NECO 2024 Literature Drama & Poetry Answers

NECO 2024 literature

NECO LITERATURE

(4)
Sadiku plays a significant role, contributing to the plot’s progression and thematic development. As the senior wife of Chief Baroka, Sadiku embodies the traditional values and customs of their society. Her unwavering loyalty to Baroka and her acceptance of her role within the patriarchal system reflect the entrenched norms of her community. She is sent by Baroka to woo Sidi on his behalf, she entices Sidi with soothing words thereby highlighting the benefit accruing to being the Bale’s wife. As Bale’s last wife, she is in a privileged position to be the next Bale’s head wife.

Sadiku’s character is complex, revealing both a manipulative and a cunning side. Her influence and understanding of traditional practices allow her to maneuver situations to her advantage, as seen when she attempts to persuade Sidi to marry Baroka. Despite this, Sadiku also displays a certain naivety and gullibility. She is easily deceived by Baroka’s ruse about his impotence, failing to see through his cunning plan. This naivety underscores a lack of insight into Baroka’s true nature, highlighting a vulnerability in her character.

She lacks the ability to keep secrets. When Sadiku returns with the news of Sidi’s rejection of Baroka’s offer of marriage, Baroka feels disappointed and shocked. Baroka declaring that his manhood ended near a week ago knowing fully well that Sadiku will not keep it a secret and she lives up to the expected consequence. She blubs and Sidi is lured into Baroka’s plot. Sadiku represents the typical village gossip and talebearer and a victim of Baroka’s trick and manipulation.

At one point, Sadiku feels a sense of empowerment, believing she has triumphed over Baroka’s masculinity. Her joy at the thought of Baroka’s impotence represents a temporary victory for women in their patriarchal society. However, this empowerment is short-lived as she eventually realizes she has been deceived. This moment of disillusionment adds depth to Sadiku’s character, illustrating the complexities of empowerment and the fragile nature of perceived victories in a male-dominated world.

She has a sugar-coated tongue capable of wooing any woman for her Bale and that is what she used to tame Sidi. She also defends Baroka before Sidi when Lakunle raises the case concerning how the Bale foiled the public works attempt.

(5)
The themes of blood and sacrifice underscore the emotional and relational dynamics between the characters in the play. These themes are pivotal in understanding the personal struggles, deep-seated conflicts, and the overarching narrative.

The concept of blood signifies deep familial and emotional connections, heritage, and personal suffering. Through blood, the characters’ personal histories and traumas shape their actions and interactions.

One poignant representation is Jimmy Porter’s relationship with his father, who fought in the Spanish Civil War, returning home injured and eventually dying. This traumatic experience deeply affects Jimmy, embedding a sense of disillusionment and bitterness towards life. The bloodshed symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice and the impact of historical conflicts on personal lives. Jimmy’s anger and resentment partly stem from witnessing his father’s suffering and the perceived futility of his sacrifice, forming the foundation for his antagonistic worldview.

Additionally, the motif of blood is evident in the unborn child of Jimmy and Alison. The loss of their baby signifies a blood connection that could have united them. The baby’s death represents the ultimate sacrifice, a shared loss that profoundly affects both characters. This tragedy exposes their vulnerabilities and forces them to confront their pain and emotional barriers. The loss is a physical manifestation of the emotional barrenness in their relationship, underscoring blood as a literal and metaphorical element of their suffering.

Sacrifice in “Look Back in Anger” is portrayed through the characters’ personal and emotional concessions, leading to significant changes in their lives. These sacrifices reflect the characters’ attempts to navigate their complex emotional landscapes and societal expectations.

Alison’s sacrifices are central to the narrative. Marrying Jimmy represents a significant sacrifice, as it entails leaving her upper-middle-class background and embracing a life of emotional turbulence. Throughout the play, Alison endures Jimmy’s relentless tirades and emotional abuse, embodying sacrifice through her steadfastness and endurance. Her ultimate sacrifice is revealed through her pregnancy and the loss of their child, symbolizing the physical and emotional toll of her sacrifices. Alison’s suffering is compounded by Jimmy’s lack of empathy, highlighting the personal cost of her sacrifices.

