HOWTO ANSWER
POETRYQUESTIONS
Poetry questions may appear in two different ways thuscalling for different approaches.
1. Essay type questions
2.Short answers type questions.
ESSAY-TYPEQUESTIONS.
vInthis type of questions you may be asked to refer to two or four poems that youhave read in class. These questions are answered just the same way as novelsand plays. The only difference is the way we quote the poems. Remember poetryis different from other genres among other things because of its pattering.Words in poetry may be effective because they are arranged in a certain way. Soif you quote more than one line of a poem it is advised to write them just thesame way they appear in the poem.
E.g. Do you plead incapable
To bring about development?
vAlsopoints that cut across different poems should be discussed in one paragraphciting those poems in the same paragraph. Additionally when the points aredifferent, reference has to be made in each poem individually. What isimportant is to be sure that by the time you are done each of the four poemshas been used at least once.
SHORT-ANSWERTYPE QUESTIONS.
vThesedo not require an essay. More often than not, you may have the poem printed andquestions that guide you to appreciate that poem. Here do the following:
oReadthe poem and understand it.
oGivethe answers to the questions briefly and to the point.
oGiveexamples/evidences from the poem and if possible quote some verses from thepoem.
NOTE:In answering essay type questions in both poetry and prose questions we usesimple present tense.
EXAMPLES OF ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS IN POETRY.
Like other forms of art, poems reflect social realities. They try to make us see in a new light and by seeing we are inspired to change. Use four poems you have studied to verify the above statement.
A poem is a metrical composition in form of stanzasthat uses imaginative language to portray social realities. It is true thatlike other forms of art such as plays and novels poems also reflect socialrealities which make us inspired to change from bad lifestyle to a good one. Toverify the above statement references will be made to the following poems; “LostBeauty” by J. Mwaikusa, “Development” by K. Faraja, “Buildingthe Nation” by H. Barlow and “A freedom Song” by O. Macgoye. Tostart with “Lost Beauty” the poet portrays the following social realities whichmight inspire us to change.
The poet shows the effects of neo-colonialism. The poet shows that most Africans have been affectedby European culture. They try as much as possible to look like white people butin the process they lose their identity altogether. He shows that his eyes“don’t see anything black” but he sees “white skins and masks”. In a way thepoet tries to remind Africans to know who they are and be proud of theiridentity as he says “black is beautiful”. This shows that he wants us to changethe white’s mentality and embrace our African identity.
Also, the poet portrays African natural beauty. Africans were created naturally beautiful. However,most Africans especially women have been struggling to change their skin colourusing cosmetics, curl their hair or wear wigs to look like white women to theextent that it is hard nowadays to get a naturally beautiful African lady as hesays “I want a black beauty queen”. This shows that we have lost our beauty. Sothe poet urges us to change this mentality and value our African naturalbeauty.
In the poem “Development”the poet portrays the issue of selfishness. The poet criticizes the hypocriticalbehaviour of the leaders who think of themselves while the majorities aredisregarded. He shows that they are more sensitive to selfishness (egoism) thanto matters pertaining to national development. To be precise he asks whetherthey are incapable “to bring about development”. So the poet urges the leadersto change their behaviour or else the majority should take actions.
Additionally, there is an issue of corruption.Corruption is an obstacle to development. It is however sad to note that thepeople who are corrupt are the same leaders that we have given the power torule us. He shows that it is difficult for a nation to develop when the leadersto whom we have entrusted power are corrupt. So here again the poet calls foractions so that we may change the system and put in power people who are notcorrupt if we need to get development.
Coming to “Buildingthe Nation”, the poet discusses about hypocrisy. Many people in oursociety are hypocrites. They speak one thing and do quite the contrary. In thepoem we see the PS goes to take a heavy lunch and leaves his driver. On comingback he claims to have eaten nothing and says he had attended to matters ofstate. This is Hypocrisy and it is very bad in as much as national building isconcerned. That’s why the poet says they were building the nation “differentways”. So the poet calls for the masses to take actions against hypocriticalleaders.
Moreover, the poet shows the issue of classes.Classes are inevitable in any society however there should be no class thatexploits the other. The poet shows that there are two classes in this society.High class represented by the PS who misuses the public funds by feasting andlower class who work on empty stomachs. So the poet is calling for the changein which the national resources will benefit not only the ruling class but alsothe masses or else the lower class may one day stage a revolution.
