Quiz 22 of 22

2021 Literature WAEC Theory Paper III (Drama & Poetry) Past Questions CBT

WAEC: LITERATURE IN ENGLISH 2021 Literature WAEC Theory Paper III (Drama & Poetry) Past Questions CBT

PAPER III

DRAMA AND POETRY

Answer four questions in all; one question from each section. Develop not less than five points in your answer.

SECTION A (Questions 1 – 4)

AFRICAN DRAMA

Answer one question only for this section

SECTION B (Questions 5 – 8)

NON-AFRICAN DRAMA

Answer one question only from this section.

SECTION C (Questions 9 – 10)

AFRICAN POETRY

Answer one question only from this section

SECTION D (Questions 11 – 12)

NON-AFRICAN POETRY

Answer one question only from this section

Responses

Chizoba September 6, 2023

Sample answers to some poems

Reply

2021 WAEC Literature Drama and Poetry Question 1

John K. Kargbo: LET ME DIE ALONE

QUESTION:

Comment on the character of Madam Yoko in the play “Let Me Die Alone”.

Points to Develop

1. Relation to Theme

Tradition and unfair demands on womanhood and the battles of the sexes are realized through Yoko’s characterization.

(i) Conflict in the succession of rulership in Mende land.

(ii) Conflict in gender role

(iii) Abuses of colonialism

(iv) Yoko’s character is revealed through all these

2. Character Identification

(i) Madam Yoko is the favourite wife of Gbanya, ruler of Mende chiefdom.

(ii) Queen of Mende chiefdom after the death of Gbanya

(iii) Sister of Lamboi who with Musa is her antagonist

(iv) An ambitious and courageous woman who joins an all-male secret society.

3. Her character from what she says or thinks

(i) Submissive to her husband, uses terms of endearment like “my lord”, and prefixes what she says with “please”.

(ii) Courageous and ambitious – asks Gbanya to fulfil his promise to make her his successor even though she is a woman.

(iii) She is kind-hearted by taking Jeneba as her own daughter. Mourns the death of Jeneba.

4. Her character from what she does

(i) Usurp the chiefdom after Gbanya’s death

(ii) Empathizes with Jeneba’s mother, Jilo, when she announces the disappearance of her daughter

(iii) She appoints Musa to head the search for the missing Jeneba and punishes the real culprits

(iv) She punishes Lansana for his adulterous relationship with Jilo

(v) She tries to appease the colonial governor when she extends her chiefdom beyond Senehun

(vi) She commits suicide, even though proven innocent to protect her dignity and self-worth.

(vii) She undergoes the Poro ritual which qualifies her to succeed Gbanya but denies her the opportunity to give birth.

(viii) She delivers a fair verdict in the adultery case involving Lansana and Jilo.

5. Her character from what others say about her

(i) She is seen as a threat by Musa and Lamboi who want to succeed Gbanya and poison her.

(ii) Accused of murdering Jeneba and humiliated by Mende women who call her names. E.g. murderer, witch, devil and wicked.

(iii) Humiliated by the colonial power which reduces her chiefdom.

(iv) Maligned for her inability to give birth.

(v) Humiliated by Ndapi, the Chief Guard who slaps her for alleged complicity in the murder of Jeneba.

(vi) Remembered for her female leadership traits which blend grace, bravery, peace and authority in her role as custodian of Mende land.

(vii) Ends up a tragic hero.

NOTE: MARKS DISTRIBUTION

(a) Candidates are to develop 5 points including 1 and 2 where applicable to earn 25 marks.

(b) Each score point earns up to 5 marks.

(c) Marks are awarded based on the accuracy of information, clarity of expression, supporting detail and orderly presentation of material.

(d) Mere statement/narration of point would earn no more than 2 marks.

(e) Repeated points would not earn any mark.

2021 WAEC Literature Drama and Poetry Question 3

Wole Soyinka: THE LION AND THE JEWEL

QUESTION:

Why does Lakunle lose Sidi to Baroka?

