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The ignition systems should always be kept dry. Ignition wires with poor insulation should be replaced. Cooling SystemThe cooling system aims at preventing the engine from overheating which would cause piston zeisure in the cylinder. Some tractor engines are cooled by air while others are cooled by water. State the Characteristics of Air Cooled EnginesThey are simple in construction. They have fins and a fan blade which assists the circulation. They are light in weight for they have no radiators and water jackets. LimitationsThey get hot quickly and use heavy lubricating oil. The cooling is not adequate under all conditions especially when carrying heavy loads. Water Cooled SystemsIt consists of the radiator, water jackets, water hoses, water pump, thermostat and a fanning mechanism. Water is used to absorb heat from the engine block at a reasonable rate. Care and Maintenance of Water Cooling systemThe water pumps should be lubricated regularly. Clean water should be used in the radiator and trash removed from the fins. All pipes should be fitted tightly to avoid blockage. The radiator should be filled with clean water before starting the day's work. Fan belt tension should be checked regularly and if too tight or too loose should be adjusted accordingly. Lubrication SystemThis system is aimed at supplying oil to all parts of the engine where friction is likely to occur. Importance of Lubrication systemIt helps to increase the efficiency of the machine and reduces the rate of wear and tear of moving parts. It reduces the heat created by the rubbing surfaces and acts as a seal between them. It acts as a cleaning agent because it washes off all the dust, dirt, soot and metal chippings from the oil paths to the sump. Types of Lubrication Systems;Splash feed typeForce feed typeOil mist typeTypes of LubricantsSAE 10 - This is thin engine oil which gives little protection when heated. SAE 50 - This is thicker engine oil which is recommended for protecting the bearings. SAE 90 - 100 - These are transmission oils which are recommended for clutch, gear box, wheel lubrication and ball bearings. Note: SAE - Society of Automobile Engines. Care and Maintenance of Lubrication SystemsOld or contaminated oil should not be used for lubrication. Oil should be drained when still hot to avoid sticking on the walls of the sump. The oil filters should be replaced when necessary. |
Care and Maintenance of Lubrication SystemsOld or contaminated oil should not be used for lubrication. Oil should be drained when still hot to avoid sticking on the walls of the sump. The oil filters should be replaced when necessary. The correct type of oil should be used as per the manufacturers' instructions. Power Transmission SystemThe function of this system is to transfer power from the tractor engine to the drive shaft, the wheel axle, the power take off shaft and the hydraulic system. The system consists of the clutch, gear box, differential and the final drive. The power transmitted from the engine is made available for use through the following:The propeller shaft - it connects the gear box to the differential. The power take off shaft PTO shaft -It is located at the rear part of the tractor and rotates at the same speed as the crankshaft of the engine. Hydraulic system - it is operated by the use of a lever near the drivers seat. It is connected to the 3-point linkage and helps to lower or raise implements mounted on the 3-point linkages such as ploughs, mowers, planters and sprayers. Draw bar It is a one-point linkage at the rear part of the tractor. It serves for the attachment of trailed implements that can be used during harrowing, transportation or rolling. Tractor ServicingThe aim of tractor servicing is to keep the tractor in good and efficient working conditions. Tractor servicing is either;shortlong term. List the Short Term Tractor ServicingIt includes:Checking the engine oil daily by use of a dip stick. If the oil level is low, it should be added. The fuel level should be checked at the start of every day's work and added if necessary. Water level in the radiator should be checked and if possible topped up. The level of the electrolyte should be checked daily and topped up with distilled water accordingly. Nuts and bolts should be tightened every day. Lost nuts and bolts should be replaced before the day's work. Grease should be applied by use of grease gun through the nipples. Large sediments from the sediments bowl should be removed. The tyre pressure should be checked daily before the day's work. The fan belt tension should be checked to ensure that it deflects between 1.9cm and 2.5cm when pushed. The brake shaft bearing should be greased. The brake fluid level is maintained at the recommended level. |
The fan belt tension should be checked to ensure that it deflects between 1.9cm and 2.5cm when pushed. The brake shaft bearing should be greased. The brake fluid level is maintained at the recommended level. Long Term ServicesThe engine oil should be drained completely from the oil sump and replaced with new oil. The gear box oil should be checked and refilled as recommended. The oil in the differential should be replaced as recommended. The linkage and the pulley attachment should be greased. The pulley oil level should be checked and added if need be. The dirty oil should be removed and replaced with clean one. Farm MachineryTractor Drawn ImplementsThese are implements which are attached to the tractor during operation. State the two categories. Tractor Drawn ImplementsOne-point hitch implements ;Are attached to the tractor at only one point that is, the draw bar. They include all trailed implements such as the trailers, heavy harrows, planters and rollers. Three point hitch implements;Are implements attached to the tractor at three points that is, the top linkage point and two lower linkage points. They are operated by the hydraulic system. They include ploughs, most harrows, subsoiler, planters, mower, ridgers, sprayers and rotavators. TrailersThey are one-point hitch implements. They are used for transportation of goods. Small ones have two wheels while big ones have four wheels. MaintenanceAll the moving parts should be lubricated. Tyre pressure should be adjusted to the correct pressure. Worn out tyres should be replaced. Loose nuts and bolts should be tightened, worn-out ones should be replaced. The implements should be kept under a shed during long storage. PloughsThey are primary tillage implements. The common type of ploughs include:Disc ploughs. Mould board ploughs. Disc ploughsIt is made up of heavy steel concave discs of 60-70cm diameter. Parts and Functions of a disc plough The hitchmast:Is an attachment for the three point hitch. Made up of two side links and a top link. These are parts connected to hydraulic system of a tractor for lifting and pulling. The beam: Supports all other parts. It also adds weight for better penetration. Depth wheel:Used when driving on highway, it also controls the depth of ploughing. May not be present in all disc ploughs. |
It also adds weight for better penetration. Depth wheel:Used when driving on highway, it also controls the depth of ploughing. May not be present in all disc ploughs. The standard or leg: Connects the discs to the beam. The hub: Allows the discs to rotate smoothly hence does the cutting of furrow slices. The scrapers: Remove the trash and mud or soil which cling to the discs, Disc blades: Cut and invert the furrow slices. Rear furrow wheel: Controls the depth of digging and stabilises the discs. Adjustment . The cutting angle should be adjusted at 35 - 50 from the I ine of travel. Achieved by pivoting the beam or the standard. Depth of digging: This is corrected by changing the height of depth wheel or adjusting hydraulic system and adding weights. Care and Maintenance of Disc PloughCheck for loose nuts and bolts and replace them. Sharpen the disc blades if blunt. Lubricate the rotating parts by use of oil grease to reduce friction. Paint the exposed parts for example the beam framework. Clean the implement at the end of each day's work before storage. Store the implements in a shed. The unpainted parts should be coated with old engine oil to prevent rust. Uses of a Disc PloughUsed in areas with the following conditions:Virgin land with many obstacles. Land with too much trash or tall vegetation. Opening up pasture land. Mouldboard ploughsThis primary tillage implement is suited in areas without obstacles such as stones, tree stumps, and roots. It gives a uniform depth of ploughing. Parts and Functions Mouldboard ploughsShare: This makes the horizontal cut and starts the turning of the furrow slices. Mouldboard: Continues the turning of the furrow slices and pulverizes the soil. Disc coulter: Makes a vertical cut in the soil to separate the furrow slice from the un-ploughed land. Skim coulter: Removes any trash from between the furrow slices. Frog: It is the part where the share, mould board and the landside are attached. Landside: Stabilizes the plough and absorbs the side forces created when furrow is turned. Shin: Leading edge of a mouldboard. Knife coulter: Is a vertical knife which cuts trash and earth ahead of the share. |
Landside: Stabilizes the plough and absorbs the side forces created when furrow is turned. Shin: Leading edge of a mouldboard. Knife coulter: Is a vertical knife which cuts trash and earth ahead of the share. Care and MaintenanceLubricate the rolling parts for example wheel bearings and disc coulter bearings. Paint scratched parts of the plough. Sharpen the share or replace if worn out. Check all loose nuts and bolts and replace where necessary. Clean the implement after each day's work to remove soil, mud and trash. For long storage, keep under a shed and apply lubricants. AdjustmentDepth:Controlled by raising or lowering the depth wheel. Controlled by hydraulic control lever setting. Pi tch: controlled by altering the length of the top link. Front furrow width: Controlled by cross shaft adjustment lever or by rotating the cross shaft crank. Lateral levelling: Controlled by tractor lift rod. Operational differences between a disc and a mouldboardHarrowsThey are secondary cultivation implements. There are different types of harrows. The common ones are:disc, Harrowsspring tine Harrows spike tooth harrows. Disc HarrowsIt comprises of a set of gangs with concave discs. UsesMixing the soil particles. Levelling the seedbed by breaking large lumps of soil. Killing weeds. Disk harrows can be classified according to the arrangement of the gangs such a;s tandem, double tandem offset tandem. Depth AdjustmentAdding weights on the harrows. Use of hydraulic force. Use of light or heavy harrows. Use of regulating wheels. Care and MaintenanceCheck for loose nuts and bolts daily. Lubricate the shafts and bearings. Clean and oil before storage. Spring Tine HarrowIs made up of flat and curved tines which act as springs. UsesLevels and smoothens the seedbed. Breaks the soil clods. Mixes trash and soil thus preventing wind erosion. Aerates the soil. A djustmentsDepth is controlled by the horizontal connecting link and depth wheel. For individual tine, use crossbar and loosening the screws. Care and MaintenanceCheck for loose nuts and bolts and tighten them if necessary. Clean after use. Oil the lever mechanism. |
Care and MaintenanceCheck for loose nuts and bolts and tighten them if necessary. Clean after use. Oil the lever mechanism. S pike Tooth HarrowsConsists of a metal framework with rigid metal spikes which break up the soil by vigorously hitting large lumps of soils as it is pulled through the soil. UsesIt smoothens and compacts the soil. It breaks big lumps of soil into small particles. Can be used for cultivating small crops if well set. SubsoilersHeavy and require high horse power to pull. Ploughing depth of 51-90cm. F unctionsBreak up compacted soil. Break up the hardpan. Care and MaintenanceClean it after useCheck the point and if worn out, replace it. Oil when not in use. RidgerIt is double mould board plough used to make ridges and furrows. It is used to prevent water logging and draining through furrows for easy harvesting of root crops. RollersThis is an equipment used to compact the soil gently especially where tiny seeds are to be planted. Rotavators: Rotary cultivators Work on the principles of high speed of revolving flail blades which beat and cut the soil together with trash. It is an equipment for both primary and secondary tillage operations. It is driven by the P.T.O. shaft of a tractor. UsesBreaks up large soil particles into small ones. Mixes the vegetation and the soil. Achieves two operations in one pass. AdjustmentsForward speed of the tractor gives a fine tilth of the seedbed done through the gearbox. Depth of work done by control of depth wheel. Slip clutch may break in case the knives come across obstructionsMowersUsesCutting grass for hay or silage making, cutting overgrown grass clearing the field. Reciprocating MowerParts and FunctionsSwath stick: Keeps the cut crop falling correctly. Swath board: To remove the cut crop. Shoe: Has a runner to absorb the weight and wear. Cutter bar: Is a flat bar which guides the fingers. Wear plate: Counteracts downward force and holds the knives. AdjustmentsTo adjust knife register by moving the whole bar away or towards the yoke. Knife lead: The outer shoe should be adjusted to be outer than the inner shoe by 4cm. MaintenanceCheck for loose nuts and bolts and tighten where necessary. |
AdjustmentsTo adjust knife register by moving the whole bar away or towards the yoke. Knife lead: The outer shoe should be adjusted to be outer than the inner shoe by 4cm. MaintenanceCheck for loose nuts and bolts and tighten where necessary. Keep knife section sharp. Lubricate the knife parts. Check knife to ledger plate cup for best cutting. Keep all the parts tight. Rotary MowersCutting edge consists of two blades fitted opposite to each other on horizontal disc. The cutting blades swing round at high speed horizontally to the ground hence cutting is effected. Adjustment and MaintenanceBlades should be sharp. Guards to be fitted around the blades to protect the operator from flying objects. Lubricate the P.T.O. shafts. Check the gear-box oil regularly and fill to the right level if necessary. PlantersThey are machines used for sowing seeds. There are two types:Row crop planters. Seed drills. Functions of the PlantersMeter the seed and fertilizers from seed and fertilizer hopper. Open the seed furrow. Deposit the seed in the furrow through the delivery tubes. Cover the seedFunctions of Parts of a Seed PlateFiller plate: gives proper seed depth. False ring: allows the seed to fall from the seed plate into the boot. Knockout pawl: pushes the seeds out of the cell by the roller action. Cut-off pawl: prevents more than one seed remaining in a plate cell. Cells: shaped holes to hold the seed. AdjustmentsAdjust the coulters depth for the right crop. Fix the right seed plate. Place the planter in the level position. All the shafts should be free to turn. Care and MaintenanceCheck all loose nuts, bolts and tighten them. Clean and oil the planter after use. Grease the drive sprockets regularly. SeedersThe grain drill sows grains of wheat, barley, oats, peas, beans and alfalfa seeds. Parts that can be adjusted to change the sowing rate;Select the side of the feed wheel recommended on the drill charts for the seed-rate. Change the speed of the wheels by changing the gears or sprockets or both. Change the position of the feed gate in the cup. Use reducers below the feed wheel. Care and MaintenanceKeep seed and fertilizer hoppers dry and clean after each day's work. Check the drive shaft and lubricate them. |
Use reducers below the feed wheel. Care and MaintenanceKeep seed and fertilizer hoppers dry and clean after each day's work. Check the drive shaft and lubricate them. Paint the parts for example fertilizerhopper to be shinyCombine HarvesterUseHarvesting cereal crops for example maize, wheat and barley. It is designed to do the following:Cutting Threshing. WinnowingBaggingParts of a Combine HarvesterCutter bar - cuts the grain head. Pick up reel- direct crop into the cutter bar,Elevator - channels the cut grain to the threshing drum. Winnowing ran - fans trash up onto a straw walker and directs it out of the combine harvester. Delivery tube - delivers the clean .grains into a collecting tank from where it is bagged. Maintenance of a Combine HarvesterLoose nuts and bolts should be tightened. Remove all foreign materials stuck in the machine at the end of the day's work. RidgersThey are used for harvesting tuber crops and for making furrows or ridges. MaintenanceLubricate the moving parts. Clean the implement after use. Store under a shed. Repair or replace worn-out or broken parts. Loose nuts and bolts should be tightened. Unpainted parts should be oiled during long storage. Shares should be sharpened if blunt. ForagersThey are tractor mounted and operated by power from the P.T.O. shaft . Used for harvesting forage crops such as Napier grass, sorghum and maize. MaintenanceTighten loose nuts and bolts. Lubricate moving parts. Store in a shed. Clean after the day's work. Repair replace worn out or broken parts. Unpainted parts should be oiled to prevent rust. Maize ShellersThese are stationary implements which are either hand or tractor driven. They consist of. A rotating disc which shell maize grains from cobs. MaintenanceGreasing moving parts. Removing any stuck maize cobs. Repair or replace worn out or broken parts. Store in a shed. Animal Drawn ImplementsOx PloughOx-plough is a simple type of a mouldboard plough which is pulled by a pair of oxen, donkeys or camels. Explain the functions of the following parts of an ox-ploughMain beam - It is the main component onto which all the other parts are attached. |
Store in a shed. Animal Drawn ImplementsOx PloughOx-plough is a simple type of a mouldboard plough which is pulled by a pair of oxen, donkeys or camels. Explain the functions of the following parts of an ox-ploughMain beam - It is the main component onto which all the other parts are attached. Mouldboard - It inverts the cut furrow slice upside down. Plough share -It cuts the furrow slices. Land wheel- It regulates the depth of plough. Draft rod - It is on this rod that a chain is connected on which a yoke is linked. It forms the draught mechanism of the plough. What are the Advantages of an Ox-Plough Over Tractor Drawn Plough ? Less skill is required to operate it. Useful where tractors cannot be used for example steep slopes. Cheap to buy and maintain. What are the disadvantages of an Ox-Plough Over Tractor Drawn Plough ? Much time is wasted in training oxen. Tedious and laborious to the driver of the animals and the controller of the implement. Animals can be sick or in poor physical state. Extra land is required as grazing fields for the oxen. AdjustmentsDepth of plough is controlled by the land wheel and draft rodCare and MaintenanceSharpen or replacing of the worn out shareReplacement of worn out parts such as hooks and draw bar assembly. Oiling the shiny parts e.g mouldboard Wash off the soil after use. Paint the handles, beam and braces to prevent rusting. Ox-Drawn CartThese are small carriages harnessed to the animals by a yoke The small carts have only two wheels bigger ones have four. They are pulled by animals in singles or in pairs Carts are used for transport. MaintenanceMoving parts should be oiledThe yoke should be repaired when worn out or replaced if not repairedTyre pressure should be checked and adjusted accordingly Repair other damages on the cart. Agricultural Economics III: Production Economics IntroductionThe agricultural sector is a key player in the economy of our country. It is a major employer and brings a lot of national income through foreign exchange. National IncomeThese are the total earnings from goods and services produced by a country in a period of one year. |
Agricultural Economics III: Production Economics IntroductionThe agricultural sector is a key player in the economy of our country. It is a major employer and brings a lot of national income through foreign exchange. National IncomeThese are the total earnings from goods and services produced by a country in a period of one year. Relationship Between Firm and HouseholdA household is considered to be a unit comprising a farmer and family members. It produces raw materials and consumes manufactured goods. A firm on the other hand, is any manufacturing or processing unit which consumes raw materials and produces manufactured goods. Both household and firm generate income, which in turn, is used to:Improve the standard of living of the household members by paying for essential goods and services. The firms build more industries to create more employment and revenue through salaries and wages. Finance government projects through taxes and hence further national development. Gross Domestic Product G.D.P. This is the sum total of all goods and services produced in a country in a period of oneyear. Gross National Product G.N.P. Is the sum total of G.D.P. and the difference between income inflow revenue coming into the country from outside and income outflow money going out of the country by foreign investors . It represents the total income earned within the country and from abroad. Per Capita IncomeIs the Gross National Income in terms of revenue divided by the number of people living in the country. It is not a good measure of the economic well-being of the people because of theuneven distribution of income among them. Contribution of Agriculture to National DevelopmentThe interaction between household and the firm generate income which is used to finance further expansion of the firms. This creates more employment and revenue. The government taxes the income to finance national development programmes such as;health,education,water, energycommunication. Factors of ProductionA factor of production is anything that contributes directly to output, that is, it is a productive resource. Productive resources usually employed in the production of goods and services. Incl ude:LandLabourCapitalManagementLandAs a factor of production, refers to the natural characteristics and properties of a given area of land. The key factor here is productivity for example soil fertility, presence of water and minerals and is always fixed and has no geographical mobility. LaborBesides being a consumer, human beings are also a factor of production. |
Incl ude:LandLabourCapitalManagementLandAs a factor of production, refers to the natural characteristics and properties of a given area of land. The key factor here is productivity for example soil fertility, presence of water and minerals and is always fixed and has no geographical mobility. LaborBesides being a consumer, human beings are also a factor of production. They provide the labour force human power required in the production process. Labour is assessed in terms of productivity and not mere numbers of workers or labourers. Labour is measured in terms of man hours, man days or man months. The labourer's productive capacity depends on such factors as;age,health,state of nutrition level of education. The amount of work and the efficiency with which it is performed determines the quality of labour. CapitalCapital refers to all man-made assets that help land and labour to produce. It is categorized into: Fixed durable;Working capital Liquid capitalFixed durable;Capital for examplemachinery,buildingspermanent improvements on land like fences,roads,irrigation facilities water supply system. Working capital;Which include consumer goods such as;fertilizers,livestock feeds, fuel in store, pesticides. Liquid capital;For example;ready money,bank deposits, shares in financial institutions. Management;It is a process of decision making in the farm. Managers use their knowledge and judgment to decide how to combine the other three productive resources in the best way possible. They make plans, execute them and bear the risks or consequences which such plans entail. Production FunctionDefinitionProduction function is a physical relationship between inputs and outputs in a production process. It tells the quantity of output product that may be expected from a given combination of inputs. Production function may be expressed in table form or graphically as a curve. Examples:Feeding pigs for pork production at varying levels of concentrate feed. 1. Types of Production FunctionsA production function assumes three forms which may be treated as different types:Increasing ReturnsConstant ReturnsDecreasing Diminishing ReturnsIncreasing ReturnsIn this type, each additional unit of input results in a larger increase in output than the preceding unit. This shows that resources are under utilized. Constant ReturnsThe amount of the product increases by the same amount for each additional input; that is constant returns to input factor. |
