LITERATURE WORD

Niyi Osundare’s poem “Not My Business” explores three primary themes: indifference, oppression, and tyranny. Through vivid, unsettling imagery and the perspective of a detached narrator, Osundare critiques the dangers of apathy in the face of oppression. The poem calls for collectivism, echoing unity in togetherness in the face confronting challenges. 1.The Theme of apathy Indifference is a central theme, conveyed through the narrator’s lack of concern for the suffering around him. As friends and neighbors are brutally oppressed by the government, he distances himself, rationalizing that these events are “not [his] business.” The narrator is more concerned with his personal comfort, dismissing the plight of Akanni, Danladi, and Chinwe as isolated incidents. However, his indifference does not shield him. In a haunting turn, he too becomes a target as he sits down to enjoy his “yam,” and “the waiting jeep” silently arrives for him. This shift illustrates the cost of apathy, showing how u...

N iyi Osundare's poem "Not My Business" addresses the theme of human rights abuses by exploring the consequences of indifference and passivity in the face of oppression. The poem is a powerful commentary on the dangers of ignoring the suffering of others, particularly when it involves violations of basic human rights. "Not My Business" is structured around a series of events in which different individuals suffer injustices—being dragged away, their possessions confiscated, or physically assaulted. The speaker, however, repeatedly distances himself from these events, claiming that they are not his business. This attitude of indifference persists until, in the poem's final lines, the speaker becomes a victim of the very same abuses he previously ignored.    One of the most prominent themes in Osundare’s poem is the danger of indifference. The speaker represents a person who sees others suffer but believes it does not concern him as long as he is unaffected...

  Heathcliff is the brooding, enigmatic antihero of Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights." An orphan brought to Wuthering Heights by Mr. Earnshaw, he endures a tumultuous upbringing marked by intense favoritism and severe mistreatment. As a child, Heathcliff is resilient and reserved, forming a deep, passionate bond with Catherine Earnshaw. His love for Catherine, however, evolves into an all-consuming obsession, fueling his desire for vengeance against those who wronged him. As an adult, Heathcliff is vengeful, manipulative, and driven by a relentless need to assert dominance and inflict suffering on his enemies. Despite his outward ruthlessness, glimpses of his inner torment and capacity for profound love make him a complex and compelling character. Hindley Earnshaw is the elder son of Mr. Earnshaw and the primary antagonist to Heathcliff in "Wuthering Heights." Initially a privileged and jealous young man, Hindley's resentment towards Heathcliff begins wit...

    The Marriage of Anansewa" by Efua Sutherland is a captivating play that delves into the intricate dynamics of Ghanaian society, tradition, and familial expectations. Central to the narrative is the character of Anansewa, a young woman whose fictitious death serves as a pivotal moment in the story. To understand the circumstances surrounding Anansewa's fake demise, one must examine the societal pressures, family obligations, and the cunning wit of Ananse, the trickster spider. Anansewa represents a form of resistance against the traditional patriarchal norms and expectations imposed upon her by society, particularly through the institution of arranged marriage. Despite her father's attempts to dictate her future by arranging a marriage for her, Anansewa refuses to passively accept her fate. Instead, she asserts her agency and challenges the status quo, demonstrating her unwillingness to conform to the predetermined roles assigned to her as a woman. Anansewa's ...

  "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas is an interesting and emotionally charged exploration of mortality, resilience, and the human experience of confronting death. Written in the form of a villanelle, a highly structured poetic form characterized by its repeating refrains, the poem is addressed to the poet's father and serves as a passionate plea for him to resist the inevitability of death. Through vivid imagery, powerful language, and a deeply personal tone, Thomas grapples with the universal human fear of mortality while also celebrating the resilience and defiance inherent in the human spirit. The poem opens with the iconic refrain, "Do not go gentle into that good night," which immediately establishes the theme of resistance to death. This refrain echoes throughout the poem, serving as a rallying cry for the defiance and courage Thomas urges his father to embrace. Through a series of vivid images and metaphors, the poet presents a var...