Jimmy also makes sacrifices, though they are often overshadowed by his abrasive demeanor. His choice to remain with Alison, despite his dissatisfaction, reflects a sacrifice of his ideals and desires. His anger and frustration stem from his perceived sacrifices and the constraints of his social and economic environment. His emotional outbursts are manifestations of his internal struggles and the sacrifices he feels he has made.

Cliff Lewis, the couple’s friend and roommate, exemplifies sacrifice differently. His role as a peacemaker and loyalty to both Jimmy and Alison indicate his willingness to sacrifice his comfort for their turbulent relationship. Cliff’s decision to eventually leave signifies a recognition of the limits of his sacrifices and the need to pursue his own path, free from their emotional turmoil.

6)
John Osborne’s play “Look Back in Anger” employs several dramatic techniques to convey the characters’ emotions, relationships, and themes. Three notable techniques used in the play are:

(i) Verbal Abuse: Jimmy’s constant verbal abuse towards Alison and Helena reveals his inner anger and frustration, showcasing the toxic dynamics of his relationships. His hurtful words and sarcastic remarks demonstrate his inability to communicate effectively, leading to emotional distress for those around him.

(ii) Imagery and Symbolism: Osborne uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey the characters’ emotions and themes. For example, the ironing board and the bear and squirrel symbols represent Jimmy and Alison’s relationship, highlighting their contrasting personalities and the tension between them.

(iii) Emotional Outbursts: The play features several emotional outbursts, particularly from Jimmy, which reveal his deep-seated frustrations and emotions. These outbursts demonstrate the characters’ inability to contain their emotions, leading to explosive confrontations and highlighting the play’s themes of anger, resentment, and frustration.

(7)
Through Troy Maxson, baseball serves as a metaphor for missed opportunities and a lens to examine the African American experience in the mid-20th century.

Baseball is crucial to Troy’s past. Once a talented player in the Negro Leagues, his dreams of playing in the Major Leagues were thwarted by the color barrier, which had not fully broken when he was at his peak. This personal history encapsulates Troy’s disillusionment and struggle against racial discrimination. His past achievements and failure to advance reflect broader societal limitations placed on African Americans. This disappointment affects Troy’s outlook, breeding a cynicism that colors his interactions with his family and views on their aspirations.

Troy’s relationship with his son Cory is significantly shaped by baseball. Cory, a promising football player, could secure a college scholarship and a future in sports. However, Troy’s bitter experiences lead him to oppose Cory’s pursuit of an athletic career. He insists Cory focus on a more practical path, fearing his son will face the same racial barriers. This conflict highlights generational tension and differing perspectives on progress and opportunity. Troy’s reluctance to support Cory’s dreams can be seen as both protective and a projection of his own unfulfilled aspirations.

The recurring baseball metaphors underscore Troy’s internal and external battles. He frequently speaks in baseball terms, framing his struggles and achievements in the context of the game. His confrontation with death is likened to a high-stakes baseball game, symbolizing his combative approach to life’s challenges. The fence Troy builds around his yard can be seen as a metaphorical barrier, representing his desire to protect his family and control his environment, much like the boundaries of a baseball field.

Troy’s fixation on baseball underscores his resistance to change and inability to adapt. While opportunities slowly open up for African Americans in sports and other fields, Troy remains anchored in his past. His refusal to acknowledge the achievements of contemporary black athletes like Hank Aaron reflects his stubbornness and deep-seated sense of injustice. This resistance isolates him from his family and friends, as they move forward while he remains stuck in his memories and regrets.

The motif of baseball in “Fences” highlights personal responsibility and the burden of past mistakes. Troy’s affair with Alberta and his illegitimate child are errors in his personal game, leading to profound consequences for his family. His attempts to navigate these mistakes, much like a player trying to recover from a bad inning, reflect his struggle to balance his desires and duties. The baseball hanging from a tree in the yard, where Troy eventually meets his death, symbolizes unresolved tensions and the culmination of his life’s battles.

(8)
Women play a pivotal role in the narrative, acting as stabilizing forces, moral compasses, and catalysts for the unfolding drama. Through characters like Rose Maxson, Wilson explores themes of loyalty, resilience, and the struggle for identity and respect within societal expectations and personal relationships. The women’s experiences and actions significantly shape the male characters’ trajectories and the overall arc of the play.

