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Theory And History Of Literature Question Paper

Theory And History Of Literature

Course:Bachelor Of Arts In Literature

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2007

KENY ATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2007/2008
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR
OF EDUCATION AND BACHELOR OF ARTS
ALT 303: THEORY AND HISTORY OF LITERATURE
DATE: Tuesday 2ih November 2007
TIME: 8.00 am - 10.00 am
INSTRUCTIONS:
Answer any three questions.
Avoid duplication of materials.
1. Either:
(a)
To what extent would you agree or disagree with the statement that
"Literature is pure propaganda".
Give reasons for your answer(s)
OR
(b)
Discuss the importance of theory in the interpretation of literature.
2. Either:
(a)
Between Plato and Aristotle who do you think provides most applicable
theories to modern literature?
OR
(b)
Referring closely to what happens to the main characters in Shakespeare's
play Othello examine the extent to which the text can be said to be a tragedy.
3. Either:
(a)
Define the theory of realism and relate it to Alex La Guma In The Fog ofthe
Season's End.
OR
(b)
Basing your answer on what happens in the novella, justify Leo Tolstoy's
title Happy Ever After.
I

4. Either:
(a)
The theory of The Great Tradition by T.S. Eliot is quite evident in Ngugi wa
Thiong'o's
"A Grain of Wheat". Discuss.
OR
(a)
Discuss Ngugi's novel A Grain of Wheat in terms of artististic
progress and
moral function of literature.
5. To what extent would argue for or against the contention that So Long a Letter by
Marriam Ba is an echo of the feminist theory?
6. Assess the application of the ideas of social and critical realism to contemporary
literary texts.
7. Either:
(a) What is your personal response to the poetry of Negritude?
OR
(b) Respond to the poem Telephone Conversation below in terms of style and the
way it expresses negritudinist ideas.
Telephone Conversation - Wale Soyinka
The price seemed reasonable, Location
Indifferent.
The Landlady swore she lived
Off premises. Nothing remained
But self-confession.
"Madam, 'I warned,
'I hate a wasted journey - I am African."
Silence. Silenced transmission of
Pressurized good-breeding.
Voice, when it came,
Lipstick coated, longgold-rolled
Cigarette-holder
piped. Caught I was, foully,
"HOW 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-both.
Red double-tiered
Omnibus squelching tar. It was real shamed
By ill-mannered silence, surrender.
Pushed dumbfoundment
to beg simplification
Considerate she was, varying the emphasis -
'ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT, Revealation came
'You mean -like plain or milk chocolate?"

Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light
Impersonality.
Rapidly, wave length adjusted,
I chose. 'West African Sepia'. And as afterthought,
'Down in my passport.
'Silence for spectroscopic
Flight or fancy, till truthfulness clanged her accent on the
Mouthpiece.
'WHAT'S THAT?" conceding
'DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. 'Like brunette.'
'THAT'S DARK, ISNT IT? Not altogether.
Facially, I am brunette, but madam, you should see
The rst of me. Palm of my hand, soles of my feet
Are a peroxide blonde. Friction, caused foolishly modam - by
Sitting down, has turned
My bottom raven black - one MOMENT madam!' - sensing
Her receiver rearing 0 the thunderclap
About my ears - 'madam,' I pleaded, wound't you
Rather
See for yourself?

Theory And History Of Literature Question Paper

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