JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 2012

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In literary work, verbal irony refers to a device in which the speaker means the opposite of what they say. Verbal irony occurs when a character says something but means something entirely different. The contrast between what is said and what is meant can create a humorous or sarcastic effect, or it can be used to convey a deeper meaning or message. For example, if a character in a story says "Oh, wonderful!" after something terrible happens, that would be an example of verbal irony because the character does not actually think that the situation is wonderful, but is using sarcasm to express their true feelings.

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The description is in reference to the foot of Meka, a character in Ferdinand Oyono's The Old Man and the Medal. The text describes how Meka had knocked his toes against so many things that he had lost his toenails and how the yaws he had suffered from his youth had twisted his toes up so that they pointed to the sky.

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The paternal aunt to Aaron and Maanan in J.C. De Graft's "Sons and Daughters" is Fosuwa. This can be inferred from the text where it is stated that Fosuwa is "the wife of the old man’s brother" and that "she had come to live with them after her husband died." Since Aaron and Maanan are the sons of the "old man," who is also referred to as "Father," this means that Fosuwa is their paternal aunt. Additionally, in the story, Fosuwa is depicted as a caring and supportive figure to the boys, offering them advice and guidance as they navigate the challenges of growing up in a changing world.

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In these lines, Juliet's beauty is presented "in contrast to the dark night." The lines describe Juliet's appearance using a metaphor, comparing her to a bright torch that illuminates the darkness. The phrase "teach the torches to burn bright" suggests that her beauty is so radiant that it outshines even the brightest flames. The second line reinforces this contrast by describing Juliet as if she were hanging in the darkness, like a jewel set against a dark background. This contrast emphasizes the purity and brightness of Juliet's beauty, and implies that she stands out even in the darkest of surroundings. Overall, the lines present Juliet's beauty as a shining beacon of light in an otherwise dark world.

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The excerpt "the youthful hue/sits on thy skin like a morning dew" from Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" is an example of a simile. A simile is a literary device that compares two things using "like" or "as" to create a vivid and imaginative image in the reader's mind. In this case, the speaker is comparing the youthful appearance of his mistress's skin to the morning dew, which is a clear and fresh symbol of newness and vitality. Therefore, the correct option is a simile.

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The classical tragedy in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is primarily shown through the use of violence on stage. Throughout the play, there are several scenes where violence is portrayed, such as the street fight between the Capulets and Montagues, the murder of Tybalt by Romeo, and the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet. The play is also characterized by the tragic downfall of the main characters, which is a hallmark of classical tragedy. Additionally, the play features a tragic hero, Romeo, who possesses a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. These elements are all characteristic of classical tragedy and are present in Romeo and Juliet.

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The poet in the excerpt above uses onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is a literary device in which words imitate sounds. In this excerpt, the words "drums" and "guns" imitate the sounds they represent. By using onomatopoeic words, the poet creates a vivid and sensory experience for the reader, allowing them to imagine the sounds of the drums and guns in their mind. This is a powerful way to engage the reader and create a memorable and impactful moment in the poem.

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A poet's use of regular rhythm is known as "metre." Metre refers to the rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem. It is what creates the beat and flow of the poem, and helps to establish its overall structure and tone. Poets can use a variety of metre patterns, such as iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic, to achieve different effects and convey different meanings. Regular metre can create a sense of stability and order in a poem, while irregular metre can create a feeling of disruption or chaos. Overall, metre is an essential element of poetry, helping to shape its sound and meaning.

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In Lawrence's poem "Bat," the poet compares bats with swallows. The comparison is made in order to contrast the traditional and conventional beauty of birds with the eerie and unsettling image of bats. Lawrence describes bats as "creepy" creatures that fly "erratically," creating a sense of unease and disturbance. By comparing them to swallows, which are traditionally seen as beautiful and graceful birds, Lawrence creates a powerful contrast that emphasizes the strangeness of bats. Overall, the comparison adds to the poem's overall theme of the unexpected and the unconventional, and encourages the reader to see the world in a new and different way.