                      Lockwood, the narrator serves as a crucial lens through which the reader navigates the intricate web of relationships and emotions that define the novel. Initially introduced as a curious and somewhat naive outsider, Lockwood's character undergoes a subtle evolution as he becomes increasingly entangled in the lives of those around him. At the outset of the novel, Lockwood is portrayed as a well-meaning but somewhat oblivious gentleman, eager to explore the remote Yorkshire countryside. His decision to rent Thrushcross Grange, the neighboring property to Wuthering Heights, sets the stage for the unfolding drama, as it brings him into close proximity with the turbulent events that will shape the course of the narrative. One of Lockwood's most defining traits is his status as an outsider. As a newcomer to the area, he is initially oblivious to the complexities of the relationships between the characters and...

                                    EXPLORING THEMES IN AFRICAN         POETRY   African poetry stands as a testament to the rich tapestry of cultures, histories, and voices that make up the continent. It is a vibrant mosaic of traditions, languages, and experiences, woven together to form a dynamic and compelling literary landscape. From the ancient oral traditions passed down through generations to the contemporary works that grapple with modernity and globalization, African poetry resonates with depth, beauty, and diversity. In this essay, we embark on a journey to explore the essence of African poetry, delving into its themes, forms, and significance in shaping both individual and collective identities. Cultural Heritage and Oral Tradition: At the heart of African poetry lies the ancient tradition of oral storytelling, where narratives, myths, and histories wer...

  The novel is centered on both interpersonal and intercultural conflicts. However, this essay will concentrate on the interpersonal conflicts which include both Adah and Francis. The both characters had many conflicts and disagreement which resulted in their divorce at the end of the text. One major quarrel between Adah and Francis is the former going for family planning pills, after the birth of Adah’s fourth child and the complication she had, she resolve within her that she would not have any more children. This made her to visit a family hospital in order to seek medical advice on family planning pills. When Francis discovered that Adah had taken precaution against becoming pregnant, he was mad and a quarrel ensue. Adah was beaten terribly and it took the intervention of Mr. Noble to settle both of them. Frances unfriendly and uncooperative nature always leads to constant quarrels and conflicts. His non acceptance of his responsibilities as a father and husband made Adah...

  A symbol is a storytelling device used by a writer to convey information to readers at various points during the story. A symbol can symbolize both itself and something else. The writer employs a lot of symbolic symbolism to advance the storyline of the novel. The frigid reception of Adah in England serves as a strong example of symbolism in the narrative. The surroundings is not only frigid; even Francis' welcome is cold. Adah's experiences in England were chilly and unresponsive. Her connection with her spouse deteriorates throughout her time in England. She was also hospitalized in England, and her spouse showed little concern or understanding. Adah makes little academic progress and her spouse fails his exams. Throughout her time in England, she and her family dwell in a one-bedroom flat, and bed bugs infect Vicky's right ear. Also in England, Trudy, the childminder, exploits Adah's brilliance, disregards her two children, and instead sleeps with Adah's ...

  HOW BAROKA OPPOSES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAILWAY IN THE LION AND THE JEWEL The play The Lion and The Jewel centers on the struggle between tradition and modernity, Baroka represent tradition while Lakunle depicts modern culture. Some themes highlighted in the text include change, bride price and irresponsibility. Baroka is the Bale of Ilujile, a village known for its culture and tradition. Baroka whose eyes are small and always red with wine is very cunning. He is consider a fox by Lakunle. Part of Baroka cunning nature is seen in the way he stop the construction of the railway. In other to control the people of the village, Baroka fights off the intruder, the white surveyor who supervises the construction of the railway. He achieves this through his many ways, this act is presented through mime and Baroka told the white surveyor to take the construction to a neighboring village. This way Baroka blocks civilization which should have come to the village. Baroka sees the ...

  The Leader and the Led as a criticism of African Leadership style: A critical evaluation The Leader and the Led" by Professor Niyi Osundare is an allegorical poem that highlights the type of leadership style in Africa and what leadership should be. The poem illustrates political and social dynamic that exists between African leaders and their supporters. The Leader and the Led serves as Niyi Osundare's quest in seeking answers to Africa's leadership difficulties. This poem subtly criticizes certain people's assumption that the seat of power is their birthright, that they are the most qualified and that no one can do it better. He also offers the types of leaders who might be good to our society. To do this, he uses the features and characteristics of animals to expand on the subject matter of the poem which centers on leadership role in the African continent. The hyena's "lethal hunger" relates to the attitude of most African politicians. They per...

