she had been circumcised, is presented as caring. She kindly takes care of Resian as her own child. She feds her, gives her water, milk olpurda. She brought more blankets for her to cover herself so as not to catch cold and lesos to96 cover her body. She reveals to Resian all what had been planned. She plans on how she was going to rescue her out of that place and which she does until she reaches Minik s place. This presents the fact that women are ready to assist one another out of difficult situation. Later Nabaru joins Minik, Resian and Taiyo to fight off the FGM. Nabaru is presented as a good schemer who arranges for Resian s escape without being noticed. She exchanges bitter words with Olarinkoi who follows them to the lorry that was to free them away. She fearlessly tells him, Away with you, you good for nothing, Osuji She compares him to embarie that waits for the lion to kill then it steals from him because it is a coward: How could you cheat this child who was desperately looking for help as she ran away from that villain called Oloisudori? You took advantage of her trust in you, just like embarie does. That is exactly what you are: Embarie. A good for nothing osuuji 254 . Resian too is not afraid to give her piece of mind to Olarinkoi.
That is exactly what you are: Embarie. A good for nothing osuuji 254 . Resian too is not afraid to give her piece of mind to Olarinkoi. She says, You, stupid Olarinkoi, you are worse than Oloisudori, But the two of you have one thing in common; warped minds 255 . Some things like prophesying was done by the Maasai men especially the Oloiboni or elders of the Maasai but Olarinkoi s mother had prophesized about Resian s family and that she would be married to her son. Olarinkoi s mother is presented as enkoiboni who foretold the future and had the ability to see. Nabaru tells Resian, Mostly you have only heard of a male holder of that position called oloiboni. Female ones are there but very rare. This particular one is famous for her prediction and prophecies that always nearly come true 237 . The Intapuka-e-Maa girls sang songs to show that although they are intoiye nemengalana but they were Blossoms of the Savannah, they were worthy. They were ready to be doctors, engineers and97 teachers. They believe that they would stand side by side with the men and build the nation together. The author presents women who at the end triumphs over cultural injustices. Conclusion The text Blossoms of the Savannah starts from a point where we see the society in which Resian lives as valuing the boy-child more than the girl-child. The fact that Mama Milanoi has not given her husband a boy stands him in bad stead with his peers. Conversely, we acknowledge that a Maasai woman is also defined by her ability to give her husband a male child, an heir. The issue also defines a man in that one with several males is on his way to occupy a prestigious position in the society than the men who do not have sons. Generally, we see the definition of Maasai femininity to occur in the domestic spaces within Maasai social structure. In this novel the female genital cut appears to be a great source of conflict because it is a practice that defines the Maasai woman. When Resian and her sister rebel against it, they are redefining their femininity in opposition to the traditional constructs of the identity of Maasai women.
Generally, we see the definition of Maasai femininity to occur in the domestic spaces within Maasai social structure. In this novel the female genital cut appears to be a great source of conflict because it is a practice that defines the Maasai woman. When Resian and her sister rebel against it, they are redefining their femininity in opposition to the traditional constructs of the identity of Maasai women. The redefinition of Maasai femininity in the text takes place as a result of social forces outside like education. One of the main reasons for Resian s rebellious streak is because of the influence that education has on her. She builds a dream which she hopes to achieve by how education will mould98 CHAPTER FOUR COMPARISON OF FEMININITIES IN VANISHING HERDS AND BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH Introduction In the previous chapters my analysis centered on how Henry ole Kulet presents the image of Maasai femininity in his two novels. And my interest was to look at how the aspect of femininity is defined and redefined in the two novels. In this chapter I shall look at how such presentation compares in the two novels. It is imperative to do a comparative analysis on how Henry ole Kulet manages to present femininity in similar and different shades in the two novels so as to get a holistic vision embodied in the two works. To achieve this I shall narrow on certain deliberate choices that Henry ole Kulet makes with respect to the characterization, setting and some aspects of style such as characterization. On one hand, my intention is to show how the narrative variables are the vortex within which presentation of Maasai femininity can be analyzed in the two novels. On the other hand, I intend to look at aspects of style so as to qualify the use of stylistic devices as being one of the points through which such presentation by use of narrative variables to present femininity can be accentuated. 99 Comparative Investigation of Femininities in Vanishing Herds and Blossoms of the Savannah The first point of comparison on femininities in the two texts concerns the characterization of the two protagonists. It is obvious that they are women. It is also obvious that they are young. However, what is not obvious and what I feel is worth pointing out is the fact that the two protagonist characters represent within the settings in which they are found the hope of their societies.
It is obvious that they are women. It is also obvious that they are young. However, what is not obvious and what I feel is worth pointing out is the fact that the two protagonist characters represent within the settings in which they are found the hope of their societies. It is within this hope for the future that we find their redefinitions of the way the Maasai woman is supposed to be. These two women define and redefine femininity differently. They use different tools to take their societies to the next phase of their lives. Norpisia uses the environment to redefine the new role of the Maasai woman in the society as that of a heroine, much in the build of a folk super-hero. And Resian uses the issue of FGM and education to fight for the cause of young Maasai girls in her society. As Chikwenye Ogonjo Ogunyemi 1982 argues on Womanism as serving as the rallying point of the women of African ancestry in their struggle to effectively assert their humanity in the face of the malevolent attitude of the men folk towards their self-fulfillment in life , it is important to look at how Henry ole Kulet uses the women characters to assert the individuality in society where such assertion of femininity is iconoclast. One of the greatest points scored by Womanism theoreticians is the notion that the woman is the nurturer of the environment. It is her who gives the society life. In their quest for equality of the sexes proponents of the theory like Chikwenye Okonjo Ogunyemi contends that the duty of the black woman is not to lose her role as a protector of the environment. She is the one who gives direction to the new born and shapes its life till later on. Ogunyemi does not envision the loss of such an important role for the woman in the society. And neither does Henry ole Kulet in these two selected novels. 100 Norpisia while rehabilitating the forest is restoring life to the society and Resian while fighting against retrogressive cultural practices is fighting for the achievement of equality that will enable the women within Maasai culture to play the same role as men in developing their societies. This is the hope that Resian s fight promises. The aspect of nurture show the different sides of the protagonists of the two novels and so highlight some of the different shades of femininity visible in the two texts.
100 Norpisia while rehabilitating the forest is restoring life to the society and Resian while fighting against retrogressive cultural practices is fighting for the achievement of equality that will enable the women within Maasai culture to play the same role as men in developing their societies. This is the hope that Resian s fight promises. The aspect of nurture show the different sides of the protagonists of the two novels and so highlight some of the different shades of femininity visible in the two texts. Also in Vanishing Herds the protagonist, Norpisia, is a soft-spoken woman who can be said to be very diplomatic in the way she tackles the patriarchal structures. She is characterized by the cattle. In her life the cattle occupy a prime place. She is passionate about nature. We are told that people wondered, surprised and amazed at her strength. Some when they saw her asked each other whether she was capable of doing all that she did. Some concluded that if it was true that she had spearheaded groups of women to plant thousands of trees that had helped to resuscitate the degraded environment then, she was the people s heroine Vanishing Herds, 3 . The author uses vivid description to show how Norpisia felt after their sheep were devoured by the hyena. She wept and was devastated as well as being at a loss. The narrator describes what happened one night when the hyena was attacking their animals. She took a spear and stood outside waiting. From this description we can say that Norpisia s center of life is the environment and cattle. They offer her drive for existence and curing of the environment. She is such an environmentalist that through description we see how Norpisia imitates the bird. The bird went to her thinking that it was birds of their kind. When she whistled the bird stopped feeding its chicks and went to where she was. She learned this skill when she was living with her grandmother. 101 In Blossoms of the Savannah, the protagonist is concerned about education. Her ambitions are encapsulated in her quest to attain higher standards in education. Even though different from Norpisia, she likewise is a woman who has a clear vision of where she wants to go to and how to get there. Here, again, the two protagonists are characterized to bring out the different shades of femininities. Even though there is a slight difference in age, Norpisia and Resian are relatively young women. The first score of comparison is age.
Here, again, the two protagonists are characterized to bring out the different shades of femininities. Even though there is a slight difference in age, Norpisia and Resian are relatively young women. The first score of comparison is age. Norpisia is a fairly mature woman who has been married while Resian is a young girl. This is important in showing the nature of conflict that brings the two protagonists with the patriarchal structure in the two works. While Norpisia wages her war on the environment. She wants to save the forest from degradation so that the society may be healed. She thinks that it is because of the cutting down of trees that is why life is so miserable. This brings her in confrontation with the patriarchal structure which deems a woman who is such strong-willed to be a bad woman. In many ways, Norpisia represents the femininity of the Maasai woman who has not received much education but who none the less is assertive in the society and aims to play a greater role in social change through what she know bets. On the other hand, Resian wages her war on education. Resian, who is the second born, is defiant stubborn, aggressive in matters of education, she is also observant, optimistic of a good future, and is passionate about reading. Her main ambition is to go to a higher institution of learning so that she may play a greater role in her society. Resian represents the kind of femininity that encapsulates the dream of a young girl within Maasai culture who having been exposed to modernity and education has a wider knowledge of her place in the society and has insight of the injustices that culture could bring to her. She is the elite who are meant to change the society. The issue in the difference in character traits has a bearing on the different nature of the conflicts that take place in the two novels and hence the shades of different femininities observable. 102 The issue of their age then brings in another important point on characterization that is love. Since they are young, on the one hand, and newly-married, on the other, as the stories begin, the question of their love life become a point from which we come to understand not only their character traits, but, importantly, their resolve to fight for that which they feel so strongly and passionately about, and that which come to define the nature of what up to this point I have termed femininity.
The issue in the difference in character traits has a bearing on the different nature of the conflicts that take place in the two novels and hence the shades of different femininities observable. 102 The issue of their age then brings in another important point on characterization that is love. Since they are young, on the one hand, and newly-married, on the other, as the stories begin, the question of their love life become a point from which we come to understand not only their character traits, but, importantly, their resolve to fight for that which they feel so strongly and passionately about, and that which come to define the nature of what up to this point I have termed femininity. The author uses vivid description to bring the feminine aspect of her characters and therefore show how physical attraction leads to the blossoming of love. Norpisia s physical appearance is described as tall, has lithe wiry muscles, long arms and legs. She is big and strong, has firm, full breasts, and that she had womanly hips that curved back to her well-rounded body Vanishing Herds, 17 . She also has a heart-shaped face, high cheek-bones ,well-defined jaw, smooth narrow chin, large brown eyes, straight and finely made nose, has smooth lips that curved up at the corners ,white pearl-like teeth Vanishing Herds,17 . Description shows that Kedoki appreciates being with Norpisia, they both walked together in nomadic pastoralism. They took care of their animals, for example, Kedoki controls their animals from the front while Norpisia from the back. Through the narrator s description we learn that Norpisia felt bad departing from her relatives and this makes her to be overcome by anguish, hence, breaking down and weeps. This saddens Kedoki for he knew that her heart was heavy because she was leaving her people and heading towards places where she did not know. Love becomes not only one of the themes that provide the fuel, so to speak, that drives the plot forward, but on another level it also confers on the two novels a romantic atmosphere that can be said to offer relief from the issues of male chauvinism and tradition that are rather bleak. In Vanishing Herds, Norpisia and Kedoki are brought together by the trauma of losing siblings to103 cattle rustling. The love affair between these two is the point on which the novel revolves.
Love becomes not only one of the themes that provide the fuel, so to speak, that drives the plot forward, but on another level it also confers on the two novels a romantic atmosphere that can be said to offer relief from the issues of male chauvinism and tradition that are rather bleak. In Vanishing Herds, Norpisia and Kedoki are brought together by the trauma of losing siblings to103 cattle rustling. The love affair between these two is the point on which the novel revolves. Every occurrence is put in perspective of how it affects the couple. The beauty of their love and the most refreshing thing about it is that it is the reservoir from where the characters get their strengths to overcome tragedy, trauma, and difficulties posed by tradition. Something unique to all these love affairs is that the lovers of the two protagonists appear to be comrades of their women in their fight against traditions that are out dated in the time of the characters. Kedoki and Joseph Parmuat are the strengths of their women. Kedoki is the source of Norpisia s strength in her quest to play a leading role in rehabilitating nature. Similarly, Joseph Parmuat and Tayio become the two love birds whose fate appear to be futile because of the genealogical tree of the Maasai which makes these two otherwise unrelated beings to be considered blood relatives whose union is similar to incest. Still, the love affair between the two provides a point for the character of Tayio to rebel against tradition. She gets to express her own voice against a practice that denies her the freedom to choose her own marriage partner. Another point is that the novels appear to have similar use of the environment in characterization and plot development. The women are characterized with their environment. The clothes that the women wear, the shuka, become a symbol of femininity in all the texts. The way nature is used in the two novels is very important in understanding the shifting moods and climate as the plot unfolds. It is as if, in both texts, Henry ole Kulet intends that the change in physical climate will lead to a corresponding change in the attitudes and behavior of the characters as well. This use of the environment as a having a bearing on the plot of the narrative is to be found in Ng ang a Mbugua s Different Colours 2006 where the fate of Banana County is tied to the environmental change that could take place in Orange River.