And in the poem “Afreedom Song” the poetess shows the issue of exploitation. The poemshows that the young girl Atieno works for her uncle as a house help but she isnot paid. The uncle gives a lame excuse that “since she is my sisters child”that why she “…needs no pay”. This is a high level of exploitation. Today thereare a lot of people who live with their relatives’ children but they make themwork all day long yet without pay. The poetess calls for change as this is avery bad habit.
Lastly, the poet discusses the issue of earlypregnancy among children. This is a common problem today. The younggirl Atieno gets early pregnancy and dies during delivery because of lackingproper guidance and care from parents who are busy with work and studies. Manyyoung girls now get engaged in premarital sex which leads them to get earlypregnancies and as a result some drop out of school or die during delivery orcontact HIV. The poetess is calling for parents to change this behaviour andtake good care of their children.
In summary, it can be seen that poems do not developin a vacuum. They address issues found in our societies and provide the wayforward. If we need to achieve sustainable development and live harmoniously wemust discourage and fight against the evils discussed in poems that are stillprevalent in our societies.
Ø By using specific relevant examples, from your experience describe the unique features/characteristics that distinguish poetry from other genres.
Ø There is pleasure and enjoyment in reading poetry which makes it different from prose genre of literature. How do you differentiate poetry from prose?
Poetry is a work of art that uses creative andimaginative language which arouses emotions to portray social realities to theintended audience. Poetry as a literally genre differs from other genres inmany ways. This essay disuses some of the features that differentiate poetryfrom other literary genres like; plays, novels or short stories.
Poetry is arranged in form of verses and stanzas. Unlike prose which is arranged in long sentences,paragraphs, and chapters, in form of a book, poetry is represented in the formof verses which are grouped together to form stanzas. Example the following isa stanza with three verses.
Your pain
Yet more my pain
Shall suffocate oppression.
Poetry employs language economy. Unlike prose which uses long sentences that formparagraphs, chapters and a whole book, poetry on the other hand employslanguage economy. This is to say words are carefully chosen so that very fewwords present much information. For example in a short poem like “Building thenation” we can establish themes like; classes, hypocrisy, marginalization,misuse of public resources, poverty etc
Poetry is rich in figures of speech and sounddevices. Unlike prose poetry makes frequent use of figures of speech suchas hyperbole, personification, simile, metaphors and other but additionallypoetry has sound devices like, alliteration, assonance, consonance, rhymes,refrain, anadiplosis etc. for example Alliteration “Highly delicate diplomatic duties…” inBuilding the Nation” or a Refrain “Atienoyo” in A Freedom Song”.
Poetry employs poetic license. Unlike, prose which mostly follows standard ruleslike punctuation, sentence structure etc. Poetry has the freedom/permission tobreak/violate certain grammatical rules to achieve a poetic effect. Look at thefollowing verses, “Forward they go”instead of “They go forward” in“Sunrise”, “I too am America” insteadof “I am an American too” in “I too sing America”, “away they go…” instead of “they go away” in “When I Say I Love You”
Poetry is rhythmical. Unlike prose poetry is arranged in form of regular beats that make itpossible to be sung. There are regular beats that fall on stressed and unstressedsyllables that make the poem easy to be sung. Stressed syllables cause risingsound while unstressed syllables cause a falling sound. By alternating the riseand fall of sounds the poet creates rhythm.
In poetry the character is the persona and rarely bears a name. Unlike prose which has many characters with namesperforming different roles, poetry hardly has characters with names. Withexception of few narrative poems like “Afreedom song” most personas in many poems are named after their jobs,relationship or the class they belong to. Example, in “Building the nation” thepersona is the driver. He is named after his job.
Poetry is meant to be sung or recited. Unlike novels which are meant to be read, and playswhich are meant to be performed, poetry is meant to be sung or recited. Poemsare patterned in a way that they can be sung or recited that’s why they havesound devices like rhymes, alliteration, consonance, assonance, reiteration,and refrain which bring about music and add effect to the poem.
Poetry uses imaginative language. Poetry employs imagery and symbolism that makes thereader to dig deeper to uncover the underlying meaning. Poetry is not to betaken at face value because some poems contain two layers of meaning. Somewords carry an extra meaning in poetry apart from their literal meaning.Consider for instance words like “little bird, and “honey bee”, in Mwaikusa’s“When I say I Love you” they might be representing girls/women also he usedimagery like “sweetness” (image of taste), soft soil, standing hard (image oftouch), hasty ploughs/climbing your tree, images of motion, and as I sing animage of sound. All these make the poem enjoyable.
