JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 2022

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Wole Soyinka is better known as a playwright than as a novelist. Soyinka is a Nigerian writer who is one of the most prominent and celebrated playwrights in Africa. He has written numerous plays, including "The Lion and the Jewel," "Death and the King's Horseman," and "A Dance of the Forests," which have been performed around the world. While Soyinka has also written novels, such as "The Interpreters" and "Season of Anomy," he is generally better known for his plays. In fact, he was the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986, largely for his contributions to the genre of drama. So, if you were asked which of the four writers is better known as a playwright than as a novelist, the answer would be Wole Soyinka.

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Dramatis personae refers to the list of characters in a play or theatrical production. It provides information about the names, roles, and sometimes descriptions of the characters in the play. This list serves as a reference for the audience to keep track of the different characters and their relationships to the story. The dramatis personae is usually included in the beginning of a play, after the title page and before the start of the script. It is also sometimes called the "cast list" or "list of characters." It is not the same as the protagonist and antagonist, who are specific characters within the play, but rather a comprehensive list of all characters appearing in the play, regardless of their importance or role. It is also not related to the order of appearance, which refers to the sequence in which the characters appear on stage.

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The extract is an example of an elegy, which is a type of poem that mourns the loss of someone or something. In this case, the elegy is mourning the loss of two different professions - the hunter and the blacksmith - who both leave behind only poverty despite their skills and hard work. The elegy highlights the harsh realities of life and the unequal distribution of wealth and resources, even among those who work hard and are skilled in their professions.

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The dominant figure of speech in the passage is alliteration. Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of multiple words in a phrase or sentence. In this passage, the repeated "b" and "f" sounds in "fair breeze blew," "white foam flew," and "furrow followed free" create a pleasing and rhythmic effect, and help to emphasize the sense of movement and excitement in the language. The repetition of these sounds also helps to unify the description of the sea and the ship's journey.

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The hero whose weakness contributes to his downfall is called a "tragic hero." In literature, a tragic hero is a character who possesses admirable qualities and achieves great success, but eventually meets with a tragic end due to a fatal flaw or weakness in their character. This flaw or weakness, often referred to as their "hamartia," leads the hero to make poor decisions or take actions that ultimately result in their downfall. The concept of the tragic hero has been used in literature for centuries and can be seen in works ranging from ancient Greek plays to modern novels and films.

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The exclusive right given to authors to protect their works from unlawful production is called a "copyright." It is a legal concept that grants authors, artists, and other creators the right to control the use and distribution of their original works, such as books, music, and movies. This means that no one else can reproduce or distribute the work without the permission of the copyright owner, unless they are using it under a specific exception or limitation allowed by law. Copyright is a fundamental tool that encourages creativity and helps to protect the economic interests of creators by giving them control over how their works are used and distributed.

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Literature is studied as a subject at school for several important reasons. First, it exposes students to different perspectives, cultures, and experiences that they may not have encountered otherwise. By reading literature, students can develop empathy and understanding for people and situations that are different from their own. Second, literature can be entertaining, but it also challenges students to think critically and engage with complex ideas. Reading literature helps students develop analytical and interpretive skills that are useful in all areas of life, including academic and professional pursuits. Third, literature teaches students to use language effectively and creatively. By reading and analyzing literary works, students can develop a richer vocabulary, improve their writing skills, and become better communicators overall. In summary, literature is studied as a subject at school because it exposes students to new perspectives and experiences, challenges them to think critically, and teaches them to use language effectively.

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The term that describes an irredeemable reversal of the hero's fortune in a tragedy is "peripeteia". It refers to the moment in a tragic plot when the protagonist's fortune suddenly changes from good to bad, usually because of a mistake they make or an unexpected turn of events. This change of fortune is irreversible and leads to the tragic conclusion of the play. For example, in the play "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles, the peripeteia occurs when Oedipus, who has been trying to solve the mystery of his true identity, discovers that he has unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. This revelation marks the irreversible turning point in the plot and ultimately leads to Oedipus's downfall.

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The phrase "I hate brave cowards like you" is an example of an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms to create a new meaning. In this case, "brave" and "coward" are opposite terms, as someone who is brave is usually not considered a coward, and vice versa. Therefore, the phrase creates a contradictory statement that is both confusing and intriguing.

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The device used in the second line of the excerpt, "Like Jehovah, God of the Jews," is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two different things using "like" or "as." In this case, the speaker is comparing their feelings of jealousy and passion to the qualities of Jehovah, the God of the Jews, using the word "like." The simile helps to create a vivid image in the reader's mind and emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's emotions.

