JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 2001

This question is based on Ernest Hermingway's The Old Man and the Sea

The skeleton of the marlin implies the

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The skeleton of the marlin in Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea implies the futility of human struggle. The old man puts all his effort into catching the marlin, but in the end, he is left with nothing but the skeleton of the fish. This symbolizes the idea that no matter how hard we try, sometimes we can't achieve our goals or overcome the obstacles we face. It also emphasizes the theme of the novel that man is not made for defeat and that one should never give up trying, even if they fail.

This question is based on William Shakespeare' s Twelfth Night.

Come away, come away, death,

And in sad cypress let me be laid...

In the lines above, the character is

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This question is based on General Literary Principles

The most important concepts in poetry are:

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The most important concepts in poetry are rhythm and imagery. Rhythm refers to the musicality of the poem, the way it flows and sounds when read aloud. It can be created through the use of meter, rhyme, and other sound devices. Imagery, on the other hand, refers to the use of descriptive language and sensory details to create vivid mental images in the reader's mind. Good poetry often has a strong sense of imagery that enhances the emotional impact of the words. While plot and character can be important in other forms of literature like novels or plays, they are not typically the focus of poetry. Similarly, poetry doesn't necessarily require a story or action to be effective, as it can be used to explore abstract concepts or emotions through the use of language.

This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.

In Mapanje's When This Carnival Finally Closes', the poet is describing the

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In Jack Mapanje's "When This Carnival Finally Closes", the poet is describing the role of sycophancy and bad leadership. The poem is a metaphorical critique of the oppressive regime in Malawi at the time it was written. The carnival is used as a symbol for the government and its corrupt officials, who are described as "clowns" and "masqueraders" who engage in a grand spectacle of self-aggrandizement while the people suffer. The poem highlights the destructive effects of sycophancy, corruption, and bad leadership on a society, and suggests that the carnival will only come to a close when these negative forces are eradicated. Therefore, the correct option is that the poet is describing the "role of sycophancy and bad leadership".

This question is based on Buchi Emecheta's Second Class Citizen.

The marriage of Adah and Francis collapses because of

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This question is based onFemi Osofisan''s Morountodun.

The sub-plots of the play are united by

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This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.
From the tone of Wole Soyinka's 'Telephone Conversation', the two persons talking hold each other in

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From the tone of Wole Soyinka's 'Telephone Conversation', the two persons talking hold each other in mutual suspicion. The poem is about a conversation between an African man and a landlady in England who is looking for a tenant to rent a room. The man is interested in the room and calls the landlady, but their conversation quickly turns awkward and uncomfortable when the landlady realizes that the man is African. The tone of the poem is sarcastic and ironic, as the man tries to explain his skin color to the landlady, who seems to hold racist views. The suspicion between the two is evident in the way they speak to each other and the questions they ask. The man is trying to convince the landlady that he is a decent person, while the landlady is suspicious of him because of his race.

This question is based on Literary Appreciation.

'When he gave me the bottle, and I opened it, I was shocked by the odour that hit my nose.

I immediately corked it again, and spat on the floor.'

Isidore Okpewho, The Last Duty.

The reaction in the passage above is that of

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The reaction in the passage is that of nausea. The character's description of being "shocked by the odor" that hit their nose and their immediate action of corking the bottle again and spitting on the floor suggests that they experienced a feeling of sickness or disgust. This reaction is commonly associated with experiencing a strong and unpleasant smell. Therefore, the answer is option D, nausea.

This question is based on Literary Appreciation'Careened,

These oily tears

Dripping down the tears on your depressed face,

Will one day be staunched,

I swear!

Ibiwari Ikiriko, Oily Tears

The tone of the poet is

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The tone of the poem "Oily Tears" by Ibiwari Ikiriko is optimistic. The poet expresses hope that the tears of the person will stop flowing one day, even though they are currently depressed and crying. The use of the phrase "I swear!" emphasizes the poet's confidence in their optimistic outlook. Overall, the poem conveys a message of comfort and reassurance, suggesting that the current state of sadness will not last forever.