Poetry arouses emotions and feelings. Unlike prose, poetry appeals to the five senses oftouch, smell, taste, sight, and sound. The poem can move someone’s emotions andthey cry or laugh. It can make you annoyed, angry, sad, embarrassed,sympathetic or amused, excited, and happy. For example the poem “If we MustDie” C. McKay and “Your Pain” by A Guebuza arouse the feeling of hatred againstthe white people.
Poetry has the first letter of each line capitalized (In Most poems). Unlike prose in which capitalizationoccurs only at the beginning of a new sentence or proper nouns, in most poemsthe first letter of each line is capitalized. This happens even when thesentence is still in progress. Look at the following stanza from Okot’s “Thegraceful giraffe cannot become a monkey”
Listen,
Ostrich plumes differ
From chicken feathers,
A monkey’s tail
Is different from that of a giraffe…
As a way of conclusion however it should be noted thatthe different features discussed above are not necessarily to be found in everypoem. Some poems contain some features and lack others. But there are somefeatures which are found in almost every poem.
With reference to two poems you have studied, discuss the main ideas you experienced in relation to your society. Four main ideas from each poem
Poems usuallyhave main ideas or the themes they want to communicate to the society for thepurpose of educating, criticizing, or correcting the societal ills. Thisstatement can be proved by the main ideas presented in, “A Freedom Song” by M, Macgoye and “Development” by K. Faraja. To start with “A Freedom Song” thepoetess communicates the following main ideas.
One ofthe main ideas discussed is the issue of child labour. This has become a burning issue that attractsthe attention of most social activists. Atieno in the poem represents childrenwho are working as house girls and are not taken to school. Atieno is working at the age of 8 andstrangely enough without pay. In our country today wesee many children in the streets selling things like plastic bags, washing carsand so on. This has to be stopped immediately.
The second main idea is Exploitation and Oppression. The young girl in the poem is not only exploited butalso oppressed by her own uncle. Although she works and does all the domesticchores she is not paid nor given any good care. Here says the poetess.
Since she is my sister’s child/Atieno needs no pay
This is common in Tanzania today where many people areworking but are not paid according to their labour.
Another main idea is the issue of Early pregnancy. This is another common problem among the teenagerstoday. Many girls today have failed to reach their educational goals becausewhen they become pregnant, they are kicked out of schools altogether. At theage of fourteen Atieno becomes pregnant. This is partly due to poor parentalcare. As the poetess says that her aunt has gone to study and uncle is busywith the work while poor Atieno has no one to teach her what is right..
The poet also discusses the issue of Poor parentalcare. It isevident from the poem that Atieno’s parents are irresponsible. They have no time to make regular follow-upsto check the kind of upbringing their child goes through. Atieno goes to workin her uncle’s home at the age of eight, and her parents are not makingfollow-ups. Atieno’s uncle is also portrayed as a bad parent since he mistreatshis own niece. Today most parents are avoiding this most importantresponsibility claiming to be so busy.
Turning to thepoem “Development” the following main ideas are presented
The poet talks about selfishness. We see the high class misuses the national resourcesat the expenses of the lower. Kundi Faraja criticises the hypocriticalbehaviour of most African leaders who think of themselves (being the minority)while the majority whose efforts are wasted are disregarded. Their selfishtendencies are expressed by the poet in these terms.
I reckon the minority
More sensitive to egoism
Than to national development
This is common among many post-colonial Africanleaders who are thinking in terms of me,myself and I.
Moreover the poet has portrayed the issue ofcorruption. Heshows that it’s not the common people who are at the forefront in giving andreceiving corruption but the leaders. Critically speaking, the issue ofdevelopment is even more complicated when we come to think of the fact thatthose to whom we have entrusted power are the same who are corrupt. Thus thepoet comes to a poet when he shows there is no way a country whose leaders haveinvested in corruption can develop. He says
When the people to whom
We have entrusted power
Are corrupt?
This is common in our country where we see ministerssigning bogus treats that affect the country’s economy because of corruption.
Furthermore the issue of Classes and marginalizationis also presented. Realistically speaking, classes in any society are inevitable. In most cases it has been evident thatwhenever these classes exist, the high class oppresses, exploits andmarginalises the lower. To show how detrimental class division can be in anysociety, the poet uses strong metaphorical comparisons to bring the messagehome. While the minority (whom he calls privileged few) enjoy the nationalcake, the majority have been marginalized and disregarded.