The way nature is used in the two novels is very important in understanding the shifting moods and climate as the plot unfolds. It is as if, in both texts, Henry ole Kulet intends that the change in physical climate will lead to a corresponding change in the attitudes and behavior of the characters as well. This use of the environment as a having a bearing on the plot of the narrative is to be found in Ng ang a Mbugua s Different Colours 2006 where the fate of Banana County is tied to the environmental change that could take place in Orange River. Miguel, Mbugua s protagonist, is a104 dreadlocked artist whose quest to save the river from Dick Teita is symbolic for saving Banana County itself. However, it is in Nawal el Saadawi s God Dies by the Nile 1983 where we observe in concrete terms the use of the environment to symbolize plot progression. Like Different Colours, the novel s setting is a town Kafr El Teen near a river, the majestic Nile. This river in its flow is symbolic of Zakeya s the protagonist quest for freedom. The point I was making by the above examples is on the symbol of the environment to the two novels. In Blossoms of the Savannah, the environmental change from Nakuru town to the country side itself is a shift that gets the characters closer to their roots. This closeness to the roots, as it were, is aimed at getting an understanding of the Maasai way of life which then leads to the basis of the conflict in the novel. In Vanishing Herds, the floods, which seems biblical allusion to the great floods in the book of Genesis, is a point of great turn in the plot of the narrative. We learn that Norpisia almost lost her life in a freakish flood . We learn that Kedoki and Norpisia lost all their livestock including four tamed wildebeests. The wildebeests had become a tourist attraction during the famous annual event when migratory herds of wild animals crossed Enkipai River on their way to the southern grasslands Vanishing Herds, 1 . The floods signify a new beginning in the life of the protagonist. In fact it is right to say that the place of the environment in this narrative is central to the existence of the characters and their possession, herds of cattle.
The wildebeests had become a tourist attraction during the famous annual event when migratory herds of wild animals crossed Enkipai River on their way to the southern grasslands Vanishing Herds, 1 . The floods signify a new beginning in the life of the protagonist. In fact it is right to say that the place of the environment in this narrative is central to the existence of the characters and their possession, herds of cattle. Therefore, the title of the novel Vanishing Herds can be interpreted to mean the disappearance of flora and fauna as a result of the destruction of the environment. Henry ole Kulet could have used this novel to be a reminder to his readers on the adverse effects of environmental degradation. When Kedoki is injured by a wild animal in the hazardous trek the message is that even animals105 are reacting viciously to the environmental degradation, inspired invariably by greed for capital, which humans have visited upon the habitat that they share with other species. The question of FGM offers another point on which we can compare and contrast the two works. It is the main point of conflict in Blossoms of the Savannah but it is not a big issue in Vanishing Herds. Henry ole Kulet uses the issue to characterize his protagonist. Resian is shown as a very determined woman who has the mettle to follow on her beliefs. Henry ole Kulet uses diction carefully to bring out the fight of the protagonist against FGM as an outdated cultural practice. Let us take note of the philosophical and argumentative language employed by Resian when she argues against FGM. She questions the mother the need for the FGM to be done during that time. She argues that Ilarinkon who had tortured the women was no longer there then why should it be done. She further argues that it is the current men who she calls Ilarinkoi that are causing harm to the women. She wonders why if one discovered a nasty but potent medicine that once taken cured an ailment must they continue to swallow it every day-ten years down the line. I find that not only ridiculous but also absurd. The sensible thing would be to discard the bitter medicine once they are cured. Period! She questions her mother without fear. Tell me Yeiyo, what use is F.G.M to today s woman? Blossoms of the Savannah, 91 . She assertively says that, Today s Ilarikon are worse.
She questions her mother without fear. Tell me Yeiyo, what use is F.G.M to today s woman? Blossoms of the Savannah, 91 . She assertively says that, Today s Ilarikon are worse. In addition to being despotic, they are oppressive tyrants; and one of their ways of oppressing us is to demand that F.G.M be perpetuated against us forever! Blossoms of the Savannah, 92 . In Vanishing Herds the points of conflicts revolve around nature. For instance, we have a scenario where Norpisia wants to fight the people in support of the animals. Minik uses argumentative tone to argue her point that culture is supposed to be dynamic and it ought to shed off aspects that had outlived their usefulness. She argues that in the past such old106 ways had been done away with and that they were forgotten. She argues that the name intoiye nemengalana should stop being derogatory and instead emuratare-o-ntoiye should disappear from Maa language and should be regarded as extinct Blossoms of the Savannah, 268 . Through the issue of FGM the author shows other characters who are agents of change. One of them is Nabaru. Nabaru too uses an argumentative tone and says that FGM did not add value to the victims instead it traumatized them and it was hazardous to their health. She attests to the fact that the practice ruined young ones and she vows to join Minik in lobbying against FGM. An argumentative language is used to show how Nabaru, the enkabaani, found fault with the women of Maa. She argues that they were the perpetrators of the obnoxious and repugnant tradition of female circumcision and its perpetuation. She thinks that no man had ever taken up the Olmurunya to circumcise a girl. To her the enkamuratani had always been a woman. She wonders what will happen to enkamuratani if she threw the olmurunya and refused to wield it again. Still on diction, Henry ole Kulet plays around by language of reasoning in showing how the characters are best suited for their liberation roles.
To her the enkamuratani had always been a woman. She wonders what will happen to enkamuratani if she threw the olmurunya and refused to wield it again. Still on diction, Henry ole Kulet plays around by language of reasoning in showing how the characters are best suited for their liberation roles. Through Taiyo who says culture is dynamic and that it keeps shading off irrelevant aspects such as FGM and culture that forces people of the same clan not to marry each other yet they are not related by blood. She argues that they should have disappeared long time ago. Taiyo s ability in reasoning is shown when she says after all, we can t love in darkness forever, can we? Blossoms of the Savannah, 137 . She believes that Nasila culture would soon shed off FGM. FGM is further used to create tension in Blossoms of the Savannah. An abusive language is used by Olarinkoi in talking to Resian, You mean, woman, look here you can either cook or keep standing stupidly and die of hunger. The choice is yours. Should you choose to cook, here is a107 piece of meat. The knife is over there. Of course you are not blind you can see sufurias. There is a whole bag of maize meal there and water is in that container. There is paraffin in that can and you can collect firewood from a stack outside the house. Any questions? Blossoms of the Savannah, 223 . He further says, You silly thing I tell you to prepare food and you refuse to do so, eh? Today you will know who the owner of this home is. If you are still in doubt, let me tell you frankly that from today on you are my wife, hear that, eh? You are my wife. For a long time you have been sneering at me, showing how highly educated you are. Today we shall see how educated your body is! Blossoms of the Savannah, 226 . These phrases show the kind of tension that builds up around the issue of FGM. It shows that the characters occupying positions of binary oppositions are symbolic of the past and the future. Vanishing Herds does not focus on FGM for conflict. It focuses on the issue of the environment as a source of contestation among the characters. This is one of the fundamental differences between the two novels.
Vanishing Herds does not focus on FGM for conflict. It focuses on the issue of the environment as a source of contestation among the characters. This is one of the fundamental differences between the two novels. This difference brings in the difference in the expression of Maasai femininities in the two novels where one is based on FGM and the other is based on the environment. Then again the two novels also present the motif of communal spirit, for instance, when Kedoki needs help with cattle he is helped by his friends Masintet and Lembarta. The two come at a point of need for Kedoki. This shows a sense of community and brotherhood that egalitarian societies are known for. The two are warmly welcomed by Masintet s family where they live together for a while before the couple re-embarks on their journey. Norpisia gets closer and very friendly to Masintet s wife. The community helps her plant trees. In Blossoms of the Savannah, when Resian s family moves from Nakuru to Nasila they are welcomed by the entire community. They are108 celebrated by each and every one. When the next day Resian and her family go to take breakfast they find themselves taking tea with everybody seated together. I can conclude that Ole Kulet uses the motif of communal spirit to show those aspects of traditional life, the egalitarian spirit, which are good and which should be retained. Henry ole Kulet uses this sense of communal spirit to show some of the good things that Maasai femininity is unique for. The question of literacy also plays an important role in the expression of Maasai femininity in the two texts. In Blossoms of the Savannah, Resian s quest to go to the university runs in tandem with her rejection and her fight against the outdated cultural practices like early marriage and FGM. Education becomes the main source of conflict between her personal ambition and her communal obligations as a young Maasai woman. Education becomes the point of change and redemption that the liberation from outdated cultural practices is pegged to. The issue of education is not a strong factor in Vanishing Herds. The protagonist, Norpisia, is married fairly early in her life and she begins her crusade as a prophetess of the environment not from an illiterate person point of view, but from a practical point of view which is from the degradation that she observes around her.
Education becomes the point of change and redemption that the liberation from outdated cultural practices is pegged to. The issue of education is not a strong factor in Vanishing Herds. The protagonist, Norpisia, is married fairly early in her life and she begins her crusade as a prophetess of the environment not from an illiterate person point of view, but from a practical point of view which is from the degradation that she observes around her. Resian is educated and therefore operates within a different worldview as Norpisia in Vanishing Herds. The question of other women characters is also an important one in the expression of femininity in the two novels. The other women either help the protagonist in their fight against patriarchy or they become the wet blankets that hinder their progress. In other words the other women characters either facilitate the protagonists quest for agency or hinder it. In Blossoms of the Savannah, Resian is a woman among other women. Some are helpful in her quest such as Taiyo and Nabaru while the others are not such as her mother, her uncle s eldest wife, Yeiyo botorr and Olarinkoi s mother. 109 For one Mama Milanoi, her own mother, appears defenseless against tradition. She does not know how to oppose patriarchy. When they relocate to Nasila she is finally hit by the reality of the customs of her people from which she had been shielded by urban life in Nakuru. Mama Milanoi is not portrayed as a great determinant of change. There is the character of Resian s uncle s eldest wife, Yeiyo-bottor, is portrayed as one who is an agent against change. She is the epitome of matriarchal structure that collaborates with patriarchy to disregard the equal rights of women in the local culture, to use the words of Resian when she lashed out at her mother in the presence of the uncle s wife: It is time to circumcise your daughters and get rid of olkuenyi. It is that simple Blossoms of the Savannah, 79 . Here the woman is telling Resian s mother that her daughter s stupidity at talking back to the elders can only be cured by the cut the healing cut. She is steeped in tradition that denies young girls a brighter future by marrying them early after the cut. She is a stumbling block of progress.
Here the woman is telling Resian s mother that her daughter s stupidity at talking back to the elders can only be cured by the cut the healing cut. She is steeped in tradition that denies young girls a brighter future by marrying them early after the cut. She is a stumbling block of progress. In Virginia Woolf s In a Room of their Own 1962 , Virginia Woolf contends that if women are to be free to express themselves and get a perspective on their condition then it is best if they can get a space where they have room to think. This is the fundamental principle for women friendship in most feminist literary texts. For instance in Nuruddin Farah s From a Crooked Rib 1961 , the protagonist, Ebla, in her quest to escape oppressive patriarchal tradition meets other women like the Widow and Asha who are able to impart on her philosophies that liberate and empower her. Such women can be termed as catalysts of agency. This is not the same thing that we see in Blossoms of the Savannah, Taiyo is Resian s sister who can be said to be very helpful to her. She is the one with whom they face the tribulations of culture together. Nabaru too is a catalyst of change as she assists Resian by caring for her, as her own child, nurses her back to health after110 being beaten unconscious by Olarinkoi. She cooks and feeds her; she ensures that Resian is warm by providing her with more coverings such blankets. She also reveals to her all the evil plans of Olarinkoi and her mother such as to circumcise her and taken to Tanzania where she will be married to Olarinkoi, she assists her to escape and finally takes her to her role model, Minik. Another point of looking into the representation of the different shades of Maasai femininity could be on the aspect of stylistic choices that Henry ole Kulet makes in both novels. Let us first look at Vanishing Herds. In terms of style one thing that stands out for me with regards to this novel is the manner in which the author has used the environment symbolically. The narrator says that the coming of rains had been most influenced by the trees that Norpisia had planted. This surprised the people a lot and they could not believe that she was capable of doing such a thing. They wanted to see Norpisia who was described as the famous woman pastoralist.
