WAEC SSCE - Literature In English - 2008 (Objective)

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The odd item out is "simile" because it is a literary device used in poetry and prose to compare two things using "like" or "as", while the others are all types of poems. An ode is a lyrical poem usually dedicated to a person or event, while an elegy is a poem that mourns the death of someone. A sonnet is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure.

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A question which does not require an answer is called a rhetorical question. It is asked to make a point, create an effect or emphasize a statement rather than to elicit an answer. Rhetorical questions are commonly used in speeches, literature, and everyday conversations to grab attention, engage the audience, or convey a message indirectly. For example, "Who doesn't want to be happy?" or "Do you think I'm stupid?" are rhetorical questions that do not require a direct answer but convey a strong message or opinion.

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The dominant device used in the extract is symbolism. Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In this extract, the rain symbolizes hope and new beginnings after a long period of drought. The gates of the field being flung widely open represent an opportunity for planting, while the planting of the seeds represents the process of growth and transformation. The use of symbols helps to convey the message of the poem in a more powerful and memorable way.

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A literary work written in the form of a letter is called an epistolary work. This type of literature is structured as a series of letters exchanged between characters or as a single letter written by a character to another character or an intended audience. The letters may be real or fictional, and they reveal the characters' thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Examples of epistolary works include "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, "Dracula" by Bram Stoker, and "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

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Drama is a form of literature that is meant to educate and entertain the audience. Through the portrayal of characters and their actions, drama provides insight into human behavior, society, and culture. It may also serve to criticize social norms or institutions. While it is primarily intended to be performed, drama can also be read and studied as a form of literature. Therefore, the correct answer is "educate and entertain".

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The art of creating fictional personages constitutes characterization. It is the process by which an author develops and portrays the personalities of the characters in a literary work. Characterization involves describing a character's physical appearance, personality traits, behaviors, beliefs, and motivations. This allows readers to better understand and connect with the characters in the story.

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Shakespeare's poetry consists mainly of blank verse. Blank verse is a type of poetry that has a regular meter, usually iambic pentameter, but doesn't rhyme. Shakespeare's plays, as well as his longer poems like "Venus and Adonis" and "The Rape of Lucrece," are written in blank verse. This type of poetry allows for a natural flow of speech while still maintaining a sense of structure and rhythm.

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The phrase "the lawyer addressed the bench" illustrates metonymy. Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is substituted for another word with which it is closely associated. In this case, "the bench" is a substitute for the judge or judges who sit on the bench in a courtroom.

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This sentence is an example of alliteration, which is the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. In this case, the "p" sound is repeated in the words "Peter's," "pretty," "partner," and "paid."

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Based on the given extract, the queen has died. The lines describe the moment when the queen is dying after being struck by the poisoned sword. The speaker is expressing his grief and remorse at the situation, acknowledging that there is no hope for her survival and that the treacherous instrument, the poisoned sword, is also responsible for his own impending death. Therefore, the correct option is "died".

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The speaker in this extract is Hamlet.

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"O happy torment" is an example of an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined to create a unique meaning. In this case, "happy" and "torment" are contradictory terms that are being used together to express a complex feeling.

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A writer's choice of words is his diction. Diction refers to the specific words and phrases that an author uses to convey meaning and create a particular style in their writing. It involves the selection of vocabulary, syntax, and the use of figurative language to create a particular tone or atmosphere in a piece of writing. In other words, diction is the writer's use of language to communicate their ideas and evoke a particular response or feeling from the reader.

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A piece of writing or speech at the beginning of a work of art is called the prologue. A prologue is typically used in literature, theater, or film to provide important background information or to establish the tone of the work. It is often written by the author, playwright, or director and is intended to set the stage for the rest of the work. A prologue can be in the form of a poem, a speech, or a narrative and serves as an introduction to the main story or plot.

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A stanza of four lines in poetry is called a quatrain. The word "quatrain" comes from the French word "quatre," meaning "four." A quatrain is a common type of stanza used in various forms of poetry, including sonnets, ballads, and odes. It typically consists of four lines with a specific rhyme scheme and meter. Quatrains can be written in a variety of styles, such as alternating rhyme or enclosed rhyme, and can be used to convey different themes and emotions depending on the poem's context.

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The phrase "Joyous toiling" is an example of an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two seemingly contradictory words are used together to create a paradoxical effect. In this case, the words "joyous" and "toiling" are opposite in meaning, as toiling implies hard work and effort, while joyous suggests happiness and enjoyment. The use of these two words together creates a contrast that emphasizes the satisfaction that comes with the labor of planting and growing crops.

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The speaker in this passage is Laertes. He is speaking about his own impending death as a result of the poisoned sword he used to wound Hamlet during their final duel. Laertes realizes that he himself has become a victim of the "foul practice" he had intended for Hamlet, and laments that there is no cure for the deadly poison that is now coursing through his body.

