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East African Poetry And Drama Question Paper

East African Poetry And Drama

Course:Bachelor Of Education Arts

Institution: Kenyatta University question papers

Exam Year:2012

DATE: Monday 6th August, 2012 TIME: 2.00pm-4.00pm

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer question ONE and any Two others (making a total of three)
Question One
Read the following poem by Oludhe Macgoye carefully and give a candid appreciation of the poem. In your answer try to identify and discuss at least four poetic styles used by various East African poets.
M.Oludhe-Macgoye (25 marks)
OMERA
(In memory of Okot p'Bitek)
So they have got you down at last, omera,
unmanned,incombatant, silenced, costrained,
bound in the noisy dark where small things burrow
and leaves that once waved high and proudly moulder.

So you will taste-what a one you were for tasting-
the soggy gobs of soil, the brittle fibres
of roots from which earth crumbles in dry seasons,
the borers droning through the drowning silence.

So your are stilled-the long arm, sideways smile,
the arch, back-handed question, the arrogant
unhesitating machismo, all-embracing,
the eyes in the back of your head, the story telling,

the tumbling lines, assertions, contradictions,
deep reverence underlying lightest words,
the fundamental kindness. You cannot live
by half-light or half-speaking or half-knowing.

So may the night be fierce for you with stars
blazing, with prowlers beautified in power,
dark traceries rounding into limbs and branches,
old stories lightened into touch and action.

Where homesteads crumbled, let again the pumpkin
take root and bind the soil, speaking beasts, singers
and sinuous dancers share all secrets with you-
tell how we, in the shadowy city, loved you.

Question Two
How does culture influence the stylistic choices adopted by East African dramatists?
[22 marks]

Question three
Either
a) " Kinjeketile in Kinjeketile by Ebrahim Hussein is optimistic that through Hondo the use of water as a symbol of unity, immunity and love will protect his people against the Germans but he fails." Discuss in light with what happens in the play. [22 marks]

Or
b)Of what relevance is Okot p'Bitek's Song of Lawino to you as a student of literature?
[22 marks]

Question Four
Either
a) How closely does Alamin Mazrui in the 'Shadows of the Moon' depict what has happened to many African failed states? [22 marks]

Or
b) 'Ngugi wa Thiong'o and Micere Mugo manipulate history to immortalize Kimathi's heroism in " The Trial of Dedan Kimathi".' Discuss [22 marks]

Question Five
Either
a)What cause misgivings to Jonathan Juma and the people around him and his family in 'Role Play' by Sibi Okumu. [22 marks]

Or
b) "John Ruganda's The Floods addresses morality and politics in equal measure". Discuss the truth of this statement. [22 marks]

East African Poetry And Drama Question Paper

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