JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 1991

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The atmosphere of Birago Diop's poem "Vanity" is dominated by sadness. The poem "Vanity" is about the fleeting nature of human life and the inevitability of death. The speaker in the poem talks about how people are born, live their lives, and eventually die. The poem is filled with imagery that emphasizes the brevity and fragility of human life, such as the "dewdrop on the grass" and the "passing shadow." The tone of the poem is melancholic and mournful, as the speaker laments the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The use of words like "fleeting," "vanishing," and "vanity" all contribute to the sad and reflective atmosphere of the poem. Therefore, the atmosphere of Birago Diop's poem "Vanity" is dominated by sadness.

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In Wole Soyinka's "The Lion and the Jewel," the two characters that symbolize the lion and the jewel respectively are Baroka and Sidi. Baroka, the village chief, represents the lion, which is a powerful and respected animal in African culture. Baroka is known for his cunning and wisdom, which he uses to maintain his authority and influence over the people of the village. On the other hand, Sidi, the village belle, represents the jewel, which is a precious and desirable object. Sidi is admired and desired by many men in the village for her beauty and charm, and she is aware of her appeal to them. The title of the play refers to the struggle between Baroka and Lakunle for Sidi's affection and represents the tension between tradition and modernity. Therefore, Baroka and Sidi are the two characters that symbolize the lion and the jewel respectively in "The Lion and the Jewel."

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The figure of speech used prominently in the poem is personification. Personification is a literary device in which inanimate objects, ideas or concepts are given human qualities or characteristics. In the given lines, the palm trees are described as 'slow singers of farewell', and the sail is said to 'write in geometry of spume'. These are examples of personification where inanimate objects are given human-like qualities of singing and writing.

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The predominant figure of speech in these lines is an apostrophe. Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a non-human entity. In this case, the speaker is addressing a person who is present, but he is imagining himself to be absent and speaking to her as if she were not there. The speaker wishes he could touch the woman's cheek and expresses this desire by wishing he wore a glove on his hand.

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Raina, the protagonist of the play "Arms and the Man," is portrayed as an idealistic and romantic character who values noble sentiments and ideas. In her view, gratitude is an essential noble sentiment, and anyone who lacks it is incapable of any noble sentiment or ideas. She believes that gratitude is an indication of one's ability to appreciate and acknowledge the kindness and generosity of others. Thus, Raina's perspective reflects her idealistic and romantic nature, where she places great importance on noble sentiments and ideas such as gratitude.

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The conclusion that Achebe draws from the statement, ''....that no man however great was greater than his people; that no one ever won judgement against his clan'' is that the individual should submit his will to that of the clan. Achebe believed that the Igbo society, which is portrayed in his book, was a communal society where the individual's success and well-being were closely tied to that of the clan. He also believed that the clan had a way of dealing with individuals who acted against the communal interest. Therefore, the correct option is "the individual should submit his will to that of the clan."

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The lines given in the passage are usually found on a tombstone or monument marking the grave of a deceased person. These lines are called an epitaph, a short inscription that serves as a commemoration of the person's life or character. Therefore, the correct option is "epitaph."

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In the poem 'Night,' the poet Neto suggests that the oppressed are determined to give meaning to their lives. The poem describes how the oppressed people are fighting for their rights and freedom, even though they are facing great difficulties and oppression. The poem portrays the struggles of the people who have been oppressed for a long time, and how they are still determined to keep fighting for their rights and dignity. Therefore, the correct option is "are determined to give meaning to their life."

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Assonance occurs when similar vowel sounds are repeated in a sentence or line of poetry. This literary device involves the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other to create a musical effect. It is often used in poetry to create rhythm, emphasis, and mood. Examples of assonance include "fleet feet sweep by sleeping geese" and "men sell the wedding bells." In both examples, the repeated vowel sounds (ee and e) create a musical effect that draws the reader's attention to the words and their meaning.

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The irony in the statement "The sugar-daddy of the boutique dresses wants to marry Binetou. Just imagine..." is that Binetou, who is the friend of the speaker, is being offered marriage by a wealthy man who is old enough to be her father and whom the speaker refers to as a "sugar-daddy". The irony lies in the fact that Binetou, who is young and beautiful, is being offered marriage by a man who is only interested in her because of her looks and youth, and who is not genuinely interested in a meaningful relationship with her. The situation is also ironic because the speaker is surprised by the fact that the sugar-daddy wants to marry Binetou, even though she is aware of his reputation as a man who preys on young girls. Therefore, the irony in the statement lies in the fact that the speaker is shocked that the sugar-daddy wants to marry Binetou, despite the fact that his intentions are obviously not genuine.

