WASSCE: LITERATURE-THEORY-2009-Q1,Q2,Q3,Q9,Q10
The “death” of Sizwe Bansi in the play is not a physical death, but a symbolic one. Sizwe is a black man living in apartheid South Africa where black people are controlled by pass laws. These laws restrict their movement and job opportunities.
When Sizwe finds a dead man’s identity card and decides to take his name, it means he has to give up his own identity. So, “Sizwe Bansi is dead” means he has to die as himself in order to survive in a racist society. This shows the loss of identity that many black South Africans faced because of apartheid.
The play uses this idea to show how the system kills people’s freedom and dignity. Sizwe’s “death” shows the struggle between staying alive and keeping your true identity. It is a powerful message about oppression and survival.
2. Give an account of the preparation for Ford’s visit to the assembly plant
In the play, Ford, the American boss, plans to visit the car assembly plant. Everyone at the factory becomes nervous and excited. The black workers are asked to dress well and behave in a friendly way. The factory is cleaned and polished to look perfect.
The management wants to show that everything is going well, so they hide the real problems faced by the workers like low wages and bad working conditions. They even rehearse how the workers should smile and wave to Ford as he walks past.
This shows the hypocrisy of the system. The factory only pretends to care about the workers when a big man like Ford is coming. It also shows how black workers are used as tools to make the company look good, even though they are suffering.
JOE DE GRAFT: Sons and Daughters
3. Discuss the character and role of Mr. James Ofosu in the play
Mr. James Ofosu is the father of the family and a key character in the play. He is a strict, proud, and educated man who wants the best for his children. He believes in hard work, honesty, and discipline.
He loves his children, but he is also too controlling. He wants them to follow the plans he has made for their lives, especially for his son Aaron. He believes that success only comes through formal education and office work.
However, Mr. Ofosu fails to understand that times are changing and his children also have their own dreams. His actions create tension in the family. In the end, he learns a lesson when he sees that true success also comes with understanding and support.
4. To what extent is the play about friendship betrayed?
The play Sons and Daughters shows friendship betrayal clearly, especially in the character of Maanan. She pretends to be friends with Aaron but secretly sets him up to be caught in an exam malpractice case.
Maanan is used by Mrs. B to bring down Mr. Ofosu through his son Aaron. This shows that people sometimes act friendly just to gain something or to destroy others. Maanan’s actions hurt Aaron and destroy his future.
The betrayal in the play teaches us that not everyone who smiles is a true friend. It also shows how bad company can lead to destruction. The play warns students to choose friends wisely and avoid peer pressure.
AFRICAN POETRY
9. Illustrate Senghor’s use of figures of speech in “I Will Pronounce Your Name”
In the poem I Will Pronounce Your Name, Senghor uses many figures of speech to show deep love and respect for the woman he is praising.
Metaphor: He compares her name to drums, bells, and chanting, which shows how her name brings joy and celebration.
Simile: He says her name is “like the rising sun”, showing that she brings light and hope.
Personification: He gives her name the power to sing, speak, and dance, making it feel alive.
Alliteration: He repeats sounds like “Mamadou, Mame Diarra” to create rhythm and music in the poem.
Repetition: The poet repeats “I will pronounce your name” to show how much he honors her.
All these figures of speech help to show the beauty of African culture and pride in one's identity.
10. How does J.P. Clark present the theme of cultural alienation in Agbor Dancer?
In Agbor Dancer, J.P. Clark shows the theme of cultural alienation by comparing the dancer’s present life with her past tradition.
The poet describes how the dancer, once full of joy and pride in her traditional dance, is now performing for money and foreign people. Her movements are no longer natural, and her spirit is gone. She is now just dancing to please others, not to express her culture.
The poem shows that modern life and western influence have taken away the true meaning of her dance. The dancer is no longer connected to her roots. This makes her a stranger to her own culture.
Through this, the poet warns about losing African traditions and becoming too influenced by foreign ways. The poem calls on Africans to return to their roots and be proud of their heritage.