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A tragic hero is a character who possesses a tragic flaw or hamartia, which when combined with external forces or circumstances, leads to their downfall or suffering. Tragic heroes are often the protagonists of a story, and their tragic flaw can be a character trait or a mistake that they have made. The concept of the tragic hero has been used in literature for centuries and is often associated with classical Greek drama, but it can be found in many different genres and forms of literature. The tragic hero is an important literary device that allows authors to explore themes such as fate, free will, and the human condition.

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A poem of fourteen lines is a sonnet. Sonnets typically follow a specific rhyme scheme and are often divided into two parts: an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The most famous type of sonnet is the Shakespearean sonnet, which has the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG in its 14 lines. Sonnets are often used to explore themes of love, beauty, and mortality.

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The writer's diction portrays tension. The passage is filled with action and suspense as Ralph tries to escape from the savage pursuers. The descriptions of his movements, the sound of the ululation, and his physical reactions such as his chest feeling like fire all contribute to a sense of urgency and danger. There is no indication of repetition, irony, or humor in this passage.

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The concluding part of a play where the conflict is resolved is the denouement. It is the final part of the plot where the loose ends are tied up, questions are answered, and the main conflict is resolved. The denouement comes after the climax of the story and leads to the resolution of the story. It is the final moment where the audience can reflect on the outcome of the play.

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The character being addressed in the given extract is Hamlet. The lines are spoken by Laertes in Act 5, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's play "Hamlet". Laertes is referring to the poisoned sword wound he inflicted on Hamlet during their fencing match, and he realizes that he too has been struck by the same sword.

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An allegory is a literary work in which action and characters represent ideas. An allegory is a form of extended metaphor in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. In other words, an allegory is a story or a poem in which characters and events symbolize or represent something else. The purpose of an allegory is to convey a moral or political message to the reader in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

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The character being addressed is Horatio. In this passage, Hamlet is asking Horatio to observe his uncle during a play he has arranged. He wants Horatio to watch his uncle's reaction to the play and see if it reveals any signs of guilt. Therefore, Horatio is the one being addressed in this passage.

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A recurring dominant idea in a work of art is called a motif. A motif is a recurring symbol, image, theme or idea that runs throughout a literary or artistic work. It helps to unify the work and convey a particular message or idea to the audience. The motif can be a physical object, a repeated action or gesture, a color, or even a sound. By repeating the motif throughout the work, the artist or author emphasizes its importance and deepens the meaning of the work.

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Hyperbole is a deliberate use of exaggeration for the purpose of humour or emphasis. It is a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point or to create a humorous effect. Hyperbole is often used in everyday speech, literature, and poetry to add emphasis to a statement or to make it more interesting. For example, saying "I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse" is a hyperbole that exaggerates hunger to emphasize how much the person wants to eat.

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A piece of writing which teaches morals is "didactic". It is intended to instruct or educate the reader or audience about a particular moral or ethical issue. Didactic writing can take many forms, including fables, parables, allegories, and even some forms of poetry and drama. The primary purpose of didactic writing is to teach a lesson or impart a moral, rather than simply to entertain or amuse.

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The phrase "pregnant clouds" is an example of a metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable, in order to suggest a resemblance. In this case, the clouds are being compared to a pregnant woman, suggesting that they are full and heavy with the possibility of releasing precipitation.

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The phrase ''the hard and erect hoe'' suggests an agricultural tool that is being used to dig and prepare the soil for planting. It indicates the physical labor and effort involved in farming, and highlights the importance of having the right tools to work the land. It does not connote the uprooting of weeds or the sowing of seeds specifically, but rather the general act of preparing the soil for planting. Therefore, the correct option is (c) digging of the soil.

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The speaker is Hamlet. He is asking his friend Horatio to observe his uncle's reaction during the play to determine whether he is guilty of the murder of Hamlet's father or not. Hamlet suspects his uncle's guilt and hopes to confirm it through his uncle's behavior during the play.

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The literary device used in ''Ralph launched himself like a cat'' is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words "like" or "as." In this case, Ralph's launching is being compared to a cat's movement, emphasizing the quickness and agility of his action.

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In this context, "occulted guilt" means hidden or secret guilt. Hamlet is asking his friend Horatio to watch his uncle's reaction during a play to see if his guilty conscience is revealed in any way. Therefore, the answer is "conscience".

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The subject matter of the extract is farming. The poem describes the process of planting seeds and the joyous toiling that accompanies it, as well as the transformation of the seeds into new life with time and labor. The poem focuses on the beginning of the rain, which signals the start of the planting season, and the use of a hoe to dig deep into the wet soil to plant seeds of varying potency. Therefore, the main subject of the extract is the agricultural practice of farming.

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In the given extract, the speaker is advising someone to observe his uncle's reaction during a play. The uncle being referred to in this extract is Claudius, the new king of Denmark and the brother of the previous king, Hamlet's father. Claudius is also Hamlet's uncle, and the play revolves around the suspicion of Hamlet that Claudius has murdered his father to become the king. Therefore, the correct answer is Claudius.

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