Points to Develop

1. Relation to Theme

The play is about the conflict between tradition and modernity. Payment of the bride price is strictly attached to traditional marriage. Lakunle refuses to pay the traditional bride price for Sidi, losing her to Baroka.

2. Character Identification

(i) Lakunle is a “half-baked” educated young village teacher who places Western values above traditional customs, including the payment of bride price.

(ii) Sidi is the village beauty. She is simple, naïve and has an overblown image of herself. She is the “Jewel” of Ilujinle. She represents African traditional values.

(iii) Baroka is the traditional ruler of Ilujinle and is 62years. He upholds customs and employs wit and cunning to lure Sidi to join his many wives. He is the lion of Ilujinle.

(iv) Sadiku is the oldest wife of Baroka whom he inherited from the late chief Okiki. She is simple-minded and used by Baroka to find other women to be his wives.

3. Lakunle’s approach to Sidi (Morning)

(i) He criticizes Sidi’s traditional background.

(ii) He sees Sidi as ignorant, uneducated and uncultured.

(iii) He condemns bride price as primitive and barbaric.

(iv) However, he promises Sidi a good civilized life after marriage.

4a. Baroka’s approach to Sidi (Noon)

(i) Baroka sends Sadiku to Sidi with his proposal.

(ii) Sadiku promises Sidi wealth, honour and prestige if married to Baroka.

(iii) She praises Sidi’s beauty and invites her to supper with Baroka at the palace, which Sidi refuses.

4b. Baroka wins Sidi’s love

(i) Baroka re-strategizes; he shares the secret of his “impotence” with Sadiku.

(ii) Sadiku breaks the secret to Sidi.

(iii Sidi goes to mock Baroka at his palace.

(iv) Sidi is lured to bed, but discovers the shocking truth of her amazement; Baroka is not impotent.

5. Sidi snobs Lakunle for Baroka

(i) Sidi returns to the company of Lakunle and Sadiku in agony, devastated and speechless.

(ii) She later breaks the news – the “Lion” has broken her virginity.

(iii) Lakunle now promises to marry Sidi without the payment of the bride price.

(iv) Sidi disappears, but returns dressed and prepared for marriage to Baroka, to the chagrin of Lakunle.

(v) Lakunle relies on Western ideas and values, yet he is immature in the race for Sidi and loses her love and her hand in marriage.

(vi) Baroka employs traditional wit and skill (backed by deception) to win Sidi’s love in the end.

NOTE: MARKS DISTRIBUTION

(a) Candidates are to develop 5 points including 1 and 2 where applicable to earn 25 marks.

(b) Each score point earns up to 5 marks.

(c) Marks are awarded based on the accuracy of information, clarity of expression, supporting detail and orderly presentation of material.

(d) Mere statement/narration of point would earn no more than 2 marks.

(e) Repeated points would not earn any mark.

2021 WAEC Literature Drama and Poetry Question 4

Wole Soyinka: THE LION AND THE JEWEL

QUESTION:

Examine the theme of love and marriage in the play.

Points to Develop

1. Relation to Theme

The play is about conflict between tradition and modernity as manifested in courtship and marriage. Lakunle refuses to pay the traditional bride price for Sidi, losing her to Baroka.

2. Customary love and marriage

(i) Baroka is the Bale of Ilujinle.

(ii) He epitomizes traditional love and marriage which is polygamous and based on the payment of bride price.

(iii) Lakunle is a young half-educated village school teacher who places Western values above traditional customs.

3. Western-type of marriage

(i) Based on courtship and non-payment of the bride price.

(ii) Epitomized by Lakunle who is more of a caricature.

4. Conflict between Traditional and Modern/Western love and marriage.

(i) Lakunle represents love in the modern sense – non–payment of bride price and complete abandonment of tradition and customs related to love and marriage.

(ii) Tradition represented by Sidi and Baroka, will not accept anything less than the payment of the bride price.

(iii) Lakunle’s verbosity exposes his lack of firm foundation.