Rose Maxson, the central female character, is the emotional and moral backbone of the Maxson family. Her role as a devoted wife and mother contrasts sharply with Troy’s domineering and often destructive behavior. Rose’s loyalty and strength are evident from the outset as she supports Troy through his challenges while managing the household and nurturing their son, Cory. Her presence is a stabilizing force in the chaotic environment created by Troy’s actions and attitudes.

Rose’s resilience is a key theme in the play. She represents the sacrifices and endurance of women who bear the emotional and practical burdens of family life. Her plea to Troy to let Cory play football, despite understanding Troy’s fears, shows her willingness to advocate for her son’s dreams and future. Rose’s confrontation with Troy about his infidelity and the resulting child with Alberta marks a significant turning point. Her response to this betrayal—deciding to raise Raynell, Troy’s illegitimate child, as her own—highlights her deep compassion and sense of duty, even as she withdraws from her emotional connection with Troy.

The other women, such as Alberta and Bono’s wife, Lucille, also contribute to the play’s dynamics, albeit more peripherally. Alberta’s presence, though she never appears on stage, acts as a catalyst for revealing Troy’s flaws and the subsequent unraveling of his relationships. Her affair with Troy brings issues of fidelity, trust, and the consequences of selfish desires to the forefront. Alberta’s death during childbirth serves as a dramatic climax, forcing Troy to confront the ramifications of his actions and pushing Rose to decide how to move forward.

Lucille, while a minor character, helps shed light on the expectations placed on women and their roles within marriages. Bono’s discussions about his wife and his loyalty to her serve as a counterpoint to Troy’s behavior, emphasizing the value of faithfulness and respect in a relationship. This contrast underscores the different ways men and women navigate responsibilities and desires within marriage.

The women’s roles also highlight the broader societal expectations and limitations placed on them. Rose’s decision to stay with Troy despite his betrayal reflects societal pressures on women to maintain family unity and stability, often at the cost of their happiness and well-being. Her eventual assertion of independence, though subtle, marks significant personal growth and empowerment. Rose’s increased involvement in the church and dedication to her moral and spiritual well-being symbolize her reclaiming her identity outside her marriage to Troy.

(9)
“The Grieved Land” is a protest poem highlighting the suffering and resilience of African societies during and after colonialism, slavery, and the transatlantic slave trade. The poet grieves the inhumanity inflicted upon Africans and reflects on the historical and ongoing consequences of these atrocities.

The poem begins by expressing sorrow for the enduring pain caused by slavery and colonialism, suggesting that the suffering of Africans is both historical and contemporary. The “tearful woes of ancient and modern slave” symbolize the persistent anguish felt by the African people.

In the second stanza, the poet describes the destruction of African culture by European colonizers. The “stunning perfumes of the flower” represent the vibrant African society, which was crushed by the “iron and fire” of the colonizers, indicating violence and oppression.

The third stanza focuses on the personal suffering of enslaved Africans. The poet laments the lost potential and thwarted dreams of those enslaved, whose lives were controlled by their captors. The “jingling of gaoler’s keys” symbolizes their constant confinement and lack of freedom.

The fourth stanza reveals the cruel irony of the slave masters’ excitement over exploiting African labor for their benefit. The captors’ dreams of developing their own societies were built on the suffering and hard work of African slaves.

In the fifth stanza, the poet describes the grim reality of the transatlantic journey, where many enslaved Africans perished. The “corpses thrown up by the Atlantic” highlight the disregard for human life, as the dead were discarded into the ocean.

The final stanzas shift to a tone of resilience and hope. Despite the immense suffering, the African people possess a strong will to survive and overcome adversity. The poem celebrates their determination and resilience, emphasizing their moral strength and pursuit of justice.

The poem concludes by reaffirming the indomitable spirit of the African people. The “imperishable particles” symbolize their enduring legacy and will to live. The title, “The Grieved Land,” encapsulates the collective sorrow and resilience of Africa, scarred by colonialism and slavery but steadfast in its pursuit of justice and dignity.

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