I plead the stomachs
Of the privileged few
Greater than the rift valley
They cannot be satisfied
With a normal share.
This is common in Tanzania where we see mostgovernment officials (the high class) enjoying life, buying luxury cars livingin decent mansions while the majority can hardly afford the three basic mealsof a day.
Generally it can be said that poems do not develop ina vacuum. They usually have something to communicate to the society thatemanates from the society in which we live. They criticise bad behaviours sothat we may reform and they educate on the good morals
Poets like other literary artists have messages they want to convey to their readers through poems. By using two poems you have read and appreciated give four messages from each poem. NECTA 2016 & 2014
Messages referto the lessons taught by a literary work. A poem, often suggests a lesson/moralthat is not directly stated. It is true that “Poets like other literary artistshave messages they want to convey to their readers through poems”. Thisstatement can be proved by using the poems “Development” by Kundi Faraja and “Afreedom song” by Marjorie O Macgoye. To begin with Development, the poet hasconveyed the following messages;
The leadersshould be careful with national development. The poet shows that if the leaders are not carefulwith the national development one day the majority might stage a revolution.The majority are tired of witnessing the leaders enjoying life while they aresuffering. As a result the citizens need changes. The poets says
How isdevelopment
To be broughtbrother
When thepeople to whom
We have entrustedpower
Are corrupt?
This is a wakeup call to his fellow citizens that theyneed to do something to change the current leadership as it is corrupt.
Awarenessis an important tool in so far as the liberation of the oppressed is concerned. The poet shows that if the oppressed class is awareof what is taking place it is easy for them to bring about the desired changes.But if the oppressed class is not aware then bring about liberation becomesalmost an impossible task. The poet shows that these people are aware that theyare exploited, cheated, disregarded and in that case, impossible development.He says;
The majorityplead
Exploited,
Cheated,
Disregarded,
But, brother,
How isdevelopment to come?
This shows that the majority are aware that if exploitation,cheating, and disregard continue, then no development should be expected.
Corruptleaders are an obstacle to national development. The poet shows there is no way a country whoseleaders have invested in corruption can develop. The issue of development iseven more complicated when we come to think of the fact that those to whom wehave entrusted power are the same who are corrupt. In this case we cannotexpect sustainable development. He says
How isdevelopment
To be broughtbrother
When thepeople to whom
We haveentrusted power
Are corrupt?
This shows that we cannot get development with corruptleaders still in power.
Bringingabout development is not a simple task or a cheap commodity. It needs determination, dedication and focus. Thepoet uses different metaphorical comparisons to show how bringing aboutdevelopment and fighting underdevelopment is a tough task to undertake. Hecompares it with, hurricane, fighting wounded buffalo, combating colonialism,and stopping a coup d’état. For instance he says
I pleadfighting underdevelopment
Tougher thanfighting
A woundedbuffalo
With a pocketknife;
This shows that people need to show the spirit ofdetermination, focus and sacrifice in order to get sustainable development.
Selfishness,exploitation and misuse of public resources for private gain are also obstaclesto development. Leadersshould utilise the national resources for mutual benefit from both classes. Butmore often than not, the leaders are selfish, exploit their subjects and misusethe public resources for their own benefits. This is not good if we need tobring about sustainable development. Thepoet says
I reckon theminority
More sensitiveto egoism
Than toNational Development ;
Nothing thatis not theirs
Is of anyinterest.
Theleaders should fulfil their promises to the majority when they get power. The poet shows that the leaders usually betray theirsubjects when they get power. Before independence the citizens were promisedbetter life once uhuru is gained. This happens today as well when the leadersare asking for votes. But when they get power they forget the promises theygave to the poor citizens. The poet says.
You have always been telling us
What we need
Health centres
More schools
Clean water
Better transport facilities
Better living conditions
This shows that the leaders have not been capable tofulfil the promised they gave to people.
Turning to thenext poem, “A Freedom Song” The poetess has conveyed the following messages.
Parents should be careful with the upbringing of theirown children. Atienois mistreated by her uncle since she is not his biological child. We are nottold the reason whatsoever why Atieno is not living with her parents, but theyhad a duty to make regular follow ups and know how she is doing. Atieno lackedproper guidance because of the negligence from her uncle and aunt. The poetesssays
Specially whenI work nights.
That girlstays too long at market
Who will teachher what is right?
