WAEC SSCE - Literature In English - 2020 (Objective)

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In literature, the term poetic justice applies to the rewarding of good characters and the punishing of bad ones. Poetic justice is a literary device in which virtue is rewarded and vice is punished in a fitting or appropriate manner. It is a way to ensure that the right people get what they deserve in a story, often at the end of the plot. Poetic justice can help to create a satisfying and meaningful resolution to a story, as readers see the good characters triumph and the bad characters get their comeuppance. This concept is often used in dramas and tragedies, where the audience's emotions are engaged by the actions and fates of the characters.

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The answer is "epigram". An epigram is a short, witty poem or statement that often has a surprising or sarcastic ending. It is meant to be clever and to make the reader think. The ending of an epigram often turns the meaning of the poem or statement on its head, using irony or satire to make a point or to poke fun at something. In contrast, a ballad is a narrative poem that tells a story, an allegory is a story or poem that uses characters or events to represent abstract ideas, and a panegyric is a poem that praises someone or something.

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The sentence "The big boulder blasted the house" illustrates alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. In this sentence, the "b" sound is repeated in the words "big," "boulder," and "blasted." This repetition of the "b" sound creates a rhythmic effect and emphasizes the impact of the boulder on the house.

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Comic relief usually occurs in tragedies. Tragedies are dramatic plays that typically depict serious and often fatal events, such as the downfall of a tragic hero or a devastating disaster. To alleviate the tension and provide a momentary break from the intense emotions, playwrights may insert humorous scenes or characters. This is called comic relief. For example, in Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet," the gravediggers scene provides a moment of comic relief as they engage in witty banter while digging graves. Another example is the character of the Porter in "Macbeth," who provides a humorous monologue that lightens the mood after the dark and intense murder of King Duncan.

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Condensed use of language is a dominant feature of poetry. Poetry often uses compact and concise language to create a particular mood, rhythm, or rhyme. This helps convey the poet's message in a powerful and memorable way. In poetry, every word and syllable is carefully chosen to create a specific effect, making it an art form that values conciseness and economy of language.

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The poet refers to memory as being "fond" and "sad" because it brings both "smiles" and "tears." This means that the poet's memories bring up happy moments from the past, but also bring up sadness because those moments are now gone and the people and experiences associated with them are no longer present. The poet is saying that the memories are both fond and sad because they bring back good times but also remind the poet of what has been lost.

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The phrase "so good a commander" refers to Othello. In this extract, the speaker is expressing their disgust and frustration towards Cassio, who they believe has behaved inappropriately while under the influence of alcohol. The speaker would rather be disliked by Othello than deceive him by covering up Cassio's behavior. This suggests that Othello is a good and honorable leader whom the speaker respects and does not want to disappoint.

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The statement "Students rarely read Julius Caesar these days" illustrates a phenomenon called eponym. Eponyms are words that are derived from a person's name, and in this case, Julius Caesar is the eponym. The reason for students not reading Julius Caesar could be due to a variety of factors, such as changes in the curriculum, shifting interests of students, or advancements in technology. However, the statement itself only serves as an example of eponym, not the reasons behind it. To further clarify, caesura refers to a pause or break in a line of poetry, oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms, and zeugma is a rhetorical device in which a single word is used to modify or govern two or more words in a sentence in different ways.

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The underlined expression implies an attitude of racism. The speaker is referring to a black ram mating with a white ewe, which is being used as a metaphor for a black man having sexual intercourse with a white woman. The language used is derogatory and shows a clear bias against black people. This type of attitude, which is based on prejudice and discrimination against people based on their race, is considered racist.

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The expression "His pen was like the breath of life" exemplifies a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that uses "like" or "as" to compare two things and create a vivid image in the reader's mind. In this case, the comparison is between the pen and the breath of life, suggesting that the pen is something that brings life and energy to the person who uses it. The comparison creates an image of the pen as a powerful tool that has a significant impact on the person's life.

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The sudden reversal of a character's fortune in a literary work is called "peripeteia." This refers to a change in a character's circumstances, typically from good to bad, that affects the outcome of the story. It can be a plot twist or a dramatic turn of events that alters the character's fate. Peripeteia creates tension and drama in a story by adding unexpected twists and turns to the plot.

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Ascribing human moods to nature, as in a playful-breeze illustrates the literary device known as "pathetic fallacy". Pathetic fallacy is a type of personification in which human emotions, traits or behaviors are attributed to inanimate objects or natural phenomena. It is a way for authors to create a more vivid and emotional portrayal of the natural world. In the example given, the "playful" mood is attributed to the breeze, which is an example of pathetic fallacy because the breeze does not have the ability to feel or express emotions like a human would.