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According to the passage, the writer believes that Trinidad was considered too unimportant and insignificant by its people, and therefore they did not see the value in reading its history. Trinidad was regarded as a mere dot on the world map and did not attract much attention, which led to a lack of assessment of the society's problems. Therefore, the correct option is "was so small that its people did not value its history."

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A speech made at the end of a dramatic performance is generally called an epilogue. An epilogue is a concluding section of a literary work, often in the form of a speech, that offers a final comment or conclusion on the events of the story. In the context of a dramatic performance, an epilogue is typically delivered after the final scene or act and serves to provide closure for the audience. The purpose of an epilogue in a dramatic performance is to tie up any loose ends and offer some final thoughts or reflections on the story that has been told. It can also serve to provide a sense of closure and resolution for the audience, helping them to process the events of the play and come away with a deeper understanding of the themes and ideas that were explored. Overall, the use of an epilogue in a dramatic performance serves to provide a sense of closure and reflection on the events of the play, and can help to deepen the audience's engagement and understanding of the story.

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The two lines "You just wait, I'll tell you more / But let me first sell my tomatoes" from Theo Luzuka's poem 'The Motoka' reveal the poet's true state of reality. The lines suggest that the speaker is a street vendor, perhaps selling tomatoes from a cart or stand. The phrase "let me first sell my tomatoes" implies that the speaker's primary concern is making a living, and that sharing stories or engaging in conversation is a secondary priority. By saying "you just wait, I'll tell you more," the speaker suggests that they have stories or insights to share, but that they must attend to their immediate needs first. This implies a certain level of financial precarity or uncertainty in the speaker's life, as they cannot afford to neglect their livelihood in pursuit of other goals. Overall, these two lines reveal the poet's true state of reality, where economic concerns take precedence over intellectual or artistic pursuits.

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The combination of words from Kwesi Brew's 'The Dry Season' - withering, burn, ghost, scatter, dusty, half-bare - thematically suggests desolation. The words evoke a sense of emptiness and abandonment, as if the landscape has been left barren and lifeless. The withering of plants, burning of the sun, scattering of objects, and dustiness of the environment suggest a sense of decay and decline. The word 'ghost' adds to this feeling of desolation, as it implies an absence or emptiness. The landscape is not only physically barren but also emotionally empty, as if the spirit or soul of the place has been drained away. Therefore, the combination of words from 'The Dry Season' thematically suggests a feeling of desolation and emptiness in the face of the harsh and unrelenting forces of nature.

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"The dum, dum of the drum" is a good example of onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia refers to the use of words that imitate the sound they describe. In this example, the sound "dum, dum" imitates the sound of a beating drum, which makes the phrase more evocative and descriptive. The use of onomatopoeia helps the reader to create a more vivid mental image of the scene being described. Therefore, the phrase "the dum, dum of the drum" is an example of onomatopoeia in literature.

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a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work.

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A stanza of three lines linked by rhyme is generally called a tercet. The tercet is a common stanza form in poetry and is often used to create a sense of unity and completeness within a poem. The lines in a tercet may be linked by a variety of rhyme schemes, including the popular AAA and ABA patterns. The tercet is often used in sonnets and other formal poems, as well as in more informal poetic styles.

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The term 'soliloquy' is generally used in the genre of drama. A soliloquy is a dramatic monologue in which a character speaks their thoughts out loud, usually when they are alone on stage. It is a device used by playwrights to reveal a character's inner thoughts and feelings, and to provide insight into their motivations and intentions. Soliloquies are a common feature of plays, particularly those written in the Shakespearean tradition, where they are often used to convey themes or to advance the plot. In contrast, novels, epics, and poetry are more likely to use other narrative techniques, such as third-person narration, interior monologue, or dialogue, to convey a character's thoughts and feelings. While these forms of literature may occasionally use dramatic monologues or speeches, they are not typically referred to as soliloquies. Therefore, the term 'soliloquy' is generally used in the genre of drama.

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The poet's mood in Gabriel Okara's 'The Fisherman's Invocation' is characterized by contentment. The poem expresses the fisherman's gratitude to the sea and his joy in his profession as a fisherman. The poem is filled with images of the beauty of the sea and the abundance of fish. The tone of the poem is peaceful and tranquil, reflecting the fisherman's deep connection with the natural world around him. Thus, the poet's mood can be described as contentment.

