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SS1: LITERATURE-IN-ENGLISH - 2ND TERM

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  1. African Prose

    African Prose: Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta | Week 1
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  2. Themes in Second Class Citizen | Week 2
    3 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  3. Characterization and Narrative Techniques in Second Class Citizen | Week 3
    2 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  4. Non-African Prose
    Non-African Prose: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison | Week 4
    4 Topics
  5. Themes in Invisible Man | Week 5
    3 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  6. Characterization and Narrative Technique in Invisible Man | Week 6
    2 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  7. African Poetry
    “Black Woman” by Leopold Sedar Senghor | Week 7
    6 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  8. Themes and Poetic Devices in “Black Woman” | Week 8
    2 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  9. Non-African Poetry
    "Bat" by D.H. Lawrence | Week 9
    5 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
  10. Themes and Poetic Devices in "Bat" by D.H. Lawrence | Week 10
    2 Topics
    |
    1 Quiz
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Topic Content:

  • Poetic Devices | “Black Woman”

Metaphor:

This is the dominant literary device used in the poem. 

These metaphors include:

(a) “Black Woman” “Black Woman” in the title is a metaphor for African heritage and culture

(b) “Naked Woman” in (line 1) is a metaphor for beautiful.

(c) “Shadow” in line 4 refers to communal life that nurtures the persona.

(d) “My Promised Land” is a metaphor for hope and the new resurging life of Africans and their culture

(e) “Savannah” is a metaphor for Africans' survival despite colonial rule.

Simile:

This is portrayed in lines 9 – 

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Question 1

Question:

Examine the use of language and structure of the poem “Black Woman”

Answer:

Through the effective use of language and structure in the poem “Black Woman”, Senghor celebrates the beauty of Africa as well as immortalizes Africa’s beauty through poetry.

Senghor uses simple diction to convey his love and commitment to the African continent. His description of the beauty of the African landscape and its people is done with words that are complex and high-sounding words to describe the beauty of the African continent. He uses words and phrases like “Savannah”, “Promised Land”, “Paradise” etc. to aptly capture his admiration of Africa.

As an ode to the African continent, the poet’s use of basic and simple language fits the purpose of the poem. The poem is written as an address to Africa and more significantly as a poem in praise of the beauties of the continent. His choice of “Black Woman” aptly captures the concept of Africa as a mother of all black people. The poet praises the complexion of blackness by referring to it as the colour of “life” and the African form as “beauty”. This is much different from the stereotypes which associate blackness with negativity. For him, the beauty of Africa is one which “strikes” the heart like the flash of an eagle”. On the whole Africa becomes, for the persona, both “Paradise” and “Promised Land”.

The structure of the poem aids the understanding of the poem as a rediscovery of one’s African self. The poem is written in four stanzas with a varying number of lines in each stanza.

The first stanza offers the circumstances that surround the poets’ rediscovery of the beauties of Africa. It shows that the persona grew up in the “shadow” of Africa, where “the/gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes”. However, there appears to have been a disconnection from the African continent, when he travels to Europe. In Europe, the persona discovers Africa differently altogether. The racial discrimination and expressions of white superiority open his eyes to see Africa as the “Promised Land” he has never known.  

In the second and third stanzas, the persona expresses his profound admiration of the different aspects of the beauty and riches of the African continent. The beautiful landscape of Africa and its people as well as its rich history occupy the persona’s attention in these stanzas. The persona’s description of the savannah landscape of Africa creates an atmosphere in which human beings are in touch with nature.

In the last stanza, the persona expresses his dedication and devotion to singing about Africa’s “beauty that passes”. He decides to fix Africa’s “form” “in the eternal” before its very existence is threatened by “jealous fate”.

The poet repeats “Naked woman, black woman” at the beginning of all the stanzas in the poem. This shows the persona’s admiration of the natural beauty of the African woman. The naked black woman is a symbol of Africa in its original form; without European influence.

Most importantly on the aspect of the structure of “Black Woman” is the narrative voice of the persona. The poet uses the first person to relay his views about Africa in the poem. This is portrayed in his use of personal pronouns “I” and “my”. The use of these personal pronouns put the poet’s experiences of Europe and his rediscovery of his African self on a personal level. That is his experiences are personal and not representative of all Africans everywhere.

Question 2

Question:

Attempt a metaphorical interpretation of the poem “Black Woman”.

Answer:

The poem “Black Woman” explores admiration for the black race. The black woman in this poem is an African woman which represents the African race itself. He praises the African woman and equates her to everything beautiful and graceful, and also showers praises on the “black woman” thus implying the greatness of the African culture and the people.

In lines 1 – 6, the persona expresses his love and adoration for the black woman which is symbolic of African culture or people, not only for her “colour” which is life or her “form” which is beauty but also for her gentleness and ability to sustain and give life. The persona calls her “Naked Woman” in line 1 to proclaim that she is attractive, inviting and irresistible. He also describes Africa as a maternal figure in whose tutelage he has grown. The persona continues to appreciate the black woman for nursing him from infancy to adulthood.

In lines 7 – 12, the persona suddenly realizes that it is about time to search endlessly to affirm and accept our culture because they have passed through rough times of discrimination and dehumanization in the past.

In lines 13 – 21, the persona continues to shower more praises on the black African woman. She is described as a lover whose flesh is like that of a ripe fruit. Landscape images, natural fruits and wonderful objects are compared to the beauty of the black woman. Her flesh is personified and compared metaphorically to the sweet song with a good lyric. She is compared to a vast savannah that harbours, protects, and takes care of its inhabitants against the east wind. Here, Africa is seen as a continent that promotes communal lite and accommodates all humanity. 

In lines 22 – 28, the black woman is compared to everything beautiful, graceful and elegant. Her skin is smooth, beautiful and well-oiled. She is the centre of admiration of all eyes, even the princes of Mali are on their flanks waiting for this perfect beauty of the black African woman.

In lines 29 – 33, the poet concludes on a philosophical note to continue to adorn and worship the perfect beauty of the African woman and to keep alive the African woman’s transient beauty permanently in his poetry. “I sing your beauty that passes the form/that I fix in the eternal”.

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