The narrator says that the coming of rains had been most influenced by the trees that Norpisia had planted. This surprised the people a lot and they could not believe that she was capable of doing such a thing. They wanted to see Norpisia who was described as the famous woman pastoralist. She was said to have miraculously changed an arid and desolate wasteland into a Garden of Eden 7 . This description enables the reader to learn the exemplary qualities of Norpisia. Norpisia s character are described as unsurpassed. She had good organizational skills that enabled her organize groups of women who ended up planting tree-seedlings which matured to invaluable forests. The Womanist theoretician, Sherley Anne Williams 1986 argues that Womanist theory is committed to the survival and wholeness of entire people Williams, 304 . It is in this understanding that we locate the role that Norpisia has for her society by saving the environment from degradation. She walks through the damp grass that was dripping wet with dew, towards a small narrow stream that flowed between giant trees Vanishing Herds, 85 . She also gets into the forest searching for herbs all by herself and the narrator says she went deeper and deeper looking111 for herbs. To, further, show that Norpisia is not a coward, the narrator describes a situation when wildebeest were being chased by a pack of hyenas She quickly got out of the olngoborr in pitch darkness and collected a few stones from the ground. She threw them, at the hyenas to drive them away from near the cattle enclosure Vanishing Herds, 93 . Norpisia is described as that her sense of horror had gone and she did not fear that a wild dog would attack her. She was preoccupied with her sense of keep going and nothing else. This then explains her character as that of being resilience. Description of how Norpisia would treat Kedoki who had been injured by the cattle rustlers is given to assert Norpisia s knowledge on medicine, She found olmasiligi, with its thick large succulent leaves, uprooted several whole plants that she was to heat over the fire. She would place the hot, fleshy leaves on the swollen part of his leg. She would also boil the whole plant to make a wash, for it contained skin-healing and wound-suppurating curatives Vanishing Herds, 86 .
Description of how Norpisia would treat Kedoki who had been injured by the cattle rustlers is given to assert Norpisia s knowledge on medicine, She found olmasiligi, with its thick large succulent leaves, uprooted several whole plants that she was to heat over the fire. She would place the hot, fleshy leaves on the swollen part of his leg. She would also boil the whole plant to make a wash, for it contained skin-healing and wound-suppurating curatives Vanishing Herds, 86 . She also picked tiny leaves of olmagiro-ngiro. This she was to add to the solution: she knew they were excellent for healing anything from bites to boils, even severe ulcers and wounds she dug out roots of olkonyil to add to his soup as a general antidote for poisons and other toxic reactions Vanishing Herds, 86 . Olkitolosua roots helped boost energy and warm their bodies Olesiate was good for its antiseptic and quick healing properties: They were also effective in keeping flies away from a wound. She would pound them and make a strong solution that she would often splash on Kedoki s wound Vanishing Herds, 86 . Olcani-lenkashe herb was not only a good fly-repellent when made into an infusion for an external wash, but an excellent addition to the soup that made a person sweat profusely and helped to open up pores on the skin -- She then112 dug up tubers and collected twigs, berries and barks of trees and carried them all to their temporary camp Vanishing Herds, 86 . Norpisia attachment to the environment is described as she is overwhelmed by the beautiful scenario. There were thousands and thousands of wild animals grazing on the bluish green tall grass: In the sky, she saw a soaring olkupelia bird seeking a nibbling shrew. She heard crickets trill in the nearby bushes. She knew hyraxes drowsed in the hollow of the trees in the forest and on the same trees perched the ugly vultures with their almost featherless heads and necks, waiting to find another dying animal Vanishing Herds, 88 . Her passion for the environment is seen in that she does not want the environment to be destroyed.
She heard crickets trill in the nearby bushes. She knew hyraxes drowsed in the hollow of the trees in the forest and on the same trees perched the ugly vultures with their almost featherless heads and necks, waiting to find another dying animal Vanishing Herds, 88 . Her passion for the environment is seen in that she does not want the environment to be destroyed. She sees that it was the human beings who destroyed the environment for they did not want to leave nature just as the way God intended them to be. Men, too, play a significant part in the redefinition of the femininity in Vanishing Herds and Blossoms of the Savannah. In Vanishing Herds Kedoki loves the wife so much and appreciates her exceptional skills and encourages her in her undertakings. He also assists in her in making their hut, collecting firewood; he assists her in tree planting process and escorts her to receive her reward in Nakaru. Parmuat in Blossoms of the Savannah teaches the girls - Resian and Taiyo about the culture, he is friendly to both of them, he finds interesting stories to tell them, he makes them aware of Olarinkoi and Oloisudori, he accepts to fall in love with Taiyo, though a forbidden love since they are related through clan relation and finally, he assists Taiyo to escape though unfruitful since he is discovered and unfortunately killed. Let me conclude by looking at the significance of the titles of the two novels. The title Vanishing Herds signifies the degradation of the environment. This destruction of flora is seen as being a113 precursor to the loss of fauna, most of all cattle. And as we have seen in the novel cattle is the mark of social status among the Maasai. This social status is for the man the head of the patriarchal structure. The deterioration of the environment will lead to this loss. It will make the herds of cattle to vanish. This will lead to economic pauperization of a people for whom cattle is the backbone of the micro economy. Norpisia comes to save the day when she fights against the loss of the environment. Ironically her fight for the protection of the environment is like killing two birds with one stone she uses the fight to overcome male chauvinism and also to protect her people s sense of identity.
This will lead to economic pauperization of a people for whom cattle is the backbone of the micro economy. Norpisia comes to save the day when she fights against the loss of the environment. Ironically her fight for the protection of the environment is like killing two birds with one stone she uses the fight to overcome male chauvinism and also to protect her people s sense of identity. The second title Blossoms of the Savannah signifies the new shoots of new way of life among the Maasai who inhabit the savannah. To blossom means to flourish or to flower. Resian and Taiyo are used to offers a sense of a new beginning in the novel. They blossom and in so doing they show the society the new way of life that they need to appreciate and accept. Conclusion The comparison of the two novels reveals that Henry ole Kulet has a concern for the place of the woman in bringing change in her society. In both novels the woman is made the main agent of desired change and transformation of society. Therefore, the expression of Maasai femininity is chiefly meant to show the Maasai woman as being liberated and playing a greater role in the society. In terms of narrative variables Henry ole Kulet has used the environment symbolically in Vanishing Herds to situate Norpisia as the woman as the protagonist against degradation of the environment. In Blossoms of the Savannah, he has used education as the main stimuli of change and agent for fighting the retrogressive tradition of FGM. The differences and the similarities that I have discussed go a long way in showing the various shades of femininity in the various styles that the author uses to show them. 114 CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION The study was guided by the two objectives to understand how femininity is defined and redefined in Blossoms of the Savannah and Vanishing Herds. Central to my discussion was the need to show how the two novels show the image of a Maasai woman caught up in the quest to liberate herself and become an agent of productive change in the society. Guided by the Womanism theoretical framework I have argued that the two novels by Henry ole Kulet display instances where the position of the woman in Maasai culture is defined and redefined. The author has defined and redefined femininity in Vanishing Herds. The definition of femininity traditionally reflects the women in terms of their dressing code.
Guided by the Womanism theoretical framework I have argued that the two novels by Henry ole Kulet display instances where the position of the woman in Maasai culture is defined and redefined. The author has defined and redefined femininity in Vanishing Herds. The definition of femininity traditionally reflects the women in terms of their dressing code. They are defined in terms of reproductive roles which can be either house chores as well as procreation. It was women s responsibility to cook, look for water and take care of husbands as well as animals. The woman is the provider of homes by constructing and mending huts. In terms of procreation motherhood is defined in terms of the ability to conceive. The way in which they behaved such as submission and respect towards their male counterparts defines them. They are defined by the aspect of FGM. They were respected if only they underwent the cut. Their strength ability also defines them in that they are viewed as a weaker gender either physically or emotionally hence the need of protection from their husbands. Men played a significant part in decision making and slaughtering of animal leaving out the women. Young girls were sold off to partners that they do not know without their consent. Motherhood defines them by the fact that they are supposed to continue the community through giving birth. Women too have been redefined in terms of their strength. They are presented115 as strong, courageous, fearless and ready to face even hard situations such as what Norpisia faces in the wilderness. They equally take part in socio- economic activities such as pastoralism, rehabilitating of the environment. They help in planting trees. Women have been redefined in such a way that they are made to be leaders and they possess good qualities of leaders who assist in rehabilitating the environment. From naivety emerges an intelligent woman who arguably portrays determined woman she is supportive for example helps the husband to save the sick and their animals. Women acquire various skills such as medicine, herding, rehabilitation of environment, self-defence and even self-reliance. An ideal relationship exists between men and women. I have also found out that the two novels by Henry ole Kulet display instances where the position of the woman in Maasai culture is defined and redefined. In Vanishing Herds, I have found out that a woman like Norpisia, the protagonist, sees herself as a Maasai woman. She fulfills the demand of such an identity through dressing and also through the behavior with other women.
I have also found out that the two novels by Henry ole Kulet display instances where the position of the woman in Maasai culture is defined and redefined. In Vanishing Herds, I have found out that a woman like Norpisia, the protagonist, sees herself as a Maasai woman. She fulfills the demand of such an identity through dressing and also through the behavior with other women. This is what defines her as a woman. However, I have also found out that she redefines these roles of the women in society in a number of ways. First, her quest to conserve the environment brings her into conflict with males who think it is their right to do with the environment as they desire. This male attitude comes from the traditional notion that males inherit land and females don t, therefore the latter have no say in matters concerning land. By championing for the course of the environment Norpisia is redefining the role of Maasai women in her society to include the space outside the domestic confine that tradition sets proscribes for her. In Blossoms of the Savannah, Resian is the epitome of a woman who challenges the societal view of the destiny of a girl. She is determined to continue with her studies and achieve a better future116 for herself in defiance of the arranged marriage and FGM that the community sets out for her as her path to being a Maasai woman. In Blossoms of the Savannah the concept of definition and redefinition can be summarized as follows. The boy-child is highly valued unlike the girl-child because the boy-child is said to be carrying the name of the family to the next generation. Motherhood is valued and a woman has to give birth if not one had to participate in ancestral prayer songs. This woman was so aggressive and bitter because God had denied her a child. Women are expected to accept polygamous marriages and respect her co-wives as well as their children. The parents had the obligation of getting girls best suitors for the marriage for parents believed they would make better choices than the girls. Some girls were even married off to old men, as old as the fathers. Due to submission, Maa women are defined as less talkative. Beauty defines the Maa women in terms of their physical appearance. Women are submissive and shows respect to men. There was a gap between fathers and daughters. The gap was filled by the mother who acted as a link between father and daughters.
Women are submissive and shows respect to men. There was a gap between fathers and daughters. The gap was filled by the mother who acted as a link between father and daughters. Father spoke to girls through their mother responsibilities such as cooking, fetching water and looking after the young animals were basically the role of women and none was to question about it. FGM is a significant aspect that any woman is supposed to undergo. Women are defined as weaklings, na ve, humble. Women shape their daughters to become responsible and potential wives in the future. The issue of morality was highly guarded by women. They punished offenders who molested girls. They are also defined by their caring attitude and love towards children whom are not theirs. Henry ole Kulet redefines the young girls as ambitious, optimistic. They desire to purse education to highest level. They do not mind whatever challenges that face them. Women117 have been redefined from a woman in the kitchen to one who wants to purse education. Women fight against injustices such as women submission, FGM, early marriages, education in determination to redefine themselves. My second objective was to do a comparative analysis of the two novels to find out how they present the question of definition and redefinition. In doing a comparative analysis of the two novels, the study examined characterization, plot and language use. Characterization, plot and language were used in developing the female characters and more so to highlight the definition and redefinition of Maasai femininity. The author used varied language in bringing out the characters such as rebellious tone, argumentative, inquisitive tone and so on. This has helped to illuminate the definition and redefinition of Maasai femininity in the two novels. The study found out that, while previously, some African male writers wrote their novels putting male characters at the centre while women were viewed as wives, mothers and that they were allowed to perform traditional roles only, today s some of male writers are concerned with the greater role that the woman can play as an agent of change and not a mere object of it. The characters of Norpisia and Resian show that well enough. My final word would be that there is room for further research on Maasai femininity in literature. My study is not conclusive in itself but it is a contribution to criticism on Henry ole Kulet to understanding the way literature represents the picture of women in conservative societies like the Maasai.