Types of Production FunctionsA production function assumes three forms which may be treated as different types:Increasing ReturnsConstant ReturnsDecreasing Diminishing ReturnsIncreasing ReturnsIn this type, each additional unit of input results in a larger increase in output than the preceding unit. This shows that resources are under utilized. Constant ReturnsThe amount of the product increases by the same amount for each additional input; that is constant returns to input factor. Again here resources are under utilized. Decreasing Diminishing ReturnsHere, each additional unit of input results in a smaller increase in output than the preceding unit. Resource use is stretched to the maximum. It is the most commonly encountered form in agricultural enterprises; It gives rise to the law of Diminishing Returns. Examples:Feeding dairy cows for milk production with varying amounts of feed. Crop responses to application of varying amounts of fertilizers. Use of varying units of labour on fixed unit of land. Economic Laws and PrinciplesThe Law of Diminishing ReturnsThe law of diminishing returns states that; if successive units of one input are added to fixed quantities of other inputs a point is eventually reached where additional product output per additional unit of input declines. This law is encountered practically in all forms of agricultural production. It is useful in determining the most rational and profitable level of production. Example:Production of maize at varying levels of N.P.K. fertilizer application on a fixed area of land. Zones of a production function curvesZones of a production function curves these are: Irrational zone or Zone I. Rational zone or Zone II Irrational zone or Zone III. The three zones are arrived at by drawing two perpendicular lines through the production function curve, one at MP AP and another at MP O. In Zone I resources are not fully utilized while in Zone III, excessive application of resources leads to production decline or loss. It is not economical to produce at these levels. In Zone II resources are maximally utilized resulting in maximum production. It is therefore economical or wise to produce at this level. Principle of SubstitutionStates- if the output in a production process is constant, it is profitable to substitute one input factor for another, as long as it is cheaper than its next alternative. This principle is applicable in a situation where more than one variable input factors are used. |
In Zone II resources are maximally utilized resulting in maximum production. It is therefore economical or wise to produce at this level. Principle of SubstitutionStates- if the output in a production process is constant, it is profitable to substitute one input factor for another, as long as it is cheaper than its next alternative. This principle is applicable in a situation where more than one variable input factors are used. For example feeding hay and concentrates for milk production, farmyard manure and phosphatic fertilizers in the production of maize. The basic problem that the producer wishes to solve when two input factors are used in combination is in what proportions must the variable inputs be combined in order to produce at a minimum cost and hence attain maximum profit. To solve the above problem, the producer must determine the least cost combination of inputs used. The least cost combination is attained at a point where the Marginal Rate of Substitution MRS equals the inverse of price ratio of the factors involved. That is:x2 P X1X1 P X2X1 - first input factorX2- second input factor- change increase or decrease P - price cost of input fators Examples:Producing 20 bags of maize using varying combinations of farmyard manure and phosphate fertilizers. Price of farm yard manure FYM is KShs10 - per unit and that of phosphate fertilizer is Kshs 50 - per unitIn the above example, the following assumptions are made:A fixed quantity of output is to be produced. Input factors in combination substitute for one another at varying rates. Relative prices of input factors do not change drastically during the period of production. NOTE: one input factor substitutes for the other at diminishing varying marginal rate of substitution. Principle of Equimarginal ReturnsThis principle states ; That the last unit of an input factor spent in one enterprise yields a marginal return exactly equal to the marginal return earned from the last unit invested in each of the other enterprises. '. ExampleIf the last shs.100 - spent buying cattle feed will return more than shs. 100 spent on buying fertilizer for growing maize, then it is advisable to purchase more feed up to a point where the last shs.lOO - spent on it will return exactly the same as the last shs.100 - spent on fertilizers. |
NOTE: one input factor substitutes for the other at diminishing varying marginal rate of substitution. Principle of Equimarginal ReturnsThis principle states ; That the last unit of an input factor spent in one enterprise yields a marginal return exactly equal to the marginal return earned from the last unit invested in each of the other enterprises. '. ExampleIf the last shs.100 - spent buying cattle feed will return more than shs. 100 spent on buying fertilizer for growing maize, then it is advisable to purchase more feed up to a point where the last shs.lOO - spent on it will return exactly the same as the last shs.100 - spent on fertilizers. This concept is only relevant in a situation where farmers do not have adequate capital to employ inputs up to the level where marginal revenue equals the marginal cost. The principal of Profit MaximizationThe profit is defined as the difference, in monetary terms, between the total returns income and total costs expenses in a production process. Profit maximisation aims at obtaining the highest returns at a minimum cost per unit of input factor used. This can be done by considering two concepts. Marginal ConceptProfit is maximised when the marginal additional or extra revenue MR is equal to, or slightly higher than, the marginal cost Mc . At this point every added input factor brings in higher returns than the expenses incurred in investing it. Net Revenue ConceptsProfit is said to be maximized in a production process when the Net Revenue differences between total revenue and total costs is the highest that is ; NR TR - TC. This is arrived at by analyzing the total cost and total revenue earned from a particular enterprise and then subtracting the former from the latter. When calculating the profit using whatever concept, the following assumptions are made:Cost of inputs such as fertilizers, labour remains constant during the period of production. Price of the produce product remains unchanged. Fixed costs are ignored that is only varying costs directly involved are considered. Farm PlanningPlanning is the process of establishing the organizational objectives and defining the means of achieving them. Factors to consider in drawing a farm plan. Size of the farm. Environmental factors. The current trends in labour markets. Farmer's objectives and preferences. Possible production enterprises. Existing market conditions and price trends. Availability and cost of farm inputs. Government regulations policy. Security. |
Availability and cost of farm inputs. Government regulations policy. Security. Communication and transport facilitiesFarm BudgetingFarm budgeting is the process of estimating the future outcomes of a proposed farm plan,That is; the future incomes and expenses of a farm plan. Importance of Farm BudgetingIt helps the farm in decision making. It helps the farmer to predict future returns that is planning ahead. It helps the farmer to avoid incurring losses by investing in less profitable enterprises. It helps the farmer to secure loans from financial institutions such as Agricultural Finance Corporation and commercial banks. It ensures a periodic analysis of the farm business. It acts as a record which can be used for future reference. It pinpoints strengths or weaknesses in farm operations. Types of BudgetsPartial BudgetIt represents financial effects on minor changes in a farm organisation. It is necessary when a farmer wants to replace or reduce enterprise. Complete BudgetA complete budget is necessary when the farmer wants to start a new business where both the variable costs and the fixed costs are likely to be affected. It involves a major change or reorganization in the farm business. Agricultural Services Available to the Farmer:Agricultural production efficiency is greatly increased by services rendered to the farming communities by;Government institutionsNon-governmental organizations. Some of these services are:Extension and Training:Banking Services:Credit:Extension and Training: In the field and in farmer's training centres. Banking Services:These enables the farmers to save some of their farm income and invest them in future projects. Credit:Credit is a financial assistance advanced to agricultural farmers to finance their farm projects and repay it with interest. It is a borrowed resource. Types of CreditCredit is categorised according to;Time of repaymentThe types of projects to be financed. Examples are:Short-term CreditRepayable within one year and is advanced for the purchase of;seeds,fertilizers,animal feeds . Medium-term CreditRepayable within 2 - 5 years and is used to finance projects such as; fencing materials, purchase of livestock, light farm equipment . Long-term CreditRepayable period is up to 15 years and even more. |
Examples are:Short-term CreditRepayable within one year and is advanced for the purchase of;seeds,fertilizers,animal feeds . Medium-term CreditRepayable within 2 - 5 years and is used to finance projects such as; fencing materials, purchase of livestock, light farm equipment . Long-term CreditRepayable period is up to 15 years and even more. It is given for the long-term or durable projects such as;purchase of land,construction of soil and water conservation structures,farm buildings,irrigation projects for perennial cash crops for example; coffee, farm machinery implements. Sources of CreditCo-operative societies and unions. Crop boards. Commercial banks. Agricultural Finance Corporation. Insurance companies. Individual money lenders. Settlement fund trustee. Artificial Insemination Services:Provides farmers with semen from improved or superior bulls to improve their livestock herds through controlled breeding. Agricultural Research OrganizationThese develop and pass on to farmers, improved production techniques as well as crop and livestock species with better performance in different ecological zones. Marketing OutletsThese are agencies that ensure effective and efficient conveyance of farm produce to points of processing and consumption. They are largely crop marketing boards or corporations and cooperative societies. Veterinary ServicesIn the field are veterinary officers who help the farmer in treating and controlling livestock diseases and parasites. Farm Input SuppliesFarmers are able to obtain their farm inputs from organizations such as co-operatives and private companies. These organizations bring inputs closer to the farmers for example Kenya Farmers Association and private agrovets. Tractor Hire ServicesThis involves hiring of tractors and machinery at a cost by farmers who are not privileged to own their own. SourcesMinistry of Agriculture Private contractors. Individual farmers. Other service providers. Risks and Uncertainties in FarmingUncertainty-is the state of not knowing about future events or outcomes. Risks-is the difference divergence between the expected and the actual outcome. Types of Risks and UncertaintiesFluctuation of commodity prices. Physical yield uncertainty. Ownership uncertainty. Outbreak of pests and diseases. Sickness and injury. New production technique. Obsolescence for example machinery may become outdated or obsolete within a short time. Death of either farmer or livestock. |
New production technique. Obsolescence for example machinery may become outdated or obsolete within a short time. Death of either farmer or livestock. Natural catastrophies such as;floods,drought,earthquakes,storm and strong winds which may destroy crops or kill the animals. Ways in Which Farmers Adjust to Risks and UncertaintiesDiversification. Selecting more certain enterprises. Contracting. Insurance. Input rationing. Flexibility in production methods. Adopting modern methods of production. Agricultural Economics IV: Farm Accounts IntroductionFinancial and physical records if accurately kept in the farm serve as very important tools in decision-making. The records are kept in several books and statements as follows: Financial DocumentsThey include:Invoices. Receipts. Delivery notes Purchase records. An InvoiceThis is a document issued by the seller to the buyer for goods taken on credit, and payment to be done later. The original is given to the buyer and duplicate retained by seller. The invoice shows the following:The buyer and seller. Date of transaction. Amount involved. Invoice number. A ReceiptThis is a document issued by the seller to the buyer when cash payment for goods delivered is made. It shows the following:The buyer and the seller. Date of transaction. Amount involved. Serial numberDelivery NoteIt is a document which shows that the goods have been delivered. The receiver verifies the goods and then signs on the delivery note. Features:The delivery note shows the following:Goods delivered as per order. Quality or condition. People involved in the transaction. Date of delivery. Journal:It is a book of first entry showing a record of all business transactions arranged in the order in which they occur. Its pages are divided vertically into five sections. The information is posted to the ledger Inventory:This is a list of all the possession assets item by item and their market value. Such items are land, livestock, tools and equipment and crops in the store. Valuation is an estimation of the value of each asset or item, based on market price or cost of production. Local Purchase Order:Issued by the purchasing officer of the supplier for example school. It shows people involved in the transaction, types and amounts of goods ordered and dates. It should be written and signed by the authorised officer. It is written in duplicate and the original is given to the supplier. Financial Books Ledger:Is a book which contains individual accounts. |
It should be written and signed by the authorised officer. It is written in duplicate and the original is given to the supplier. Financial Books Ledger:Is a book which contains individual accounts. It is a principle book of accounts in which entries contained in all the other books are entered. It is a storehouse of all the transactions. Each page is numbered and vertically divided into two equal parts namely credit and debit. Each part is further sub-divided into four sections. Cash Book:It is a book where transactions involving cash or cheque payments are recorded. It involves cash or cheque payments and receipts. It is divided into two parts - debit and credit side. All the receipts of cash or cheque are recorded on the debit and all payments are recorded on the credit side. Example: Enter the following entries in the cash book. 1.7.05 -Received shs.2,000 from Ndete by cheque. 2.7.05-Bought D.A.P. fertilizer and paid cheque of shs. 5,000. 3.7.05-Received shs.5,000 cash from Ngala. 4.7.05 -Paid water bill for shs 400 in cash. 9.7.05-Paid telephone bill of 1,500 by cheque. 11.7.05 -Deposited shs.2,000 in the bank. 20.7.05 -Withdrew shs.2,000 from the bank for home use. Cash Book recordFinancial StatementsCash Account SheetIt involves the recording of sales and receipts, purchases and expense. Each sale or purchase is entered twice, once in the total column and once in the analysis column. The sum of all the entries in the total column should always equal the sum of the entries in all the other columns. The cash analysis account sheet is given above. The Balance SheetIt is a financial statement of assets and liabilities recorded on a given date. It shows the financial position of a farm business at a glance snapshot . Assets are items owned by the farmer,These include:Property money, goods and buildings . Debts receivable from other people. Goods and services paid for in advance. Assets can be divided into two:Fixed assets: assets of permanent nature and not easily converted into cash. Current assets: assets which can be easily converted into cash. Liabilities are claims to the farmer's property such as bank overdraft and debts payable. |
Assets can be divided into two:Fixed assets: assets of permanent nature and not easily converted into cash. Current assets: assets which can be easily converted into cash. Liabilities are claims to the farmer's property such as bank overdraft and debts payable. They are divided into:Current liabilities - debts which must be paid within a short time. Long term liabilities - debts which are payable over many years or over a long period. Profit and Loss AccountPrepared at the end of a calendar year. It is a final account which summarises the sale and receipts income flowing in the business and the purchases and expenses flowing out of the business . Note: If assets are more than liabilities then the balancing factor is net capital in the liability side hence the farm business is said to be solvent. If the liabilities are more than the assets, then the balancing factor is a loss in the asset side hence the farm business is insolvent. To calculate profit or loss, account, valuation is done by having an inventory of all the assets. Valuation of the assets is determined by market price and cost of production for machinery and buildings as depreciation factor, is attached. Format of a balance sheetBalance sheet of Katilo school as 31-12-2009FormatProfit and Loss Account of Kitheko Farm at 31-12-2009Agricultural Economics V Agricultural Marketing and Organizations IntroductionAgricultural marketing is an economic activity which involves the distribution of farm produce from the farm to the consumer. Market and MarketingMarket is an institution for the exchange of goods and services or a place where selling and buying of goods takes place. Marketing refers to the flow of goods and services from the producer to the consumers. Marketing FunctionsTransportation - Movement of goods from production centres to the consumption centres. Buying and selling - Purchase of goods from the producer to be sold to the consumer. Storage - Agricultural products are seasonal hence storage is necessary. Processing-Changing of raw form into utili sable form. Grading and standardisation - Sorting into uniform lots of certain qualities. Assembling - Collecting the farm produce from the farm to the market centres. Collecting market information To know the prices, supply and demand of certain commodities. Advertising - Making the consumers aware of the produce. Bearing of risks - Such as fire risk, price fluctuation. Financing or expenditure on other processes. Packaging or putting into small packs and labelling. |
Bearing of risks - Such as fire risk, price fluctuation. Financing or expenditure on other processes. Packaging or putting into small packs and labelling. Packing or putting produce In containers such as bags. Marketing Agencies and InstitutionsMiddlemen itinerant trader - are the people who buy from the producer and sell to other agencies. Wholesalers - Buy in bulk and sell to the retailers. Retailers - Buy from the wholesalers and sell in small units to the consumers. Problems in Marketing Agricultural ProduceFarm produce are bulky, that is weight and volume are high but low in monetary value thus difficult to transport. Most of the agricultural products are perishable for example milk, vegetables and fruits. Storage problems since they are bulky they require a lot of space . Lack of proper transport system since agricultural products are in the rural areas and the market are situated in urban centres. Lack of market information hence farmers are exploited by middlemen. Price TheoryPrice is the amount of money paid in exchange for goods or services. Price theory is concerned with the determination of price of any commodity. Price is determined where demand for and supply of any commodity are equal to each other. DemandIt is the quantity of any commodity which is purchased at any price within a given time. The law of demand states that quantity demanded changes inversely with the price. Demand CurveThe curve slopes from left to right downwards. This means people buy more at lower prices and vice versa. Demand CurveFactors Affecting the Demand of a CommodityPopulationIncome of the consumer. New inventions. Taste and preference of the individual. Price of the substitute commodities. Price expectations. Advertisement. Culture and social values of the consumers. Price of commodities having joint demand for example tractors and diesel. Elasticity of DemandIt is the responsiveness of demand to a change in price. Elasticity of demand Percentage change in quantity demanded Percentage change in priceTypes of Elasticity of DemandElastic demand is one where the ratio is more than 1. Unitary elasticity is one where the ratio is equal to 1. Inelastic demand is one where the ratio is less than 1. SupplySupply is the quantity of any commodity which is offered for sale at any price at a given time. The law of supply states that when price rises, quantity supplied increases and when price falls quantity supplied decreases other factors held constant . The curve rises from left to right upwards. |
SupplySupply is the quantity of any commodity which is offered for sale at any price at a given time. The law of supply states that when price rises, quantity supplied increases and when price falls quantity supplied decreases other factors held constant . The curve rises from left to right upwards. This means that people are willing to offer more for sale at higher prices. SUPPLY CURVESUPPLY CURVEFactors Affecting Supply of a CommodityNumber of sellersPrice of substitute commodities. New technology. Price expectation. Peace and security. Weather conditions. Policy of the government. Cost of production of the commodities. Elasticity of SupplyThis refers to the rate at which quantity supplied changes due to a change in price level. . . Percentage change in quantity suppliedElasticity of Supply Percentage change in PriceType of Elasticity of SupplyElastic supply one where the ratio is more than 1. Unitary elasticity of supply is one where the ratio is equal to 1. In elastic supply is one where the ratio is less than 1. One of the problems of agricultural produce is that supply does not readily adjust to price changes. Equilibrium PriceIs the price at which demand and supply are equal. That means whatever is offered for sale at the market is bought. In the graph below, the quantity supplied and demanded are equal at a price of Shs.300 and quantity of 80kg. At this point the price is higher than shs.300 then the supply will be greater than demand and there will be surplus hence price will fall. If, on the other hand, the price is less than shs.300 demand will be greater than supply hence shortage and rise in price. Agricultural OrganizationAgricultural organizations are agencies which, through their activities, promote agricultural development. These organizations are co-operatives and statutory boards. Co-operativesA co-operative is an organisation of people with a common aim of pooling their resources to achieve their objectives. Functions of Co-operativesA co-operative society carries out the following functions:Collecting and assembling members' produce. Processing the farm produce after collection. Transportation of members' produce to market points. Negotiation of fair prices with the purchasing agencies for the members' produce. Purchase and distribution to members of farm inputs. Storage of members' produce before transmission to market points. Provision of credit facilities to members on easy terms. Training and education of members on improved farming techniques. |