This question is based on Literary Appreciation.

'Thomas Gradgrind, sir. A man who proceeds upon the principle that two is not to be talked into allowing for anything over.'

Charles Dickens, Hard Times

From the passage above, Thomas Gradgrind is

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This question is based on General Literary Principles

The flat character in a literary work

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The flat character in a literary work always embodies a quality. In literature, a flat character is a character who does not change or develop throughout the course of the story. Flat characters are often one-dimensional and are primarily used to serve a specific purpose in the story. They are typically recognizable by a single, dominant trait or characteristic that defines their personality. For example, a flat character may be defined as "greedy" or "kind-hearted" throughout the story, but they will not change or grow in any significant way. Therefore, the label that best describes a flat character in a literary work is that they always embody a quality.

This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse. The major theme of Thomas Gray''s Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard'' is that death renders life

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This question is based on Femi Osofisan's Morountodun.

The character of Marshal in the play shows that

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This question is based on Camara Laye's The African Child.

Laye's first-person narrative techinique

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This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.

'The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,

The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea,

The plowman homeward plods his weary way;

And leaves the world to darkness and to me .

In the lines above from Gray's 'Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard', the imagery is

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This question is based on Ernest Hermingway's The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea epitomizes

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This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.

In Niyi Osundare' s ' They Too Are The Earth', musical effect is achieved by

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In Niyi Osundare's "They Too Are The Earth," the musical effect is achieved through repetition. Repetition is the use of the same word, phrase, or sound multiple times in a poem to create a musical effect or emphasize a particular idea. In this poem, Osundare repeats the phrase "they too are the earth" several times to emphasize the idea that all living things are connected to and dependent on the earth. This repetition creates a musical effect that enhances the poem's message and draws the reader's attention to the central theme.

This question is based on General Literary Principles

The technique in which both the stage and the auditorium are involved in a lay production is called

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The technique in which both the stage and the auditorium are involved in a play production is called audience participation. In this technique, the audience is invited to participate in the performance, either by contributing to the story or by interacting with the actors on stage. This can create a more immersive experience for the audience and can add an element of unpredictability to the performance.

This question is based on William Shakespeare' s Twelfth Night.

Duke:

Be clamorous, and leap all civil bounds,

Rather than make unprofited return.

Duke's statement above to Cesario means that he should

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This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.
The rhyming pattern in the last stanza of Okigbo' s Hurrah for Thunder' makes the stanza

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The rhyming pattern in the last stanza of Okigbo's "Hurrah for Thunder" makes the stanza a "couplet". A couplet is a pair of successive lines of poetry that usually rhyme and have the same meter. In this particular stanza, there are two lines that rhyme with each other: "Let the waters run their course/ Toss the branches in its source". The two lines have the same meter and the same rhyme scheme, making them a couplet. Therefore, the correct option is "a couplet".

This question is based on General Literary Principles

An extended fictional narrative which is realistic is known as a

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An extended fictional narrative which is realistic is known as a novel. A novel is a long-form work of fiction that typically tells a story of characters and events that are realistic and believable. Novels often have complex plotlines, well-developed characters, and explore various themes and ideas. Unlike a short story or a novella, a novel has a more extended length and offers a more in-depth exploration of its subject matter. Additionally, novels are often divided into chapters or sections, which enable the author to develop the story and characters more fully. Therefore, the label that best describes an extended fictional narrative which is realistic is a novel.

This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.
Browning's My Last Duchess apparently shows Duke's

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This question is based on Literary Appreciation.

'CYCLIST gets down and begins to prop his bicycle,

CYCLIST: All right. If you're sure it won't take long.

BARBER: I am known for my lightning clippers Even the soldiers know me. I can shave the head of an entire battalion between one coup and the next.