The characters of Norpisia and Resian show that well enough. My final word would be that there is room for further research on Maasai femininity in literature. My study is not conclusive in itself but it is a contribution to criticism on Henry ole Kulet to understanding the way literature represents the picture of women in conservative societies like the Maasai. From this study it is clear that literature, aside from being the mirror of the society is also concerned with being an agent of change with regards to the position of the marginalized in the society. 118 WORKS CITED Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books Publishers Limited, 1958. . Anthills of the Savannah. New York: Double Day, 1988. Adely, Ely-Sayed. Ngugi Weep not Child along with Alice Walker s Womanish. European Scientific Journal 10 2014 136-158. Amadi, Elechi. The Concubine. London: Heinemann, 1966. Amadiume, Ifi 1987 . Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society. London: Martin s Press, 1987. Amouzou, Akote. Re-Conceptualizing Gender in Nigerian Literature: The Dynamics of Womanist Ideology in Flora s Nwapa Fiction. Sciences Sociales et Humaines 007 2006 97-104. Andrade, Susan. African Gender Trouble and African Womanish: An Interview with Chikwenye Ogunyemi and Wanjira Muthoni. Road to Empowerment. Spring 25 2000 : 709-726. Beauvoir, Simone de. The Second Sex. London: Vintage, 1949. Brown,Lloyd. The African Woman as Writer. Canadian Journal of African Studies 9 1975 : 493. 119 Chukwume, Helen. Women s Quest for Rights: African Feminist Theory in Fiction. Lagos: Igada Publishers,1982. Chukukere, Gloria. Gender Voices and Choices: Redefining Women in Contemporary African Fiction. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishing, 1995. Ciarunji, Chesaina. Images of Women in Africa Oral Literature: A Case Study of Kalenjin and Maasai Narratives. Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press, 1997.
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London and Ibadan: Heinemann Educational Books Limited, 1967. . And Ngugi, Wa Miri . I will Marry When I want. London: Heinemann, 1980. Nnolim, Charles. Flora Nwapa: Writer as Woman. Journal of Women s Studies in Africa: Harmattan 2000 :113-124. 122 Nwapa, Flora. Women are Different. Enugu: Tana Press, 1984. . One is Enough. Enugu: Tana Press, 1990. .Never Again. Enugu: Tana Press, 1975. Otokunefor ,Henrietta and Obiageli Nwodo. Nigerian Female Writers. A Critical Perspective. Oxford: Malt House Press Limited, 1989. Ogunyemi, Chikwenye Olongo. Africa Woman Plava: The Nigerian Novel by Women. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. . Womanish: The Dynamics of the Contemporary Black Female Novel in English. Signs, 11.1 1985 :63. . Women and Nigerian Literature. Perspective in Nigerian Literature. Lagos: Guardian Books. 1988 : 60-67. Philips, Layli. Ed. The Womanist Reader. New York: Routledge, 2006. Sadawi, Nawal. God Dies by the River Nile. London: Zed, 2007. Sankan Stephen Sitoya ole. The Maasai. Nairobi: Kenya Literature Bureau, 1971. Sembene, Ousmane. God s Bit of Wood. London: Heinemann, 1970. Spencer, Paul. The Maasai of the Matapato: A Study of Rituals of Rebellion. London: University Press for the International African Institute, 1988. Tepilit, Saitoti ole. The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior: an Autobiography. New York: Random House, 1949. 123 Walker, Alice. In Search of our Mothers Gardens: Womanist Prose. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983. Wanyonyi, Khaemba.
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EXCERPTS FROM BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH 1. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow. No Joseph, she said in an infantile whimper. Ican t bear that we can t express the love that we have for one another because of some primitive culture. If by loving you, I offend the sensibilities of Nasila then let me offend and face the consequences of doing so! I also love you very much, Joseph Parmuat responded finally. I loved you the moment I saw you during your father s homecoming ceremony. But then the clan matter came to separate us. It is true we have no blood relation. But Nasila culture dictates who are related and who are not. We are slotted among those who cannot marry. No, it can t be, I cannot accept its verdict, she said petulantly her words agonised. No way, never! She stopped, confused and angry with herself at her inarticulate outburst. She took several long steadying breaths and then said, I cannot accept that a culture that does not feed,clothe or house me comes to control my life. Our lives belong to us, Joseph. The destiny of our lives is in our own hands. We should guard it jealously. At last they drew a little a part .His eyes were open, honest and steady upon her face. 1. What happens before this excerpt? 3mks 2. For both Joseph and Taiyo, give and illustrate two character traits. 4mks 3. How is dialogue significant in this excerpt? 4mks 4. Explain any two thematic concerns addressed in the excerpt. 4mks 5. From elsewhere in the novel, how does Joseph sacrifice for his love for Taiyo? 4mks 6. Explain the meaning of the following vocabulary as used in the excerpt. 4mks a destiny b infantile c petulantly d primitive 7. What happens immediately after this extract? 2mks 2. Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow You are mad! Resian screamed at him. You are stark mad if you think I am your wife. I can only be your wife over my dead body. Yes, you and my father can kill me and carry my dead body to your palatial home. He was stunned by those harsh words.
You are stark mad if you think I am your wife. I can only be your wife over my dead body. Yes, you and my father can kill me and carry my dead body to your palatial home. He was stunned by those harsh words. He winced as if he had been struck. Then already harsh line of his mouth tightened and he stood tense for a moment. Then he relaxed and watched her mockingly. You can never escape Resian, he repeated quietly, smiling. The very normality of his voice as he spoke those monstrous words was most shocking and disturbing to her. Whether you scream your heart out, or jump into the deep sea, Resian, you are mine. You are my wife from now henceforth Iwant to go now. Resian announced angrily shuddering with disgust and terror. You want to go? He asked, the contemptuous quiet of his voice a menace by itself. Go! You want to be persuaded, coaxed and pampered to marry Oloisudori Lonkiyaa? Sorry I will not do that! If you want to go, please yourself. You may opt to go, but when you are mine, you will do as I please. No one plays games with Oloisudori. Ask your father, he will tell you. Stop it! Stop it! Resian screamed excruciatingly pained by the disdainful remarks of Oloisudori. Putting her hands over her ears, she made a dash for the door. He made no effort to stop her but she flung it open and turned to glare at him with tearful eyes You are mad! She screamed again sobbingly. You are stark mad! You hear me? You are nothing but ol-ushuushi. She walked away and as she did so, she heard his soft laughter behind her. 1. Say what happens before this excerpt. 3mks 2. How is Oloisudori portrayed in this excerpt? 4mks 3. Describe the feeling of Resian in this excerpt 3mks 4. From other areas of the novel, state other crimes that are practiced by Oloisudori. 3mks . 5. How does the writer utilize irony in this excerpt? 3mks 6. You are my wife from now henceforth Rewrite in the reported speech. 1mk 7.
3mks 6. You are my wife from now henceforth Rewrite in the reported speech. 1mk 7. Explain the meaning of the following words 4mks a Pamperedb Disgust c Mad d Palatial 7. What happens immediately after this extract? 3mks 3. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow. They were silent as they climbed the hill on their way back from Nasila river to draw water. The water containers that they carried on their backs were now heavy. The straps that supported the containers pressed down their heads with a painful exhaustion. As they walked, each one of them allowed her mind to fleetingly roam the fanciful land of wishful thinking. Resian thought how wonderful it would be, had she had a chance to enroll at the Egerton University and after graduation had a chance to work with her role model, Minik ene Nkoitoi, the Emakererei at the sheep ranch that she managed. She imagined herself already there driving a large flock of sheep. And when she thought of sheep, her mind flew back to fifteen years or so earlier and reminisced the first time she saw a sheep. It was a childhood memory, a memorable picture from the swirling scene around her which had been captured and preserved by her mind when she and Taiyo accompanied their father to the Nakuru Agricultural Show. She could still see in her mind a group of big, docile, tawny woolly animals that stood panting drowsily in a green pasture, with the sun beaming down brightly from a clear blue sky. She had then admired the white long overcoats that the handlers wore. Taiyo also thought of Emakererei. She would ask Joseph Parmuat, to assist her compose a song in her praise. She had already put words to a tune she had composed to ridicule the three women who she thought collaborated with men to oppress the women folk. They were Nasila s three blind mice who, she thought, did not seem to know that the world was changing.
She would ask Joseph Parmuat, to assist her compose a song in her praise. She had already put words to a tune she had composed to ridicule the three women who she thought collaborated with men to oppress the women folk. They were Nasila s three blind mice who, she thought, did not seem to know that the world was changing. Those were the enkasakutoni, who threatened to curse intoiye nemengalana and ensured they did not get husbands nor children: the midwife Enkaitoyoni who threatened to spy on the young women as they gave birth to ensure that any who was still among intoiyenemengalana had her status altered there and then; and the dreadedEnkamuratani, who would never tire of wielding her olmurunya menacingly. 1. Place the excerpt in its immediate context. 4Mks 2. Identify and illustrate two aspects of style in this excerpt. 4Mks 3. Discuss two themes evident in the excerpt. 4Mks 4. Discuss one character trait of Resian and Taiyo in the excerpt. 4Mks 5. The straps that supported the containers pressed down their heads with a painful exhaustion. Rewrite beginning: with . 1Mk 6. How do Resian s thoughts now come to be fulfilled in future? Briefly explain. 4Mks 7. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt. 4Mks i Reminisced ii Collaborated iii Dreaded iv Menacingly 4. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow Yes, Papaai, Resian said apprehensively. I am here. Taiyo tells me you are calling me? Yes, yes, her father replied. Please take a seat. Yes, Papaai, Resian repeated as she sat on a chair far away from her father. Come nearer child, her father said pleasantly. Why do you sit a mile away? Come nearer. Resian moved her chair hardly an inch from where it was and then she looked up into her father s face with eager expectation. If I do remember well, her father began in a low even tone, you will be nineteen in September this year, am I right You are quite right, Papaai. Resian answered eyeing him curiously.
Why do you sit a mile away? Come nearer. Resian moved her chair hardly an inch from where it was and then she looked up into her father s face with eager expectation. If I do remember well, her father began in a low even tone, you will be nineteen in September this year, am I right You are quite right, Papaai. Resian answered eyeing him curiously. His face was unusually kind. His eyes held hers as he smiled broadly. That s it! She thought triumphantly. That must be it! You and I have not discussed important issues for a long time, he said with a friendly chuckle that was intended to bring her closer to him. I thought today would be the best day to break the news. Your future is very important to me, my dear child. Resian thought the concern in her father s voice, rang false. She hesitated, but could not holdherself any more. The anxiety was too great. Papaai, is it Yeiyo or Taiyo who spoke to you? She asked sensationally, thinking she was stating the obvious. But seeing her father s face cloud, she added quickly. Who between them spoke to you about our enrolment at the Egerton University? What are you talking about, child? Her father, who seemed dumbfounded, asked after a long and uncomfortable silence. Both Yeiyo and Taiyo promised to talk to you about it, and I thought she had. What, in the name of God are you talking about, child? He repeated, this time agitated and shaking his head vigorously. No, I have never spoken to anybody about any of you enrolling at the university. Never! When I said I wanted us to discuss your future, that isn t what I meant at all. Of course not! Resian looked at her father s face enquiringly. 1. What has happened before the excerpt? 3mks 2. What is so ironical in this passage? Explain your answer referring to elsewhere in the novel. 3mks 3. Your future is very important to me, my dear child From elsewhere in the novel, explain why Ole Kaelo tells his daughter so. 3Mks 4. Discuss two aspects of character in Resian in this excerpt. 4Mks 5. What major issue is addressed in this excerpt?
