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Along time ago there was old man whose name was Ramogi. This old man had two sons. These two sons called Labon’go and Gipir had...

Along time ago there was old man whose name was Ramogi. This old man had two sons. These two sons called Labon’go and Gipir had wives. Labon’go was the elder of these two. When Ramogi died, Labon’go became the chief of the homestead. He was to look after his father’s property, including the family’s sacred spear.
There was a lot of forest land and elephants were in plenty. The elephants used to come and destroy crops. One day, when Labon’go was out hunting, an elephant came near the homestead and destroyed some of the crops. Gipir, who was still at home, was so furious that he quickly, without thinking, picked up the family spear and threw it at the elephant. The spear stuck into the elephant’s side and the elephantescape. The elephant ran with the spear until it reached the forest. When Labon’go came back from hunting ,his wife told him about the loss of his spear. She explained to him how an elephant had damaged the crops and how Gipir had bravely driven it away losing the sacred spear in the process. On hearing this Labong’o angrily went straight to his brother’s house and and demanded the spear , saying, Gipir, see that you return the family sacred spear and make sure it is that particular one that you threw at the elephant”Gipir tried to appease his brother by making beautiful spear but Labon’go refused to accept them.
One day Gipir told his wife, “ Please prepare for me a lot of food. I have a long journey to make.” The wife prepared for him a lot of food and Labon’go set out. After a long, dangerous journey, in which his life was threatened by wild animals and huge poisonous snakes, he reached a forest called gondliech, the home of elephants. In the forest he met an old woman. This old woman asked him, “What have you come to do here in the forest?”.Gipir told her what had happened. He told her how he had pierced an elephant with the sacred family spear, and that the elephant had run with it into the forest.
The woman became angry and said “so it is you who is killing my elephants?” Gipir replied politely and said that all the he wanted was the sacred spear of the family , if she could kindly help him to find it. The old woman then showed him where she kept spears. He searched among them and found the spear that Labon’go wanted. The old woman then gaveGipirsome beads to take to his wife.
When Gipir reached home he immediately took the spear to Labon’go. Labon’go was very happy and he thanked him.
Next morning Gipir spread out the beads he had been given by the old woman, in preparation for his wife to string them. Everyone in the homestead came out to see the beautiful beads .Labon’go’s child was playing where the beads were being strung. Without being noticed, he took one and swallowed it. Gipir knew that his time for revenge had come. until the child excreted. The excrement was searched thoroughly, but no bead was found . This action was repeated several days of trying and failing. Labon’go asked Gipir to cut the child open and take his bead. Gipir realized that this was a trap and he refused. He knew that if he killed the child and took out the bead Labon’go would certainly say that he wanted Gipir’s child.
Meanwhile Labon’go grew tied of the continual reminder from Gipir that he wanted his bead back, just as the demand for the sacred spear had tired Gipir.
When Labon’go killed and cut up the child, the bead was found hidden in the linings of the stomach. The child was buried. When this happened Gipir was forced to shift from his homestead to another land.
Labon’go also moved and they never saw one another again.
“I hope I grew and attain the height of the tree at my uncle’s place.

(a) How did Gipir lose the sacred spear?
(b) Do you think Labon’go’s demands were justified? Give a reason to support your response
(c) What does the chief’s demand reveal about his character?
(d) With an illustration for each, describe any two character traits of Gipir.
(e) What role does the old woman play in this story?
(f) Identify and explain any two features of style used in this narrative
(g) What is the moral lesson of this story?
(h) There was a lot of forest land and elephants were plenty
(Begin: Not only..............................)

Answers

a) Gipir had used it to strike the . elephant that raided the farm and it got stuck and the elephant escape with it

b) No. What Gipir ha was in the interest of the family. It is apparent that he did not know that the spear was important to the chief as he later found out. Yes

(c) Unrealistic.
-He is unreasonable , he does not take cognizance of the impractically of the task he imposes on his brother.
( Persistence – keeps on demanding his spear)

(d) – Vengeful/ vindictive – avenges himself on his brother for firing him to bring back the sacred spear.
- Determine / resolution – transverses the forest for days and brings back the sacred spear.
- Courageous – courteous.

(e) – Plot development
-She offers Gipir the support he needs to get back the sacred spear / she also given the beads that offer him a platform for revenge.

(f) – Repetition.
- Hyperbole / Exaggeration.
- Dialogue.
- Opening formula.
- Closing formula “ I hope I grew and attain

(g) – Revenge is a recipe for division / disunity in a family forgiveness is the gateway to family unity.

(h) – Not only was there a lot of forest land but elephants were also plenty

Wilfykil answered the question on October 3, 2019 at 05:19

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