Storage of members' produce before transmission to market points. Provision of credit facilities to members on easy terms. Training and education of members on improved farming techniques. Offering farm machinery services to their members on hire terms for farm operations. Co-operatives may invest in other viable ventures and the profits realised are shared among members in form of dividends or bonuses. Formation and Structure of Co-operativesThe formation of a co-operative takes the following stages:Individuals with common interest collect together to form a primary co- operative societyAt least ten 10 members qualify for registration. Each primary co-operative society elect their office bearers consisting of chairman, secretary and treasurer. Several primary co-operative societies are usually amalgamated to form a district cooperative union. Tertiary co-operative unions are nationwide organizations to which the secondary co-operative unions are affiliated. Examples are Kenya Planters Co-operative Union, Kenya Farmers Union, Kenya Cooperative Creameries, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, etc. Apex organizations. This is represented in Kenya by Kenya National Federation of Co- operatives which is an affiliate of the International Co-operative Alliance. Problems Facing Co-operativesCo-operatives encounter the following problems in their operations:Managerial problems arising from:Financial mismanagement due to poor accounting. Corruption and misappropriation of cooperative resources by the personnel in the system. Lack of advisory services on technical operations. Inability to meet the set obligations of providing credit facilities due to malpractices. The nature of agricultural products and associated problems. Bulkiness hence difficulties in transportation and storage. Perishability of produce hence difficult to sustain quality. Inadequate capital to invest in the cooperative undertakings. Transport problems due to poor roads. This hampers the produce getting to the market points in time. Statutory BoardsA statutory board is an organization established by an Act of Parliament and charged with the running or managing of a certain industry within the government sector. Marketing BoardsSome of the statutory boards are charged with the marketing of certain farm produce and are thus called marketing boards. Examples are the Coffee Board, Pyrethrum Board, Cotton Seed and Lint Marketing Board, Tea Boards, National Cereals and Produce Board, Kenya Meat Commission, the Dairy Board of Kenya and others. Their marketing functions are to look for market and better prices. Research OrganizationThese are research centres which among other things, carry out research and trials on:Development of new varieties and cultivars of crops. |
Examples are the Coffee Board, Pyrethrum Board, Cotton Seed and Lint Marketing Board, Tea Boards, National Cereals and Produce Board, Kenya Meat Commission, the Dairy Board of Kenya and others. Their marketing functions are to look for market and better prices. Research OrganizationThese are research centres which among other things, carry out research and trials on:Development of new varieties and cultivars of crops. Breeding disease and pest resistant varieties of crops and types of animals. Adaptations of crop and livestock species to ecological conditions of certain areas. Use of fertilizers and pesticides on crops in specific areas. Development of early maturing and high yielding species. Soil testing and crop analysis. Advisory services of agro-economic aspects. Other OrganizationsKenya National Farmers' Union negotiates for:Reasonable and affordable prices of farm inputs. Better prices for farm produce. Better credit facilities. Better control of diseases and pest. Agricultural Society of KenyaOrganizes agricultural shows in the country. Encourages improvement of livestock through exhibitions and educating farmers Organizes the running of young farmers' clubs. Organizes and finances the ploughing contests during which farmers learn the modern techniques of seedbed preparation. Publish "Kenya Farmers" magazines. Young Farmers and 4-K Clubs. These are student organizations whose objectives are:To expose the young students and encourage them to appreciate agriculture as a profession in their career. To encourage the youth to develop leadership qualities through assignment of small farming projects. Organizing students exchange programmes with other club members both locally and abroad. To develop better farming skills through judging competitions, annual rallies and camps. Agricultural Based Women GroupsThese are self-help groups whose objective is to uplift the economic status of their members by carrying out agricultural related activities. Their success depends on the following factors:Commitment of their leaders. Motivation of the members. Sacrifice for each other. AgroforestryIntroductionIn Kenya land use is changing from extensive methods of farming to more productive and sustainable intensive methods. Agroforestry is a method of farming which has become increasingly important. DefinitionThis is the practice of integrating a variety of land useIt combines tree growing, pasture and crop production practice on the same piece of land to improve the output of the land. Forms of AgroforestryAgroforestry;It is a combination of trees shrubs and crops in agricultural production. |
Agroforestry is a method of farming which has become increasingly important. DefinitionThis is the practice of integrating a variety of land useIt combines tree growing, pasture and crop production practice on the same piece of land to improve the output of the land. Forms of AgroforestryAgroforestry;It is a combination of trees shrubs and crops in agricultural production. Silvopastoral: It is a combination of growing tree shrubs, pastoral and keeping of livestock. Agrosilvopastoral:It is a combination of growing trees shrubs, animals, pastures, and crops. Importance of AgroforestryEnvironmental protection. Source of income. Afforestation for timber production. Maintenance of soil fertility. Aesthetic value. Labour saving in firewood collection. Source of food and feed. Source of fuel wood. Important Trees and Shrubs for Particular PurposesEucalyptus Spp;Timber,Bee forage,Fuel wood,Medicinal, Production of essential oils. Acacia Spp;Leaves and pods eaten by animals,Provision of shade. Cajanus cajan pigeon peas ;Proteinous feed for human, Used as fodder Firewood. Croton megalocarpus croton ;Fuel wood timber for poles Handles for hand tools. Erythrina abyssinica flame tree ;Wood carvings,Bee forage,Nitrogen fixation Medicinal. Markhamia lutea markhamia tree ;Timber for construction,Shade, Soil protection, Bee forage. Grevillea robusta silky oak. Timber,Fuel wood,Fodder,Bee forage,Soil protection, Wind breaker Shade. Sesbania sesban sesbania ;Fodder,Nitrogen fixation,Shade, Fuel wood. Calliandra calothyrsus calliandra ;Fuel wood,Fodder,Nitrogen fixation,Shade, Bee forage. Persea american avocado ;Fodder,Fruit production,Shade,Fuel wood. |
Sesbania sesban sesbania ;Fodder,Nitrogen fixation,Shade, Fuel wood. Calliandra calothyrsus calliandra ;Fuel wood,Fodder,Nitrogen fixation,Shade, Bee forage. Persea american avocado ;Fodder,Fruit production,Shade,Fuel wood. Mangifera indica mango ;Fruit production,Shade trees,Wind break,Soil protection, Fuel wood. Characteristics of Agroforestry Tree Species:Fast growth rate. Deep rooted. Nitrogen fixation ability. By-product production ability. Be multipurpose in nature. Should not possess competitive ability with main crop .. Have coppicing and lopping ability. Have appropriate canopy - should not shade others. Nutritious and palatable. Trees and Shrubs to Avoid at Certain Sites and ReasonsEucalyptus Spp.-should not be planted near water sources because it would absorb the water. Eucalyptus Spp. -should not be planted on the arable land as the roots have allelophathic effects on other vegetation including crops. Tall trees should not be planted near farm buildings because they may fall and damaging the buildings, their roots will break the building stones gradually. Bushy trees or shrubs should not be near farm buildings as they may harbour predators. Tall trees planted with main crop of a lower canopy intercept the rainfall, affecting the growth of the main crop. Cypress trees have leaves which produce acidity in the soil preventing undergrowth beneath the tree. These trees should not be planted within the farm but at the periphery. Tree NurseryTree nurseries are structures used to raise tree seedlings until they are ready for transplanting. There are 2 main types: Bare root nurseries:These are also known as 'Swaziland' beds where the seedlings are raised directly into the soil. AdvantagesCheap and less time consuming. Require less labour Occupy a small space. Many seedlings are raised in a small space. Transportation of seedlings is easy. DisadvantagesRoot damage when uprooting the seedlings. Difficult to transport. Lower survival rate after transplanting. Containerized nursery:The seedlings in this type of nursery are raised in containers such as pots, polythene bags or tubes and tins. AdvantagesHigher survival rate after transplanting. |
Lower survival rate after transplanting. Containerized nursery:The seedlings in this type of nursery are raised in containers such as pots, polythene bags or tubes and tins. AdvantagesHigher survival rate after transplanting. No root damage. Successful in arid areas. DisadvantagesLabour intensive. Difficult to get containers. Sometimes it may be difficult to get the right type of soil to use in the containers. Seed Collection and PreparationSeed CollectionSeeds should be collected from;Adaptable trees,High yielding,HealthyResistant to pests diseases. The mother plant should be identified first. The following methods used to collect seeds. Shaking the tree. Gathering from under the tree. Lopping of the tree. Climbing on the trees. Hooking method. Seed PreparationThis done when seeds are collected from a fresh fruit, they should be soaked in water, then washed and dried. Cleaning and sorting: done to remove immature seeds, rotten seeds, broken or damaged seeds. Drying: Done by sun-drying or oven drying. Seed testing: this determines;Seed quality for percentage purity,Seed weight,Moisture content,Germination percentage. Seeds should be stored in dry containers at room temperature. Seed treatment: seeds are treated first to break the seed dormancy and ensure rapid germination;Hot water treatment: used to soften the seed coat to make it more permeable to water. Examples of seeds which require this treatment are leucaenia, calliandra and acacia. Mechanical breaking: done by nicking the seed coat with a knife for easy entrance of water for example seeds of croton trees. Light burning: applied to the wattle tree seeds. Nursery ManagementThe following are the practices carried out in the nursery when the seedlings are growing:Mulching:Aim is to reduce excessive evaporation,Moderates the soil temperature,When it decays it improves the soil structure,Reduces the impact of the raindrops. Weeding:Done to reduce competition for growth factors by uprooting the weeds,Use a sharp pointed stick. Watering:Done by use of a watering canDone twice a day in the morning and in the evening. Pricking out:It is the removal of seedlings in an overcrowded area to another nursery bed,This allows the seedlings to grow strong and healthy. Root pruning:It is the cutting of the roots longer than the pots. |
Watering:Done by use of a watering canDone twice a day in the morning and in the evening. Pricking out:It is the removal of seedlings in an overcrowded area to another nursery bed,This allows the seedlings to grow strong and healthy. Root pruning:It is the cutting of the roots longer than the pots. Root pruning is done for the following reasons;Make lifting easierEncourage fast establishment. Reduce damage to the seedlings. Encourage development of a short dense and strong rooting system. Shading:Done to reduce the intensity of sunlight . Dark conditions should be avoided. Pest and disease control:Use of appropriate chemicals,Sterilization of soil through heat treatment, Fencing to protect seedlings against animal damage. Hardening off:It is the practice of preparing seedlings to adapt to the ecological conditions prevailing in the seedbed. It involves gradual reduction of shade and watering 1-2weeks before transplanting. Transplanting: The practice of transferring seedlings from the nursery bed to the main field where they grow to maturity. Procedure of TransplantingHoles are dug early before transplanting. Topsoil is mixed with compost manure. The seedlings are watered well a day before transplanting. The seedlings are removed from the nurseries carefully with a ball of soil for the bare root seedlings and roots trimmed for the containerized seedlings. The seedling is placed in the hole at the same height it was in the nursery. The container is removed carefully. The soil is returned into the hole and firmed around the seedling. The seedling is watered and mulched. Care and Management of Trees Protection:From damage by animals such as goats and cattle by eating the leaves. It is done by fencing the fields or using small poles around each seedling with or without wire nettings, can be done for individual trees or an entire field. Pruning and trimming:Pruning is the removal of extra or unwanted parts of a plant. The unwanted part may be due to breakage, overcrowding, pests or disease attacks and over production. Pruning initiates growth of shoots and trains the tree to have the required shape. Regular cutting back of the trees is known as coppicing,It is done at the beginning of each cropping season to reduce competition for water, minerals, nutrients and sunlight with crops. |
The unwanted part may be due to breakage, overcrowding, pests or disease attacks and over production. Pruning initiates growth of shoots and trains the tree to have the required shape. Regular cutting back of the trees is known as coppicing,It is done at the beginning of each cropping season to reduce competition for water, minerals, nutrients and sunlight with crops. The materials pruned or coppiced are used as fuel wood or for fodder crops. Grafting old trees:This is the practice of uniting two separate woody stems. The part with the rooting system is known as root stock base The part which is grafted onto the rootstock is called a scion which has buds that develop into the future plant. The ability of the scion and the rootstock to form a successful union is known as compatibility. Methods of grafting include whip or tongue grafting, side grafting and approach grafting. Agroforestry PracticesAlley Cropping Hedgerow Intercropping:The growing of multipurpose trees and shrubs together with crops. BenefitsImprove soil fertility through nitrogen fixation and organic matter. Provision of green manure. Used as fence and mark boundaries. Acts as windbreaks. Suppress weeds. Source of timber and fuel wood. Multi-storey cropping ;This is the growing together of trees of different heights. The system is based on crops which can tolerate shading. The trees and crops form different levels of canopy which look like storey. BenefitsIncreases water conservation for pastures. None of the crops or trees included will be shaded. Act as windbreak for crops. Creates suitable micro-climate in the area. Trees are used for timber, fuel wood and forage. Woodlots farm forests These are plots of land set aside for trees only. They are established in the hilly and less productive parts of the farm. Fast growing tree species such as Eucalyptus spp. Should be grown. Sites for Agroforestry:Farm boundaries - provide live fences. River banks - protect water catchment areas. Homesteads - provision of shade and windbreak Terraces - for soil conservation. Steep slopes - as contour hedges to encourage water seepage. Tree Harvesting MethodsPollarding;This is the extensive cutting back of the crown of the tree about 2-3 meters above the ground level to harvest all the side branches. It stimulates the development of a new crown and branches. |
Steep slopes - as contour hedges to encourage water seepage. Tree Harvesting MethodsPollarding;This is the extensive cutting back of the crown of the tree about 2-3 meters above the ground level to harvest all the side branches. It stimulates the development of a new crown and branches. Coppicing;Cutting the main stem of the tree completely at a height of 10 - 50 cm above the ground. The tree should be cut in a slanting angle. Lopping or side pruning ; The removal of selected branches of the tree Done to produce fuel wood and fodder. Shaking of the tree ; This is a method of harvesting pods and seeds from trees without cutting the tree. Cutting back; The tree is cut from the base to allow new growth as done in coffee when changing the cycle. Thinning; The removal of some of the trees growing in lines to give the remaining trees enough space to grow. |
PHYSICS SCHEMES OF WORKFORM ONE 2019TERM IREFERENCES:Secondary Physics KLBComprehensive Secondary PhysicsPrinciples of PhysicsGolden TipsTeacher s BookPHYSICS SCHEMES OF WORKFORM ONE TERM IIREFERENCES:Secondary Physics KLBComprehensive Secondary PhysicsPrinciples of PhysicsGolden TipsTeacher s BookPHYSICS SCHEMES OF WORKFORM ONETERM IIIREFERENCES:Secondary Physics KLBComprehensive Secondary PhysicsPrinciples of PhysicsGolden TipsTeacher s Book. |
REVISION ESSAY QUESTIONS:THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE BY BERTLOIT BRECHTQ1. Having given birth does not qualify someone to be mother of a child, but the care and nurture offered to that child is the one that does so. With illustrations from Bertloit Brecht s The Caucasian Chalk Circle, qualify this statement. 20 marks Ans. Introduction- True motherland is not necessarily biological but it goes beyond that. It is about how someone cares and nurtures for that child she claims to be her mother. -. Accept any other relevant introduction. Body-Natella Abashwili, the biological mother of Michael, abandons the child as she flees the city. -. The governor s wife is said to be more interested in her fine linen and shoes as well as horse carriages. -. It takes the motherly instincts of the kitchen maid, Grusha, to retrieve the baby and flee with it offering protection and nourishment. -. Grusha adopts the baby and risks being captured by the soldier and crosses the dangerous and rotten bridge. -. The mockery of Grusha s sister-in-law concerning the illegitimate child, Michael, does not affect her affection for the young boy. -Grusha endures an arranged and difficult marriage to a dying man Jussup, for the sake of the child. -. She fights for the custody of Michael in court and does not pull him to her side in the test of the chalk circle so as not to harm him. This proves her true motherhood. Conclusion- True motherhood has indeed been highlighted through Grusha s tender actions no wonder she is given the custody of Michael. Accept any other relevant conclusion. Q2. Write an essay on the disputes that arise in the play, and how each of them is resolved. 20 marks Ans. IntroductionA dispute is a serious disagreement, especially one that involves two parties and lasts for sometime. In this play, there are a number of disputes that arise. Some of the disputes are amicably solved, while others spill over to disaster. Accept any other plausible introduction. BodyThe Grand Duke is involved in war with the Persians. This dispute is resolved by the Grand Duke being overtaken alongside his princess. -. There is a dispute between goat herders and the fruit farmers over the ownership of a certain valley. |
BodyThe Grand Duke is involved in war with the Persians. This dispute is resolved by the Grand Duke being overtaken alongside his princess. -. There is a dispute between goat herders and the fruit farmers over the ownership of a certain valley. -. A neighboring group of peasants from another valley intends to utilize the valley under contest by carrying out horticultural farming, while the other people who are the real owners want to herd goats. -. The dispute resolution is mediated by a delegate of the state reconstruction commission fromTiflis. The valley is given to the fruit growers because they have a good plan of irrigatingit so that it gives high yields.- Another dispute is between the two brothers, the fat prince and the governor Georgi Abashwili. The cause of the dispute is power and authority. -. The dispute is resolved through a crude and cruel way. The fat prince topples overthrows the governor and orders him to be beheaded. This leads to a state of fear, impunity and lawlessness. Many people become refugees. -Another form of dispute exists between Grusha and Lavrenti s family. Grusha s brother isunder pressure from Aniko to marry her off to a dying man . -. This dispute is resolved through corrupt means. The mother of the dying man demandsfour hundreds plasters to allow Grusha to be married to her son Jussup. This is after Grushais convinced by Lavrenti that she does not need a man in bed but a man in papers. -There exists a dispute between Natella Abashwili, the governor s wife and her kitchen maidGrusha Vashnadze. The dispute is about who is the real mother of Michael Abashwili. This dispute arose during the time when the governor was overthrown and everybody wasrunning for their safety Natella Abashwili choose material things over her son, Michael. Grusha escapes with Michael to the Northern Mountains, she sacrifices so much for him. -. This dispute is resolved in court and judge Azdak has to pass the ruling. A chalk circle is drawnon the floor. Michael is placed at the center. The plaintiff Natella Abashwili and thedefendant, Grusha Vashnadze step up to the circle. |
A chalk circle is drawnon the floor. Michael is placed at the center. The plaintiff Natella Abashwili and thedefendant, Grusha Vashnadze step up to the circle. Each gets the child by one hand andthe real mother of the child is the one who pulls him out of the circle Grusha lets go thechild for the two times that they are told to pull, for she declares that she cannot pull himapart, having brought him up. -. At last Grusha is declared the true mother. -. There exists a dispute between the old couple. They would like to be divorced for they claim that since the beginning they have never liked each other. -. The dispute is supposed to be resolved in the court by judge Azdak. Unfortunately insteadof signing the divorce decree for the old couple, he divorces Grusha. ConclusionDisputes are apart of life. It is therefore important for the parties to try as much as possibleto come up with amiable resolutions. If not such disputes may lead to fatal states of either parties. Accept any plausible conclusion. Q3. It is only through a lot of strive that even the most humble people sustain their existence when faced with difficulties. Using Grusha as an example write an essay to justify this statement basing your answer on The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertloit Brecht. 20 marks Ans. Grusha Vashnadze, a kitchen maid finds herself with the abandoned Michael Abashwili. Her kind heart cannot allow her to leave the child behind to be butchered so she takes him on her flight north. An old man refuses to sell her milk without money, and an old couple cannot adopt the child. A soldier who threatens to capture the baby is hit on the head as she escapes with the boy and decides to adopt him. A dangling bridge over an abyss is no deterrent for Grusha who crosses it despite a warning that it can give in any time. Her unwelcoming brother, Lavrenti Vashnadze and his equally antisocial wife, Aniko, are deterrent to her resolve to raise Michael. She goes through an embarrassing and humiliating marriage to Jussup for the sake of the child. Grusha endures a harrowing trial in Azdak s court to reclaim the boy through the Chalk Circle test. |
Her unwelcoming brother, Lavrenti Vashnadze and his equally antisocial wife, Aniko, are deterrent to her resolve to raise Michael. She goes through an embarrassing and humiliating marriage to Jussup for the sake of the child. Grusha endures a harrowing trial in Azdak s court to reclaim the boy through the Chalk Circle test. Azdak, a common thief who steals rabbits, hides the Grand Duke and gets ashamed of what he has done. His attempts to get tried end up convincing the soldiers to make him judge. He is nearly hanged in the course of this after three rich farmers accuse him but the Grand Duke his skin and he is reappointed judge. He decides the fate of Michael s real mother through the ingenious test of the Chalk Circle. Q4. A discussion among members of same community in an atmosphere of mutual respect andhonesty can achieve so much in such a short time. Write an essay in support of thisstatement drawing illustrations from The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertloit Brecht s. 20 marks Ans. Introduction- Candidates must show that she he understands the questions and tie it to the text. Body- Two groups sit together in a circle. -. Members of the collective farms, mostly women and older men meet to resolve a disputeover ownership of valley. -. A delegate from the city presides over the disputes. -. The goat herders report is presented by an old man on the right as follows:- The cheese is no longer the same quality. -. Their goats do not like the new grass. -the grazing land is not good. -. The land does not smell of morning in the morning. -. The two groups are told the valley belonged to the goat herders from eternity. -the farmers respond through Kato, the agriculturalist. She says;- When fighting in those hills, they discussed how they would build up their fruitCulture ten times the original size. -. They will construct a dam across the mountain lake. -. They will water seven hundred acres of fertile land. -. They will establish vineyards. Due to the honest atmosphere and mutual respect, the two groups agree, eat together andget entertained together. Q5. A person controlled by greed has no sense of justice drawing your illustrations fromThe Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertloit Brecht, write an essay supporting this statement. 20 marks Ans. |
