GRADE 7

POETIC DEVICES USED IN RACISM
1. Metaphor: This is an indirect with out the use of 'like' and 'as' . Examples of metaphor in the poem includes
* Racism! Oh Racism
   The canker worm that destroys

* Racism! Oh Racism
   The cancer that destroys the universe
2. Apostrophe: This is an address to an object or non living thing as if that object can hear what you are saying. In the poem racism is addressed as if it can hear. Example
* Racism! Oh Racism

3. Rhetorical question: This is a question that does not required an answer.

4. personification : This is giving human to non living things. Examples in the poem include
   a. cancer that is devouring humanity.
   b. breeding divide and rule.

Assignment

1. The theme of a work referred to ____
2. Someone who writes a poem is called ___
3. An account of a person's life written by another is _______
4. Setting refers to______
5. Plot is the ________
6. The major character in a story is called ____
7. The genres of literature are _____
8. Prose text are written in _____ and___
9. A drama that ends happily is called_____
10. A poem of four lines is called ____


poem : unsteady commissioner by E.E Sanyaolu

When you are lucky to be there
Think of those left behind
Never be sure you'll be long there
For your point is no birthright

When you're lucky to be there
Think of those down below
For those down below
For those that put you there
Can by your stupidity bring low

When you are lucky to be there
Live above board
For many eyes are watching you there
And 'tis easy to fault when on board

When you're lucky to be there
Never be unwise and tender
To people on the grass
For 'tis glorious to be up there
But unpalatable to fall from grace to grace

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM INSTEAD COMMISSIONER

The poem has four stanzas and it is a political poem. The poet advices people holding political position to always do the right things. The poet believes that the office that political leaders occupy is temporary and as such they should consider those people that voted them into office.

In the first stanza of the poem, the poet makes the political officer holders to realize that  it is by luck that they occupy the office and as such they should not forget the people that voted them into the office.
The poet stated;
  When you are lucky to be there
   Think of those left behind

In the second stanza of the poem ,the poet re emphasis the fact that political office holder should not forget the masses. He reminds political leaders that the electorate or masses can remove them from their political offices.

The poet encourages political office holder that their responsibility is to provide basic things for the people so as to be remembered later in life, this is because many people are watching them ,so there for they should do good for the people that voted for them.



POETIC DEVICES OF UNSTEAD COMMISSIONER

1. Imagery: This is the use of words to create a mental picture in the mind of the reader. In the poem words like 'those behind, ' those below' provide mental picture of the poor state of the masses or the electorate.

2. Apostrophe: This is a figure of speech in which you make an address to an absent object or non living thing as if that object or thing can hear you. The poet seems to be addressing an audience, the political elites as if they can hear. The first line of each of the stanza begins with an address to a non existing audience. The poet stated:
           When  you are lucky to be there

3. Repetition: the use of repetition is to emphasize a point in the work. Some words are repeatedly used in the poem . Example include
        ' When you are lucky to be there' this phrase is repeatedly used in four stanzas of the poem.


THEMES USED IN THE POEM

1. There is need for diligence when one is occupying political office.

2. The power of the electorates

3. Political power does not last forever.

Assignments

1. In the poem "instead commissioner" " those down below" refers to the _____

2. One figure of speech used in the poem is ________

3. When you are lucky to be there
   The above expression is an example of what figure of speech ________

4. According to the poem ______is not a birthright.