Sample excerpt 2 1. Oloisudori informs Resian of the benefits she will get for marrying him. Resian gets very annoyed and speechless. Resian learns that her father has alreadyreceived dowry for her marriage to Oloisudori. He reports to her that their fate is sealed. 2. Contemptuous. He asked, the contemptuous quiet of his voice a menace by itself. Proud. He feels superior and egocentric. No one plays games with Oloisudori. Asked your father, he will tell you. 3. She is feeling disappointed and desperate of her father s action of receiving dowry with an aim of sealing her marriage with Oloisudori. She feels really betrayed. 4. Extortion, assassinations shadowy businesses, sexual immorality,robber, smuggler, poacher 5. It is ironical that Oloisudori who is older than Resian s father plans to marry Resian a young girl even after he is told her wish is to study at the university. It is also ironical that Kaelo has already picked dowry from Oloisudori and has never bothered to inform Resian of it. 6. He told her that she was her wife from then henceforth. 7. A Insane b Grand like a palace c Strong loathe d Treat with excessive care8. Resian rans blindly knocking a chair and a table and disappears past Oloisudori s driver. She goes to her father s shop. She is raving mad with indignation. She becomes very disappointed with her father. Sample excerpt 3 1. Before the excerpt, Taiyo and Resian go to the River to fetch water. They remember their discussion with their aunt and admire Minik s fight against women oppression by men. They muse that men must be very angry with her for snatching five hundred girls from her. After the excerpt, Taiyo sings the song she has composed about three women whom she refers as mice silently in her heart. One of those women is the enkamuratani chasing a woman with a knife. 2. Flashback- Resian recalls fifteen years back when she and Taiyo accompanied their father to the Nakuru agricultural show and she saw sheep the first time. Vivid description-The sheep are vividly described as big, docile tawny wooly animals.
2. Flashback- Resian recalls fifteen years back when she and Taiyo accompanied their father to the Nakuru agricultural show and she saw sheep the first time. Vivid description-The sheep are vividly described as big, docile tawny wooly animals. Metaphors-She calls the three women who collaborated with men to oppress women as Nasila s three blind mice. 3. Theme of Determination or optimism. Resian is full of optimism that one day she would join Egerton university. Women as their own enemies. The three Nasila women collaborated with men to oppress women. Negative cultural practices. The three women propagate negative cultural practices against women such as F.G.M. 4. Resian is visionary. She thought how wonderful it would be, had she a chance to enroll at the Egerton University. She dreams of going to university. Taiyo-critical-she wants to compose a song ridiculing three Nasilian women who collaborated with men to oppress women. 5. With a painful exhaustion, the straps that supported the containers pressed down their heads. 6. Later, she is rescued from a planned marriage by Nabaru and is taken to Minik s ranch. There, she is given a house and a job. Minik also helps in securing their admission at Egerton University. She also gives a scholarship. The novel ends when she and Taiyo are going to University. 7. Recall Recalled Worked together Feared Threateningly Sample Excerpt 4 1.Ole Kaelo sends Taiyo to call Resian for him. Resian feels hopeful and excited that she is being called to be informed about admission to the university. She thinks that it is her mother or sister who has talked to her father about the matter. 2. It is ironical for Resian to think that her father is going to tell her about her dream wish of joining Egerton University but he has plans to marry her off to his friend Oloisudori. This is even as he says your future is very important to me 3. He says this because he has plans to marry her to his friend Oloisudori. If this succeeds, his business would be saved because Oloisudori had helped him establish the business and even building his house in Nasila. 4. Ignorant- she thinks that her father has good news about joining university which is not the case. She says, That s it! She thought triumphantly.
4. Ignorant- she thinks that her father has good news about joining university which is not the case. She says, That s it! She thought triumphantly. Is it Yeiyo or Taiyo who spoke to you? Apprehensive. She replies to her father apprehensively. Fearful- she is in fear of her father. She sits on a chair far from her father. 5. Determination optimism. Resian is very much determined to join Egerton University. She thinks it is the reason why her father has called her. Who between them spoke to you about our enrollment at the Egerton University. 6. After the excerpt, Ole Kaelo hesitates telling Resian what he wanted to tell her and tells her to go to the kitchen. He tells her to tell her mother to come. 7. She asked him who between them had spoken to him about their enrollment at the Egerton University. 8. Suspense. The reader is left in suspense wanting to know why Ole Kaelo had called his daughter. Dialogue- there is dialogue between Resian and her father. It reveals the strained relationship between daughter and father. Nervously worriedly fearfully Sit far away Control herselfTroubled disturbed PRACTICE EXCERPTS 1. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow However, the notion that he was about to hand over his own daughter to a gangster continued to gnaw at the conscience of Ole Kaelo relentlessly. He felt guilty, especially when he recalled the atrocities that were known to have been committed by Oloisudori over the years. But another voice told him quietly that he was being foolish and unreasonable to question his own conscience over the matter of Oloisudori, for he was just one among many who were enjoying the fruits of their labour. And it was hardly anybody s business to know how honest that labour was. After all, the small voice reassured him tauntingly, those who committed bigger crimes such as Goldenberg and Anglo-leasing, were still enjoying the fruits of their labour. Had they not invested the yields of their ill-gotten money in housing estates, in shares, in import and exports in tourism, in transport and in other trades, just as Oloisudori had done?
But another voice told him quietly that he was being foolish and unreasonable to question his own conscience over the matter of Oloisudori, for he was just one among many who were enjoying the fruits of their labour. And it was hardly anybody s business to know how honest that labour was. After all, the small voice reassured him tauntingly, those who committed bigger crimes such as Goldenberg and Anglo-leasing, were still enjoying the fruits of their labour. Had they not invested the yields of their ill-gotten money in housing estates, in shares, in import and exports in tourism, in transport and in other trades, just as Oloisudori had done? When he went to bed later that evening, he remained awake for many hours pondering over those disturbing thoughts that went through his mind fleetingly, like water that churned violently in a turbulent sea. He thought of Oloisudori s impending visit and his intended marriage to Resian. He knew the success of failure of the event would determine the fate of his business. Even his continued ownership of that house where he and his family lived, depended on the outcomes of that event. Should Oloisudori fail to get Resian and recall the loan he had extended to him to buy that house, he was done. And knowing Oloisudori, he could very easily draw the rug from beneath his feet, leaving him vulnerable to all kinds of vagaries. And the thoughts gave him anxious moments. At dawn when sleep overtook him, Ole Kaelo had a pleasant dream. Resian had consented to Oloisudori s proposal. After Oloisudori reported that to him, he was greatly pleased and relieved. His wife was rapturous. Although they were astonished at the turn of events, they were relieved to know that they would not have to live with the guilt of having forced their daughter to get married. What a wise child his once hardheaded daughter had turned to be after all! And how devious! After all those years of sullenness, awkwardness and tactlessness, she had finally brought relief to their life and ushered in a period of peace and tranquility. But then, it was just that. A dream! 1. Place the excerpt in its immediate context. 4Mks 2. Discuss three major issues in this excerpt. 6Mks 3. Discuss two character traits of Ole Kaelo in this excerpt.
Discuss three major issues in this excerpt. 6Mks 3. Discuss two character traits of Ole Kaelo in this excerpt. 4Mks 4. And the thoughts gave him anxious moments Add a question tag. 1Mk 5. Discuss any three aspects of style in this excerpt. 6Mks 6. Explain the meaning of the following expressions from the excerpt. 4Mks i . Gnaw ii . Pondering iii . Impending visit iv . He was done. 2. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow. Her dream was rudely and violently interrupted by a thunderous bang and a loud roar of laughter. She woke up with a start, jumped up to her feet and stared at the door with wide panic-stricken eyes. For a moment she could not figure out her surroundings and called out the name of her sister Taiyo. She was terrified. The door flung open and Olarinkoi staggered in. He was stone drunk. Resian stared at him unblinkingly as he walked towards her and she backed off terrified, squeezing herself flatly against the wall. He followed her there and got hold of her shoulders and shook her violently glaring at her with his glittering eyes. You silly thing, he thundered angrily. I tell you to prepare food and you refuse to do so, eh? Today you will know who is the owner of this home. If you are still in doubt, let me tell you frankly that from today on you are my wife, hear that, eh? You are my wife. For a long time you have been sneering at me, showing how highly educated you are. Today we shall see how educated your body is! Yes, we shall see! He got hold of her hand and began dragging her into the other room. At first she did not understand his intention until he began unfastening her buttons with his rough trembling hands. Then the truth came, and with it, terror and panic. She tried to get away from him, but he held her effortlessly as he brutally continued fumbling with her dress, trying to loosen it. She screamed as loudly as she could while she pushed him away and thrashed frantically about. But that did not deter him and he totally ignored her screams holding her more firmly with his strong arms. Against her loud protest, he tore her garments and began to push her towards the bed.
She screamed as loudly as she could while she pushed him away and thrashed frantically about. But that did not deter him and he totally ignored her screams holding her more firmly with his strong arms. Against her loud protest, he tore her garments and began to push her towards the bed. Then desperately she took the last chance of self defense and self-preservation. Mustering all her strength, she thrust his thumb into her mouth; sunk her teeth intothe flesh like a ferocious animal and tenaciously held onto it, tugging at it fiercely like a lioness. She could feel the flesh tearing and she tasted the salt of his blood as it filled her mouth but she clung unto the thumb as Olarinkoi howled with pain. 1. Make notes on the contents of Resian s dream. 4Mks 2. Discuss one character traits of Resian in this excerpt. 2Mks 3. What has greatly changed in Olarinkoi in this excerpt compared to his earlier conduct in the novel? 3Mks 4. Identify and illustrate two aspects of style in this excerpt. 4Mks 5. Explain two major issues raised in the excerpt. 4Mks 6. Explain what happens immediately after the excerpt. 3Mks 7. Today we shall see how educated your body is Rewrite in reported speech. 1Mk 8. Explain the meaning of the following expressions in the passage. 4 Mks i . Unblinkingly ii . Effortlessly iii . Mustering iv . Howled 3. Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow Nothing is wrong with me, Resian retorted furiously. And pointing at the living room, with her figure, she fiercely charged, I have no quarrel with my father for whom, I have tremendous respect. It is the likes of Olarinkoi I am mad at, and all those other males who come here ordering us to do that or the other for them, simply because they are males. When women visit us, they give us the leeway to respond to their requests. But as we burn our fingers here Mr.Olarinkoi is dozing off comfortably in our living room waiting for his lunch and possibly a little angry and impatient with us for delaying it. It is enough, cried Yeiyo Botorr viciously.
It is the likes of Olarinkoi I am mad at, and all those other males who come here ordering us to do that or the other for them, simply because they are males. When women visit us, they give us the leeway to respond to their requests. But as we burn our fingers here Mr.Olarinkoi is dozing off comfortably in our living room waiting for his lunch and possibly a little angry and impatient with us for delaying it. It is enough, cried Yeiyo Botorr viciously. She instantly abandoned the peeling of potatoes and threw the knife into the pail that held the peeled potatoes. Supporting herself by holding onto a nearby wall, she painfully lifted a large, heavy body. My enkaini, I agree with you that something is wrong with our child, and I think I know what ails her. Come along with me and I will tell you what I think ails her. I am not sick Resian was saying that when she was cut short by Taiyo. Even if you are not sick, you cannot argue with Yeiyo Botorr, Taiyo told her sternly as soon as they were out of earshot of their mother and Yeiyo Botorr, there are things one has to learn on their own. One of them is that you cannot antagonize the older people by arguing with them, however, untenable their argument may be. That goes without saying, my dear little sister. 1. What happens before this extract? 3mks 2. Comment on any two stylistic devices used in the extract. 4mks 3. Explain any issue brought about in this extract. 3mks 4. What is the character of Yeiyoo Botorr from this extract? 4mks 5. From elsewhere in this text how does Olarinkoi contribute to the plot development of the novel? 3mks 6. Re-write and add a question tag. 1mks Nothing is wrong with me. 7. Write the meaning of the following vocabulary. 4mks a Sternly b Antagonize c Retorted d Leeway 8. What happens immediately after this extract? 3mks 4.
4mks a Sternly b Antagonize c Retorted d Leeway 8.What happens immediately after this extract? 3mks 4.Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow At seven o clock in the evening after the lights had been put on, and the traditional esuguroi drink had been served in generous measures, tongues loosened and hearts gladdened. Soon after, the party gathered momentum and voices rose. Within no time, one could hardly be heard over the hubbub of talk and laughter. And as the pleasurable and lively celebration progressed, voices became animated; hands andarms gesticulated vigorously while heads turned more often. Eyes searched out acquaintances within the throng of revelers. And it was all pomp and gaiety as ivory adorned and bejeweled fingers fluttered; bare shoulders gleamed in the light multicoloured bead ornaments glittered upon elaborately bedecked necks: pendulous ilmiintoni of all colours dangled loosely down extended ear-lobes: and the bright colours of lesos, kangas, red shukas and multicoloured blankets, all turned the Ole Kaelo living room into a kaleidoscope of shifting light and colour.1.Place this extract in its immediate context. 4mks 2.State and explain two thematic concerns in this context. 4mks 3.What is the significance of the use of words like esuguroi, ilmiintoni, lesos, kangas, and shukas? 3mks 4.Identify and explain two character traits of ole Kaelo. 4mks 5.Eyes searched out acquaintances within the throng of revelers. Rewrite to form a question 1mk 6.Which other party has an equal weight from the rest of the novel. What is its significance? 3mks 7.Comment on the prevalent mood in the context. 2mks 8.Explain the meaning of the following words: 4mks a Hubbub b Gesticulated c Gaiety d Dangled.