Sit down and relax your back. Cycling is not easy when you've abandoned it for some time...

Wole Soyinka, The Beautification of Area Boy.

The literary devices in the dialogue above are

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This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.
Tanure Ojaide's The Owl Wakes Us' portrays a society that is

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This question is based on Literary Appreciation.

'For seven days it rained that June;

A storm half out to sea kept turning around like a dog trying to settle himself on a rug; We were the fleas that complained in his hair.'

John Updike, Wash

The images set in the lines above are of

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This question is based on Femi Osofisan's Morountodun.

The frequent intervention of the Director makes the stage experience of Morountodun very

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The frequent intervention of the Director makes the stage experience of Morountodun very informal. Femi Osofisan's Morountodun is a play that blends traditional Yoruba theatrical elements with contemporary techniques. One such technique is the frequent breaking of the fourth wall through the use of the Director character, who interacts with the audience and the actors on stage. This intervention creates a sense of informality by blurring the boundaries between the actors, the audience, and the performance itself. The audience is no longer passive observers but are actively engaged in the play, making the experience more participatory and immersive. Therefore, the label that best describes the stage experience of Morountodun due to the frequent intervention of the Director is informal.

This question is based on General Literary Principles

Catharsis is experienced

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This question is based on General Literary Principles

A farce refers to a drama that has elements of the

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A farce is a type of drama that has elements of the comic. It is a humorous play that is characterized by exaggerated, improbable situations and slapstick humor. Farces often involve mistaken identities, improbable plot twists, and witty dialogue. The aim of a farce is to entertain and make the audience laugh. It is different from a serious drama that explores weighty themes or a tragic drama that ends in sorrow or despair.

This question is based on Ernest Hermingway's The Old Man and the Sea

Santiago loses his catch to the sharks because

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This question is based on Camara Laye's The African Child.

Laye's stay with Uncle Mamadou reveals a lot about

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Laye's stay with Uncle Mamadou in The African Child reveals a lot about the strength of communal living in Africa. During his stay, Laye experiences the sense of belonging and care within the community, as well as the importance of working together towards common goals. He also learns important life skills, such as farming and blacksmithing, which are valued in the community. Although Laye expresses his affection for his uncle, there is no indication that he is unwilling to stay with his parents, nor does his stay reveal anything about the irresponsibility of his parents.

This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.

John Keats' 'Old on a Grecian Urn' expresses the idea that

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This question is based on William Shakespeare' s Twelfth Night.

Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy; as a squash is before 't is with him a codling when 't is almost an apple; it is with him in standing water, between boy and man. He is very well-favoured, and he speaks very shrewishly; one would think his mother's milk were scarce out of him.

The images in the quotation above express the speaker' s

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This question is based on Femi Osofisan's Morountodun.The diction of the play can be described as

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This question is based on General Literary Principles

The overwhelming pride that destroys the tragic hero is called

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The overwhelming pride that destroys the tragic hero is called "hubris". Hubris is a term used in literary criticism to describe the excessive pride or arrogance of a character that ultimately leads to their downfall. This flaw in character is typically exhibited by a tragic hero, who is often a person of high status or noble birth. The tragic hero's hubris blinds them to their limitations and causes them to act in ways that lead to their own destruction. This concept of hubris is a common theme in many tragic plays and stories, such as Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex". Therefore, the correct option is "hubris".

This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.

The theme of Browning's My Last Duchess' is

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The theme of Browning's "My Last Duchess" is the pride and arrogance of an aristocrat. The poem is a dramatic monologue in which the speaker, a duke, is showing a visitor a portrait of his former wife, whom he had ordered to be killed. The poem explores the Duke's pride and sense of entitlement, which lead to his belief that his wife was too friendly to others and not respectful enough to him. The poem highlights the destructive effects of excessive pride and the dehumanization of women in patriarchal societies.