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The underlined expression exemplifies apostrophe. An apostrophe is a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses a person, thing, or idea that is not present or is unable to respond. In this case, the speaker is addressing an invisible spirit of wine, which is personified as if it were a living entity. The speaker is expressing disgust and frustration with the effects of alcohol on a particular officer, and is using the apostrophe to indirectly address the officer's behavior through the spirit of wine. The speaker refers to the spirit of wine as "devil", which is also an example of personification. Overall, the use of apostrophe in this passage adds emphasis and emotion to the speaker's words, and helps to create a vivid image of the officer's drunken behavior.

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The speaker is Emilia. Emilia is responding to Othello's questioning of where Desdemona's handkerchief is. In this extract, Emilia reveals that she found the handkerchief and gave it to her husband, Iago. She explains that Iago had asked her to steal it, but she did not know why he wanted it. Emilia's words provide an important clue to Othello about Iago's manipulation and deceit.

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The expression "million voices" is used as a hyperbole. Hyperbole is a figure of speech that exaggerates or overstates something for emphasis or effect. In this case, "million voices" is used to suggest that there are a large number of people expressing their opinions, ideas or concerns. It is not meant to be taken literally as a million people, but rather as a way to emphasize the significance of the collective voice of many people. Other examples of hyperbole include "I've told you a million times" and "It's so hot, you could fry an egg on the sidewalk."

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The speaker in the given extract is Iago. Iago is addressing Brabantio, who is the father of Desdemona, and informing him that his daughter has eloped with Othello, a black man. Iago uses crude and vulgar language to awaken Brabantio from his sleep and accuse him of being robbed of his daughter. He says that an old black ram (Othello) is having sexual intercourse with Brabantio's white ewe (Desdemona), which is a derogatory way of describing their union. Iago urges Brabantio to wake up the citizens with the bell and prevent Othello from taking away his daughter, or else he will become a grandfather to a child born out of wedlock.

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The fictional prose that is neither a novel nor a short story is called a novella. A novella is a work of fiction that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. It usually has a more focused plot and character development than a short story, but it's not as complex as a novel. Novellas often explore a single theme or idea in-depth, and they can be read in one sitting. Examples of famous novellas include "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, and "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka.

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The end of a performance is typically followed by a curtain call, which is when the performers come back on stage to receive applause and recognition from the audience. The curtain call is a tradition in many forms of live entertainment, including theater, dance, and music. It gives the performers a chance to take a bow and express their gratitude to the audience for attending the performance. In some cases, the director or producer may also come on stage to acknowledge the performers and thank the audience for their support. A curtain raiser, on the other hand, is a short performance that precedes the main act, while an interlude is a short break between acts. An epilogue is a concluding section or speech that follows the main part of a performance or play, often providing closure or a final thought.

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The situation where an audience knows something that a character in a story or play doesn't know is called dramatic irony. It creates a sense of tension and anticipation in the audience, as they wait to see how the character will react when they eventually discover the truth. This technique is often used in literature, film, and theater to engage the audience and create a deeper understanding of the story. For example, in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," the audience knows that Juliet has faked her death, but Romeo does not. This creates a dramatic and emotional moment when Romeo kills himself because he believes that Juliet is truly dead.

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The speaker is Cassio. In this passage, Cassio is expressing his regret for getting drunk and behaving foolishly. He is ashamed that he disappointed his commander, Othello, and is willing to accept any punishment, even if it means being despised by others. Cassio is also cursing alcohol, personifying it as an "invisible spirit" or devil that causes people to behave recklessly.

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The theme of the poem is the poet's yearning for happier times gone. The poem is about memories that come back to the poet in the quiet moments before sleep, memories of his youth that are bittersweet. The smiles and tears of boyhood years, the words of love spoken then, and the eyes that shone are all memories that the poet recalls with fondness. However, the poet also recognizes that these memories are gone and that the cheerful hearts of the past are now broken. The repetition of the phrase "Oft in the stilly night" at the beginning and end of the poem emphasizes the poet's longing for the past and his desire to relive those happy moments. Overall, the theme of the poem is a nostalgic yearning for happier times that have passed.

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The phrase "hands and feet" in line 4 illustrates synecdoche. Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to refer to the whole or vice versa. In this case, "hands and feet" represent the entire body of the speaker or subject. By using these parts to refer to the whole body, the speaker is using synecdoche to create a vivid and memorable image in the reader's mind.

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After this dialogue, Emilia realizes her culpability. This means that she becomes aware of her role in a particular situation, and feels a sense of responsibility or guilt for what has happened. It's similar to feeling guilty for something you did wrong.