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East African Poetry And Drama Question Paper

East African Poetry And Drama 

Course:Bachelor Of Arts In Literature

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2010



KENYATTA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS 2010/2011
FIRST SEMESTER EXAMINATION FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS
AND BACHELOR OF EDUCATION
ALT 201: EAST AFRICAN POETRY AND DRAMA
DATE: THURSDAY, 2ND DECEMBER 2010
TIME: 8.00 A.M. - 10.00 A.M.


INSTRUCTIONS: ANSWER QUESTION ONE AND ANY OTHER TWO.


1.
a)
?History can be said to be the hero in East African Drama.? With close


reference to any two plays covered in this course, assess the validity of the


above observation.

b)
?East African poetry is a poetry of disillusionment.? Discuss this observation,


with a critical reference to the poems in the texts Poems from East Africa or


An anthology of East African Poetry.














(15 marks)

2.
What is the relevance of studying John Ruganda?s play, Black Mamba, to our

contemporary East African experience.




(20 marks)

3.
With reference to any texts covered in this course, assess how East African

drama and poetry have been influenced by the oral mode.

(2 marks)

4.
In John Ruganda?s play, The Floods T.P Tycoon says ?What you thinks your

doesing ?? Critically explain the animosity between T.P Tycoon and the

Headmaster showing the new values that T.P Tycoon seems to project.
(20 marks)




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5.
Read the following poem and answer the questions below:


WHO AM I?
- Z. O. Osoro


Who am I? You ask

My name?s Bochaberi of Nyasaka

In my motherland is a stone,

A stone that grinds and throws floor all round

This stone is found at Otembo hill

It throws flour as it spins round and round


You ask my name?

I?m Bochaberi O?Nyasaka,

That?s my simple name,

In my motherland is a chasm,

A chasm that none has ever entered

This chasm is found I the wonderful Manga hill

Ever no one will enter this chasm.


My name I wonder why you ask me

Daughters of Nyasaka when I sing

My legs no longer carry me ?cause I?m flying!

For in my motherland is a gouard

Full of milk and honey, and me

Daughter of Ochorwa clan

Watch with delight as our calves grow fat

Innocent, feeding on milk, honey and my song!




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Let you then not ask who I am

For I belong to the proud clan

Where boys are like ebisiringi plants

That die and germinate again

Great warriors and sportsmen

Terror of the hills and ridges

Whoever shamed any daughter of this clan!

I am Bochaberi daughter of Nyakasaka






(The original composition of this poem was in Gusii, English translation is by the poet)

i)
Identify and illustrate five poetic techniques used in the poem.
(5 marks)

ii)
The original composition of this poem was in Gusii. With close


reference to the poem, assess five demerits of this kind of translation. (15 marks)
6.
Critically assess the view that African oral songs cannot be considered to

be poetry. Focus on six well illustrated points.



(20 marks)






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