“A savage custom, barbaric, outdated/rejected, denounced, accused/ex-communicated…” (Morning).

(iv) Sidi describes Lakunle’s bombastic words as more persuasion.

(v) Lakunle describes love and marriage as “a savage custom, barbaric, outdated… ex-communicated”.

(vi) His attempts to kiss Sidi are rebuffed as untraditional.

(vii) In spite of his entreaties, he does not succeed in winning Sidi’s love.

5. The triumph of traditional love and marriage based on the payment of the bride price.

(i) In spite of Baroka’s seduction of Sidi through the pretence of his impotence after being aided by Sadiku, he marries her, according to custom.

(ii) Lakunle’s failure to win Sidi proves that traditional love and marriage are based not on words but on compliance with the traditional requirements.

(iii) The marriage between Baroka and Sidi symbolizes the continuation of the African social order which has been “threatened” by the mockery of Western values in the play.

NOTE: MARKS DISTRIBUTION

(a) Candidates are to develop 5 points including 1 and 2 where applicable to earn 25 marks.

(b) Each score point earns up to 5 marks.

(c) Marks are awarded based on the accuracy of information, clarity of expression, supporting detail and orderly presentation of material.

(d) Mere statement/narration of point would earn no more than 2 marks.

(e) Repeated points would not earn any mark.

2021 WAEC Literature Drama and Poetry Question 6

John, Osborne: LOOK BACK IN ANGER

QUESTION:

Discuss Jimmy Porter’s sense of alienation in the play.

Points to Develop

1. Relation to Theme

The play deals with the frustrating social life of Post-World-War-II Britain and its negative effect on relationships. Jimmy shows his frustration in his relationship with his friend, Cliff and his wife, Alison as well as in what he does as a middle-class man.

2. Identification of Characters

(i) Jimmy Porter is the protagonist

(ii) He is tall and thin and about 25years.

(iii) He is married to Alison and smokes a pipe.

(iv) He and Cliff are friends and all three live together in a flat.

(v) He is educated, and unemployed but operates a sweet stall.

(vi) Often drinks tea and blows his jazz trumpet to keep off boredom.

3. Estrangement from the Establishment

(i) Jimmy is high educated

(ii) Jimmy’s education has not been obtained through the old, respected institutions. According to him “It is not even red brick, but white tile”.

(iii) He finds himself out of a job because he does not have the contacts which will get him a high placement.

(iv) He, therefore, feels estranged from the establishment and becomes increasingly frustrated and angry, and lashes out on Cliff, his friend and Alison, his wife at the least provocation. He marries Alison in an unconventional and private manner to defy her parents’ preference.

(v) Right after marrying Alison, he takes her along and gatecrashes parties of well-known middle-class families in embarrassingly untidy or inappropriate clothing.

(vi) He nicknames Alison “Pusillanimous”.

4. Feeling that Britain has lost its identity.

(i) Jimmy finds it difficult to achieve stability because, according to him, Britons are living in the American age.

(ii) He and others like him are drifting “Our youth is slipping away”.

5. Jimmy’s responsibility for his own alienation can be attributed to:

(i) His own naughty and self-righteous attitude to life.

(ii) His feeding of being wronged by society and wanting to pay back.

(iii) His earlier failed attempt to truly love Alison and Helena.

(iv) He is redeemed by Alison’s sudden return and their resuming lives as husband and wife (he is a squirrel and she is a bear).

NOTE: MARKS DISTRIBUTION

(a) Candidates are to develop 5 points including 1 and 2 where applicable to earn 25 marks.

(b) Each score point earns up to 5 marks.

(c) Marks are awarded based on the accuracy of information, clarity of expression, supporting detail and orderly presentation of material.

(d) Mere statement/narration of point would earn no more than 2 marks.

(e) Repeated points would not earn any mark.

2021 WAEC Literature Drama and Poetry Question 7

August, Wilson: FENCES

QUESTION:

Consider Raynell’s contribution to the plot.