 The Power of Love: Strengthening Your Relationship When it comes to dating for the first time, we often focus on the excitement of the unknown, the feeling of butterflies in our stomachs and the possibility of a new chapter in our lives. While these feelings may be exhilarating, the truth is that relationships take work. If we want to strengthen our bond and create a healthy, long lasting relationship, we must understand the power of love and invest in it. Discovering the Meaning Behind Love Love is a powerful emotion, and it comes in many forms. It is more than just a feeling, it is a connection that is built on trust, respect, and understanding. Love is not just about attraction or passion, but also about commitment, compassion, and loyalty. It is about being able to accept each other, flaws and all, and supporting each other through life’s ups and downs.  Exploring Ways to Deepen Intimacy Intimacy is essential for a strong relationship, and it goes beyond physical connecti...

 Time is presented in the poem ‘The Song of the Woman of my Land’ as quite powerful. Discuss. The poem ‘The Song of the Woman of my Land’ reflects the collective gain and aspiration of women in the development of their family and community. The poem centered on themes such as oppression of women, endurance, pain and importance of music. The poem can be considered a dirge because it is a lamentation of women who have dead and left behind their lyrics of their song. A dirge is a song of mourning about pain, death and funeral. The poem is characterized by pain, sadness, sorrow and regret. The power highlights the importance and power of time, the poet is of the opinion that time brought a negative change in the lives of people in the community and makes people forget the memories of the lyrics of the women in the poem. Time ‘chisels away’ the memory and the lyrics of the song of the women of the persona’s land. It leaves a fading tune and a dying song instead. This shows that time is ...

REVISION GRADE 10 SECTION A: OBJECTIVES General literary principles SECTION B: STRUCTURED QUESTIONS 1. The lion and the jewel     a. Setting and plot     b. Characterisation     C. Thematic pre occupation     d. Dramatic technique 2. The Leader and the led      a. Subject matter      b. Poetic devices and style      C. Thematic pre occupation REVISION GRADE 11 SECTION A: OBJECTIVES 1. General literary principles 2. Context questions from Williams Shakespeare's Mid Summer Night Dreams SECTION B: STRUCTURE QUESTIONS 1. Second Class Citizen     a. Setting and plot     b. Characterisation     C. Thematic pre occupation     d. Narrative technique and styles 2. The Grieved Lands     a. Subject matter     b. Poetic devices and style     C. Thematic pre occupation 3. Wuthering Heights      a....

THEMES OF THE COSTLY MISTAKE 1. Theme of hard work : Uchenna, Udoh and Wilson are serious and they work hard in school, so ,at the end of the story ,they became very successful. This means that those people who work hard would ripe the fruit of their hard work. 2. Waywardness and it consequences: Characters like Tony , Victor and Daniel chooses to be very naughty in school and their actions affected their studies. The all became drop out . Daniel ended up becoming a bus conductor. 3. The importance of education: Uchenna and others value education, at the end of the story, they became very successful. However, Daniel and his friends were not too serious and they regretted their actions. After seeing how Uchenna became successful, Daniel made up to go back to school. This shows how important education is. 4. The consequences of one actions:  The story teaches a lesson that what ever one sow ,he will reap. Daniel made a costly mistake and made his parents sad. Daniel learnt hi...

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...

SAVE THE AFRICAN WOMB SETTING AND PLOT The novel centers on the need to do the right thing in any where one finds himself. The author enlighten young people on the need to always listen to their parents and avoid negative attitude that might leads to their destruction. The major protagonist of the novel Barakemi who becomes pregnant at a tender age was force by her parents to move to her grandmother's house. This is because Mr. Abraham who is a religious leader does not want the stigma that comes with the pregnancy. While Barakemi was at her grandmother's house, she was encouraged  by her grandmother to contact Joseph, the man responsible for her pregnancy. Joseph who is a lawyer came to Lagos where Barakemi was and reconcile with her. The deceitful nature of human being was also reveal in Save The African Womb, another character name Agnes whose womb was remove met doctor Mitimi who is a corrupt medical doctor. Dr. Mitimi promise to swap the baby of Barakemi at the po...