Walterakach gmail.com 2014THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN BY WALTER AKACH THE DEFINITIVE GUIDETOWHEN THE SUN GOES DOWNBYWALTER AKACH2 Table of Contents The guilt, Rayda Jacobs 2 When The Sun Goes Down, Goro wa Kamau .8 Leaving, Moyez G. Vassanji ...15 The War of the Ears, Moses Isegawa 21 The Mirror, Haruki Murakami .30 Diamond Dust, Anita Desai 35 Arrested Development, Sandisile Tshuma 42 Sandra Street, Michael Anthony ...48 Twilight Trek, Sefi Atta ..52 I Stand Here Ironing, Tillie Olsen ..........65 The Retraction, Stanley Onjezani Kenani .....77 The Bamboo Hut, Grace Ogot 85 Tuesday Siesta, Gabriel Garcia Marquez ..91 Two Stories of a House, Leila Abouzeid 100 Law of the Grazing Fields, Cyprian Ekwensi..106 White Hands, Jane Katjavivi .112 The Guilt, Rayda Jacobs South Africa 3 1. Plot a. Introduction We meet Mrs. Lilian Thurgood at the side of her house picking guavas. Her two dogs: Tembi and Tor alert her of somebody s presence at her gate. She is not a very strong woman; she walks with the aid of a cane. Flowers are everywhere sprouting in her compound and this gives her pleasure. B. Narrative Hook She engage s the man at the gate in a conversation c. Rising Action William Sidlay has a letter to prove that he is collecting money for some organization. He is looking for handouts donations if he can t find work. Lilian doubts the authenticity of the letter. Even as she rummages for change in her purse, she knew she was making a mistake to empathize with William. People like William took advantage of people like Lilian or murdered them. Lilian, like the rest of the whites, was filled with guilt of having gained her privileged position because of her race. She gives him the five rand, even though she could ill afford it. D. Climax William offers to work for the money. He says it s too much.
D. Climax William offers to work for the money. He says it s too much. She opens the gate for him to clean her garden, despite doubts. He however refuses to stop working when she Lilian makes the request. She had to go into the4 house for the phone was ringing. William followed her there. E. Falling Action Lilian bids him to leave but he declines. He demands 10 rand for his effort. When she threatens to call her husband, William tells her that she lives alone. He insists on ten rand besides the 5 he d been given. F. D nouement Feeling threatened she sets the dogs on him. She gets a gun from her bedroom. She gets back her five rand before seeing him off. Although she comes out of the episode unscathed, she does not boast about it to her friends, may be still consumes with guilt. Where there was guilt there was opportunity. Write an essay to confirm this using Rayda Jacob s The Guilt for your illustrations. 2. Setting The story is set in s white suburb in South Africa. Mrs. Lilian a pensioner Thurgood s home is a fortress, 10 foot high wall fence, and has a large compound in which she has fruit trees: guavas and lemons. She also has flowers in her garden: geraniums, basil and oregano. She lives alone. The incident with William takes place in the morning. 3. Conflict. The Guilt has both external and internal conflict. I Internal conflicts - First Mrs. Lilian Thurgood experiences internal conflict. She did not have to answer the call at the gate. She says she had ignored many such calls. 5 - She also suffers from internal conflict when confronted with the forged letter William Sidlay presents. She takes it anyway. -. She is faced with another instance of internal conflict when she discovers that she has 5 rand 23 cents. The five rand she thinks is too much and the 23 cents too little. She gives him the five rand in spite of herself. -. Another instance of internal conflict is on the night it was raining and she had to get the door. She wonders whether it is racist to it one were afraid to open doors to strangers. She does it anyway to make for the guilt of benefitting from the old regime. Ii External Conflict - William Sidlay threatens Lilian physically.
She wonders whether it is racist to it one were afraid to open doors to strangers. She does it anyway to make for the guilt of benefitting from the old regime. Ii External Conflict - William Sidlay threatens Lilian physically. She gives Tembi Tor the first command which allowed them to terrorise but not draw blood. She wonders what they might do if she gave the second signal she doesn t use it. -. Next, she goes for the gun which she uses to drive William out of her compound and survives a potentially murderous situation. 4. Characters Although several characters are mentioned in this story, the action focuses on Lilian and William. A. Lilian Physical attributes - She is a white woman over sixty-six years old and walks with a limp owing to a painful leg for which she takes medicine. -. Assign character traits to Mrs. Lilian Thurgood based on the following situations. 6 i Can I help you? Lilian asked. Respectful courteous ii She handed the letter back to him and said, wait here, kind iii Based on the incidents with the African woman who d knocked her door at night, the woman who d seen her sitting in the stoep , the man who rung persistently at her gate, you would say that Lilian is generous? Iv Her sudden anger when confronted with five rand 23 cents and she longs for her husband s presence he would have ordered the man off the grounds. Insecure v She would not lock the door behind her, she told herself. She trusted him. Naive trusting vi He came forward. Sa! Lilian commanded the dogs. Decisive vii The fact that she did not give the last command to the Alsatians nor pull the trigger of the gun. Humane viii The fact that she did not tell the truth to Margaret, Ruth and Ethel May. Modest Assign character traits to William Sidlay based on the following situations. I The fact that he did not panic when confronted by Tembi Tor. Calm courageous brave7 ii The fact that he forged a letter to gain entry into white homes dishonest iii The fact that he wanted the five rand besides demanding for 10 rand. Greedy iv The fact that he knew Lilian lived alone and that no one was going to come to her aid.
I The fact that he did not panic when confronted by Tembi Tor. Calm courageous brave7 ii The fact that he forged a letter to gain entry into white homes dishonest iii The fact that he wanted the five rand besides demanding for 10 rand. Greedy iv The fact that he knew Lilian lived alone and that no one was going to come to her aid. Scheming v The fact that he moved towards Lilian when she threatened to call the police. Menacing vi Sidlay producing a letter allowing him to beg after being told by Lilian that she had no work. Persistent 5. POV The story is told from the omniscient narrator perspective. 6. Theme i Guilt All the generous actions of Mrs. Thurgood are driven by guilt-she says that it was making good on the guilt, the guilt they were accused of having. Ii Deception a William Sidlay forges a letter that he purports allows him to collect funds for an organisation. It is a plan to gain entry into white people s homes and either take advantage of their guilt or murder them. B The woman who d seen Lilian sitting on the stoep deceives her that she will sell8 her eight plants for four rand and plant them. She asks for water to wet the ground when Lilian returns with the hose she finds 30 plants planted and a bill of 12 rand which she had to pay. Iii Race relations The blacks do anything in their power to take advantage of the whites. On their part, the whites feel inclined to help the blacks because of the guilt they have that their privileged position was a benefit of the previous white regime. Question Show that people pay dearly for showing their weaknesses. Using Rayda Jacob s The Guilt show that this is true. 9 When the Sun Goes Down by Goro wa Kamau The Plot We meet Steve, a successful businessman, walking down the streets of his home town. He receives questioning stares from the people standing along the streets who pretend to be going on with their businesses while in truth they are discussing Steve. He runs into his boyhood friends, Kanja. He invites Kanja to his home for a chat. He asks Kanja to tell him of the rumours about him doing rounds in the town. Kanja informs him that it is rumoured that he is marrying Maureen.
He invites Kanja to his home for a chat. He asks Kanja to tell him of the rumours about him doing rounds in the town. Kanja informs him that it is rumoured that he is marrying Maureen. We learn that people suspect that Maureen is infected with the HIV virus. Steve confirms it is true. Steve then relates the sad circumstances of Maureen s marriage to an abusive and promiscuous soldier. When Kanja meets Maureen, she unashamedly opens up and tells him how she learned that she was infected with HIV. It was long after she had struck friendship with Steve and was carrying his child. It is at this point that Steve also took an HIV test and it turned out that he too was positive. Maureen serves Kanja with juice he declines to take and finally Steve shares it with his son. This stigmatisation discrimination hurts Maureen and sends her into a depression. Despite Steve s appeal to her that they fight the disease together, she is unable to overcome her depressive mood. One evening while asleep, Maureen becomes delirious and starts mumbling bible verses. Tom, a sympathetic neighbor, helps Steve to take her to hospital. When Maureen realizes where she is, she stages a protest demanding to be taken home to die. She does not recover from her depression. 10 She is buried a week later. She leaves Steve and Kanja and Kimotho to continue the struggle. The Title The title, When the Sun Goes Down , is made in reference to Maureen s feelings of depression, hopelessness and guilt to the point of giving up on life. It creates the impression that for her, all is lost. Setting The story is set in a rural town in Central Kenya. The villagers know each other by age, name and family. This explains the concerns of each other s welfare. It also explains how this familiarity results into interference in the private lives of one another. The story is set in the modern times. HIV is a reality and so are ARV s. Conflict We shall approach conflict from two perspectives: conflict developed by Maureen. A Conflict developed by Steve. Steve largely develops external conflict i In the introductory part of the plot Steve is confronted with external conflict: between him and the villagers. He has made a decision that has not gone down well with the villagers. They believe that he deserves better than marrying Maureen.
Steve largely develops external conflict i In the introductory part of the plot Steve is confronted with external conflict: between him and the villagers. He has made a decision that has not gone down well with the villagers. They believe that he deserves better than marrying Maureen. This is because11 Maureen is HIV positive. However, no one is ready to seek his opinion on the matter but they all talk behind his back about his affair with Maureen. His decision to marry Maureen therefore alienates him from the people who looked up to him. His mind is however made up and he doesn t care what they think or say about him He; has no friends but Kanja ii The second external conflict he develops is between him and Kanja, his boyhood friend. Kanja has heard rumours about Steve s intentions to marry Maureen; however he is afraid for Steve because rumour also has it that she is HIV positive. Steve feels that Kanja, his only remaining friend, should not be part of the rumour mill. He has no control over this and it turns out that his friend indeed has come fishing for information based on the rumours he s heard. What is more, his friend had also made advances to Maureen but was unsuccessful. Further, his friend brings the HIV stigma right into their house when he refuses to drink the juice Maureen serves him. It is this conflict with Kanja that is central to the story and is responsible for the ultimate death of Maureen. Iii The other external conflict Steve develops is between him and Maureen. Pp19 Maureen explains to Kanja how Steve came to learn that he had HIV. This was her way of taking responsibility for pass the virus to him; this was her way of making him a victim and Steve resented it. He forbids her to reason like that but will not stop. 12 Pp22 Maureen is hurt by Kanja s refusal to take the juice she serves him. She says it s worthless to live if people cruelly discriminate against you. Steve would have none of this and implores her not to think like that to no avail. Pp25-26 Steve not only buys the most nutritious foods for her but also cooks them but Maureen wouldn t eat. She suffers from nausea after a few bites, what is more she yearns for death.
Steve would have none of this and implores her not to think like that to no avail. Pp25-26 Steve not only buys the most nutritious foods for her but also cooks them but Maureen wouldn t eat. She suffers from nausea after a few bites, what is more she yearns for death. Despite his remonstrations with her that she banishes such thoughts of death from her head she wouldn t stop. Pp26-27 Maureen s sense of guilt finally gets the better of Steve. Her deep seated sense of guilt reinforced by the careless talk of the neighbours finally gets Steve to contemplate the terrible possibility of her death. Iv Steve also develops external conflict between him and HIV AIDS. -. He tries to have good mental health by making Maureen avoid negative talk, this is a battle he loses for her but does not succumb to. He continues to live positively He talks of counting their blessings. -. He stops smoking at the urging of his doctor. This too is a battle that he is winning. -. He buys nutritious foods and takes his drugs. He tells Maureen that she has to eat and take her drugs daily. Although Maureen loses this battle Steve does not he is in it for the long haul. He is determined to stay alive. 13 Even Maureen acknowledges this pp20 she says that she has no doubt he will live. B Maureen develops external conflict as well as internal. Internal conflict Maureen blames herself for passing the virus on to Steve. Pp19 She protests that she was faithful both to her husband and to Steve. She tells the story of how Steve found out he was positive to assuage herself lessen her guilt Pp26 As she gets delirious she mumbles that she was faithful both to her husband and to Steve. External Conflict i She develops a conflict between her and HIV - This is another conflict central to the story. From the time we meet Maureen there is no doubt she is losing the battle against HIV. When we first meet her we are told that she looked somewhat weary. -. When Kanja refuses to take the juice she serves him, she is devastated. Pp21 she asks Steve why people must be so cruel. She refuses to forgive herself for bringing this cruelty on Steve. Subsequently she refuses to eat and it is hinted that she may have stopped taking her drugs pp26 Steve reminds her that she has to eat and take her drugs daily.