Points to Develop

1. Relation to Theme

(i) Theme of racial discrimination and its negative impact on the lives of African Americans in the 1950s. Troy Maxson complicates an already uneasy family life with his extra-marital affair with Alberts.

2. Definition/Explanation of Plot

Plot is a sequence of events dictated by the actions of the characters in a play. In the play, Troy Maxson’s home is the centre of most of the actions and events, except those recalled by flashbacks.

3. Identification of Characters

(i) Raynell is Troy’s extra-marital daughter whose mother Alberta, dies in childbirth at the hospital.

(ii) Raynel is brought home by Troy “Wrapped in blankets”.

(iii) Step-sister to Cory and Lyons and niece to Gabriel (Gabe).

4. Events before Raynell’s integration into Maxson’s family.

(i) Events in Maxson’s family seem to be very much under control – no significant upheavals.

(ii) Raynell’s entry into the family introduces the most significant crisis the family her to deal with.

(a) Maxson is disowned by Rose as her husband; “From right now… this child got a mother but you a womanless man”.

(b) Cory is on his mother’s side and shows disrespect to his father, even ending up fighting him after the fracas on the porch.

(c) Rose’s acceptance of Raynell eases the crisis but things are never the same again with the relationship until Troy’s death.

5. Raynell as a source of comfort for the family.

(i) Rose is left with Raynell after Troy’s sudden death.

(ii) Rose introduces Raynell to Cory and Lyons as her elder siblings. Lyon says: “Look at Raynell. Ain’t she precious”?

(iii) Raynell sings late Troy’s favourite song on Blue. Raynell explains it is “Papa’s dog that he sings about all the time”. And she adds that “Blue laid down and died like a man” after Cory has joined her in singing the son.

(iv) Rose prepares Raynell to get into her rather tight shoes to attend church for Troy’s burial.

NOTE: MARKS DISTRIBUTION

(a) Candidates are to develop 5 points including 1 and 2 where applicable to earn 25 marks.

(b) Each score point earns up to 5 marks.

(c) Marks are awarded based on the accuracy of information, clarity of expression, supporting detail and orderly presentation of material.

(d) Mere statement/narration of point would earn no more than 2 marks.

(e) Repeated points would not earn any mark.

2021 WAEC Literature Drama and Poetry Question 8

August, Wilson: FENCES

QUESTION:

Comment on the appropriateness of the title Fences.

Points to Develop

1. Relation to Theme

Theme of racial discrimination and its negative effects on an African-American family in the 1950s. African Americans had to fight white segregation as well as deal with their own internal conflict. So, they are extremely fenced off while they also put up their own internal fences.

2. Explanation/Definition

(i) Fence is a structure, like a wall built to separate one area from another or to prevent people or animals from entering or leaving its enclosure.

(ii) The play is about the building of a fence in the Maxson’s backyard.

(iii) The life of the Maxson family is affected one way or the other by the fence building project.

(iv) Rose sings a song asking Jesus to protect her like a fence.

(v) Rose believes that asking Troy and Cory to work together to build the fence will help them bond and heal and conflict between father and son.

(vi) In the final showdown between Troy and Cory, Toy kicks Cory out of the house. The fence becomes the physical barrier that separates father and son.

3. Fence as a metaphor/symbol

(i) The constant friction between Troy and his son Cory can be seen as an emotional barrier that separates them.

(ii) The fence symbolizes all the other emotional barriers. Troy has had to experience these barriers in his life.

(a) Between him and his cruel and abusive father.

(b) The racism that prevents him from becoming a professional baseball player.

(c) Poverty and homelessness that prevents him from living a dignified life.

4. “Fence” and “Fences”

Even though the play is about the building of a single fence, the title “Fences” derives from the fact that there are other fences.

(i) The play’s main conflict is between father and son, Troy and Cory. There is a metaphorical fence between the two.

(ii) Early in the play, Troy tries as it were, to dismantle the racial barrier, that is the fence between him and his aspiration of becoming the very first black truck driver in the sanitation department he works for.