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A character that is always against the interest of the protagonist is called a villain. A villain is usually the main antagonist in a story and their goal is to oppose the protagonist, who is the main character in the story. The villain's actions and intentions are in direct opposition to the protagonist and create conflict and obstacles for the protagonist to overcome.

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The predominant figure of speech used in the lines above is a metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech that refers to something as being another thing in order to draw a comparison between them. In this case, William Blake uses the metaphor of a grain of sand to represent the entire world, and a wildflower to represent heaven. He is saying that one can see the entirety of the world and heaven in something as small and insignificant as a grain of sand or a wildflower. The metaphor helps to emphasize the idea that small things can contain vast and infinite qualities, which is the overall message of the poem.

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The line "Rays of sun peeping through the cloud" is an example of personification. Personification is a literary device that gives human qualities or actions to non-human things, such as objects or animals. In this case, the rays of sun are given the human action of "peeping," which is not something that the physical rays of sun can actually do. This personification creates a vivid image in the reader's mind, allowing them to imagine the sun's rays as a curious, living thing that is peeking through the clouds.

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A flashback is a device used by a writer to recall past events in a literary work. It is a scene or sequence in a story that interrupts the present action to show events that happened in the past. It helps the reader to understand the background of the characters or events and provides more information about the story. Flashbacks are often used to provide a deeper insight into the motivations, feelings, or experiences of the characters.

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A literary work that ridicules the shortcomings of people or ideas is called a satire. Satire is a type of writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or expose the flaws, vices, or follies of society or individuals. It often targets politicians, religious figures, or other public figures who are seen as deserving of criticism or ridicule. The purpose of satire is to bring about change or improvement in society by pointing out its flaws or weaknesses in a way that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Examples of famous satirical works include George Orwell's Animal Farm, Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, and Voltaire's Candide.

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A narrative poem must tell a story. Unlike other forms of poetry, narrative poetry focuses on the narration of a sequence of events or a story. It often employs various literary devices such as meter, rhyme, and figurative language to make the storytelling more engaging and impactful. While a narrative poem can also contain themes or messages, its primary purpose is to entertain or enlighten the reader through a compelling and engaging narrative.

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In rhetoric, an anaphora is a rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis. In contrast, an epistrophe is repeating words at the clauses' ends. The combination of anaphora and epistrophe results in symploce.

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In the first sentence, cars are described as fish. The author uses the metaphor of a shoal of fish swimming past to describe a group of cars driving by. The comparison emphasizes the fast, fluid movement of the cars as they drive past.

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A round character, also known as a dynamic character, is a type of character in a story who experiences growth, change, and development throughout the story. Unlike flat characters, who remain the same throughout the story and serve as background characters, round characters have complex personalities, motivations, and experiences that shape who they are and how they respond to the events of the story. They are often the main characters in the story, such as the protagonist, and their growth and change is a key part of the story's conflict and resolution. A foil, on the other hand, is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight their unique qualities and traits.

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Chanson is a form of love song that originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is a musical composition characterized by its romantic lyrics and melody. Chansons were typically sung by minstrels, bards, and troubadours and often dealt with themes of love, courtship, and chivalry. They were very popular in Europe during the medieval period and continue to be a beloved form of music to this day.

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A narrator in a prose work who is also a character is called a participatory narrator. This type of narrator is a character within the story and is not only telling the story, but they are also participating in the events and experiences of the story. They may have personal opinions, emotions, and biases that influence their telling of the story, which makes the narrative more personal and subjective.

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The mood conveyed here is one of sadness. The description of the "sad" harvest and the farmers weeping as they harvest "miserable yams" creates a melancholic and gloomy atmosphere. The reference to one farmer's suicide reinforces the sense of sadness and despair. The tone is somber, reflecting the difficult circumstances of the farmers and their struggle to survive. Overall, the passage evokes a mood of sorrow and distress.

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Burlesque (pronounced ber-lesk) is a style in literature and drama that mocks or imitates a subject by representing it in an ironic or ludicrous way; resulting in comedy. It is a form of the literary genre, satire. The term “burlesque” originates from the Italian burla and later burlesco, meaning ridicule, mockery, or joke. Correspondingly, burlesque creates humor by ridiculing or mimicking serious works, genres, subjects, and/or authors in one of two ways: either by presenting significant subjects in an absurd or crude way, or by presenting insignificant subjects in a sophisticated way. As a literary and dramatic device, the term is often used interchangeably with parody, though a parody is actually type of burlesque.