Due to the honest atmosphere and mutual respect, the two groups agree, eat together andget entertained together. Q5. A person controlled by greed has no sense of justice drawing your illustrations fromThe Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertloit Brecht, write an essay supporting this statement. 20 marks Ans. IntroductionIt is true that intense and selfish desire for something especially wealth and power causes injustice in the society. Accept any other relevant introduction. Body- The princes of Grusinia who are drunk with power overthrow the Grand Duke and take over leadership. They kill the governor including Governor Georgi Abashwili. They beheaded him and hang his head at the centre of the door to his palace. -. Prince Kazbeki s is hunting for the governor heir, the young Michael in order to kill him and prevent him from ever inheriting his dead father. -. The greedy prince sold the horses and food supplies meant for soldiers on the frontline thus causing the country to lose the war. -. Similarly, the corrupt corporal who pursues Grusha and Michael sells the two soldiers horses. They suffer and limp as a result and taunts them. They cannot move fast and thus are unable to catch up with Grusha whom they watch helplessly as she crosses the rotten bridge and waves from the far end. -. Natella Abashwili is so much interested in her fine dresses that she does not think about her son s safety. She does not even want to travel on horseback. She prefers a carriage. When time runs out she abandons Michael, her son and saves her skin. -. It is evident that Natella s desire to get access to Governor Georgi Abashwili s estate that makes her claim back her son Michael. She ruthlessly snatched Michael from the chalk circle in an attempt to get him back. As a result she losses the case and the estate of her late husband go to the state and Grusha is given custody of the child. -Governor Georgi Abashwili is so concerned about personal confront including constructing a new wing on the palace that he doesn t care about his people s petitions. He even ignores a government messages from the capital and shows no interest to what is happening in the front. ConclusionFrom the afore going it is true that greed is the inventor of injustice,Accept any other relevant conclusionQ6. |
-Governor Georgi Abashwili is so concerned about personal confront including constructing a new wing on the palace that he doesn t care about his people s petitions. He even ignores a government messages from the capital and shows no interest to what is happening in the front. ConclusionFrom the afore going it is true that greed is the inventor of injustice,Accept any other relevant conclusionQ6. Write an essay on the effectiveness of any four songs used in Bertloit Brecht s The Caucasian Chalk Circle. 20 marks Ans. . Introduction. Songs are usually used to communicate as well as relieve tension in the audience during live performances. In the prologue, there is a conflict on the actual owner of the valley. It is through the singer, Arkadi with his song called, the Chalk Circle, that the conclusion is arrived at Things will be given to those who can make use of them. Accept any other relevant introductionContentS i The first song begins on 13 -14, In olden times in a bloody time church - Introduces the main character and the conflict in the play. -. The governor though rich, is said to have many beggars and petitioners whom he ignores. -. The governor s wife, as well as the baby are introduced in this song. -. This song makes the reader audience anxious for the unfolding events. S ii Another song introduces the reader to the events in the place. Pages 18-20 : The city is still, but why are there armed men Noon was the hour to die. -. This song prepares the readers audience for the coup and the death of governor Abashwili. S iii . Another song introduces the flight of Grusha with Michael. Page 30 When Grusha Vashnadze left the city on the Grusinian highway some milk -Grusha sings, the song of the four generals which makes the reader aware of thevolatile political situation at that time. There was war in Iran and she was thinking ofSimon who was in the war. -. She alludes compares Simon with Sosso Robarkidse and ends up concluding, He is our man which shows her great love for Simon. |
Page 30 When Grusha Vashnadze left the city on the Grusinian highway some milk -Grusha sings, the song of the four generals which makes the reader aware of thevolatile political situation at that time. There was war in Iran and she was thinking ofSimon who was in the war. -. She alludes compares Simon with Sosso Robarkidse and ends up concluding, He is our man which shows her great love for Simon. S iv The song of the Rotten Bridge page 41 shows Grusha s predicament withMichael on her back and the angry ironshirts pursuing her. -. To save her live and Michael s from the Ironshirts, she has to cross the bridge overhanginga deep ravine. Deep is the abyss, son, I see the weak bridge sway How big they will be. -. The song outlines Grusha s determination and selflessness in an attempt to save Michael s live. -. The song makes the reader audience to sympathize with Grusha and laud her for her daring. NB. Accept any 4 well illustrated and explained songs. Conclusion. The songs done by different characters help to sustain the suspense in the play. They give the inside information and prepare the readers for what lies aheadNB. Accept any other relevant conclusion. Q7. Azdak is justified in giving Grusha Vashnadze the custody of Michael. Using illustrations from the play The Caucasian Chalk Circle, discuss this statement. 20 marks Ans. 1. -Grusha is not the true mother of Michael. -. During a coup when the child s father is beheaded, Grusha picks the child and keeps himcompany through out the night. -. She is in great danger-no one else is ready to touch or get near the child. 2. Natella Abashwili, who is Michael s mother, leaves Michael behind. -. She is in a hurry to flee the city. -. She is only interested in her clothes and shoes. 3. Grusha flees with the child to her brothers in the Northern Mountains. -. On the way she faces a lot of hardships. -. The iron shirts are pursuing her looking for Michael. -. Buys the child milk with the only money she had equivalent to a weeks pay. |
- On the way she faces a lot of hardships. -. The iron shirts are pursuing her looking for Michael. -. Buys the child milk with the only money she had equivalent to a weeks pay. -. Carries the child who is heavy on her back. -. Risks closing a dangerous bridge. -. Enters an arranged marriage for the sake of Michael. 4. When before Grusha agrees that she is not the biological mother of the child but shehad taken a lot of care for him. -. She refuses to pull Michael from the chalk circle. -Natella pulls twice. -. It emerges that Natella wants to have Michael for financial gains. -. One of her lawyers divulges that Natella can t meet the financial obligations sincethe estate is attached to the child. -. Natella is eager to pull the child but Grusha lets go off the child s hand. -Grusha says she can t bring him up only to tear him apart. -. She is given the child and ordered to live in the city. Q8. The conflicts and suffering witnessed in The Caucasian Chalk Circle is due to bad governance. Justify this statement. 20 marks Ans. IntroductionLeaders who don t responsibly and competently carry out their leadership role are likely to spark off serious conflict and subsequently cause a lot of suffering to the people. Similarly the conflicts and suffering witnessed in Caucasian chalk circle is essentially caused by leadership failure. Accept any other plausible introduction. Body i As the play begins we are introduced to a conflict pitching two groups of farmers where each claims a stake in the ownership of a particular piece of land. There is a heated argument as each side justifies why it should posses the valley. Eventually a delegate from the state construction commission arbitrates the conflict and the land is awarded to the fruit growing farmers. Ii The incompetency and inefficiency of the Grand Duke and governor Georgi Abashwili in the Grusinian state of Georgia. People suffer a lot. The governor s way to the church is lined up with beggars and petitioners who carry emaciated children, and war has left people in crutches. Ironshirts mercilessly brutalise people to prevent them from issuing petitions to their governor. The governor even intends to bring down the slums to create rooms for his garden. The princes and Prince Arsen Kazbeki easily stage a coup. Their poor governance is the source of suffering to this people. |
The governor even intends to bring down the slums to create rooms for his garden. The princes and Prince Arsen Kazbeki easily stage a coup. Their poor governance is the source of suffering to this people. Iii Poor governance also encourages people to be cruel and inhuman. When Arsen Kazbeki topples his brother, he beheads him. The head is fastened on the wall with nails. The old milk man is indifferent to Michael s hunger and demands exorbitant prices. The peasant woman discloses to the iron shirt that Grusha is the owner of the child despite the danger of such information. These incidents show that people lack moral conscience due to poor governance. Iv Incompetence and inefficiency gives birth to socio-political as well as economic instability. Coup and counter coups are common phenomena. These coups perpetuate suffering of people since they are forced to relocate to other places as internally displaced people. This is witnessed when the Grand Duke escapes arrest and has to be hosted by Azdak. Natella has to be whisked away to safety by the adjutant while Grusha and Michael relocate to the Northern Mountains for safety. The princes are also dethroned by the Grand Duke with the assistance of the Shah of Persia. It is said that the Grand Duke has to reinstate an incompetent person- Azdak- as the judge in Grusinia. Accept other plausible well developed pointsConclusionTherefore it is evident that poor governance causes suffering and pain to people as it is illustrated by what leads to suffering in The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Accept other plausible conclusion. Q9. Human weaknesses affect characters negatively . Write a composition in support of the above statement drawing your illustrations from The Caucasian Chalk Circle. 20marks Ans. Human beings have various types of weaknesses which have had negative effects on their living in society as shown in the play. Accept any other relevant introduction. W1. Natela Abashwili s weakness on adoring things. She forgets her child at the time of war and takes clothes and boots instead, pg 25 The maid escapes with the child to save his life but Natella later goes for the child because she wants to inherit the governor s estate. She loses both the child and the estate. WII The fat prince greed and hunger for powerEliminates his brother to get his power,WIII The governor s lack for concern for his subjects. |
She forgets her child at the time of war and takes clothes and boots instead, pg 25 The maid escapes with the child to save his life but Natella later goes for the child because she wants to inherit the governor s estate. She loses both the child and the estate. WII The fat prince greed and hunger for powerEliminates his brother to get his power,WIII The governor s lack for concern for his subjects. He oppresses his subjects forcing people to go to war, charging high taxation. He loses his life and power. WIV- Lavrenti and his wife undermines family values. Fails to give Grusha a warm welcome though she comes from town where war has broken out tired and sickWV The self righteous nature of Aniko shown through her hypocritical actionsWVI. Natella s hatred for the poor. She undermines Grusha during the court case feeling that Grusha is too poor to keep the child. She finally loses the child to the poor Grusha due to her arrogance. ConclusionIn conclusion, people should learn to appreciate others and avoid putting their interests first. Q10. What there is a hall go to those who are good for it . With illustrations from the play The Caucasian Chalk Circle, write an essay in support of this statement. 20 marks Ans. IntroductionThe statement means that if someone has to be given something, it should be on the basis that they are best suited for it or must have shown similar ability Accept any other relevant introduction, general or contextualized, making reference to the textc. I in the prologue, the valley is given to the fruit governorsThey have plans to build their fruits culture to ten times its original sizeThey have prepared a plan for an irrigation projectThe farm will not only grow more fruits but could also support vineyardsThey even present calculations for the projectii Michael is given to Grusha because of her motherly natureShe rescuers him on the Easter Sunday when his mother leaves him behindGrusha takes to a risky journey to the Northern Mountains amid pursuit by the IronshirtsShe marries a man on his death bed in order to give legitimacy to MichaelIn the chalk circle test ,she does not pull Michael from the circleiii. |
20 marks Ans. IntroductionThe statement means that if someone has to be given something, it should be on the basis that they are best suited for it or must have shown similar ability Accept any other relevant introduction, general or contextualized, making reference to the textc. I in the prologue, the valley is given to the fruit governorsThey have plans to build their fruits culture to ten times its original sizeThey have prepared a plan for an irrigation projectThe farm will not only grow more fruits but could also support vineyardsThey even present calculations for the projectii Michael is given to Grusha because of her motherly natureShe rescuers him on the Easter Sunday when his mother leaves him behindGrusha takes to a risky journey to the Northern Mountains amid pursuit by the IronshirtsShe marries a man on his death bed in order to give legitimacy to MichaelIn the chalk circle test ,she does not pull Michael from the circleiii. Azdak is made judge by the iron shirts and later on the Grand DukeIn the mock could scene be displays better knowledge of the law in comparison to prince Kazbeki s nephewHis reign as judge is described as a brief golden age, almost an age of justice .In making his rulings the look from the rich and gave to the poorHe is late reappointed as judge by the Grand Duke as a show of gratitude for saving his lifeiv. Azdak divorces Grusha and Jussup instead of the old coupleThe divorce paves way for Grusha s marriage to SimonSimon had stood by Grusha in court claiming to be Michael s fatherThe union between Grusha and Jessup wars for convenienceSimon trulyDeserved Grusha for he came back to lack for her after the warConclusionIt is clear from above that those who emerged victories deserved the victory Accept any other relevant conclusion Q11. Drawing illustrations from what Grusha goes through in order to save and adopt Michael, write an essay on the challenges of being a good person in a rotten society. 20 marks Ans. IntroductionEven in a rotten society, it is possible to come across a good person. In the Caucasian Chalk Circle, such a person is Grusha. Grusha goes through many challenges in order to save and adopt Michael. Some of these challenges are discusses below. |
In the Caucasian Chalk Circle, such a person is Grusha. Grusha goes through many challenges in order to save and adopt Michael. Some of these challenges are discusses below. Accept any other relevant introductionContent C i She sacrifices the little she has in order to sustain Michael. She buys milk expensively. Ii She is forced to come up with a ingenuine way of eluding the iron shirts who are after him. She knocks one of them down with a piece of wood, enduring her life in the process. Iii She crosses of dangerous bridge, endangering her life and Michael s iv She has to contend with a society that frowns upon single motherhood. She is forced to accept marriage to an invalid called Jussup in order to normalize her status vi Her relationship with her fianc e, Simon , is endangered. Vi She is force to go through a court processes in order to gain custody of Michael. ConclusionAccept any valid conclusion. Q12. True motherhood is not necessarily biological Write an essay illustrating this statement using Bertloit Brecht s, The Caucasian Chalk Circle . 20 marks Ans. IntroductionYou need not be a biological mother to become motherly. Strangers can act more responsibly than real mothers. This is clearly illustrated by Grusha, a kitchen maid, in the play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle as shown below;Body- Natella Abashwili, the biological mother of Michael abandons the child as she flees the city .She is more interested in her fine linen and shoes as well as horse carriagesIt takes the motherly instinct of the kitchen maid Grusha to retrieve the body and fide with it offering protection and nourishmentGrusha adopts the body and risks being captured by the soldiers and crosses the dangerous and rotten bridge to save the life of Michael from the iron shirtsThe mockery of Grusha s sister-in-law concerning the illegitimate child, Michael does not affect her affection for the young boyVashnadze endures an arranged and difficult marriage on paper to a dying man, Jussup: for the sake of the childA mere kitchen Grusha fights for the custody of Michael in court and does not pull him to her side in the test of the chalk circle so as not to tear him up. |
IntroductionYou need not be a biological mother to become motherly. Strangers can act more responsibly than real mothers. This is clearly illustrated by Grusha, a kitchen maid, in the play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle as shown below;Body- Natella Abashwili, the biological mother of Michael abandons the child as she flees the city .She is more interested in her fine linen and shoes as well as horse carriagesIt takes the motherly instinct of the kitchen maid Grusha to retrieve the body and fide with it offering protection and nourishmentGrusha adopts the body and risks being captured by the soldiers and crosses the dangerous and rotten bridge to save the life of Michael from the iron shirtsThe mockery of Grusha s sister-in-law concerning the illegitimate child, Michael does not affect her affection for the young boyVashnadze endures an arranged and difficult marriage on paper to a dying man, Jussup: for the sake of the childA mere kitchen Grusha fights for the custody of Michael in court and does not pull him to her side in the test of the chalk circle so as not to tear him up. She fears to destroy the boy she has nurtured and brought up expensively as a real mother. ConclusionGenerally, mothers are supposed to be motherly for one to be accredited a real mother of a child .This world mean not all the biological mothers are a sincere parents as to claim the ownership, however the soul that would nurture brings up responsibly deserves the ownership as portrays in Grusha Vashnadze. |
2014walterakach gmail.comTable of ContentsThe guilt, Rayda Jacobs 2 When The Sun Goes Down, Goro wa Kamau .8Leaving, Moyez G. Vassanji ...15The War of the Ears, Moses Isegawa 21The Mirror, Haruki Murakami .30Diamond Dust, Anita Desai 35Arrested Development, Sandisile Tshuma 42Sandra Street, Michael Anthony ...48Twilight Trek, Sefi Atta ..52I Stand Here Ironing, Tillie Olsen ..........65The Retraction, Stanley Onjezani Kenani .....77The Bamboo Hut, Grace Ogot 85Tuesday Siesta, Gabriel Garcia Marquez ..91 Two Stories of a House, Leila Abouzeid 100Law of the Grazing Fields, Cyprian Ekwensi..106White Hands, Jane Katjavivi .112The Guilt, Rayda Jacobs South Africa 21. PlotIntroductionWe 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 HookShe engage s the man at the gate in a conversationc. Rising ActionWilliam 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. ClimaxWilliam offers to work for the money. He says it s too much. She opens the gate for him to clean her garden, despite doubts. |
ClimaxWilliam 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 the3house for the phone was ringing. William followed her there. Falling ActionLilian 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. D nouementFeeling 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 usingRayda Jacob s The Guilt for your illustrations. SettingThe 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. Conflict. The Guilt has both external and internal conflict. Internal conflictsFirst 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. 4She 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. External ConflictWilliam 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. External ConflictWilliam 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. CharactersAlthough several characters are mentioned in thisstory, the action focuses on Lilian and William. LilianPhysical attributesShe 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. 5 Can I help you? Lilian asked. Respectful courteousShe handed the letter back to him and said, wait here, kindBased 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? 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. InsecureShe would not lock the door behind her, she told herself. She trusted him. Naive trustingHe came forward. Sa! Lilian commanded the dogs. DecisiveThe fact that she did not give the last command to the Alsatians nor pull the trigger of the gun. HumaneThe fact that she did not tell the truth to Margaret, Ruth and Ethel May. ModestAssign character traits to William Sidlay based on the following situations. The fact that he did not panic when confronted by Tembi Tor. Calm courageous brave6The fact that he forged a letter to gain entry into white homes dishonestThe fact that he wanted the five rand besides demanding for 10 rand. GreedyThe fact that he knew Lilian lived alone and that no one was going to come to her aid. SchemingThe fact that he moved towards Lilian when she threatened to call the police. |
Calm courageous brave6The fact that he forged a letter to gain entry into white homes dishonestThe fact that he wanted the five rand besides demanding for 10 rand. GreedyThe fact that he knew Lilian lived alone and that no one was going to come to her aid. SchemingThe fact that he moved towards Lilian when she threatened to call the police. MenacingSidlay producing a letter allowing him to beg after being told by Lilian that she had no work. PersistentPOVThe story is told from the omniscient narrator perspective. ThemeGuiltAll 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. DeceptionWilliam 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. The woman who d seen Lilian sitting on the stoep deceives her that she will sell7her 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. Race relationsThe 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. QuestionShow that people pay dearly for showing their weaknesses. Using Rayda Jacob s The Guilt show that this is true. 8When the Sun Goes Down by Goro wa KamauThe PlotWe 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. We learn that people suspect that Maureen is infected with the HIV virus. Steve confirms it is true. |
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. 9She is buried a week later. She leaves Steve and Kanja and Kimotho to continue the struggle. The TitleThe 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. SettingThe 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. ConflictWe shall approach conflict from two perspectives: conflict developed by Maureen. A Conflict developed by Steve. Steve largely develops external conflictIn 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 because10Maureen is HIV positive. |
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 because10Maureen 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 KanjaThe 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 Stevebecause 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. 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. 11Pp22 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. 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. |
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. 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. 12Even Maureen acknowledges this pp20 she says that she has no doubt he will live. Maureen develops external conflict as well as internal. Internal conflictMaureen 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 guiltPp26 As she gets delirious she mumbles that she was faithful both to her husband and to Steve. External ConflictShe develops a conflict between her and HIVThis 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. 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. |
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 deadIn short, Maureen s sun went down the day she discovered she d passed on HIV to Steve. She also develops a conflict between her and theKanja s of this world. When Kanja refuses to take her13juice, 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. ThemesTwo 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 servesThe 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. CharacterisationSteve: determined, loving, realistic, open, sociable, hardworkingKanja: hypocritical, ignorant, lustfulMaureen: hopeless, faithful, loving, religious, hospitable, stoic14Essay QuestionLife 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. 15Leaving by Moyez G. VassanjiSettingThe story is set in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. |