(iii) The whites put a “fence” between Cory and his ambition to go to college on a football scholarship. They claimed Cory will be discriminated against, that is, a fence will be placed between him and his career because he is black.

(iv) Troy himself had a similar “fence” placed between him and his career as an aspiring baseball player.

(v) When Troy’s affair with his mistress, Alberta, is exposed, his wife Rose declares she is no longer Troy’s woman. Troy’s extra-marital affair places a “fence” between him and his wife.

5. Significance of the title

(i) Manifested by the hurdles black Americans like Troy had to overcome at their workplace.

(ii) Manifested by the internal wrangling within the Maxson family and efforts to bring back a peaceful and harmonious relationship.

NOTE: MARKS DISTRIBUTION

(a) Candidates are to develop 5 points including 1 and 2 where applicable to earn 25 marks.

(b) Each score point earns up to 5 marks.

(c) Marks are awarded based on the accuracy of information, clarity of expression, supporting detail and orderly presentation of material.

(d) Mere statement/narration of point would earn no more than 2 marks.

(e) Repeated points would not earn any mark.

2021 WAEC Literature Drama and Poetry Question 11

QUESTION:

Consider the use of Alliteration, Repetition, and Assonance in the poem “Binsey Poplars”.

Points to Develop

1. Relation to Theme

The poet describes the destruction of nature through the falling of trees. He maintains that nature has a role to play in the affairs of human beings. To demonstrate this role, he makes use of alliteration, repetition and assonance as stylistic devices.

2. Use of Alliteration

(i) Defined as the repetition of initial consonants of words.

(ii) Occurs in lines and across lines.

(a) Alliteration of “K” and “L” sounds in “…whose airy cages/quelled or quenched in leaves the leaping sun”.

(b) Alliteration of “S”, “D” and “W”. sounds in “That dandled a sandaled shadow that swam or sank/on meadow and river and wind-wandering, wand-winding bank”.

(c) Also alliteration of “T” and “K” in “Ten or twelve, only ten or twelve/strokes of havoc unselve…”.

(d) Effects of use of alliteration

(i) Most of the sounds alliterated are voiceless or soft sounds.

(ii) There convey the feeling of empathy and reinforce the notion that nature is delicate and beautiful and there is great loss in its being destroyed.

3. Use of Repetition

The use is often combined with alliteration and occurs in several parts of the poem.

Examples include;

(i) “All felled, felled, are all felled

(ii) …delve or hew” / “hew or delve”

(iii) …quelled/quelled

(iv) “Ten or twelve, only ten or twelve”

On occasion, entire lines are repeated with slight variations;

The sweet special scene

Natural scene, a rural scene

Sweet especial rural scene

(v) Effect of repetition

(a) To emphasize on intensity the point or idea of loss.

(b) To draw attention to the pathetic destruction that is taking place.

4. Use of Assonance

This is simply the repetition of identical or sometimes, similar vowels in words.

Example include;

(i) The vowel ‘e’ in ‘quelled or quenched, or ‘mend’ and ‘end’, ‘delve’ or ‘selve’.

(ii) The vowel i: in “leaves” and “leaping sun”.

(iii) The vowel ‘a’ in ‘…dandled a sandaled or in ‘swam’ and ‘sank’.

(iv) Effect of Assonance

(a) Heightens the feeling of loss and destruction

(b) Adds to the poem’s musical quality

5. Cumulative effect of use of the devices

(i) Reinforce the poet’s feeling of regret

(ii) Draw attention to the harm that is being down to the trees, by extension, nature.

NOTE: MARKS DISTRIBUTION

(a) Candidates are to develop 5 points including 1 and 2 where applicable to earn 25 marks.

(b) Each score point earns up to 5 marks.

(c) Marks are awarded based on the accuracy of information, clarity of expression, supporting detail and orderly presentation of material.

(d) Mere statement/narration of point would earn no more than 2 marks.

(e) Repeated points would not earn any mark.

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