This question is based on William Shakespeare'' s Twelfth Night.The traditional verse from of speech as dialogue in Twelfth Night is used to symbolize the

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This question is based on Buchi Emecheta's Second Class Citizen.

Pa Noble became a living legend because

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This question is based on General Literary Principles

The literary device which anticipates that an event will take place is best described as

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The literary device which anticipates that an event will take place is called foreshadowing. It is a technique used by writers to hint or suggest what will happen later in the story. Foreshadowing can be accomplished through the use of dialogue, description, or symbolism. By using foreshadowing, writers create suspense and tension in their stories, as readers are left to wonder what will happen next. This literary device helps to build anticipation and keep readers engaged in the story.

This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.

' ... In Tempe or the dales of Arcady? What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?'

In Keats ' Ode on a Grecian Urn', the recurrent use of the rhetorical question in the lines above suggests

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The recurrent use of the rhetorical question in the lines above suggests admiration and amazement. The speaker is marveling at the scene depicted on the Grecian urn and is filled with wonder about the identities and activities of the figures portrayed. The use of rhetorical questions conveys the speaker's sense of awe and his desire to understand and be a part of the world depicted on the urn.

This question is based on Literary Appreciation.'Jose Palacios, his oldest servant, found him floating naked with his eyes open in the purifying waters of his bath and thought he had drowned.

He knew this was one of the many ways the General meditated, but the ecstasy in which he lay drifting seemed that of a man no longer of this world.'

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The General in His Labyrinth.

The master in the passage above is obviously in a state of

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This question is based on Femi Osofisan''s Morountodun.

The war in the play symbolizes the struggle between the

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This question is based on William Shakespeare' s Twelfth Night.

Twelfth Night is preoccupied with the juxtaposition of

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The juxtaposition that Twelfth Night is preoccupied with is the contrast between appearance and reality. The play explores the theme of deception, as characters often disguise themselves and pretend to be someone else. The audience is left to question what is real and what is merely an illusion, as characters' true identities are revealed over the course of the play. This contrast is highlighted through the use of humor and irony, creating a lighthearted tone despite the serious themes.

This question is based on Literary Appreciation

'Symbol of fruitfulness, symbol of barrenness Mother and destroyer, the calm and the storm!

Life and desire and dreams and death

Frank Collymore, Hymn to the Sea,

The address to the sea in the lines above is done by the use of

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This question is based on Literary Appreciation.

'We have been asleep, Mr. Speaker, my fellow citizens; asleep in our dream of security! Asleep in our well-meaning, sportsmanlike way of wishing the other fellow well. Asleep in the false security of accepting all men of goodwill who would be free as men of honor.'

Ralph Ellison, Juneteenth.

The force of the speech above is sustained on.

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This question is based on Literary Appreciation.'Lift not the painted veil which those who live call life: though unreal shapes be picture there,

And it but mimic all we would believe

With colours idly spread - behind, lurk fear,'

P.B Shelley, Sonnet.

The stanza above is an example of a

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The stanza above is an example of a quatrain. A quatrain is a stanza in poetry that has four lines, and in this case, the stanza from the poem "Lift not the painted veil" by P.B Shelley has four lines that follow a specific rhyme scheme (ABAB). Quatrains are a common feature in many forms of poetry, including sonnets like the one from which this stanza is taken. The other options are not applicable because a couplet has two lines, free verse has no set form or structure, and a limerick has five lines with a specific rhyme scheme (AABBA).

This question is based on Ernest Hermingway's The Old Man and the Sea

The character 'boy' is used alongside 'the old Man' in the novel to demonstrate.

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This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse. In Rubadiri''s '' Stanley Meets Mutesa'', the poet portrays the hardship experienced by the explorer''s party through

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This question is based on Camara Laye's The African Child.

The setting of The African Child is a kingdom with

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This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.
In Oswald Mtshali's 'Nightfall in Soweto', night

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