JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 1997

Akọwa Nkọwa

The question asks about the most striking feature of the setting in Zaynab Alkali's novel, "The Stillborn." The answer is that the most striking feature of the setting is "the effective employment of contrasts." The novel's setting is a rural Nigerian village, and Alkali masterfully presents the stark contrasts between tradition and modernity, rural and urban life, and the rich and the poor. These contrasts play a crucial role in the story's themes of identity, culture, and social change. The other options are not correct as they do not accurately describe the setting of the novel.

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In the stanza above, the poet recognizes that he is near his death. The stanza is from John Donne's poem 'hymn to God my God' and in this stanza, he expresses his belief that he is getting closer to death and to God's holy room where he will be among the choir of saints forever. He describes himself as tuning his instrument at the door, meaning that he is preparing himself spiritually for the afterlife.

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Akọwa Nkọwa

Akọwa Nkọwa

When an actor in a play makes a statement intended to be heard only by the audience and not by the other characters on stage, it is called an aside. This allows the actor to share their thoughts, feelings, or intentions with the audience without the other characters being aware of them. As such, it is a type of dramatic convention that can be used to reveal character, provide exposition, or add humor to a play.

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In Zaynab Alkali's The Stillborn, the two major pervasive sources of social problems in the community are ignorance and poverty. The characters in the novel are living in a rural community that is characterized by poverty and lack of access to education, which makes them vulnerable to various social issues such as teenage pregnancy, early marriage, and gender-based violence. The lack of education also makes them susceptible to superstition and witchcraft, which further exacerbates the problems in the community. These issues are portrayed in the novel through the experiences of the main character, Sa'adatu, and her interactions with the people in her community.

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The striking figure of speech used in the passage above is onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is a literary device that imitates a sound. In the passage, the sounds of the typewriter are described as "metallic and clicking" and the "little bell" is described as "musical or almost musical 'cling'". The use of onomatopoeia helps to create a vivid and realistic image of the sounds in the reader's mind.

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The dominant poetic device used in Christopher Okigbo's "Hurrah for Thunder" is symbolism. Symbolism refers to the use of symbols or images to represent abstract ideas or concepts. In the poem, the "thunder" is used as a symbol of power and liberation, and the "rain" is used as a symbol of renewal and regeneration. The poem celebrates the power of the natural world to bring about change and transformation. The use of vivid and powerful symbols is a characteristic feature of Okigbo's poetry and contributes to the richness and complexity of his work.

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The atmosphere captured in the passage above is grandiose and joyful. The reception for the third marriage is being held at the young girl's parents' house, and the ancient custom is not just being respected but being revived. The house has been invaded since early morning, and male and female griots are welcoming guests, which suggests a grand and joyful celebration.

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The enriching factor of the comedy "She Stoops To Conquer" by Oliver Goldsmith is the manipulation of appearance and reality. Throughout the play, characters pretend to be someone else, mistake one person for another, and misunderstand situations, leading to hilarious and unexpected outcomes. This manipulation of appearances and reality adds to the humor and entertainment of the play and keeps the audience engaged.

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The playwright has employed "deus ex machina". This term refers to a plot device in which an apparently unsolvable problem is suddenly resolved by an unexpected and improbable intervention. The term is Latin for "god from the machine," referring to ancient Greek plays in which a god would descend onto the stage with the aid of a mechanical crane to resolve the plot. This technique can be seen as a contrived manipulation of the plot and characters, and it often produces a sudden dramatic reversal of the story's direction.

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Jero concedes to Chume taking his wife home and beating her in order to keep his secret a secret. Jero is a fraudulent and manipulative character who pretends to be a powerful spiritual leader in order to deceive and exploit his followers. He is afraid that if Chume's wife tells others about his fraudulent activities, his reputation and power will be ruined. Therefore, he suggests that Chume take his wife home and beat her to prevent her from spreading the news. This shows how Jero is willing to sacrifice the well-being of others for his own selfish interests.

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A story which explains the origin of a natural phenomenon is a myth. Myths are traditional stories that are often used to explain natural phenomena or historical events. They may feature gods, goddesses, or other supernatural beings and are often passed down through oral tradition.

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Hyperbole refers specifically to exaggeration for emphasis. Hyperbole is a literary device that involves exaggerating or overstating something to make a point, add humor, or create emphasis. It is often used in poetry, prose, and everyday speech to heighten the impact of a statement. The exaggeration is usually obvious and not meant to be taken literally, but rather to make a point more strongly.