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In Wole Soyinka's play "The Lion and the Jewel," the division of the day into morning, noon, and night is used as a technical device to denote the symbolic significance of certain events. The play is set in the village of Ilujinle, and the action takes place over the course of a single day. Each act of the play is set during a different part of the day, with Act One taking place in the morning, Act Two at noon, and Act Three at night. This division of the day into three parts is significant because it reflects the three main characters in the play: Sidi, Lakunle, and Baroka. Sidi represents the morning, with her youthful energy and innocence. Lakunle represents noon, with his intellectualism and desire to modernize the village. And Baroka represents the night, with his cunning and wisdom. Each act of the play is used to explore the character and motivations of each of these three main characters, and the division of the day into morning, noon, and night serves as a symbolic device to reinforce their respective roles. Therefore, the division of the day into morning, noon, and night is used as a technical device to denote the symbolic significance of certain events in "The Lion and the Jewel" by Wole Soyinka.

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The words "It is not bravery for a man to beat his wife. I know a man and his wife must quarrel; there is no abomination in that... No, you may quarrel; but let it not end in fighting..." concern Akueke and her husband in Chinua Achebe's novel "Arrow of God". Akueke is the daughter of Ezeulu, the priest of Ulu. She is married off to a man from a neighboring village as part of a political alliance. However, her husband is physically abusive towards her, and she eventually runs away from him. The quote in question is part of a conversation between Ezeulu and his son, Obika. Obika is angry that Akueke has brought shame to the family by running away, but Ezeulu counsels him to be understanding and compassionate towards her. He tells Obika that it is not brave for a man to beat his wife, and that quarrels between husbands and wives are normal. However, he cautions against letting those quarrels escalate into physical violence. The quote is significant because it shows that Achebe is critical of the patriarchal attitudes and gender-based violence that were common in traditional Igbo society. Ezeulu's words suggest that he sees marriage as a partnership between equals, and that he values communication and non-violent conflict resolution. Therefore, the words "It is not bravery for a man to beat his wife. I know a man and his wife must quarrel; there is no abomination in that... No, you may quarrel; but let it not end in fighting..." concern Akueke and her husband in Chinua Achebe's novel "Arrow of God".

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The words "This is the words of women. At this moment our star sits in the center of the sky. We are supreme" were spoken by Sadiku in Wole Soyinka's play "The Lion and the Jewel". Sadiku is the senior wife of Baroka, the Bale (chief) of Ilujinle. She is a wise and powerful woman who commands respect in the village. In the play, she serves as a mediator between Baroka and Sidi, the village belle whom Baroka seeks to marry. The quote in question is part of a conversation between Sadiku and the other village women, who are discussing the power dynamics between men and women in the village. Sadiku argues that women have a power of their own, and that they should not underestimate their worth. The words "our star sits in the center of the sky" is a reference to the sun, which is traditionally associated with the masculine principle. By saying that "our star" is in the center of the sky, Sadiku is suggesting that women have the power to be at the center of their own lives and destinies, instead of being overshadowed by men. Therefore, the words "This is the words of women. At this moment our star sits in the center of the sky. We are supreme" were spoken by Sadiku in Wole Soyinka's play "The Lion and the Jewel".

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The technique Kwesi Brew employs to portray the nightmarish image in his poem "The Executioner's Dream" is the description of gory details. In the poem, Brew describes the executioner's dream as a gruesome and bloody scene, where the ground is soaked with blood and the executioner's axe drips with blood. The use of such graphic and disturbing details creates a nightmarish image that is vivid and unsettling to the reader. This technique is meant to provoke a strong emotional response and convey the horror of the executioner's dream. Therefore, the technique Kwesi Brew employs in "The Executioner's Dream" is the description of gory details to create a nightmarish image.

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Blank verse consists of unhymed five stress lines. Blank verse is a type of poetry that is written in unrhymed iambic pentameter, which means that each line consists of ten syllables with the stress falling on every other syllable. This creates a rhythmic pattern that can be used to convey meaning and emotion in the poem. Unlike other forms of poetry, blank verse does not use a specific rhyme scheme. Instead, the focus is on the meter and the way that the stresses and pauses in each line create a sense of rhythm and movement. This makes it a very flexible form of poetry that can be used to explore a wide range of themes and emotions. Blank verse has been used by many famous poets throughout history, including William Shakespeare and John Milton. It is a versatile form of poetry that can be used to convey a wide range of emotions and ideas, and its use of unrhymed meter allows for greater flexibility and creativity in the writing process.

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A burlesque is a type of literary work that uses exaggeration and mockery to make fun of a serious literary work, event, or situation. It often imitates the style and structure of the original work but takes it to absurd or ridiculous extremes, using humor and satire to comment on the original work or topic. Therefore, the correct option is "an exaggerated mockery of a literary work."

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