Using Goro wa Kamau s When the Sun Goes Down for your illustrations show that this is true. 15Leaving by Moyez G. VassanjiSettingThe 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. PlotThe 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 ofDatoo 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 in16America 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 studiesConflictThis story is about Aloo s determination to study medicineThe first conflict he faces is bureaucracy and corruption. On pp 35 the narrator hints at this:But some bureaucratic hand, probably corrupt, dealt out a future prospect for him that came as a shock. |
She bids Aloo not to smoke nor drink and not to marry a white woman. Her fears allayed, she sends Aloo to America for further studiesConflictThis story is about Aloo s determination to study medicineThe first conflict he faces is bureaucracy and corruption. On pp 35 the narrator hints at this:But some bureaucratic hand, probably corrupt, dealt out a future prospect for him that came as a shock. This explains why the family does not want to question the university about Aloo s placement. Clearly, with his straight A s deserved a place in the medicine class. However, the family does not even think about arguing his case with the varsity would be an exercise in futility. Nothing would come out of it. The second conflict is developed by Velji andAloo s mother on pp 3 he tells Aloo s mother, But if you send him, you will lose your son. It s a far place, America, It is his mother, however, who fully develops this conflict on page 35, after Aloo has overcome his shock of getting CIT placement and scholarship, we are told:But first he had to contend with mother. 17She does not believe it and thinks that he is teasing her. Next she raises issue with the money required. 3000 shillings is required for pocket money. She further questions where they d raise his air fare from- it was not a little money that needed. She concludes that no one in Dar would help himPp 36 she gets angry at him and asks him why he wants to go away, so far from them and wonders whether they mean so little to him. Further, she is worried that something might happen to him. Her final resistance to his leaving is on page 39- she asks him to promise that he will not marry a white woman, nor will smoke nor drink. At this point we now understand her fear at telling him go: she would lose him to a different culture that all the values she d taught him would be in vain. Characters and Characterisation. Aloo a intelligent scores straight A s in his final examrespectful -pp 36 He had raised hisvoice to her, the first time I saw him that. -pp 37, they stood up whenVelji came in. |
Characters and Characterisation. Aloo a intelligent scores straight A s in his final examrespectful -pp 36 He had raised hisvoice to her, the first time I saw him that. -pp 37, they stood up whenVelji came in. C determined: - studied hard in order to study medicine- wrote many applications with the aim of getting a varsity in America. Mother18-hardworking raised the children as a single parent upon the death of her husband-Cautious sought Mr. Velji s opinion on Aloo s case. -loving - feared to lose her son. 5.ThemesFamily family valuesThe narrator s mom has raised her children well. Marriage therefore is an important institution for them. It is not important that they marry into riches although Razia does. What is important is that they get married. The family is also supportive. Firoz was not good at school but they encouraged him to go far as he would. What is more, he has been taught the importance of work ethic. So after dropping out of school he is gainfully employed as an assistant bookkeeper. The narrator and Aloo are morally upright young men. They respect their mother and the people who come into their lives. First, they do not raise their voice at their mother. Second, the boys stand up when Mr. Velji comes into the room. Finally, although they disagree with Mr. Velji, they do not raise any objections when he says it s a bad thing to send Aloo to a foreign country: they respect his opinion. Finally her children neither drink nor smoke. 19Education. The two sisters are taken to school. Firoz is encouraged to go as far as he possibly would at school subsequently he got employed The narrator and Aloo go to university. It is instructive to know that their mom laid her hopes on them. This shows that she understands that through education her children would improve their lot. FearThe main conflict in this story is Aloo s mother s reluctance to let him go study in a foreign country. This conflict is borne of fearThat her son doesn t care much for the familyThat something could happen to himThat he could start smoking and drinkingThat he could marry a white womanPOVThis story is told from the 1st person pov. |
This shows that she understands that through education her children would improve their lot. FearThe main conflict in this story is Aloo s mother s reluctance to let him go study in a foreign country. This conflict is borne of fearThat her son doesn t care much for the familyThat something could happen to himThat he could start smoking and drinkingThat he could marry a white womanPOVThis story is told from the 1st person pov. The narrator is the 2nd last born child in a family of 3 boys and 2 girls. It is an inspirational story of how upbringing influences the destinies of he and his siblings in general but Aloo in particular. He reports objectively the factors that influenceAloo s destiny. We trust his judgment because he is not only an adult but he is at the university. He wished his brother well from the start and in the end it comes to pass. In the end we do not just read a story for entertainment value. Stories also have information value. For us to exploit this fully we need to answer 3 questions. Is the title appropriate? 20Yes, all the 5 siblings and their mother are involved in leavings of sorts. What is the significant event? Mr. Datoo s visit is. He inspires Aloo to be all that he can be. This is so important because schools are yet to find a place for alumni. Without a doubt they influence the destinies of students and they should therefore be incorporated in career guidance activities. What is the author s intention? First of all the author s main audience are parents. Parents should learn that the way they bring up their children determines how positively they live life and how successful that life is. The author s second audience is the youth: although the environment in which you are brought up matters; ultimately, there is no success without input. The contrast between Firoz and Aloo exemplifies this. 21The War of the Ears by Moses IsegawaSettingThe story is set in a rural Uganda during a period of civil strife. A rebel group, God s Victorious Brigades, is fighting to stamp corruption out of the country in the light of their interpretation of the Ten Commandments. The ultimate sufferers are civilians. The story s main setting is Nandere Primary School with episodes in Ma Beeda s home and the forest. |
A rebel group, God s Victorious Brigades, is fighting to stamp corruption out of the country in the light of their interpretation of the Ten Commandments. The ultimate sufferers are civilians. The story s main setting is Nandere Primary School with episodes in Ma Beeda s home and the forest. Most of the activities take place in the night. Darkness symbolizes the evil that has befallen the country at large and is about to befall Ma Beeda s village in particular. PlotThe story opens at the close of day at Nandere Primary School. Beeda is confronted with a problem: the world outside school is full of questions he couldn t answer and things he couldn t control. This drives him into a panic that it is possible that these events beyond his control could stop the children from coming back to school. Indeed, his fears are fanned by the letter that arrives in the school that day. The rebel group, God s VictoriousBrigades, says it is the last letter they send to warn Ma Beeda of dire consequences should she fail to close the school. She however swears to defy them and believes that they have government protection. Beeda, however, is clearly terrified and feels helpless because he does not believe the government s promise would come to much. We learn that his father had died when he was four, and now as a secondary school student, he doubles up as a teacher at his Mother s school. 22To prove their point, the rebel group has dispatched four child soldiers to Nandere Primary School, the only surviving school in the region. They are led by Major Azizima who is 14. The other 3 boys are his juniors. His immediate superior, Colonel Kalo, is 17. Upon reaching the school, Azizima awaits instructions from Kalo to burn it down. We learn that the supreme leader of the rebels is Generalissimo who is revered because he spoke with God. All the rules and guidelines come from him. This involves indoctrinating the child soldiers with his interpretation of the Ten Commandments and heavy doses of barbaric punishment for offences against his rules. Similarly, the soldiers mete out barbaric punishment like chopping off the ears of those who do not support the course of the rebels. |
All the rules and guidelines come from him. This involves indoctrinating the child soldiers with his interpretation of the Ten Commandments and heavy doses of barbaric punishment for offences against his rules. Similarly, the soldiers mete out barbaric punishment like chopping off the ears of those who do not support the course of the rebels. The arrival of these rebels in Beeda s village brings to his door step those things he d feared he has no control over. At school first they are confronted with the pane Azizima had broken the previous night, Next, Miss Bengi informs them that a man s ear had been cut off the previous night and because of this insecurity, she intends to leave the village for the city. The gunfire later that night is the last piece of evidence that the war of the ears had finally come to their village. ConflictExternalThe first conflict we meet is between Ma Beeda and the rebels. They have been sending her letters telling her that she is a government agent and that she should close her school. The final letter is23signed by Colonel Kalo. It tells her that her punishment for defying them will be both heavy and harsh. She continues to defy them in the hope that the government s security apparatus will protect her and her investment. Secondly, we learn that the teachers too are in direct conflict with the rebels. We are told that Beeda s is filling in for a teacher who had fled weeks ago. Further, Ma Beeda s says that she spoke to the teachers and 2 or 3 want to run away pp 46 . Then there is Miss Bengi who announces her desire to leave for the city after a man s ear was cut off pp 59 The major conflict is between the government and the rebels pp 46 A war was going on in the forest and hills where government forces occasionally clashed with the rebels. This is also confirmed in the letter sent to Ma Beeda in which she is called a government agent. Their professed goal is to stamp corruption of out of the country. The conflict between the rebels and the government has also brought on conflict between the civilians and government on one hand and civilians and rebels on the other. Major Azizima s father died in the hands of the government security apparatus. |
Their professed goal is to stamp corruption of out of the country. The conflict between the rebels and the government has also brought on conflict between the civilians and government on one hand and civilians and rebels on the other. Major Azizima s father died in the hands of the government security apparatus. They had alleged that he was collaborating with the rebels pp 51 We are also told that in between engagements with rebels, government forces looked for rebel collaborators pp 46 . 24Then there is the conflict between rebels and civilians in general. We are told that in the period between engagements with government forces the rebels attacked civilians pp46 Major Azizima tells us that his mother was killed by the rebels. What is more, he d been asked to cut off her ears pp 51 . Major Azizima also cuts off the ear of a villager who was looking for medicine for his sick wife. Pp53 . Further, after this act, they trained their rifles on the shops in case people confronted them. No one did. In the letter to Ma Beeda the rebels state that the war of ears had begun. This is in reference to cutting off the ears of civilians who defied them pp 45 . Finally the village is awakened deep in the night by gunfire. Pp61 The other conflict developed in the story is internalBeedaIn front of the class he knew everything and there was nothing he could not do. However, the world outside was full of questions he could not answer and things he could not control pp43 it is a flash-forward in the problems the villagers face from the government and rebels AzizimaHe thinks of escaping from the rebel base but if caught by the government soldiers he would be tortured or killed or both. If caught by the comrades he would be killed. Either way he would die but he wanted to live to25avenge his parents. Besides he wanted to find out what had happened to his siblings who had disappeared. Further, at school Nandere he felt a yearning to return to school, to study and get a certificate but he hated having to take orders from teachers. Moreover it would mean surrendering his power something he knew he would not do freely. Characters and Characterisation. Ma BeedaA widow, entrepreneur and a single parent, she has a son, BeedaHardworking started her school under a mango tree but is now a full-fledged learning centre. |
Moreover it would mean surrendering his power something he knew he would not do freely. Characters and Characterisation. Ma BeedaA widow, entrepreneur and a single parent, she has a son, BeedaHardworking started her school under a mango tree but is now a full-fledged learning centre. Determined ResoluteHers is the last operational school. All the other schools have shut down at the behest of the rebels. Despite the numerous letters by the rebels that she shuts down her school, she defies them. OptimisticDespite the war going on around her, she is hopeful that it will not touch her school. She says that the rebels have no chance of victory and that they don t have the people s support. She also tells us that the government would hunt down all the criminals and punish them pp57 26SecretiveShe had a journal in which she entered the Nightcrawler s reports. Beeda was not allowed to look in the book. Pp 59 CuriuosHas set the Nightcrawler to find out details of what several people had heard and seen the night before. Perceptive pp 47 She had the ability to guess what her son was thinking and at times he disliked it intensely. BeedaHardworking stays at school teaching until late-plans his lessons in good timeConcerned pp 46 asks his mom whether shespoke to the teachers i.e. ask them to stay. -Wants to know the response of the regional commander in relation to their insecurity. Azizima -ambitious violent reflective determinedThemesHuman rights abuse crimes against humanity. Children are denied the right to education. Ma Beeda tells us that hers is the only school opening in the area, and even this is threatened to be short27lived by the rebels who have served her with a final notice to close the school. People are killed both by the rebels and the government. Azizima tells us that government forces killed his father for allegedly collaborating with the rebels. The rebels too killed his mother for an unspecified reason. People suffer mutilation in the hands of the rebels. The letter sent to Ma Beeda warns her that ears that don t listen to their master get chopped off and hers would be next. Azizima tells us thatBlue Beast forced him to chop off his mother s ears. |
People suffer mutilation in the hands of the rebels. The letter sent to Ma Beeda warns her that ears that don t listen to their master get chopped off and hers would be next. Azizima tells us thatBlue Beast forced him to chop off his mother s ears. Azizima chops of the ear of a villager and keeps it as a trophy and proof to his superiors that he is loyal. Miss Bengi threatens to leave for the city saying she does not want her ear chopped off. DisplacementPeople are fleeing the village on account of insecurity arising from the war of the ears. Ma Beeda tells us that two or 3 teachers have expressed their intention to leave for the city. Beeda is filling in for a teacher who had fled several weeks before. Miss Bengi is thinking of going to the city to avoid the atrocities of the rebels. Enlisting of Child Soldiers. Major Azizima is only14 years old and is a soldier trained and armed by the rebels. The three soldiers he is sent to Nandere Primary school with are younger than he is. His superior, colonel Kalo28is only 17 years. These children are first abducted and then forced into fighting. Barbaric treatment of the soldiers at the base. Sex was forbidden at the base except for the four people in high command. Anyone who broke this rule got one hundred strokes of the hippo-hide whip. Rape was punished with amputation of the left hand. Dissention and theft were punished with death. There is no appeal against the words of the spies. They were made to chant Generalissimos hatred for the Ugandagovernment for hours on end. B Family relationsMaBeeda trains her son on the work ethic; he not only knows his house hold chores but loves his teaching job. Beeda is very respectful of his mother and she too of him. When his mother summons him, he drops what he is doing and goes to her for example when he was talking to Miss Bengi and his mother summons him he goes to her despite the fact he would have liked to continue talking to her. She too is respectful of him when he burns their supper; she resists the urge to raise her voice at him. Further, although she d lost her appetite, she respectfully eatssome of the food he serves her. |
When his mother summons him, he drops what he is doing and goes to her for example when he was talking to Miss Bengi and his mother summons him he goes to her despite the fact he would have liked to continue talking to her. She too is respectful of him when he burns their supper; she resists the urge to raise her voice at him. Further, although she d lost her appetite, she respectfully eatssome of the food he serves her. ViolenceWar going on between government and rebelsGovernment torturing and killing rebel collaborators death of Azizima s father29Rebels mutilating or killing government sympathisers death of another chopping of the ears of a man. -breaking of a window pane at the school and its imminent burning down. Killing and mutilation of soldiers who break rules at the camp. Fear. Pp46 Beeda is afraid that teachers will desert the school; further, he is afraid that the promise of their safety by the regional commander may not hold water. He is afraid that something might have happened to uncle ModoPp 54 Most people went home early and were barricaded inside their house by nightfall. Pp 51 Azizimo is afraid that if he runs away from the base he ll be executed by the rebels upon capture. Further if he does escape he ll be tortured or killed by government agents upon capture. Pp 53 After Azizimo had chopped off the ear of a villager, the train their rifles on the shops- Nobody came out to confront them for fear of being killed or mutilated by the rebels. Pp 54-6 MaBeeda wakes up feeling that a messenger was at the door, waiting to break the news that her school was no more. It was a daily ordeal which reached its peak every morning. 30The Mirror by Haruki MurakamiSettingThe story is set in the narrator s house in the night. He is seated with some friends and they are relating scary stories or those of premonitions. There is however, another setting in which the narrator rebels a frightful moment in his life. This is at a school junior high school in which he was employed as a lone night watchman at the age of 18 or 19. The night was windy and hot. Mosquitoes buzzed all over amidst the noise of the wind. |
This is at a school junior high school in which he was employed as a lone night watchman at the age of 18 or 19. The night was windy and hot. Mosquitoes buzzed all over amidst the noise of the wind. The broken gate of the swimming pool made banging rhythmic banging noises in the dark night. This description creates a scary mood which is consistent with his frightening experience. PlotThe narrator is hosting a number of friends and they pass time relating scary experiences or those of premonitions. The narrator says that there is a force linking the world of the living with that of the dead giving rise to the narrator of stories being related. These forces he says restrict people to either group those people who see ghosts are unable to have premonition and vice versa. The forces don t give people the ability to do both that is, they are mutually exclusive The narrator then distances himself from these experiences. He says that in his 30yrs he has neither seen a ghost nor had a premonition. However, he admits that he has had a scary experience which he narrates for the first time. He had kept it secret for fear that if he spoke of it then it might happen all over again. 31He relates how in his 2 am round on a scary night, he thinks he notices something in the hallway. Upon closer inspection it turns out that a mirror, which had previously not been there, gave his reflection. The mirror has him spell bound until he forcefully tears himself from it and shatters it rashes back to the janitor s room to sleep. In the morning, he goes back to inspect the scene of the incident. He finds the cigarette butt and his kendo that he dropped. However, that shattered mirror is not there. ConflictThe first conflict is about the nature of these supernormal experiences. The narrator tells his friends that all their experiences fall into two broad categories. The repetition of the phrase all your stories , suggests that his friends were not in agreement with him. The second conflict is that the narrator is immune to verse experiences. He describes an incident in an elevator with two friends who swear they could see a woman standing next to the narrator. He insists it was only the three of them in the lift. The third conflict is between the narrator and his parents. At seventeen they expected him to proceed to college after high school. He declines, and instead wonders all over Japan working at various manual jobs. |
The third conflict is between the narrator and his parents. At seventeen they expected him to proceed to college after high school. He declines, and instead wonders all over Japan working at various manual jobs. The last conflict is internal. He believes that he is immune to the supernormal experiences. Yet he has this encounter with a non-existent mirror that32holds him captive and seems to control him. He keeps this event secret for over 12 years, but finally he relates it. What is more, he keeps away from mirrors. He is afraid the scary incident would happen again yet he swears he does not believe in supernormal forces. Character and characterisation. NarratorproudThinks that people that have encountered ghosts or have had premonition are not normal and that he is unique because he s never had those experiences. FearfulFeels apprehensive about mirrors and does not keep them around him. He was too scared to fix the broken gate because of the dark night. Terrified by the mirror incident he runs back to the janitor s room. RebelliousRefuses to go to college and chooses to do manual work. HospitableHosts his friends and having been entertained by their stories he too narrates one that he has kept secret in order to further entertain them. AnalyticalUpon listening to his friend s stories he separates them into two categories: those of ghosts and premonitions; further, he says a force links people to these things. He goes a step further and says the33impression he gets is that these experiences are mutually exclusive. 5.ThemesIdentity CrisisAt 17 when the narrator should be proceeding to college, he chooses to wander all over Japan doing manual work. This is a typical teenage problem as they try to identify who they really are, different from what their parents want them to be. What is disturbing though is that at 30, more experienced with life, he says he d do it all over again. This rebellious streak is stuck with him. He also believes that he is different from other people. Other people see ghosts; he doesn t. Other people have premonitions; he doesn t. Yet he is very much like them because of the encounter he had with an imaginary mirror that still controls his life. Appearances vs realityIt appears to him that the supernormal operates at two levels: ghosts and premonitions. |