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In Kunene's A Heritage of Liberation, the weapons are to be preserved for the generation yet unborn by the elders. This means that the older, wiser members of the community are responsible for keeping the tools of liberation (the "weapons") safe and passing them on to future generations. This is because the elders have the experience and knowledge necessary to ensure that the weapons are used for the right purposes and in the right ways. By preserving the weapons, the elders are also preserving the heritage and culture of their people, which is important for maintaining a sense of identity and community. The government or gods are not mentioned as the ones responsible for preserving the weapons in this particular poem.

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The tone of the lines is one of sarcasm. Sarcasm is a tone that uses irony or humor to express a point, often in a critical or sarcastic manner. In these lines, the speaker is using sarcasm to mock the idea of people with big mouths being watched by others. The idea of large mouths shaped by the laughter of big children is meant to be absurd and the speaker is using sarcasm to criticize this notion.

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The imagery created in the given excerpt is achieved through personification. This is because the line "They do not see the funeral piles / At home eating up the forests" attributes human characteristics of eating to the funeral piles and suggests that they are consuming the forests. This vividly portrays the destructive effects of war and the devastation it brings to nature. The personification helps to create a powerful image in the reader's mind, making the poem more memorable and impactful.

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A fable is a story in which animals or things are used as characters. These characters are often given human-like qualities and engage in actions and interactions that convey a moral or lesson. The purpose of a fable is to teach a lesson or make a point about human behavior, and the characters and events in the story are used to illustrate the message. In a fable, the characters and events are often exaggerated or simplified to make the point more clear and memorable. The story is usually short and concise, and the moral is often stated directly at the end. Fables have been a popular form of storytelling for thousands of years and are found in many different cultures. They are often passed down from generation to generation and continue to be popular today, as the lessons they teach are still relevant and applicable to modern life. Therefore, a fable is a story in which animals or things are used as characters.

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The dominant mood in the lines from Wole Soyinka's poem "Night" is apprehension. The words "serrated shadows" and "dark leaves" create an ominous atmosphere, which is reinforced by the use of the word "pained." The speaker feels "faceless" and "silent," which suggests a sense of powerlessness or vulnerability. The image of "night thieves" further contributes to the sense of danger and unease. Overall, the language and imagery in these lines suggest a mood of fear and apprehension.

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Drama is a form of literature that represents a complete series of actions through performance. These actions are typically portrayed by actors who use a combination of speech, movement, and gesture to bring the story to life. In the case of drama, the actions are represented through speech, movement, and gesture for the stage, screen, and radio. This means that the actors use their voices to speak the dialogue, their bodies to move around the stage or screen, and their gestures to convey emotion and meaning. While drama can be performed for the stage, it can also be adapted for the screen or radio, depending on the medium in which it is presented. Regardless of the medium, however, drama is always a representation of a complete series of actions through performance. Therefore, the correct option is "speech, movement and gesture for the stage, screen and radio".

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The literary genre that directly imitates human action is drama. Drama is a type of literature that is performed on stage or screen and portrays characters in a direct and realistic manner. It typically includes dialogue, actions, and stage directions to bring the story to life. Unlike prose and poetry, which are written in a narrative or descriptive style, drama presents characters and events in a way that closely resembles real-life situations. This is achieved through the use of dialogue, which allows the characters to interact with one another and convey their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Comedy is a genre that aims to entertain and amuse the audience through humor, often by using exaggerated or absurd situations. Although it may involve human action, it is not necessarily a direct imitation of it. Poetry is a genre that uses language to create a specific rhythm, sound, and meaning. While it may draw inspiration from human action, it is not primarily focused on directly imitating it. Prose refers to any form of written or spoken language that is not poetry. It can include a wide variety of genres, such as novels, essays, and biographies. While it may describe or depict human action, it does not necessarily aim to directly imitate it in the way that drama does.

