Get premium membership and access revision papers, questions with answers as well as video lessons.
Got a question or eager to learn? Discover limitless learning on WhatsApp now -
Start Now!
Litt 311:African Poetry Question Paper
Litt 311:African Poetry
Course:Education
Institution: Kenya Methodist University question papers
Exam Year:2013
KENYA METHODIST UNIVERSITY
END OF 2''ND ''TRIMESTER 2013 (DAY) EXAMINATION
FACULTY : EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT : EDUCATION
UNIT CODE : LITT 311
UNIT TITLE : AFRICAN POETRY
TIME : 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS
Answer any three questions
Question One
Analyze the controversy surrounding the definition of African poetry. (20 Marks)
Question Two
Discuss the extent to which Okot P’ Bitek borrows from African oral traditions in his poems Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol. (20 Marks)
Question Three
With examples from an African poem of your choice, discuss five issues addressed by African poets. (20 Marks)
Question Four
Would you consider Leopold Sedar Senghor’s poems African? Support your answer with specific examples. (20 Marks)
Question Five
Give an analysis of the following poem (20 Marks)
Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka
The price seemed reasonable, location
Indifferent. The landlady swore she lived
Off premises. Nothing remained
But self-confession. "Madam," I warned
5 "I hate a wasted journery – I am African."
Silence silenced transmission of
Pressurized good-breeding. Voice,, when it came,
Lipstick coated, long gold – rolled
Cigarette – holder pipped. Caught I was foully
10"HOE DARK?"… I had not misheard…"ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?" Button B. Button A. Stench
Of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak.
Red booth. Red pillar-box. Red Double – tiered
Omnibus squelching tar. It was real! Shamed
15 By ill-mannered silence surrender
Pushed dumbfoundment to beg simplification
Considerate she was, varying the emphasis –
"ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?" Revelation came
"you mean – like plain or milk chocolate?"
Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light
Impersonality, Rapidly, wavelength adjusted,
I chose. "West African sepia" – and as an afterthought,
"Down in my passport." Silence for spectroscopic
Flight of fancy, till truthfulness changes her accent
Hard on the mouthpiece. "WHATS THAT?" conceding,
"DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS." "Like brunette."
"THAT’S DARK, ISN’S IT?" "Not altogether.
Facially, I am brunette, but madam, you should see
The rest of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet
30Are peroxide blonde. Friction, caused –
Foolishly, madam – by sitting down, has turned
My bottom raven black – One moment madam" – sensing
Her receiver rearing on the thunderclap
About my ears – "Madam" I pleaded, "wouldn’t you rather
See for yourself?"
More Question Papers
Popular Exams
Return to Question Papers