35Diamond Dust by Anita Desai1.SettingThe story is set in Bharti Nagar, an urban civil servants residential area in India. The events take us from Mr. Das house, to the streets of Bharti Nagar, into the Lodi Gardens and down the alleys of the town. 2.PlotWe are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Das and Diamond, Mr. Das problematic dog. It is not only a nuisance toMrs. Das but to service providers and children as well. To Mr. Das, he is a lovable pet hence the name Diamond. As a result of Diamond s nature C.P. Biswas asks Das why he named the dog Diamond and not the more probable coal after its black colour. Das wouldn t hear of this neither does he have an explanation for Mr. Biswas. What is more, Das outs his dog before family; on return from work he greets Diamond then the family members. Mrs. Das has a premonition that all this is not going to end well. But Das is unstoppable. He even frolics with Diamond in public something that displeases his colleagues. His friendsBiswas and Base see Das behavior as bringing shame to them before their superiors:- the undersecretary and the retired Joined Secretary. Mrs. Das too disapproves of this attachment to Diamond. Over the years she has had to clean after Diamond: its urine, smell and fur from floor rugs and seats. She has even sacrificed a cooking pot has to move out of the house for one hour as Diamond s36meat cooks. Her protests do not yield any change. Ironically, Das complains that an animal s nature can t be changed by domestication. Children, though they approved of Diamond, teased him when Das wasn t around. He cautions them against using sticks or stones against Diamond or running away from him. They protest that they d be bitten the way Ranu was if they don t run. However, the real problems begin when Diamond matures into a full grown god. He moves from a nuisance to a menace. First, there is his phobia for uniform. He bellows at the postman, chases him and tears his trousers. The result is Mrs. Das doesn t get her mail regularly for it is thrown at the hedge. |
He bellows at the postman, chases him and tears his trousers. The result is Mrs. Das doesn t get her mail regularly for it is thrown at the hedge. Then there are the other service providers: electricity meter readers telephone repair men, and garbage collectors who do not render their services to the Das family because Diamond attacks them when they do. Finally there are the school children who cannot get to the bus stop without adult protection. Neighbours however do not report him to the police out of both propriety and pity. In the end, Diamond becomes a pain to Das during mating seasons. He disappears for long stretches and during this period Das spends days and nights in search of him. What is more, his behavior when he catches Diamond mating alarms parents. Mrs. Das too wouldn t have Diamond back in the house until he s been cleaned. Further, Diamond is a threat to his job. He spends time looking for him instead of going to work or when he does go to work he is distracted. 37Diamond s final escapade ends badly for both of them. Diamond is caught by the dog catchers and he faces certain death. Das sees him in the moving van jumps onto it and plunges to death. ConflictA conflict arising from Diamond s actionsDiamond Mrs. DasDiamond generally upsets Mrs. Diamond. He upsets the table, when she sets Das food. He knocks her down. He gets more attention than her children do. She had to mop after him when he was a puppy and constantly urinated on the floor. She had to put up with the smell of the dog in her next house. Diamonds further had to be constantly removed from rugs, sofas and armchairs. Her letters got lost or never reached her because Diamond attacked the postman when he made deliveries. She had to nurse Mr. Das when he caught flu in the cold nights in search of Diamond. Finally, her husband dies when he tries to save Diamond from the moving fog catcher s van. Diamond and the neighboursThe children would throw stones or sticks at Diamond, then he d break loose and run after them nipping at their heels or stopping when they fell in the dust. When his phobia for uniform grew he would chase children on their way to or from school. The result was that they could38neither go to the bus-stop nor come from it, without adult protection. |
Diamond and the neighboursThe children would throw stones or sticks at Diamond, then he d break loose and run after them nipping at their heels or stopping when they fell in the dust. When his phobia for uniform grew he would chase children on their way to or from school. The result was that they could38neither go to the bus-stop nor come from it, without adult protection. During the badmashi days, Diamond would howl so loudly keeping the neighbours awake. This would go on until hesnapped his collar. B Conflicts arising from Mr. Das actions:-i Das and Mrs. DasMrs. Das complained that he gave more attention to Diamond than he did to his children or grandchildren pp 3 Not even about our children not even your first-born son or your grandchildren, have you made so much of us that dog. She also complains that on his return from work Das greeted the dog Diamond, my friend before greeting Mrs. Das, his grandchildren or anyone at all. She refuses to go to the butcher s for buffalo meat for Diamond nor would she cook the meat when Das brought it he had to do it himself. Further, she asks him to substitute milk and bread for Diamond s meat but Das would hear none of this. She complains that her letters don t reach her because Diamond attacks the postman when he makes deliveries. Das instead accuses the postman of being cowardly. When Diamond goes out on his last escapade in Nov. the night chill made Das sick and she39had to nurse him every time he came back empty handed. Further, she pleaded with him to give up Diamond before the search kills him to no avail. Das and his colleagues neighboursC.P.Biswas is convinced the name Diamond is too good for the dog and wonders when it was given such a name. He d rather it be named coal after its black coat. Das says he d never do such a thing to Diamond. His colleagues had caught him frolicking withDiamond in public like a child. They feel he s taken leave of his senses and this worries them. Further, they feel that his behavior embarrasses them before their superiors, the under-Secretary and the retired Joint Secretary. When Diamond starts running after school children, many parents went to complain to Das but he remained deaf to their pleas. |
They feel he s taken leave of his senses and this worries them. Further, they feel that his behavior embarrasses them before their superiors, the under-Secretary and the retired Joint Secretary. When Diamond starts running after school children, many parents went to complain to Das but he remained deaf to their pleas. Parents also took offence too when he led the children in search of Diamond upon his first disappearance. What annoyed them was Das separating Diamond from his partner beforethe children. Das and DiamondDiamond, following his animal instinct would go out in search of mating partners. Das feared the dog catchers would catch up with him and kill him. So, he would go out in search of Diamond40every time he disappeared. Ultimately, it is the arrest of Diamond that leads to Das death. Diamond and Service providersThe postman suffers the worst attack of the service providers. Diamond bellows at him, chases him and tears a strip off his trousers leg. After this he delivers the Das letters at the hedge. The other service providers who decline to serve the Das indene officials of the BOE, telephone lines repairman and garbage collectors. Characters and CharacterisationMrs. DasTolerant tireless cleans after DiamondDoes not give up living with Das on account of Diamond Neat cleaned the puddles and fur Diamond left behind her own pet, a cat, fed neatly off its bowl. Mr. DasInconsiderateAlthough his pet makes many people suffer, he d not give it up. UnrealisticHe expects animals to remain true to their nature but nothis Diamond. ThemesObsessionDas obsessive nature towards his dog disrupts the lives of his family, neighbours colleagues and service providers41Animals natureWe should not expect animals to change their nature just because we have domesticated them. This is illustrated by Diamonds disruptive behaviour in Das life as well as that of his family and neighbours. POVThird person point of view. Appropriate because the first person would have been very biased. We are therefore able to experience Diamond s disruptive behavior in all spheres of Bharti Nagar. A Is the title appropriate? Dictionary .com defines diamond dust as pulverized diamonds uses as an abrasive. Diamonds abrasive nature rubs everyone the wrong way including its owner. What is the significant event? Mr. Das obsessive behavior towards Diamond. |
What is the significant event? Mr. Das obsessive behavior towards Diamond. What is the aim of the author? The author cautions against obsessive behavior Mr. Das does because of the excessive love he has for his dog. Besides, he is oblivious to the pain it causes other people. The author also cautions against the danger pets pose to both their owners and society in general. An animal nature can t be changed simply because it is domesticated. Diamond stays true to this statement which ironically is made by Mr. Das. The other irony in relation to this statement is that Mr. 42Das personality does not change despite the many pleas from friends and family. Task: One person s pleasure can be a terrible displeasure to someone else. Write an essay that is in support of this statement with illustrations from Anita Desai s story Diamond Dust 43Arrested Development by Sandisile TshumaSettingThe story is set on a road trip from Zimbabwe s capitalBulawayo, to Beitbridge, a town bordering South Africa. The setting moves from Max s garage, to a contraband ferrying vehicle and ultimately to Beitbridge. This is at a time when Zimbabwe is experiencing hyperinflation. PlotThe narrator and tens of travelers are writing at Max s garage for vehicles to take them to their various destinations. The narrator is an academic researcher in search of data on order jumping. There is no public transport and so the travelers are at the mercy of private vehicle owners. As a result of the collapse of public service provision, the people of Zimbabwe have developed infinite patience in order to get anything they want. After three days of waiting, the narrator struggles with other passengers to get onto the back of a pick-up that has stopped next to her. They are charged an exorbitant fare. Though they pay up, the driver takes them back to Max s alleging that his costs will not be covered. Presently she is directed by a tout to a vehicle ready to leave for Beitbridge. She finds herself travelling in the company of two contraband dealers, the driver and the woman in mid-thirties. She learns that the police take bribes to ignore the contraband. She learns that the lot of the cross-border traders is way better than that of highly educated Zimbabweans. For example she and her friend Lihile who has despaired of her lot ever improving. |
She learns that the police take bribes to ignore the contraband. She learns that the lot of the cross-border traders is way better than that of highly educated Zimbabweans. For example she and her friend Lihile who has despaired of her lot ever improving. From the44passenger who joins them at Gwanda, she learns that ignorance is preyed upon in a very cruel way. This cruelty on one another wises up victims. Survival for con-artists therefore is a daily struggle. Zimbabweans are filled with loneliness and despair. Even for the cross-border traders, the risks are many. The best everyone can do is resign themselves to their fate like Lihile who now fetches water and easily contends with blackoutsThe narrator s research however offers a ray of hope that might salvage the youth from their endless troubles in search of a livelihood. 3.Conflicti Poor public service provision. The public looks to the government for the provision of public service. These have either broken down completely, like transport, or are not efficiently provided like electricity, water etc. The public is powerless to bring on any improvement and have resigned themselves to waiting. Ii Private transportWith the collapse of public transport, private vehicle owners have moved in to fill the gap. They charge fares that the public can bear. They even use unscrupulous means, like taking them back to the pickup stations, to Max on fares. 45iii The PublicThe public is its own worst enemy. They have perfected vigoroni: the art of getting ahead of the crowd and on top of the pile. A tiny old woman painfully elbows the narrator to earn her place on the vehicle to Beitbridge. The narrator in return scales the sides of the pick-up without regards to the less athletic woman. The passenger who joins them at Gwanda is conned of 780 rand. Payment defaulters in the cross-border trade are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburg . The traders are mugged by bandits who strip search them. They pay off every government officer they come in contact with for their businesses to continue. They pay off border officials, highway police, magistrates even farmers. For example, Gloria pays a border official in order to cross the border without a pass. The driver buys a ticket from the police to avoid paying more bribes on the way. |
They pay off border officials, highway police, magistrates even farmers. For example, Gloria pays a border official in order to cross the border without a pass. The driver buys a ticket from the police to avoid paying more bribes on the way. Characters and Characetrisation i Narratora Observant-vividly describes the boarding of the twin-cab pickup -places the Gwanda passenger as a Tshumab Intelligent-an academician carrying out a research project46c FocusedThe wealth made by the cross-border traders does not make her give up the quest of improving the lot of the youth in return for quick riches in business. Cross-border traders: -opportunists-cunning-daring- crossing of the LimpopoGeneral populace-impotent powerless to bring about change not every via ballot -Greedy change exorbitant fees for services transport and products fuel - Police govt. Officials take bribes Government officials swindle cash meant fordevelopment projects like the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Pipeline. -con one another e.g. the Tshuma boys conned by the money changers. -Resigned- Lihile now fetches water and contends with the blackouts despite her education and exposure at the U.K. -Generous there who have found work in S.A send cash and groceries to their relatives in Zimbabwe. Themes. The best developed theme in this story is suffering. There are many other themes but not well developed. I Sufferinga No public service or they are inefficient. 47-the narrator waits for 3 hours before she gets transport. The Tshuma man had waited 18 hours for the mini-bus to Bulawayo to fill. The narrator had waited for 2 hours at the bank to withdraw money. Black -outs are common place and house taps are drypayment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburgtraders sometimes have to cross the crocodile infested river Limpopo. At times they are attacked by banditsThe practice of Vigoroni has robbed them of etiquette. The narrator is elbowed painfully by a tiny old woman as they scramble for space on a pick-upii Impotence-In the first two paragraphs, the word wait has been used five times and waiting once. |
Black -outs are common place and house taps are drypayment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburgtraders sometimes have to cross the crocodile infested river Limpopo. At times they are attacked by banditsThe practice of Vigoroni has robbed them of etiquette. The narrator is elbowed painfully by a tiny old woman as they scramble for space on a pick-upii Impotence-In the first two paragraphs, the word wait has been used five times and waiting once. This apparent patience is actually the collective weakness not strength of Zimbabweans . But it is not in the nature of a Zimbabwean to question or complain. Pp 88-the educated like Lihile have despaired and put her life expectancy at 40 or just below . What is more, she has adapted to the dry taps and blackouts. Iii Corruption-pp 93 There is no palm that cannot be greased, apparently border officials, highway police, magistrates all take bribes -pp 87 people in high office swindle project funds-Matebeleland Zambezi Water Pipeline has never taken off. 48iv Human rights violationspp 93 payment defaulters are sold off to Nigerians in Johannesburg, traders are subjected to strip searchers by banditsv Insecuritytraders are mugged by bandits in the farmlands of Limpopo Province. Vi Lonelinesspp 93 I am struck by a loneliness that I have noticed in everyone lately. On page 93 Gloria tells us that: Trust no one, not even relatives. This lack of trust seems to be the source of the loneliness. POV1st person narrator makes the story more credible because of her high academic status and the fact that she is the only person doing something to bring about change. A Is the title appropriate? Yes. Arrested development, though a contradiction, points to the fact that the impotence of 12million people has ensured their quality of life does not improve. B What is the significant event? The discovery of the patience of Zimbabweans c What is the aim of the author? Unless people do something about their circumstances, their lot will never change. 49Sandra Street by Michael AnthonySettingThe story is set in a suburb street called Sandra. It is no ordinary street. It houses a residential area, a school and it leads into a forested hill. |
49Sandra Street by Michael AnthonySettingThe story is set in a suburb street called Sandra. It is no ordinary street. It houses a residential area, a school and it leads into a forested hill. Sandra Street maintains a somewhat natural environment: there are no fences or gates, a few houses, a small population and its people live in harmony. Neighbouring residential areas are a little way off. PlotWe are introduced to Steve, the narrator; Mr. Blades, his new teacher who is a nature lover and Sandra Street. We learn about the natural environment of Sandra Street through a composition by Kenneth, a boy from the other side of town. His story leads t a conflict between boys from the other side of the town and those from Sandra Street. The Sandra Street boys feel that their town has been described negatively. Mr. Blades reads a few more stories, some of which say very nice things about Sandra Street. His delight at these did not appease most of the boys from Sandra Street. In a desperate attempt to calm them, he asks the class to write a composition on the other side of town. This only fuels the conflict between the boys. However, the narrator does an objective assessment ofKenneth s composition and finds that it was a truthful description of Sandra Street. He even begins to appreciate its beauty. He is so caught up in his reflections he does not realise the break bell has gone. It takes Mr. Blades to bring him back to the present. 50The following Tuesday the boys fight again as a result of what they wrote about the other side of town. More compositions are written on other subjects yet Sandra Street did not go away. Mr. Blades, who is new to Sandra Street, is waiting for the mango season to find out whether the boys had given an accurate description of Sandra Street during that season. What is more, Mr. Blades takes an interest in Steven s writing. The two of them appear at the window several times looking out at Sandra Street. With every discussion they have at the window, Steven s observation ability grows so does this love of nature. His interest in nature takes him to the hills where he explores the river, mango and banana groves and even gets to put away green bananas in the immortelle roots to ripen. In his last encounter with Mr. Blades at the window, Steven invites him to the hills to inspect his bananas. At the hills, Mr. |
In his last encounter with Mr. Blades at the window, Steven invites him to the hills to inspect his bananas. At the hills, Mr. Blades, who had thought the trip was a nature trail walk, is disappointed that Steven only focuses on the ripening bananas and not the view of Sandra Street the hill affords them. ConflictThe main conflict revolves around Mr. Blades and Steven. Mr. Blades is a nature lover. He sees in Steven a similar spirit which is however latent. There is an uneasy relationship in which the master trains the pupil to appreciate his environment. The challenge is in showing Steve the beauty of his environment without telling him what stands out as beautiful. So it is a journey in which Steven awakens to the beauty that is his environment with Mr. Blades as his hands-off guide. 51NB: This journey is made up of a series of conflicts between Blades and Steven. Identify all of them. B Kenneth s work and StevenThis is one in the series of conflicts mentioned in a above. However it stands out because it runs through the entire story. Mr. Blades contrasts Kenneth s writing with that of Steve. Kenneth seems to have well developed observation powers Steve does not. It is Kenneth s composition on Sandra Street that Mr. Blades uses to arouse Steven s passion for nature. Although it is unprofessional, Mr. Blades uses Kenneth s work to criticize Steven s pp 103,106 . Further, conflict develops between the boys from Sandra Street and those from the other side of town. Each writes disparagingly about the other s residential area resulting in two bruising battles. What is the import of these fights? Steven gives us the answer. He had written in anger what I thought of now in joy pp 99. Each of these pupils has a latent love of the environment in them. It however is not well directed. Mr. Blades tries to direct Steven s love of nature and remove the juvenile jealousy and hatred he possesses. Steven experiences internal conflict. First, although he likes to hear the steel band they do not have one in Sandra Street he puts it in his composition to disparage the other side of town he describes its sound as horrible pp98 . As Steven begins to appreciate the beauty of Sandra Street, it also fills him with a sense of sadness. |
Steven experiences internal conflict. First, although he likes to hear the steel band they do not have one in Sandra Street he puts it in his composition to disparage the other side of town he describes its sound as horrible pp98 . As Steven begins to appreciate the beauty of Sandra Street, it also fills him with a sense of sadness. He says52that certain sadness came over him as he looked over the houses across to the hills pp 100 . Iii Steven writes in his compositions about his experiences at the hills but hopes that Mr. Blades will not see the reality in it. He wonders how Mr. Blades had found out about the bananas; he put out to ripen in the roots of the immortelle pp104-105 . E Mr. Blades suffers internal conflictHis dilemma is how to make the pupils appreciate SandraStreets beauty without telling them what is beautiful. Thus, when he reads Kenneth s work class and appreciates it, he is misunderstood by the boys from Sandra Street. His attempts to placate them by reading stories that said nice things about Sandra Street fall through. Instead of telling them what to look out for, he gives them an assignment to write about the other side of town. His teaching style is allowing learners to discover. He makes a compromise by guiding one. 53TWILIGHT TREK by SEFFI ATTASettingThe story is set in Gao, Mali. It then moves through Mali and Algeria upto Tangier, a Moroccan coastal town. This is desert country ant the travelers suffer the heat of the scorching sun and constant sand storms. The trek itself must take place in the night- it covers two nights. The travelers stop at a camp on a mountain just outside Tangier. It is a stinking mess. PlotThe story opens with the narrator receiving a fake passport in the name of Jean Luc from an agent in Gao, Mali. He narrates how he sold marijuana to raise his fare. Impatient that the money was not coming in quickly enough, he steals from his employer. He threatens to send a gang to sodomise him then slit his throat. The narrator scales up his immigration time-table and starts his illegal immigration journey. At the start of the journey he meets Patience, a girl he travels with to the Tangier camp. During the journey they face a lot of suffering. |
