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The River and the Source: Margaret A. OgolaRead the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.“Hey, was an army passing this way, Mother?” asked...

The River and the Source: Margaret A. Ogola
Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.
“Hey, was an army passing this way, Mother?” asked Aoro.
“It is not every day my grandchildren – all of them, come to see me; and I am a farmer; I have plenty of food – fresh from the garden, not like that frozen tasteless stuff you people eat in the city.”
“Agreed! Agreed!” answered her eldest son waving a juicy looking drumstick in the air. She noticed with motherly approval that he had started to fill out and his eyes were happy and settled. For a while, she had feared that this particular son was headed for trouble. But that had been long ago in his boyhood. She had been mistaken – happy mistake. She noted with concern, however, that Wandia seemed to have little to say. Something was a miss.
After the meal the children ran out to chase whatever farm animals they could find and to exercise their city cramped limbs. Aoro and Tony decided to take a walk together. Opiyo and his twin went to admire a herd of high breed cattle. Mark sat on the veranda admiring his scampering many hued grandchildren and Elizabeth and Wandia went to the kitchen – the only place where a woman can expect not to be disturbed for a while, especially when all are well fed.
“Yes tell me. Is he giving you a hard time or something?” Elizabeth asked and Wandia looked at her startled.
“No! No! I mean – gosh – am I so obvious?”
“ I can read you like a book, my girl.”
“I have a scholarship to study in America for a year.”
“And he is against it?”
“No! He is not. In fact he is all for it. But how can I leave him with five children?”
“Don’t worry about him. You see if you don’t go, it is something that will haunt you – a lost chance is very hard to live with. We will all chip in to give him a hand with the children. Mary is also there in Nairobi with absolutely no responsibility whatsoever. They will be OK. Just organize your affairs and go do what you have to do.
“Oh, thank you so much! Now I can tell the good news to my own family. I didn’t want to have to disappoint them.” The two women looked at each other with understanding. The leaving and cleaving was always more difficult for a woman who has to tear herself from so much, and give so much – which almost always went unnoticed.
The children, who apparently have some very powerful grinders in their tummies started rushing back into the house to ask for this, that or the other to eat and their solitude was broken as they attended to their needs, but Wandia was now at peace.
Father Tony and Aoro were reminiscing, about the escapades of their boyhood and each memory was punctuated by great gales of laughter. Eventually they got around to more serious talk.
“Great girl you have there.” Observed Tony.
“Yes. I am a lucky man. She does a wonderful job with the kids – Becky’s as well as ours. How about you Tony?
How’s the priesthood? Are you happy?”
“Absolutely. It is my life and it fulfills me completely. You know the priesthood is quiet like medicine.

Answers

Peter
a) What happens immediately before this excerpt?
Wandia requests Aoro to take her and family to NJoro in order to visitAwiti to seek adviceon the scholarship. At Njoro, they have a good time; meeting relations and sharing experiences and meals. Wandia and Awiti engage in a dialogue at the kitchen.

b) What is the purpose of dialogue in this excerpt?
Dialogue brings out the warm relationship between Wandia and Awiti. It brings out Wandia’s nature as concerned. She could not disclose the scholarship issue to her family at first without consulting for she thought it could affect the stability of the family.

c) How are female characters brought out in this excerpt?
They are brought out as supportive. ?1 Wandia seeks help from Awiti while offers insightful advice to Wandia and even offers to help. They are brought out as strong characters. Despite having six children, Wandia is making a serious decision of pursuing her scholarship in abroad. She resembles Awiti. ?1

d) “The children, who apparently have some very powerful grinders in their tummies.”
Identify the figure of speech in the above statement and its importance.
Figurative language/humour. It breaks the tension created especially when placed immediately after Wandia makes a serious decision.

e) Identify an idiom and give its meaning.

Tear herself – struggle / work hard
Powerful grinders – active and in need of lots of energy / food.

f) Identify and comment on any two thematic concerns in the excerpt.
Family unity / family cohesion Wandia and Awiti who are members of the same larger family are united and supportive of each other. They are concerned about family members.
Feminism. Females in this context are archetypal figures. They bond in order to go about the common challenges met by females. Awiti is concerned whether Aoro is an oppressive force to Wandia’s development.

g) “I have a scholarship to study in America for a year” (write in reported speech)
Wandia reported that she had a scholarship in America for a year.
h) From elsewhere in the novel make notes on the achievements of Wandia.
• Excels at the university
• Emerges the best in human anatomy
• Attains a PHD
• Supports her aging mother
• Brings up Vera’s children


i) Change into an interrogative.
I have a scholarship to study in America for a year.

Did I have a scholarship in America for a year?

j) Comment on what happens immediately after this extract.

Father Tony and Aoro are nostalgic of their boyhood period they celebrate each other’s;
Tony’s fulfillment in priesthood and Aoro’s achievements as a father. They both marvel at the strong character Akoko.
Musyoxx answered the question on February 27, 2018 at 15:15

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