Atieno’s uncle is busy with his work and the youngAtieno lacks parental care. This is common among the busy parents today wholeave their children under the care of house girls.
Child labour should be discouraged at all cost. The young Atieno isworking as a house girl at the age of 8 and strangely enough without pay. Atthis age she should have been in STD 2. Yet she is employed in her uncle’s homewhile his own children attend school. The poet shows that she is overworkeddoing the domestic chore but without pay.
Since she’s mysister’s child
Atieno needsno pay
While sheworks my wife can sit
Sewing eachsunny day,
This is exploitation of the highest order so it shouldbe discouraged because the reason he gives as to why he does not pay the younggirl is a lame excuse.
All the children should be given the right to education.All childrenhave the right to education but Atieno’s uncle sends only his wife and childrento school while Atieno is left working at home. She is still at such a tenderage that she should have been in school. This negligence to the children’s rightto education should be discouraged.
Now my wifehas gone to study
Atieno’s lessfree,
Don’t I feedher, school my own ones,
Childrenshould be given proper reproductive health education. Without proper guidance,the young girl Atieno becomes pregnant and dies because of post-partumbleeding. Children need to be provided with reproductive health education whenthey reach puberty to avoid early pregnancies which may result to deathas did Atieno. The poet shows that all this happened because Atieno wasneglected by her uncle who paid attention to the visitors and his work than toAtieno (his niece).
Visitors needmuch attention,
Specially whenI work nights.
That girlstays too long at market
Who will teachher what is right?
As Atieno had nobody to teach her what is right sheended up getting pregnancy and died of the same.
So it is true that poets usually have amessage they want to communicate to their readers. It is this message thatgives the members of the society a sense of awareness, knowing where they areright and where they are wrong. They have to discard the bad habits and pickthe good ones. In this case, poems are worthy reading.
AN EXAMPLE OFSHORT-ANSWER-TYPE QUESTION.
Behold!
The sun has arisen,
And with it the sons of the land have arisen too
Forward they go,
Well armed,
Singing praises to the beauty of the sunrise,
With the determination of long-term warriors,
Challenging the enemy
With the courage of a free mind
And the vigour of a clear purpose.
Sit and wait brethren,
Wait and see what glory they bring at sunset;
How they pay homage to the land -
And their people!
Questions (NECTA 2011)
(a)What is the poem about?
The poem is about the sons of the land who have risenup singing the beauty of the sunrise. They challenge the enemy waiting forvictory at sunset. Which is to say, they have started up a struggle forredemption of their land and hope to bring victory at the end of the struggle.
(b)For whom does the poem tell us that the sun has risen?
The sun has risen for the sons of the land whichsymbolically means the oppressed ones; the peasants, workers, or theproletariat class.
(c)What does the word “sunrise” symbolize?
The word ‘sunrise’ symbolizes the beginning of the struggle just as it signifies the beginning of theday.
(d)What type of poem is this?
This is a sonnet because it is made up of fourteenverses.
(e)Comment on the structure of this poem.
It is a free-verse poem with no rhyming pattern
There is variation in the length of verses; some arevery short and some very long. Also the poet has employed poetic licence whenhe says ‘Forward they go” which is not a normal English structure of SVA. ‘Theygo forward’
(f)The poem contains two major images. Mention them
1.Sunrise this symbolises the beginning of the struggle (or thewar of liberation).
2. Sunset thissymbolises the end of the struggle.
(g)The poet talks about “challenging the enemy” who doyou think the enemy might be?
The enemy might be the colonialists who oppress, humiliate, and exploit the Africans.
(h)What do we learn from this poem?
ØStruggle for freedom is not a simple thing it needs determination.
ØUnity is very important in any struggle. (the sons have risen withunity)
(i)Suggest 4 themes from the poem
a. Armed struggle for freedom.
Wait and see what glory they bring at sunset.
How they pay homage to the land
And their people
b. Unity.
In the poem the ‘sons of the land’ rose in unity,marched forward with determination.
c. Sacrifice and determination.
Any armed struggle needs both courage and sacrifice.
With the determination of long-term warriors
Challenging the enemy
With the courage of free mind
d. Awareness.
The sons of the land are very aware of their enemy,they are aware of the means to fight against the enemy (armed struggle) andthey have a clear purpose. They have the reasons to fight against the enemy.
With the courage of free mind
And the vigour of a clear purpose
(j)Suggest the title of the poem
The title of the poem could be “SUNRISE”