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Literary genres are categories of literary composition characterized by similarities in style, form, or subject matter. Poetry, fiction, and drama are all considered literary genres. Farce and faction are also literary genres, but they are less common and not as widely recognized as the other options. Orthography, on the other hand, refers to the conventional spelling system of a language and is not a literary genre. Therefore, the correct option is "Fiction, poetry, and drama."

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The notion that dominates Oswald Mtshali's 'The washerwoman's Prayer' is Inequality. The poem is a lamentation of a washerwoman who has been reduced to a state of servitude and poverty in a society that values power and wealth. The poet uses vivid and poignant images to convey the washerwoman's plea for equality and dignity. She prays to God to change her condition, to end her suffering, and to grant her the same rights and opportunities as those who are privileged. The poem highlights the pervasive inequality in society and calls for a just and fair system that recognizes and values the contributions of all people.

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The author's final message in the novel is that man must confront his fate. Throughout the novel, the characters face challenges and events that are beyond their control, and they must confront their own mortality and the inevitability of fate. This theme is exemplified in the character of Li, who ultimately succumbs to her illness despite her efforts to resist it. The novel also portrays the struggles of the people in a changing society and the need to adapt to new circumstances. Therefore, the novel emphasizes the importance of accepting one's fate and finding meaning and purpose in life despite its challenges.

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The lines above from William Wordsworth's 'The Solitary Reaper' constitute an apostrophe. This is a literary device in which a speaker addresses someone or something that is not present or cannot respond directly. In this case, the speaker addresses the solitary Highland lass and invites the reader to listen to her singing, as the sound fills the valley. The use of an apostrophe creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy between the speaker, the reader, and the subject of the poem.

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In Wole Soyinka's 'Telephone Conversation', the phrase "pressurized good-breeding" refers to the white man's upbringing. The speaker is using the phrase to describe the white man's behavior on the telephone, which is polite but condescending. The phrase "pressurized good-breeding" suggests that the white man's politeness is forced, and not genuine, as if he has been trained to be polite but doesn't really believe in it. The phrase implies that the white man's behavior is a result of his upbringing and social conditioning, rather than his true personality.

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The term used to describe the process of purging or cleansing the emotions of pity and fear in the audience or protagonist at the end of a tragedy is called "catharsis." This is a concept developed by the Greek philosopher Aristotle and refers to the idea that experiencing intense emotions through art can be a form of emotional purification or release. In the context of a tragedy, catharsis is achieved when the audience or protagonist is able to achieve a sense of emotional resolution and closure after experiencing the intense emotions that come with witnessing the tragic events of the play.

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In the passage above, it can be inferred that Otto's wife was a potter in addition to being a wife and mother. The passage suggests that the women in Nessa's childhood were expected to perform domestic tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and making nests. However, Otto's wife is described as a potter, which implies that she had a profession beyond these traditional domestic roles. The phrase "not just a wife, not just a mother" suggests that she had additional responsibilities and interests, and her profession as a potter is mentioned specifically. Therefore, it can be inferred that Otto's wife was a potter in addition to being a wife and mother.

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Chume's reaction in the exchange above reflects awareness. Chume is surprised to learn that the prophet lives in the house and he repeats "so" three times to confirm what he has just heard. This shows that he has become aware of the fact that the prophet he is looking for is actually living in the house pointed out by the man he is speaking to. Therefore, the most appropriate option is awareness.

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The passage above illustrates the use of suspense. Suspense is a literary technique used to create a feeling of anticipation or tension in the reader. In this passage, the author uses descriptive language to create a sense of unease and restlessness about the character's appearance, leaving the reader curious and eager to know what might happen next. The use of words such as "disturbing," "untidiness," "vulnerable," and "restless" heighten the suspense and create a sense of foreboding.

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The figure of speech used in the passage above is personification. Personification is a literary device in which non-human objects are given human-like qualities. In the passage, the song is given the human-like quality of being able to sing and move through the air.

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Jero's opening speech in The Trials of Brother Jero is a monologue. In a monologue, a character speaks to himself or an audience and reveals his thoughts and feelings without any interruption. In this opening speech, Jero is directly addressing the audience and shares his thoughts, ambitions, and his tactics of duping his clients into believing he has a special connection with God.

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Dramatic irony is the technique found in drama in which the audience knows something that the character(s) on stage do not know. This creates tension and anticipation in the audience and allows them to feel more involved in the story. For example, in Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet," the audience knows that Juliet is not really dead, but Romeo does not, and this creates a sense of dramatic irony that heightens the emotional impact of the scene.