The narrator scales up his immigration time-table and starts his illegal immigration journey. At the start of the journey he meets Patience, a girl he travels with to the Tangier camp. During the journey they face a lot of suffering. It is a bumpy ride and the sandstorms drive sand everywhere. In the day, they have to hide under the truck from the scorching sun. What is more, their guide increases the fare by 100 or he abandons them in the desert. They pay up and the second leg of their journey starts. Even this leg is disappointing. Their guide drops them at54the foot of the mountain and they complete their journey on foot. When they reach the camp the narrator is shocked by the insalubrious conditions. Men, women and children all live under plastic sheets and there are no sanitation facilities in sight. Further, they are warned to be wary of thieves, Moroccan security forces, conmen and plagues. Their final destination, Cueta, presents a challenge to get to. Obazee says that he s been trying for six years but keeps getting caught by the police who beat him up. The narrator finds out from Obazee how to cross the sea and what dangers each mode of transport presents and the cost. This information excites him and he shares it with Patience who has resorted to reading the bible for solace. He is ready to meet her crossing fee. She wonders where he would get the money from. He shows her where his money is hidden. They wake up in the morning to find that Obazee is moving the camp further away from the security forces. The narrator wouldn t move because he is still waiting for Patience who had gone to Tangier to find a samsara . He also discovers that she has taken his money. He waits to no avail. He has to start all over again. ConflictThe story raises conflicts at different levels. External conflict develops at two levels. First there is conflict55between people. Second, there is conflict between man and nature. The other level of conflict is internal. The narrator through his dreams understands that his mother s advice was worth taking yet he can t or wouldn t take it. We will now examine conflict in the chronological order that they are developed. |
The other level of conflict is internal. The narrator through his dreams understands that his mother s advice was worth taking yet he can t or wouldn t take it. We will now examine conflict in the chronological order that they are developed. Illegal immigrant and foreign embassies pp109 The foreign embassies will not grant visas to illegal African immigrants effectively denying them an opportunity to move to Europe. The Africans believe they can still get to Europe. They will cross the Sahara and get to Morocco then cross the Mediterranean Sea into Spain. The narrator and drug seller pp 109 The narrator disagrees with his mother and runs away from home. To survive he sells marijuana. Dissatisfied with how much he was making, he steals from his employer. His employer in return promises to send a gang to sodomise him then slit his throat. To avoid this treatment he starts his journey to Europe. The narrator and his motherWhen the narrator was little his mother would dress him up like a girl. He would struggle during such treatment pp109 . When he got older, she tried to pimp him to a Lebanese man who liked light skinned boys. He runs away from home to avoid such treatment pp110 . Further, we learn that his dreams enhance this mother and56child conflict. His mother tries to dissuade him from making the trip by narrating to him horror stories of illegal immigration attempts. He is still in Gao and would have turned back but he doesn t pp110 . In the second dream, she alludes to the Promised Land, a story from the bible. However, the people who seek the Promised Land end up us taxi drivers, night guards, cleaners of plates and toilets and some become homeless sleeping in the cold of ghettos and streets. Yet others go on to become sex slaves or cultural slaves pp113 4 . In his penultimate dream, his mother uses strong images of death to hint at Jeans imminent failure. He still does not take her advice. In the final dream she dismisses Patience as a common prostitute and that her reading of the bible was of no value. She gives him more stories of frustrated immigrants. He does not heed his mother s advice that he stays away from Patience and the trip. Illegal immigrants and natureWhen the trek gets underway, the travelers find out that they can only travel in the night and the winds are very cold then. The sand too presents a problem. |
He does not heed his mother s advice that he stays away from Patience and the trip. Illegal immigrants and natureWhen the trek gets underway, the travelers find out that they can only travel in the night and the winds are very cold then. The sand too presents a problem. It hurts their eyes, stings their nostrils and mats their chests. It is also in their food and57water. Their tongues swell so badly they cannot converse. Their legs are cramped. Others suffer from piles and wheezing chests. The conflict with nature continues when they stop in the day. They suffer the scorching sun and hide underneath the truck to avoid the heat. There is however no escaping the sand which is all over them including in their underpants pp112 113 . Travellers and Tuareg guideAt the start of the second leg of their journey, the travellers get blackmailed by their Tuareg guide. They are deep in the Sahara desert and the guide tells them to pay an extra 100 each or he abandons them. They pay up pp114 5 Illegal immigrants and environmentThe camp is insalubriousThe narrator describes it as an open sewer pp115 . There is lack of privacy. Men, women and children all sleep under plastic sheets. The environment is a health hazard. They suffer constant bites from fleas. Many are coughing. They are warned that even the air that they breathe may carry plagues pp115 6 . At the camp they are told to beware of thieves, Moroccan security forces and con men. 58The narrator and PatienceShe steals his money and heads for Tangier and the world beyond. Character and characterisationThe narrator Independent mindedWhen he was little his mother dressed him up as a girl and he d resist this. When she tried to pimp him out to a homosexual, he ran away from home. GiftedHe plays football very well. This is the main reason why he wants to travel to Europe where he hopes to develop his talent further. FriendlyBefriends Patience and helps her through the difficult times. He is willing to pay part of her fare. Na veTrusts Patience and tells her where his money is hidden. She steals it and abandons him at the camp. |
He is willing to pay part of her fare. Na veTrusts Patience and tells her where his money is hidden. She steals it and abandons him at the camp. BraggartHe brags to Patience about his football skills and how he was going to make a career out of playing football in Europe. IrreligiousHis mother has not taught him religion. She says that Africans too can compile their stories in a holy book. 59When he reads about God promising the Israelites food, he says that he was tired and that the fairy wasn t going to help them. ThemesSufferingThis is the best developed theme in the story. Identify all the instances of suffering that the travellers go through. PovertyThis is the real cause of the trek. The narrator s mother earns a living as a prostitute. The money she earns barely covers expenses. She sells ground nuts to supplement. What is more, she is ready to pimp her son to homosexuals to augment her earnings. The Muslim women in Gao cannot afford to share their meal with strangers. There just isn t enough to go round. The highways are full of potholes and the taxis are in a state of disrepair. OpportunismThe narrator takes advantage of the trust his boss has in him and steals his money. His mother is happy to have a child of mixed race. His light skin is particularly favoured by homosexuals and she had been grooming him to earn money from the trade. 60The Tuareg guide blackmails the travellers in the desert. He raises the fare by 100 at a time he knows they can t default. Patience takes advantage of Jean. He trusts her enough to tell her where his money is hidden. She steals it and does not care about his plight. StyleSatireSatire is made up of three literary devices: irony, wit and humour. It objective is to expose the vices and follies of individuals or societies in such a way that they appear ridiculous. It is the heavy presence of irony in this story that directs our attention to satire. Let us now consider some of the outstanding instances of irony. IronyThe most important instance of irony comes at the start of the story and it s concluded at the end. The narrator dupes his master and steals his cash. During the trek he befriends Patience. |
IronyThe most important instance of irony comes at the start of the story and it s concluded at the end. The narrator dupes his master and steals his cash. During the trek he befriends Patience. He builds a tent at the camp which he shares with her; he promises to meet the cost of her crossing the sea and to prove that he can he shows her the where the money is. She steals it and abandons him at the camp. It is the same money that he had stolen from his employer. Another instance of irony that runs through the story plays out between the narrator and his mother. She raised him with only one purpose in mind: to pimp him61out to homosexuals. He flees from home because of this. However, throughout the trek she remains the only voice of reason through his dreams. She constantly impresses upon him the folly of his action. Obazee is also an ironic figure. He holds a degree. His knowledge and skills ought to be used in the service of the people of his country. He is however portrayed as lacking in imagination. For six years he is stuck in the camp described as an open sewer. All his attempts to get to Cueta have been thwarted by the Guardia Civil. He fancies himself as the leader of the camp. This is a complete waste of university education. NB: Find more instances of irony. Notice that each of these ironic situations points to a human weakness. That is satire. Now let us examine the things that have been satirised in this story. Opportunism callousness of human nature andgreed The writer satirises the callousness of human nature in taking advantage of those around them for personal gain. The opportunists satirised in this story include: The narratorAt the time Patience steals from him he has 1000. This means that he stole a lot of money from his employer. The money has not brought him any benefit. First, the journey through the desert has been a very difficult one. Now far away from home he is not only destitute but he has no way of salvaging himself. Further, his inexperience has made him prey to the older Patience. 62 The narrator s employerHe deals in marijuana. This drug corrupts the youth. What is more is that he uses the young Jean to peddle his drugs and pays him peanuts. |
62 The narrator s employerHe deals in marijuana. This drug corrupts the youth. What is more is that he uses the young Jean to peddle his drugs and pays him peanuts. The result is that Jean steals from him. The narrator s motherShe raises Jean with the intention of pimping him out to homosexuals. This is child abuse. She lamely tells him about the Lebanese: He ll only touch you . Her son runs away from home because he does not wish to be a homosexual. The Tuareg guideHis greed is satirised. Deep in the desert he takes advantage of the travellers and asks them for more money or he abandons them. The poor souls would die in the desert. They pay up. PatienceHer greed too is satirised. Jean was ready to share his loot with her so that they cross the sea into Spain together. She however steals his money and leaves him destitute. Brutality violenceThe policeThe last time Obazee tries to get into Cueta illegally, the Guardia Civil catch him and beat him up severely. It is the Medecins Sans Frontieres that saves his life. Pp119 BanditsThere is talk that travellers are sometimes attacked by bearded moslems and bandits when their trucks break down in the desert. There is no63guarantee that the police would arrive in time to rescue them. Such stories make some women turn back at the last moment pp111 . SamsaraIn his fourth dream, his mother narrates the story of the Senegalese girl who couldn t swim. The Samsara who carries her in his dhingy refuses to get close to the shore. He orders her to jump out of the dhingy into the sea and find her way somehow. Pp 121 Collective folly of illegal of illegal immigrationAt the end of the first dream, the narrator s mother tells him that the lesson to be learned from the deportation story is that the world is round and that means if one ran too fast, one might end up chasing the very homeland one is running from. In his second dream she tells him the story of disillusionment. Those who finally reached The Promised Land wonder what they were chasing. |
Pp 121 Collective folly of illegal of illegal immigrationAt the end of the first dream, the narrator s mother tells him that the lesson to be learned from the deportation story is that the world is round and that means if one ran too fast, one might end up chasing the very homeland one is running from. In his second dream she tells him the story of disillusionment. Those who finally reached The Promised Land wonder what they were chasing. They end up driving taxis,, washing plates and toilets, guarding buildings at night, sleeping in the streets, serving as sex slaves and enslaving themselves to the West through marriage pp113-4 The illegal immigrants have neither clear plans nor the money to get them to Spain from the camp. The narrator says of the people in the camp: These people here are not like any64villagers; they are like refugees on television, squatting under plastic sheets: men, women and children. The implication is that they choose to lead a squalid life yet nobody sent them away from their villages which are more comfortable than the camps. Obazee gives a very poor show for an educated man. He lives a squalid life and fancies himself the camp leader demanding to be addressed with respect. How can a man who doesn t respect himself be respected by others. He should be using his university education to improve the lot of his people back at home. Six years have gone by with nothing achieved and many more will go by because he can neither go forward nor turn back. POVThe story is told from the first person point of view. It makes the story credible. We would not believe that people can be so wicked or so stupid unless we hear it from the horse s mouth. A Appropriateness of the titleHarrap s Essential English Dictionary defines a trek as a long journey usually on foot. Twighlight, on the other hand is the period immediately after sunset. Indeed the trek for the two days begins after sunset. In the day they rest to avoid the patrolling police. The journey is undoubtedly long although very little of it is done on foot. 65Figuratively too, the sun is not yet up for this would be immigrants. They are not realistic in their ambition to immigrate. B Significant eventThe notice of revenge on Jean by the drug baron is the significant event in this story. |
65Figuratively too, the sun is not yet up for this would be immigrants. They are not realistic in their ambition to immigrate. B Significant eventThe notice of revenge on Jean by the drug baron is the significant event in this story. He says that he could not afford to be sodomised against his will so he flees pp109 . Aim of the authorShow the ridiculous lengths to which people will go to try and improve their lot. Show human suffering occasioned by poor decision making. Q. 1What are some of the elements that Sefi Atta exposes as ridiculous in Twilight Trek? Q. 2Discuss the suffering the illegal immigrants undergo in Twilight Trek by Sefi Atta. 66I STAND HERE IRONING BY TILLIE OLSENSettingThe story is set in USA after the depression and WWII but before the economy had fully recovered. The narrator is ironing the family s clothes on an ironing board in her house. The plotThe narrator, a mother of five in her late 30 s, stands ironing her family s clothes. She reflects on a question asked her by somebody handling her daughter, probably a teacher at school. The unnamed person wants her to visit and give information that could be used to help her withdrawn daughter, Emily. She doesn t think she should go because she believes she doesn t have an answer. She believes her 19 year old daughter has lived through experiences that have altered her life in ways a mother cannot understand. Through her reflections, we however get the picture. Emily, very beautiful at birth, is her first born. Her husband abandons them when she is only eight months. The narrator, a working class mother, could not afford to employ a nanny. At first she left the baby with an inconsiderate neighbour. Later she took her to her grandparents. A year goes by before Emily reunites with her mother. Two reasons are given for this long period of separation. First, the narrator could not raise the fare. Second, Emily suffered an attack of chicken pox. 67When she returns, their lot has not improved. She is shipped to school where she suffers in the hands of nasty children because of the scars left by chicken pox. She also suffers in the hands of inconsiderate teachers who sent her back to the bullies. |
67When she returns, their lot has not improved. She is shipped to school where she suffers in the hands of nasty children because of the scars left by chicken pox. She also suffers in the hands of inconsiderate teachers who sent her back to the bullies. What is more, the economic hardship makes her mother send her back to her grandparents. When she returns, she finds that she has a new father. Things get worse for Emily when her siblings start coming: four in total. Her mother barely has time to smile at her, let alone comfort her in the nights when she has nightmares. She therefore feels rejected and unwanted. The only saving grace is that her condition, we are not told what it is, impairs her growth. She therefore looks much younger than her age. Inconsiderate children tease her because she does not fit the picture of the stereotype beauty. Her younger sister does not help much. She too bullies Emily. In the end, the narrator is less harassed by the task of parenting. The children have grown older and don t require much attention. She begins to pay more attention to Emily. At first these moments are rejected. Gradually, communication does begin to take place but only on Emily s terms. The narrator is therefore hopeful that ho intervention is requires and that her daughter will end up well. 68ConflictAll the conflicts in this story centre on Emily and the challenges she goes through from infancy to young adulthood. She is born to young parents who have no means of raising her. Her mother is only 19 and America is going through its worst economic crisis: the great depression. Clearly not ready for the sacrifices of parenthood, her father abandons them when she is only eight months old. She lacks a father s love throughout her life. Her new daddy does not fare any better. In the night when her mother is tired and cannot comfort her when she has nightmares, he does not step in. Her mother s love is not forthcoming either. At eight months she has to be with a neighbour during the day as her mother earns her keep. When the financial crisis deepens, she has to go and live with her grandparents for one year. During this period there is absolutely no contact between mother and daughter. This movement to her grandparents happens twice. When she reunites with her mother at the age of 2, she has to go to school. This is the only way her mother could go to work. |
This movement to her grandparents happens twice. When she reunites with her mother at the age of 2, she has to go to school. This is the only way her mother could go to work. School exposes her to more loneliness. She is tormented by both pupils and teachers pp129-30 . Emily s conflict with her mother worsens when the clinic persuades her to send Emily away to the convalescent home in the country. For the first six weeks the narrator was not allowed to see her daughter. When she was finally allowed, she69could only speak to her daughter from a distance. The situation was made worse because Emily was not allowed to hold or keep the many letters her parents wrote her. They were only read to her once. Emily s mother also remembers a time when an old man living in the back told her that she should smile at Emily a little more when she looked at her. This was a t a time when Emily was an only child. The narrator remembers this when the other children had come and they were receiving the smiles but it was too late for Emily pp130 The other conflict develops between Emily and her siblings. When Susan was born, her mother was away in hospital for one week. Upon her return, Emily was not allowed near her mother or the baby for another week. She had to endure two weeks of loneliness. As a result, she became delirious with fever pp131 . What is more is that she didn t get better, and suffered nightmares. When she called out to her mother, she d ask her to go back to sleep because it was just a dream. She was too exhausted looking after Susan there was no energy left to look after Emily. There are more problems with Susan. The narrator refers to the relationship between them as poisonous. Their mother acknowledges that she solved the conflicts between the two very badly. She blamed Emily for them. She says that Emily had a corroding resentment towards Susan. 70Then there is the social contest between the siblings. Susan had the good looks that Emily lacked. Further, she was more confident and articulate than Emily. She stole Emily s jokes and riddles and the audience lived her. The most cruel thing was losing or breaking Emily s precious things without apology and getting away with it pp133-4 The instance between Emily and a boy she loved Emily loved a boy painfully through two semesters. |
Further, she was more confident and articulate than Emily. She stole Emily s jokes and riddles and the audience lived her. The most cruel thing was losing or breaking Emily s precious things without apology and getting away with it pp133-4 The instance between Emily and a boy she loved Emily loved a boy painfully through two semesters. Months later she reported to her mother how she d stolen money from her purse to buy the boy his favourite candy. He however showed her no affection but liked another girl, Jennifer, better. She pleaded with her mother to tell her why this happened but she had no answer pp133 . SchoolSchool too presents a challenge; she was neither glib nor quick. To her teachers, she was a slow learner who kept trying to catch up. What is more, she was chronically absent. This was in part because of her illness and because her mother just wanted to have her children together, so she made her stay at home with her siblings who not of school going age yet pp133 . Susan too did contribute to her problems with school. She sometimes mislaid Emily s homework. Subsequently, Emily would go to school her homework not done. Her mother says71she d suffer over the unpreparedness, stammering and unsure in her classes pp135 . As a result Emily develops this attitude that there is more to life than school. On the eve of her mid- term exams, she tells her mother not to wake her early with the rest in the morning. She reasons cynically that there might be another atomic bomb in a couple of years that would kill all of them and that it would not matter that somebody had excelled at school pp136 . Emily and povertyAll though all of Emily s problems stem from poverty, there is one event that stands out: her ability to imitate. Her mother had suggested that she one day try it out in the school amateur show. She did and she won. She got invites to perform to thrilled audiences. However, because there was no money to develop her talent, it eddied, clogged and clotted in her pp135 . Character and characterisationThe main character in this story is well developed. She is brought out as a very ordinary woman who has both weaknesses and strengths. StrengthsDeterminedShe looks after her family despite the economic strain. |
Character and characterisationThe main character in this story is well developed. She is brought out as a very ordinary woman who has both weaknesses and strengths. StrengthsDeterminedShe looks after her family despite the economic strain. She says that she d go out to work or go out to look for work pp128 . 72ResponsibleLooked after Emily as best as she could. When she couldn t be there, she left her with a neighbour or took her to her grandparents. ReflectiveAt the beginning of the story, someone has asked her to visit and give insights that might help improve Emily s lot. The rest of the story is her reflection on what her achievements and failures have been in bringing up Emily. HonestShe admits her mistakes in the upbringing of Emily. She was distracted both by poverty and the sheer amount of work involved in raising five children almost single handedly. She says that the first six years of Emily s life, she was either away working or Emily was away with her grandparents pp136 . When Susan was born she was too exhausted in the nights to comfort Emily when she had nightmares pp 131 . WeaknessesFearfulShe is afraid that she may not raise her child right. Emily is brought up by the book. She is fed when the book says she should and not a minute too soon pp127 . She fears to raise the child alone and often sends her back to her paternal grandparents home although her husband had deserted her pp128 . 73She is afraid of going to talk to the person who wants insights into Emily s life. In fact, she will not go. She says, Let her daughter be; the only thing that Emily needs to know is that she is not helpless pp136 . She sends her child to the convalescence home for fear she would be taken away from her. The child only returns when the social worker says so even though it was clear to her long ago that the home was not improving Emily. BiasedShe was more lenient with Susan than she was with Emily. She says that when it came to balancing the hurts and the needs between Emily and Susan, she did badly in the earlier years. This was because she felt that Emily had a corroding resentment towards Susan. She did not smile as readily with Emily as she did with the other children. |
