East African Poetry And Drama Question Paper

East African Poetry And Drama

Course:Bachelor Of Arts In English And Linguistics

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2009

KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2008/2009
SECOND SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
ARTS

ALT 201:
EAST AFRICAN POETRY AND DRAMA

=================================================================
DATE: MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2009 TIME: 2.00 P.M. ? 4.00 P.M.
=================================================================
INSTRUCTIONS
a)
ALL candidates MUST answer THREE Questions in total, at least ONE
question from SECTION A.
b)
Candidates are strongly advised to be CLEAR, PRECISE and
ILLUSTRATIVE.
c)
In SECTION B, candidates are encouraged to only select questions relating to the
drama texts they studied in class.

SECTION A: EAST AFRICAN POETRY
Read the following poem carefully and then answer the relevant questions:

1.
FLAT TOPICS by Susan N. Kiguli (UGANDA)

A child Prostrate

Lies in the middle

Of a smoky hut

On a mountain of rags
A
mother?s
weak
hand 5

Drives an army of fatted flies

From his unseeing eyes.
Page 1 of 5

The Prestigious press

Full of shots
Of
starving
Madonna
10

Clinging to a dead child.

The Pop singer?s voice woos

His jeweled audience to toss coins

In the begging basket.

Amidst nodding sleek faces,

15

A fat finger wags

Accusing plagued people
Of
?non-performance?

Of ?dependence syndrome?
Meanwhile
a
wasted
hand
20

Scratched a tired soil.

Panoramic views of
A
frowning
reality

You see it, I live it.
Does
it
surprise
then
25

That it is no haven

For Prattling poets.

QUESTIONS

a)
What is the Poem?s subject-matter?

b)
Comment on the person?s tone.
c)
Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the poem:
i)
?The Pop singer?s voice woos

His jeweled audience to toss coins

In the begging basket.?
(Lines 12 ? 14)
Page 2 of 5

ii)
?Amidst nodding sleek faces,

A fat finger wags

Accusing plagued people?? (Lines 15 ? 17)

c)
Identify any TWO significant poetic devices.

d)
What is your precise and clear interpretation of the last stanza?

(Lines 22- 27).

2.
Make a critical appreciation of the poem below, bearing in mind:
a)
Subject- matter.
b)
Tone / Mood
c)
Significant poetic devices

MUNICIPAL
DUTY by Okumba Miruka (KENYA)

She stood by the wares

Her child tied to the back

Nibbling a dry slice

While she haggled with customers,
As
people
milled
by
5

To this and from that care,

With scary eyes.

With no warning

She had gathered

The sack across the chest

10
Darted
off

Like an antelope who has seen a lion.

Page 3 of 5

He raced after her

Wielding the municipal club
Knocking
off
pedestrians
15

In the municipal rush.

The child shrieked like a police siren

But he wasn?t deterred -
She
looked
behind
20

Gasping for scarce air ?

He only a step away.

Not caring for the lights

She dashed into the street.

As he raised the rungu

25

The driver stepped on the brakes

The car skidded with momentum

Her mouth opened, dazed

But no sound came
Except
the
agonized
crash
30

Of steel, flesh and macadam
Marshed

Leaving the uniformed phanatom
Transfixed
Executing
municipal
duty.
35

Page 4 of 5

SECTION B : EAST AFRICAN DRAMA

3.
Identify and discuss John Ruganda?s dramatic style in The Burdens.

4.
Critically discuss the relevance of Francis Imbuga?s Aminata in contemporary
African
society.

5.
Compare the characters of ZIRA and ORIOMRA in Francis Imbuga?s The
Successor. Which ONE do you prefer and WHY?

6.
What do you think about David Mulwas?s Redemption?

7.
How have you benefited from studying ALT 201 in this Semester?

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