This article focuses on the original, literary understanding of Burlesque, should not be confused with the modern understanding of the word burlesque; which is actually American Burlesque—a genre of variety show that has been popular since the late 1800’s

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The term that applies to the discussion of both tragedy and comedy is "climax." The climax is the turning point in a story where the conflict reaches its highest point of tension. In a tragedy, this is often the moment where the tragic hero meets his or her fate, while in a comedy, it is the moment when the main character overcomes a challenge or obstacle. Regardless of the genre, the climax is the most intense and memorable part of the story, and it is what helps to keep the audience engaged and invested in the outcome.

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Metre in a literary piece refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. It is what creates the rhythm of the poem. When we read a poem out loud, we naturally emphasize certain syllables more than others, and the pattern of these emphasized syllables is what creates the metre. For example, in the line "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain" from the musical My Fair Lady, the stress falls on the first syllable of "rain," the second syllable of "Spain," the first syllable of "mainly," and the second syllable of "plain." The metre of a poem can be regular or irregular, depending on the poet's intentions. For example, a poem written in iambic pentameter has a regular pattern of ten syllables per line, with the stress falling on every other syllable. In contrast, a free verse poem has no regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, allowing the poet more flexibility and creativity in their writing. In summary, metre in a literary piece refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry, which creates the poem's rhythm.

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The above lines are an example of repetition. Specifically, it's an example of the repetition of the phrase "I had not". Repetition is a literary device in which a word or phrase is repeated multiple times for emphasis, clarity, or to create a specific effect. In this case, the repetition of "I had not" emphasizes the speaker's lack of knowledge and experience. It's worth noting that there are no examples of apostrophe, alliteration, or assonance in these lines. Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an imaginary or absent person, object, or idea. Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial sound in a sequence of words. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

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Of the options given, poetry is generally considered the oldest genre of literature. Poetry has been around for thousands of years, with examples dating back to ancient civilizations such as the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Greeks. One reason why poetry is considered the oldest genre is because it was often used in oral traditions to tell stories and convey important cultural and religious beliefs. Before writing was widely used, people would memorize and recite poems as a way to preserve their history and traditions. In addition, poetry is often characterized by its use of language and form, which can convey meaning and emotion in a powerful way. This use of language to express thoughts and feelings is a fundamental aspect of human communication, and poetry has been used to do this for centuries. While prose, drama, and other genres have certainly been around for a long time as well, poetry has a longer history and has played an important role in the development of literature and human expression.

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A travelogue is a written record or story of a writer's personal experiences during a journey or trip. It often includes descriptions of places visited, people met, food eaten, and events encountered during the journey. The purpose of a travelogue is to share the writer's unique perspective and provide insights into the cultures and customs of the places they visited. Travelogues can be found in various forms, including books, articles, and blogs, and they can be written in a variety of styles, from formal to informal. However, a travelogue is not the account of an individual's entire life, the story of a character in a novel, or a variant of a novel.

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If we describe Kossoh Town Boy as an autobiography, it means that it is a piece of writing that tells us about the life of its author. Autobiographies are written by the people themselves and they describe their own life experiences, including their successes, failures, joys, and sorrows. In the case of Kossoh Town Boy, it is a story written by the author himself, Bai T. Moore, that recounts his childhood experiences growing up in a small town in Liberia. Autobiographies provide readers with a unique perspective into the life of the author, and can be a valuable tool for understanding the experiences and perspectives of people from different cultures and backgrounds.

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Mock-heroic poetry is a type of poetry that takes a trivial or ordinary subject and elevates it by using the grand style and language of classical epic poetry, typically to humorous effect. It's essentially a form of irony or satire that pokes fun at the grandiose style of epic poetry by applying it to a mundane or inconsequential subject. The goal of mock-heroic poetry is to make the reader see the absurdity of taking something small and treating it as if it were something big and important.

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The odd item in the list is "Twelfth Night." "Raisin in the Sun," "Ozidi," and "The Concubine" are all works of literature that originate from African American, African, and Nigerian cultures, respectively. "Twelfth Night," on the other hand, is a play written by William Shakespeare in the early 17th century and belongs to the category of English Renaissance theatre. While all the other items belong to non-Western cultures, "Twelfth Night" belongs to Western culture.

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Empathy occurs when the audience shares in the stage experience. The audience in the theatre follows performance and simultaneously understands the feelings of the dramatis personae.