She says that when it came to balancing the hurts and the needs between Emily and Susan, she did badly in the earlier years. This was because she felt that Emily had a corroding resentment towards Susan. She did not smile as readily with Emily as she did with the other children. She remembers the old neighbour s admonition that she smiles more readily with Emily. This face of joy she admits she started wearing too late for Emily. She therefore does not smile as easily as the others pp130 . She readily made Emily miss school but is very strict with her siblings school attendance pp133 . 74ResignedShe is resigned to the fact that Emily is different from the other children. When she went to school to watch Emily s performance, she only recognized the Emily that nearly drowned into the curtains. She however cannot come to terms with the Emily that is spell binding and exuding control, command and confidence. Little wonder that she does nothing to nurture Emily s talent pp135 . That is to say that according to her Emily is a misfit and that is how things should stay. ThemesPovertyThe narrator is a working class mother. She says that she worked or was out looking for work pp128 . The long hours she spent ironing are indicative that she could not afford to employ somebody to do it. Her daughter asks her: Aren t you ever going to finish the ironing, mother? Pp135 . Of Emily s condition, she says: We were poor and could not afford for her the soil of easy growth pp136 . The goodbye note that Emily s father writes is another indication that they are poor. He writes: He could no longer endure sharing want with them pp128 . Want as a noun means a state of extreme poverty. SufferingEmily s life is one of suffering right form birth. 75Being a first born, her mother brought her up by the book. This meant that she had to endure hours of hunger because her mother only fed her when the book said that she should. At eight months her father walks out on them. She has to be left with a neighbour, who didn t like her very much, when her mother went out to work or look for work. Later she is sent to her father s relatives because her mother could not afford to raise her. |
At eight months her father walks out on them. She has to be left with a neighbour, who didn t like her very much, when her mother went out to work or look for work. Later she is sent to her father s relatives because her mother could not afford to raise her. At her grandparents she comes down with small pox which scars her face for life. Then there was her stay at the convalescent home. For the first six weeks she is not allowed to see he mother. When she if finally allowed to visit, they can only see on another from a distance lest the children are contaminated. Further, the only friend that Emily makes, a little girl, is taken away from her. Emily laments that: They don t want like you to love anybody here pp132 . There is someone else Emily loved. This is the boy at school. She even stole money fromher mother s purse to buy him his favourite candy. He however liked Jennifer better. NB: There are many more instances of Emily s suffering. Identify and illustrate all of them. Do you think the narrator too undergoes suffering? Explain your answer. 76Family relationshipsTry to find answers to the following issues raised about Emily s family. Trace the development of the relationship between Emily and her mother. Give illustrations to show that the relationship between Emily and Susan is a sour one. Supply evidence to show that Emily s four siblings got preferential treatment. POVThis story is told by the first person. The events are made more credible through the use of stream of consciousness. The narrator s reflections and the memories jump from one thought to another as she gives us insights on why Emily turned out the way she did. 7. A Appropriateness of title The title is symbolicIt is a symbol of the poverty of the narrator and the general harsh economic period in which Emily was born and raised. Besides putting in long hours for the people who employ her, the narrator had to put up even longer hours to take care of her own household chores. It is also a symbol of the tortured thoughts and memories that go through the narrator s mind as she tries to understand why Emily turned out the way she did. Finally it is a symbol of hope. |
Besides putting in long hours for the people who employ her, the narrator had to put up even longer hours to take care of her own household chores. It is also a symbol of the tortured thoughts and memories that go through the narrator s mind as she tries to understand why Emily turned out the way she did. Finally it is a symbol of hope. At the end of the story the narrator says that Emily should know that she is77not as helpless as the dress on the ironing board before the iron. Significant eventThe significant event in this story is Emily s father deserting his wife and daughter when Emily is only eight months old . Aim of the authorThe writer depicts the suffering endured by the working class families in America during the great depression. QuestionWrite an essay to show the suffering that Emily has endured in her 19 years. 78THE RETRACTION BY STANLEY O. KENANISettingThe story is set in three countries. First, there is the narrator s home country, Zambia. Part of it is set in his village and part of it in the capital, Lusaka. Secondly, it is set in Lilongwe, Malawi. The final setting is Johannesburg, South Africa. The movement between Botolo and Lusaka dominates the story. Another important aspect of the setting is the contrived setting. The contrast in the two contrived settings brings out the futility of the complaint letter against Tatha. The plotThe narrator receives an email from Tatha, a former airline hostess, with Malawi Air. She complains that she loses her job on account of a complaint letter that the narrator writes. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn exactly how he came to write the complaint. The airline served alcoholic drinks on the plane. However, the hostesses were under strict instructions to give additional drinks to passengers only after they had finished what they had been served. This was the only limitation. The narrator however comes from a culture in which pride at a drinking place depends on the number of bottles that one places on the table. Every time he rings for a hostess, it is Tatha that appears and politely declines to serve him an extra drink unless he has finished what he s been served. Towards the end of the journey, another hostess asks the passengers to write down their comments on slips of79paper that she provides. |
The narrator however comes from a culture in which pride at a drinking place depends on the number of bottles that one places on the table. Every time he rings for a hostess, it is Tatha that appears and politely declines to serve him an extra drink unless he has finished what he s been served. Towards the end of the journey, another hostess asks the passengers to write down their comments on slips of79paper that she provides. The narrator confesses he was drunk having been drinking for two hours but still gives his comments. He alleges that Tatha had been rude to him throughout the flight. Tatha s email touches him so much that he sells most of the things that he d bought with the prize money and travels by road to Malawi, a 1000km journey, to retract his complaints and to personally apologise to Tatha. He does not get the responses he had expected and travels back home crestfallen but happy with what he had done. Years later, he sees Tatha in a magazine crowned the hostess of the year at Kenya Airways. 3.ConflictTatha and ZgamboThis is the main conflict in the story. Tatha s dream from childhood has been to work for Air Malawi. This she has achieved and wishes to develop her career. What brings her and Zgambo together is fate. Fate would have it that Zgambo would win an air ticket at a raffle draw courtesy of the Lundazi District council. Fate would have it that he boards the plane on which Tatha was on duty. Fate would have it that at drinks time, the less sophisticated Zgambo, would wish to invoke his tribal pride of beer drinking. Fate would have it that airline drink policy allowed for only one drink at a time and Tatha would politely advice him so. However, there was no upper limit. Fate would have it that Zgambo would take advantage of the upper limit policy and get drank. Finally, fate would have it that the airline, in a bid to offer world class services, had resorted to seeking passengers views on the flight and that the drunken Zgambo would80make his comments that Tatha had been rude to him throughout the flight. That s it. A man s ego took advantage of company policy and ruined ta fledgling career. |
Finally, fate would have it that the airline, in a bid to offer world class services, had resorted to seeking passengers views on the flight and that the drunken Zgambo would80make his comments that Tatha had been rude to him throughout the flight. That s it. A man s ego took advantage of company policy and ruined ta fledgling career. This conflict is further developed when Zgambo visitsBlantyre to retract his comments. He goes to Tatha s home and she bluntly refuses to welcome him despite the rain. She claims that the apology would do her no good, nor will the retraction amount to anything. Finally, he turns to leave and she runs up to him to ask him in until the rains die down. She adds that she was confused by the whole event. He declines to go in with her. Zgambo and the airline s CEOZgambo gets to Blantyre and visits the Malawi Air office. His intention is to meet the CEO and retract his comments. He does meet the CEO but finds out that the retraction is not a one man affair. The CEO has to present the matter to the disciplinary committee. There was nothing more for Zgambo to o but leave. Zgambo and other service providers. Zgambo and the caf receptionistShe was downright rude to him. He says there was a trace of irritation, sarcasm or both in her voice. Further, she does not wait for his full name but fills the entire space with his surname in block letters and in very poor handwriting. She then tears off the receipt before he finishes spelling his name and hands it to him. This is because she was in a hurry to close. 81Zgambo and bus service to BlantyreThe buses were small and jam packed with sweating humanity. The bus industry sacrificed human comfort for the sole purpose of maximising revenue. What is more, they did not entertain comments on the services they provided. Zgambo and Malawi Air receptionistThe receptionist spoke endlessly on the phone as she served Zgambo. She dismisses his pleas the he sees the CEO sooner just so that she can get back to her telephone conversation. Hardly a world class service. The call was not a business one. |
She dismisses his pleas the he sees the CEO sooner just so that she can get back to her telephone conversation. Hardly a world class service. The call was not a business one. Character and characterisationZgamboCareless irresponsibleHe made disparaging comments about Tatha s work to take revenge on an employee who had declined to soothe his ego because what he demanded was against company policy. As a result, she lost her job. ReflectiveUpon receiving Tatha s email about the consequences of his actions, he reviews the events on the plane and says that he had not acted judiciously. He seeks to correct his actions by retracting the comments he d written. DeterminedHe seeks the most effective way to make the retraction. It turns out emails are not taken seriously and the Zambian postal system is ineffective. He is left with only one option: travelling to Malawi. To achieve this he has to sell most of the things that he d82bought using the gift shopping voucher from the raffle. He sold most of the things at a fraction of their cost. Further, he endured the discomfort of the buses and inns to make the retraction in person. Finally, he patiently waits for several hours to meet the CEO and makes his retraction. ConcernedHe is bothered that his comments resulted in Tatha losing her job. After meeting the CEO he walks out feeling assured that Tatha would be reinstated. He is relieved when he finds out a couple of years later that Tatha got a new job and was excelling at it. ThemesIntegrityThis is the main theme of the story. Many characters display a lot of dishonesty in this story. For example, the narrator only learns that his actions on the plane lacked integrity after they had caused Tatha her job. Most of the service providers he meets lack integrity and are merely concerned about themselves. Therefore the services they offer are poor at best. Malawi Air too is a prisoner of its own policies. They were quick to dismiss Tatha on account of a comment from a solitary passenger who was drunk. The claims were not verifiable. What is more, they were at pains to rescind an unfair decision that they had made even after a personal retraction by the complainant. |
They were quick to dismiss Tatha on account of a comment from a solitary passenger who was drunk. The claims were not verifiable. What is more, they were at pains to rescind an unfair decision that they had made even after a personal retraction by the complainant. They also have double standards: passengers on their planes are asked to make comments on the quality of service but visitors to their offices are given such an opportunity. As a result,83the receptionist uses company resources, time and phone, for personal benefit without fear of retribution. Finally and most importantly, Tatha acted with integrity but lost her job on account of bureaucracy. However, because of her integrity she lands a similar job in a different company and is soon crowned Employee of the Year. Integrity pays. SufferingAnother theme worth examining is suffering. Find out all the characters that undergo suffering in this story. Name them and illustrate the suffering they go through. 6.StyleIronyThe chief device that the author uses in this story is irony. The narrator had complained about Tatha s alleged rudeness on the flight to South Africa. Her behaviour is contrasted with the other service providers who are downright rude to him. This makes Tatha s integrity stand out. SymbolismThe rain is a symbol of suffering. We encounter rain in the evening the evening that Zgambo went to visit Tatha. We are told that it was raining when the taxi they were in pulled over in front of Tatha s house. The narrator steps out of the cab and into the rain. In the seconds that it takes him to reach the door, he was heavily soaked. His entire conversation with Tatha is held with the rain hitting him hard. He pleads with Tatha to let him in because it was freezing cold in the rain. After Tatha dismissed him and shut the door in84his face, he stands facing the door for a long time oblivious of the rain. When he chooses to walk away, Tatha calls him back but he walks on. She joins him in the rain and tries to convince him to stay in the house until the rain stops. She says that her actions were as a result of the pain she was filled with. The rain therefore symbolises the suffering that the two undergo. POVThe story is told from the first person point of view. The narrator makes a mistake for which he wishes to make amends. |
The rain therefore symbolises the suffering that the two undergo. POVThe story is told from the first person point of view. The narrator makes a mistake for which he wishes to make amends. The story is about the challenges he faces in his attempt to retract his comment on Tatha s conduct on the flight to South Africa. Coming from the horses mouth, the story is credible. The honest remorse of the narrator is evident. 8. Appropriateness of titleThe retraction is an appropriate title because the narrator made a comment on Tatha s conduct that he should not have made. He tells the Malawi Air CEO exactly that. But the real story is in the lessons he learns as he tries to make the retraction. He learns that most people discharge their duties completely devoid of integrity and that he had judged the one person who served him with integrity wrong. Above all, he learns that his efforts to make the retraction did not go to waste. Tatha did get a job at a new company and continued to excel. 85Significant eventThe significant event in this story is Tatha writing a email to complain to Zgambo that he has hurt her career. Without this email he would never have known that he had wronged Tatha. It is responsible for his making the retraction. Aim of the authorThis is a morality story. The writer cautions us against doing things just because we can. There is a need to reflect upon the possible outcomes of our actions on the people we deal with. People should behave with integrity whether or not they are being watched. The message in short is that integrity pays. TASKWe like to cause suffering to ourselves and those around us. Write an essay to show the validity of this statement using The Retraction by Stanley O. Kenani for your illustrations86The Bamboo Hut by Grace OgotSettingThe story is set among the people who live on the shores of Lake Victoria. It is a rural setting in the era of the African chieftaincy. The story is completely devoid of Western influence and examines the shortcomings of the inherited chieftaincy and how this affects the chief s family. Further, it examines the morality of the decisions these people make owing to the pressure of the inherited chieftaincy. The PlotChief Mboga goes to the foot of the Ramogi Hills to pray for a son. |
The story is completely devoid of Western influence and examines the shortcomings of the inherited chieftaincy and how this affects the chief s family. Further, it examines the morality of the decisions these people make owing to the pressure of the inherited chieftaincy. The PlotChief Mboga goes to the foot of the Ramogi Hills to pray for a son. He is a man both stressed and depressed because none of his many wives have borne him a son to inherit his throne. This is the final plea he is making on this sacred spot. His wife, Achieng is pregnant and due to give birth soon. Unknown to anybody, she is carrying twins. Two months after Mboga s visit to the sacred hill she gives birth alone at the river bank where she had gone to fetch water. She is disappointed when she gives birth to a baby girl. Her disappointment is not long lived though because she goes into labour again and this time the twin is a boy. Overjoyed and desiring to please her husband, she abandons the girl child by the bank and takes the boy back home to the happy chief. Her secret tears at her heart but when she goes back to the river bank after staying indoors for the mandatory 4 days, the baby is not there. 87Many years later the chief encounters a girl that impresses him with her bravery and he wishes that his son marries her. His son, Owiny, too is impressed by the girl and vows to marry none other. However, the protocol of marriage in a chief s home has to be followed. It turns out that nobody knows the girl s father because her foster mother had found her abandoned by the river bank soon after birth. The right decision is reached at the chief s home: his son cannot marry a woman of unknown parentage. Owiny would have none of this. He had set his eyes on Awiti and no substitute would appease him. Achieng is a tortured mother. Awiti s story fits that of the child she had abandoned by the river bank. She has no choice but to tell the truth. The chief has a moral obligation to punish her for the wrong that she had done. It was taboo to throw away a new born child and she was therefore not worthy of being the chief s wife He chooses not to and instead organises a celebration and keeps his family together. |
She has no choice but to tell the truth. The chief has a moral obligation to punish her for the wrong that she had done. It was taboo to throw away a new born child and she was therefore not worthy of being the chief s wife He chooses not to and instead organises a celebration and keeps his family together. ConflictMboga and the godsChief Mboga feels that the gods have denied him happiness. For many years he had beseeched Ramogi, the ancestor of the Luo people, to intercede on his behalf for a son. He is not happy because he hasn t a son to inherit his chieftaincy. Achieng She badly wanted to please her husband by being the first wife to bear him a son. So focused is she88that when she gives birth to twins se abandons the girl child by the river bank for she argues that she will spoil the fun. She soon finds out that this decision comes back to haunt her. She can neither find the child she had abandoned nor the peace of mind that should have come naturally to her for bearing the heir to the chief s throne. Owiny and MbogaOwiny is very disappointed when he finds out that he cannot marry Awiti. He tells his father that he has chosen Awiti over the beaded stool. Achieng and MbogaAchieng realises that she is the only one who can resolve the conflict between her husband and son. However, this comes with a risk to her personal safety. If she reveals that she had abandoned a new born baby, then the rules demanded that she be sent away. She chooses to tell the truth despite the consequences. The chief too has a problem because he risks breaking his family. He makes up his mind to keep Achieng despite the mistake that she had committed because losing her would break his heart. Further, he argues that she had borne a lot of pain when she lost the opportunity of seeing her child. Character and characterisationMboga: traditional, merciful, strict, authoritarian Owiny: resolute stubborn,Achieng : decisive89ThemesTraditionA number of Luo traditional practices are brought out in this story:Marriage, child naming, chieftaincy, religionClemency forgivenessAchieng had gone against the rules of the community. |
He makes up his mind to keep Achieng despite the mistake that she had committed because losing her would break his heart. Further, he argues that she had borne a lot of pain when she lost the opportunity of seeing her child. Character and characterisationMboga: traditional, merciful, strict, authoritarian Owiny: resolute stubborn,Achieng : decisive89ThemesTraditionA number of Luo traditional practices are brought out in this story:Marriage, child naming, chieftaincy, religionClemency forgivenessAchieng had gone against the rules of the community. 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. Power authorityChief 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 does90not 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. POVThis 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. |
POVThis 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. A Aptness of titleThe 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. The bamboo plant is a delicate one just like the decision the chief had to take on this issue. 91Significant eventThe 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. The aim of the authorThe 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. TaskLeadership is not a bed of roses. Discuss this assertion in light of the events in this story. 92TUESDAY SIESTA by GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ COLOMBIA SettingThe 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. |
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. The plotWe 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. 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. He93gives 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. ConflictThe most noticeable conflict is between the peopleand 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 ofthe 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 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 94In 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 hotstreets. Pp173 b The mourners and timeWhen 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 povertyThe 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 95Character and characterisationBereaved motherDignified 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. |
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