Pp21 she asks Steve why people must be so cruel. She refuses to forgive herself for bringing this cruelty on Steve. Subsequently she refuses to eat and it is hinted that she may have stopped taking her drugs pp26 Steve reminds her that she has to eat and take her drugs daily. -. When forced to eat pp26 she develops nausea and says that she longs to rest euphemism for die. -. At the hospital, she tells the nurse that she is dying. Pp28 - pp21 tears flow down her face as she thinks of Kanja s action and wishes people were more compassionate. -. Pp26 she declares that she is a living dead - In short, Maureen s sun went down the day she discovered she d passed on HIV to Steve. Ii She also develops a conflict between her and the Kanja s of this world. When Kanja refuses to take her14 juice, she is devastated and asks Steve why people are so cruel. She feels that her family is discriminated against because she brought AIDS into it. -. She hardly goes out for fear of what people will say. -. Pp 26 Steve laments that her sense of guilt was the product of listening to lose speaking tongues. Themes Two of the best developed themes in this story are fear and guilt. They are both developed by Maureen. -. Kanja develops the theme of hypocrisy friendship cracks at mention of AIDS. -. HIV AIDS is developed by both Steve and Maureen. The author uses Steve to show how people can live positively with AIDS. Maureen on the other hand serves to illustrate how hopelessness and not AIDS kills people infected with HIV. -. Ignorance is developed by: Kanja not taking the juice Maureen serves The town s folk in general not knowing that their negative talk kills worse than AIDS. Mr. Kabia- fears contracting AIDS if an AIDS sufferer is carried in his car. -. Loneliness is developed by both Steve and Maureen. Characterisation 1. Steve: determined, loving, realistic, open, sociable, hardworking 2. Kanja: hypocritical, ignorant, lustful 3. Maureen: hopeless, faithful, loving, religious, hospitable, stoic15 Essay Question 1. Life is worth living even if one is suffering from HIV.
Kanja: hypocritical, ignorant, lustful 3. Maureen: hopeless, faithful, loving, religious, hospitable, stoic15 Essay Question 1. Life is worth living even if one is suffering from HIV. Using Goro wa Kamau s When the Sun Goes Down for your illustrations show that this is true. 16 Leaving by Moyez G. Vassanji 1. Setting The story is set in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. We first meet the family leaving on Uhuru Street where the Narrator s mother runs a shop. Later they move to the residential area of Upanga, upon her selling her shop. 2. Plot The story opens with the concept of leaving. The girls are getting married. Mehroon marries a former school mate who leaves in Dar. Razia marries a wealthy man who leaves in Tanga. Then there is Firoz who drops out of school and gets employed. The narrator s mother then sells her shop and moves from Uhuru Street to Upanga residential area. The narrator informs us their mother laid hopes on he Aloo. This is because they both excel at school. The narrator joins the local University. Meanwhile, in his last year at school, he proves to be exceptionally bright in his studies. Mr. Datoo, a farmer student and teacher at the boys school, visits the town from U.S.A. the similarity of Datoo s and Aloo s background makes Aloo feels that he too could study in the USA. He starts writing applications to various universities in America. His ambition is to study medicine. When the results are out, he has straight A s. However, the local varsity gives him a place to study Agriculture. This is what makes the offer from CIT more appealing. They not only offer him a place at the university but also give him a scholarship. His determination to study in17 America intensifies; however, the money required for transport and upkeep as well as his mother s fear of losing her son stands in his way. After seeking Mr. Velji s opinion, and some reflection, his mother is ready to let go. 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 studies 3.
Velji s opinion, and some reflection, his mother is ready to let go. 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 studies 3. Conflict This story is about Aloo s determination to study medicine i The 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. Ii The second conflict is developed by Velji and Aloo 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. 18 She 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 him Pp 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. 4. Characters and Characterisation. I Aloo a intelligent scores straight A s in his final exam b respectful -pp 36 He had raised his voice to her, the first time I saw him that.
This shows that she understands that through education her children would improve their lot. Iii Fear The 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 fear a That her son doesn t care much for the family b That something could happen to him c That he could start smoking and drinking d That he could marry a white woman 6. POV This 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 influence Aloo 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. I Is the title appropriate? 21 Yes, all the 5 siblings and their mother are involved in leavings of sorts. Ii 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. Iii What is the author s intention? A 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. B 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. 22 The War of the Ears by Moses Isegawa 1. Setting The 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.
Setting The 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. 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. 2. Plot The 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 Victorious Brigades, 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. 23 To 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. 3. Conflict a External i The 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 is24 signed 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. Ii 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 iii 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. Iv 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. Iv 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 . 25 Then 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 b The other conflict developed in the story is internal i Beeda In 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 ii Azizima He 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 to26 avenge 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. 4. Characters and Characterisation.
Moreover it would mean surrendering his power something he knew he would not do freely. 4. Characters and Characterisation. A Ma Beeda A widow, entrepreneur and a single parent, she has a son, Beeda i Hardworking started her school under a mango tree but is now a full-fledged learning centre. Ii Determined Resolute Hers 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. Iii Optimistic Despite 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 27 iv Secretive She had a journal in which she entered the Nightcrawler s reports. Beeda was not allowed to look in the book. Pp 59 v Curiuos Has set the Nightcrawler to find out details of what several people had heard and seen the night before. Vi Perceptive pp 47 She had the ability to guess what her son was thinking and at times he disliked it intensely. B Beeda i Hardworking stays at school teaching until late -plans his lessons in good time ii Concerned pp 46 asks his mom whether she spoke to the teachers i.e. ask them to stay. -Wants to know the response of the regional commander in relation to their insecurity. C Azizima -ambitious violent reflective determined 5. Themes a Human rights abuse crimes against humanity. I 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 short28 lived by the rebels who have served her with a final notice to close the school. Ii 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. Iii 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.
The rebels too killed his mother for an unspecified reason. Iii 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 that Blue 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. Iv Displacement People 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. V 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 Kalo29 is only 17 years. These children are first abducted and then forced into fighting. Vi 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 Uganda government for hours on end. B Family relations i MaBeeda trains her son on the work ethic; he not only knows his house hold chores but loves his teaching job. Ii 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 eats some 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 eats some of the food he serves her. C Violence - War going on between government and rebels - Government torturing and killing rebel collaborators death of Azizima s father30 - Rebels 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. D 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 Modo Pp 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. 31 The Mirror by Haruki Murakami 1. Setting The 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. 2. Plot The 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. 32 He 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. 3. Conflict i The 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. Ii 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. Iii The third conflict is between the narrator and his parents. At seventeen they expected him to proceed to college after high school.
He insists it was only the three of them in the lift. Iii 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. Iv 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 that33 holds 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. 4. Character and characterisation. Narrator a proud - Thinks 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. B fearful - Feels 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. C rebellious - Refuses to go to college and chooses to do manual work. D Hospitable Hosts his friends and having been entertained by their stories he too narrates one that he has kept secret in order to further entertain them. E Analytical Upon 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 the34 impression he gets is that these experiences are mutually exclusive. 5. Themes i Identity Crisis - At 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.
36 Diamond Dust by Anita Desai 1. Setting The 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. Plot We are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Das and Diamond, Mr. Das problematic dog. It is not only a nuisance to Mrs. 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 friends Biswas 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 s37 meat 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. 38 Diamond 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. 3. Conflict A conflict arising from Diamond s actions i Diamond Mrs. Das Diamond 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. Ii Diamond and the neighbours a The 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. B When his phobia for uniform grew he would chase children on their way to or from school. The result was that they could39 neither go to the bus-stop nor come from it, without adult protection.
Ii Diamond and the neighbours a The 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. B When his phobia for uniform grew he would chase children on their way to or from school. The result was that they could39 neither go to the bus-stop nor come from it, without adult protection. C During the badmashi days, Diamond would howl so loudly keeping the neighbours awake. This would go on until he snapped his collar. B Conflicts arising from Mr. Das actions:- i Das and Mrs. Das a Mrs. 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. B 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. C 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. D When Diamond goes out on his last escapade in Nov. the night chill made Das sick and she40 had 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. Iii Das and his colleagues neighbours a C.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. B His colleagues had caught him frolicking with Diamond 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.
7. 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. B What is the significant event? Mr. Das obsessive behavior towards Diamond. C What is the aim of the author? I 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. Ii 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. 43 Das 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 44 Arrested Development by Sandisile Tshuma 1. Setting The story is set on a road trip from Zimbabwe s capital Bulawayo, 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. 2. Plot The 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 midthirties. She learns that the police take bribes to ignore the contraband.
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 midthirties. 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 the45 passenger 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 blackouts The narrator s research however offers a ray of hope that might salvage the youth from their endless troubles in search of a livelihood. 3. Conflict i 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 transport With 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. 46 iii The Public The 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.
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. 4. Characters and Characetrisation i Narrator a Observant -vividly describes the boarding of the twin-cab pickup -places the Gwanda passenger as a Tshuma b Intelligent -an academician carrying out a research project47 c Focused The 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. Ii Cross-border traders: -opportunists -cunning -daring- crossing of the Limpopo iii General 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 for development 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. 5. Themes. The best developed theme in this story is suffering. There are many other themes but not well developed. I Suffering a No public service or they are inefficient. 48 -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. B The narrator had waited for 2 hours at the bank to withdraw money. C black -outs are common place and house taps are dry d payment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburg e traders sometimes have to cross the crocodile infested river Limpopo. At times they are attacked by bandits f The practice of Vigoroni has robbed them of etiquette.
B The narrator had waited for 2 hours at the bank to withdraw money. C black -outs are common place and house taps are dry d payment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburg e traders sometimes have to cross the crocodile infested river Limpopo. At times they are attacked by bandits f The 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-up ii 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 fundsMatebeleland Zambezi Water Pipeline has never taken off. 49 iv Human rights violations pp 93 payment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburg, traders are subjected to strip searchers by bandits v Insecurity traders are mugged by bandits in the farmlands of Limpopo Province. Vi Loneliness pp 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. 6. POV 1st 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. 7. 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. 50 Sandra Street by Michael Anthony 1. Setting The story is set in a suburb street called Sandra. It is no ordinary street.
50 Sandra Street by Michael Anthony 1. Setting The 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. 2. Plot We 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 of Kenneth 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. 51 The 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. 3. Conflict a The 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. 52 NB: This journey is made up of a series of conflicts between Blades and Steven. Identify all of them. B Kenneth s work and Steven This 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 . C 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. D Steven experiences internal conflict. I 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 . Ii As Steven begins to appreciate the beauty of Sandra Street, it also fills him with a sense of sadness.
D Steven experiences internal conflict. I 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 . Ii As Steven begins to appreciate the beauty of Sandra Street, it also fills him with a sense of sadness. He says53 that 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 conflict His dilemma is how to make the pupils appreciate Sandra Streets 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. 54 TWILIGHT TREK by SEFFI ATTA 1. Setting The 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. 2. Plot The 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 at55 the 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. 3. Conflict The story raises conflicts at different levels. External conflict develops at two levels. First there is conflict56 between 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. I.
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. I. 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. Ii. 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. Iii. The narrator and his mother When 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 and57 child 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. Iv. Illegal immigrants and nature When 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.
Iv. Illegal immigrants and nature When 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 and58 water. 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 . V. Travellers and Tuareg guide At 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 vi. Illegal immigrants and environment a. The camp is insalubrious The 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. B. They suffer constant bites from fleas. Many are coughing. They are warned that even the air that they breathe may carry plagues pp115 6 . C. At the camp they are told to beware of thieves, Moroccan security forces and con men. 59 vii. The narrator and Patience She steals his money and heads for Tangier and the world beyond. 4. Character and characterisation a. The narrator Independent minded When 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. B. Gifted He plays football very well. This is the main reason why he wants to travel to Europe where he hopes to develop his talent further. C. Friendly Befriends Patience and helps her through the difficult times. He is willing to pay part of her fare. D. Na ve Trusts Patience and tells her where his money is hidden. She steals it and abandons him at the camp. E. Braggart He brags to Patience about his football skills and how he was going to make a career out of playing football in Europe.
Irony - The 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 him62 out 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. A Opportunism callousness of human nature and greed 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 narrator At 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. 63 The narrator s employer He 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.