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In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, Winston writes that the hope of the country lies on the "proles". The proles are the working-class people who make up the majority of the population in Oceania, the fictional country where the story takes place. They are not subject to the same strict rules and regulations as members of the ruling party and have more freedom to live their lives as they see fit. Winston believes that the proles have the potential to rise up against the oppressive party and bring about change in the country. However, he also acknowledges that the proles are largely ignorant and apathetic towards the political situation and may not have the will or ability to overthrow the government. Overall, Winston sees the proles as a possible source of hope for the future, but also recognizes the difficulties and challenges that would come with trying to mobilize them to take action.

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The speaker in these lines detects discrimination. The phrase "Unequal laws unto a savage race" implies that there are laws in place that treat a group of people unfairly or unequally. The use of the word "savage" suggests that the group in question may be viewed as inferior or uncivilized by the speaker or the society at large. Additionally, the reference to "board, and sleep, and feed" suggests that the discrimination may be related to basic needs such as food, shelter, and rest. Overall, these lines suggest that the speaker is aware of the existence of unequal treatment and may be critical of it.

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The juxtaposition of two contrasting ideas in a line of poetry is known as an oxymoron. It is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms in a single phrase to create an effect. The aim is to create an element of surprise, humor, or tension in the poem. An example of an oxymoron is "sweet sorrow," where the terms sweet and sorrow are opposite in meaning but are combined to create a unique effect.

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In the theater, words spoken by a character that are meant to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters on stage is called an "aside." An aside is a type of monologue in which a character speaks their thoughts or feelings directly to the audience, but the other characters on stage are not meant to hear what they are saying. This allows the audience to gain insight into the character's thoughts and motivations, and can also be used to provide commentary or humor. The use of asides is a common technique in theatrical storytelling, and helps to create a deeper connection between the audience and the characters.

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The figure of speech in the lines "O! Ceremony, show me but thy worth / What is thy soul of adoration" is an apostrophe. Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent or imaginary person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object. In this case, the speaker is addressing the abstract concept of "ceremony," which is being personified as if it were a person with a "soul of adoration." The use of the exclamation "O!" adds emphasis and emotion to the address, highlighting the speaker's desire to know the true value and meaning of ceremony. Overall, the use of apostrophe in these lines helps to convey the speaker's sense of curiosity and longing for a deeper understanding of the subject at hand.

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A literary work in which the characters and events are used as symbols is known as an allegory. In an allegory, the characters, events, and setting represent ideas or concepts that are larger than the story itself. The characters and events serve as symbols that stand for something beyond their literal meaning. For example, in George Orwell's "Animal Farm," the farm animals symbolize different political factions, and their interactions and power struggles represent the events leading up to the Russian Revolution. The purpose of an allegory is often to make a political or moral point, or to comment on human nature. By using symbols, the writer can convey a message in a way that is more powerful and memorable than if they simply stated it outright.

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From J.C. De Graft's Sons and Daughters, George is a medical doctor. This means that he has completed the necessary education and training to diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and other medical conditions. As a doctor, George would be responsible for examining patients, ordering tests and procedures, prescribing medications, and providing medical advice and treatment. In the play, George's profession as a doctor is likely to be important to the plot and character development. However, the options of laboratory assistant, pharmacist, and nurse are not relevant to George's profession in this particular work.

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The dominant figure of speech in the given excerpt is a simile. This is because the comparison between the people praying and camels waiting to be loaded is made using the word "like", which is a common marker for similes. Specifically, the people are compared to camels in their posture and appearance, suggesting that they are similarly burdened or oppressed.

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In Buchi Emecheta's The Joys of Motherhood, the Ibuza community places a lot of importance on childbirth as a symbol of marital success and fulfillment. The ability to bear children, especially male children, is highly valued and is seen as a measure of a woman's worth and her husband's virility. This emphasis on fertility and procreation puts pressure on women to have children, even if it means sacrificing their own health and well-being. This is exemplified in the character of Nnu Ego, who is driven to desperation in her quest to have children and gain social acceptance in her community. Overall, the Ibuza community's emphasis on childbirth highlights the gendered expectations and power dynamics that exist within traditional African societies.

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