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 mother She 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 guide His 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. Patience Her 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. B Brutality violence i. The police The 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 ii. Bandits There is talk that travellers are sometimes attacked by bearded moslems and bandits when their trucks break down in the desert. There is no64 guarantee that the police would arrive in time to rescue them. Such stories make some women turn back at the last moment pp111 . Iii. Samsara In 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 c Collective folly of illegal of illegal immigration At 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 c Collective folly of illegal of illegal immigration At 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 any65 villagers; 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. 7. POV The 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. 8. A Appropriateness of the title Harrap 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. 66 Figuratively too, the sun is not yet up for this would be immigrants. They are not realistic in their ambition to immigrate. B Significant event The notice of revenge on Jean by the drug baron is the significant event in this story.
66 Figuratively too, the sun is not yet up for this would be immigrants. They are not realistic in their ambition to immigrate. B Significant event The 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 . C Aim of the author i. Show the ridiculous lengths to which people will go to try and improve their lot. Ii. Show human suffering occasioned by poor decision making. Q. 1 What are some of the elements that Sefi Atta exposes as ridiculous in Twilight Trek? Q. 2 Discuss the suffering the illegal immigrants undergo in Twilight Trek by Sefi Atta. 67 I STAND HERE IRONING BY TILLIE OLSEN 1. Setting The 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. 2. The plot The 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. 68 When 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.
68 When 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. 69 3. Conflict i. All 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. Ii. 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, she70 could 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 iii. 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. 71 Then 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 iv. The instance between Emily and a boy she loved Emily loved a boy painfully through two semesters.
She is brought out as a very ordinary woman who has both weaknesses and strengths. A Strengths i. Determined She 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 . 73 ii. Responsible Looked 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. Iii. Reflective At 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. Iv. Honest She 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 . B Weaknesses i. Fearful She 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 . 74 She 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. Ii. Biased She 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 . 75 iii. Resigned She 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. 5. Themes i. Poverty The 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. Ii. Suffering Emily s life is one of suffering right form birth. 76 Being 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.
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 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 from her 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. 77 iii. Family relationships Try 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. 6. POV This 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 symbolic It 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.
7. A Appropriateness of title The title is symbolic It 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. At the end of the story the narrator says that Emily should know that she is78 not as helpless as the dress on the ironing board before the iron. B Significant event The significant event in this story is Emily s father deserting his wife and daughter when Emily is only eight months old . C Aim of the author The writer depicts the suffering endured by the working class families in America during the great depression. Question Write an essay to show the suffering that Emily has endured in her 19 years. 79 THE RETRACTION BY STANLEY O. KENANI 1. Setting The 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. 2. The plot The 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.
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 of80 paper 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. Conflict i. Tatha and Zgambo This 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 would81 make his comments that Tatha had been rude to him throughout the flight. That s it.
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 would81 make 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 visits Blantyre 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. Ii. Zgambo and the airline s CEO Zgambo 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. Iii. Zgambo and other service providers. A Zgambo and the caf receptionist She 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. 82 b Zgambo and bus service to Blantyre The 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. C Zgambo and Malawi Air receptionist The 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. 4. Character and characterisation i.
The call was not a business one. 4. Character and characterisation i. Zgambo a Careless irresponsible He 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. B Reflective Upon 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. C Determined He 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 d83 bought 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. D Concerned He 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. 5. Themes i. Integrity This 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 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.
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,84 the 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. Suffering Another 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. Style i. Irony The 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. Ii. Symbolism The 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 in85 his 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. 7. POV The 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.
POV The 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. A Appropriateness of title The 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. 86 b Significant event The 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. C Aim of the author This 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. TASK We 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 illustrations87 The Bamboo Hut by Grace Ogot 1. Setting The 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. 2. The Plot Chief 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.
2. The Plot Chief 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. 88 Many 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. 3. Conflict i. Mboga and the gods Chief 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.
Conflict i. Mboga and the gods Chief 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. Ii. Achieng She badly wanted to please her husband by being the first wife to bear him a son. So focused is she89 that 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. Iii. Owiny and Mboga Owiny 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. Iv. Achieng and Mboga Achieng 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. 4. Character and characterisation Mboga: traditional, merciful, strict, authoritarian Owiny: resolute stubborn, Achieng : decisive90 5. Themes i. Tradition A number of Luo traditional practices are brought out in this story: Marriage, child naming, chieftaincy, religion ii. Clemency forgiveness Achieng had gone against the rules of the community. As a result, she was supposed to be sent away. The chief gives two extenuating circumstances against effecting this decision. The first is the heartache it was going to cause him to lose the woman he loved; secondly, he pitied her for the pain she had lived with upon losing her daughter.
As a result, she was supposed to be sent away. The chief gives two extenuating circumstances against effecting this decision. The first is the heartache it was going to cause him to lose the woman he loved; secondly, he pitied her for the pain she had lived with upon losing her daughter. The third reason is a very interesting revelation: people have secrets and he does not know the extent of these secrets. But it makes him learn that though he was a powerful chief, he was still human and his own family kept secrets from him. Iii. Power authority Chief Mboga although considered a mighty leader understands his limitations. If the chieftaincy is to remain in his lineage he has to sire a son. There is nothing he can do about this. Besides, he needs a son to look after him because he has no authority to keep his daughters from going away upon attaining marriage age. Further, he follows all the laid down procedures to prepare for the marriage of his son. When it turns out that his son cannot marry Awiti, he does91 not use his office unjustly to influence the marriage although he risks losing his son for he is determined to marry Awiti. The import of this is that leadership is a challenge and that the use of power authority for the common good is its sole object. This the mighty chief achieves. The only time he uses his office to suit his purposes is the time he refuses to send Awiti away but chooses to celebrate the return of his daughter. 6. POV This story is told from a third person point of view. This is appropriate because it is a controlled admiration of a leader by his subjects. Any other point of view would have been subjective. The audience is able to find reason to admire the leadership of Mboga as he deals with a difficult period in his tenure involving personal matters. He comes out us a leader who makes judicious decisions. Certainly leadership is not a bed of roses. 7. A Aptness of title The title is symbolic. The bamboo hut in Mboga s home was beautifully built and well kept, however it was reserved for the woman who would bear the chief a son. Achieng does and she is treated with the respect that the hut was. When the chief learns of the mistake she had committed in order to please him, she is forgiven her sins. That decision too is symbolic because it brings out the gentler side of the chief or the human face of leadership.
Achieng does and she is treated with the respect that the hut was. When the chief learns of the mistake she had committed in order to please him, she is forgiven her sins. That decision too is symbolic because it brings out the gentler side of the chief or the human face of leadership. The bamboo plant is a delicate one just like the decision the chief had to take on this issue. 92 b Significant event The significant event is the arrival of the twins; in particular their being born by the river bank away from prying eyes. This allows Achieng to make a personal decision that allows the story to develop. C The aim of the author The author is concerned with the pressures that people in position of authority have to deal with as they conduct their business. Mboga is called a great chief; some also call him a mighty chief. This is because he applies the rules even when his family is affected and all this to the common good. This therefore should be the goal of any leader. Task Leadership is not a bed of roses. Discuss this assertion in light of the events in this story. 93 TUESDAY SIESTA by GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ COLOMBIA 1. Setting The story is set in Colombia. Part of the setting is the train and the other is the banana growing plantations of Colombia. The train affords us an opportunity to get a closer look at the mother and her daughter. One thing that is very clear is their poverty. But we also get a great insight into their self-esteem. The banana plantations they pass on their way to their destination depict the monotony of life which is made worse by the hot weather that brings life to a standstill for a couple of hours every day. This stifling heat is a very important component of the setting. It helps to develop the oppressive nature of relationships among these people. 2. The plot We meet a bereaved family, mother and daughter, on a train. They are on their way to mourn her only son who had been shot allegedly in the act of stealing. The town they are going to is far away necessitating the train ride which the deceased s sister is taking for the first time. Upon disembarking from the train, they walk straight to the church and demand to see the deceased s grave. It turns out that the deceased was not known even by the priest.
The town they are going to is far away necessitating the train ride which the deceased s sister is taking for the first time. Upon disembarking from the train, they walk straight to the church and demand to see the deceased s grave. It turns out that the deceased was not known even by the priest. He hears his name for the first time from the mother of the deceased. He begs her to wait until the sun goes down before she goes to the cemetery but she insists she has a train to catch at three. He94 gives her the key to the cemetery and follows it up with a question on poor upbringing. The deceased s mother protests that she raised her son as a morally upright person but he was only a victim of their poverty. By this time word has done the rounds about their presence and a sizeable crowd of curious onlookers has already gathered outside the church to catch a glimpse of mother and daughter. The priests best efforts to dissuade her from walking into the crowd fail. 3. Conflict a The most noticeable conflict is between the people and the weather. The heat is extreme. On the train the oppressive nature of the weather is described in a number of ways. The air became humid and they could not feel the sea breeze any more. Pp165 By twelve the heat had begun. Pp166 The band was playing a lively tune under the oppressive sun. Pp166 A dry burning wind came in the window pp168 When they get off the train we get more descriptions of the heat: The town was floating in the heat. Pp168 The woman and the girl walked over to the shady side of the street. Pp168 It was two. At that time, weighed down by the drowsiness, the town was taking a siesta. Pp168 95 In some houses, it was so hot that the residents ate lunch in the patio. Pp168 At the parish house we are told, An electric fan was humming inside . Pp168 The priest asks the mother why she has to go to the cemetery in the heat and pleads with her to wait until the sun goes down. Pp170 The priests sister tells her that she will melt in the hot streets.
Pp168 At the parish house we are told, An electric fan was humming inside . Pp168 The priest asks the mother why she has to go to the cemetery in the heat and pleads with her to wait until the sun goes down. Pp170 The priests sister tells her that she will melt in the hot streets. Pp173 b The mourners and time When the story opens we are told that it was 11:00am. On that train trip we are continually reminded of the passage of time. By twelve, the heat had begun. Pp166 It was almost two. Pp168 This is the time they disembark from the train. At the priests house she is told to go back after three and she replies that the train leaves at three-thirty. Hers therefore is a race against time. Ironically, in her hosts town, time is of no importance, it comes to a standstill at eleven and wakes a little before four. Pp168 c The mourners and poverty The narrator tells us that the woman and her child were both in severe and poor mourning clothes. Pp165 Further, we are told that they were the only passengers in the lone third-class car. Pp165 The woman we are told bore the conscientious serenity of someone accustomed to poverty. Pp166 96 4. Character and characterisation a Bereaved mother i. Dignified Having or showing self-esteem She does not allow her poverty to result in low self-esteem. On the train she sits upright and we are told that she bore the conscientious serenity of someone accustomed to poverty. She is concerned about their looks. As they are about to disembark from the train she gives her a comb and asks her to comb her hair. She too dries the sweat from her neck and wiped the oil from her face. At the priests house she shows calm determination as she insists that she has an emergency and needs to be served. When the priest does not understand who Carlos is, she tells him that he was the thief that was killed a week ago and that she was his mother. Asked why she did raise a morally upright son, she says that she did and that he was a very good man.
At the priests house she shows calm determination as she insists that she has an emergency and needs to be served. When the priest does not understand who Carlos is, she tells him that he was the thief that was killed a week ago and that she was his mother. Asked why she did raise a morally upright son, she says that she did and that he was a very good man. He however had no work and may have moved to the plantations in search of better pasture, having lost all his teeth to boxing. The crowds that gather to stare at her make the priest and his sister very uncomfortable but not her. She tells them that she is all right and walks right into the crowd. 97 5. Themes a Human relations This is the major theme of this story. The young man died an unnecessary death. There is no hint of insecurity in the area. For 28 years she had lived alone and had never had to fire the gun. His death was not looked at as tragic because no one knew him. When the priest asks her to identify herself, she does so confidently and in precise details. This makes the priest uncomfortable he blushes . We can only infer that owing to her circumstances he had not expected her to be so dignified. The members of this community break from their languid siesta routine and move out into the streets to catch a glimpse of the mother of a thief. The priest and his sister are so scared by the scene they try to dissuade her from going out but in vain. She does not lose her self-esteem and walks out into the streets filling up with crowds of people. The bereaved mother is therefore a symbol of people who life has treated badly but do not succumb to the labels that society ascribes them. They are strong willed and dignified. B Suffering This is the other theme developed in the story. I. The bereaved mother shows a lot of stoicism as she mourns the death of her son. We are told that the priest looks at them in amazement when he realises that they were not going to cry. Pp171 98 ii. Further, she is faced with a difficult situation in which no one knows her family and against her son s alleged crime she is judged. The priest asks her whether she ever tried to get him on the right track.

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