2010 JAMB LITERATURE PAST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

This question assesses the understanding of different literature types presented in English question papers. Recognizing the specific type helps in strategizing answers effectively. For instance, Type A might focus on prose analysis, while other types could emphasize poetry or drama. Identifying the correct type ensures appropriate preparation and response.

This question delves into character relationships within J.C. De Graft’s “Sons and Daughters.” The speaker expresses frustration, indicating interpersonal conflicts. Understanding who let the speaker down requires familiarity with the characters and their interactions, highlighting themes of disappointment and trust.

This question explores character motivations in “Sons and Daughters.” Maanan’s dislike for Lawyer B stems from specific actions that breach trust or personal boundaries. Analyzing their interactions reveals underlying tensions and conflicts that drive the narrative forward, emphasizing themes of betrayal and personal integrity.

Understanding the representation of traditional order in “Sons and Daughters” involves identifying which character embodies societal norms and customs. This character often upholds family values and cultural expectations, serving as a counterbalance to other disruptive forces in the play.

The setting of a play is crucial as it provides the backdrop against which the story unfolds. In “Sons and Daughters,” knowing the specific location helps in understanding cultural and social dynamics that influence character behavior and plot development. Different settings can drastically alter the interpretation of events and relationships.

This excerpt from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” reflects the theme of deadly sin, which in this context likely refers to a grave wrongdoing that warrants severe punishment. Understanding the specific sin helps in analyzing the characters’ motivations and the consequences of their actions within the narrative framework of the play.

The verse structure of a play influences its rhythm and delivery. Shakespeare’s use of blank verse in “Romeo and Juliet” allows for a natural flow of dialogue without rhyme, enabling expressive and dynamic character interactions. Recognizing the verse form aids in appreciating the poetic qualities and dramatic effectiveness of the play.

This line from “Romeo and Juliet” uses metaphorical language to describe a character. Understanding who is being referred to involves analyzing the context and characteristics attributed to each option. The metaphor suggests deceit or hidden malice beneath a pleasing exterior, which aligns with specific characters in the play.

The setting of “Romeo and Juliet” is integral to its themes of conflict and forbidden love. Verona serves as a backdrop that accentuates the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, heightening the tension and stakes for the protagonists. Recognizing the correct location is essential for contextualizing the events and societal pressures depicted in the play.

Romeo’s banishment is a pivotal moment in “Romeo and Juliet,” driven by his act of vengeance against Tybalt. This punishment exacerbates the central conflict and propels the narrative towards its tragic conclusion. Understanding the reasons behind Romeo’s exile highlights the themes of fate, loyalty, and the destructive nature of feuds.

In Buchi Emecheta’s “The Joys of Motherhood,” societal values play a critical role in shaping the protagonist’s experiences and struggles. The emphasis on procreation reflects cultural expectations regarding motherhood and women’s roles, influencing the character’s decisions and societal standing. Recognizing these values is key to understanding the novel’s themes and conflicts.

This question addresses symbolic elements in “The Joys of Motherhood.” The lump symbolizes underlying themes such as fate, destiny, or curses affecting the protagonist’s life. Understanding the medicine man’s interpretation helps in analyzing the cultural and superstitious beliefs depicted in the novel and their impact on the character’s journey.

In “The Joys of Motherhood,” Nnaife’s family faces persistent challenges that shape their lives. Identifying these companions—such as poverty and hunger—provides insight into the socioeconomic struggles depicted in the novel. These elements drive the narrative and underscore the themes of resilience and familial bonds amid adversity.

In Ferdinand Oyono’s “The Old Man and the Medal,” the conflict between Mvondo and Nti highlights themes of pride, recognition, and colonial influence. Understanding the basis of their disagreement—whether it’s about assistance, resource allocation, or personal achievements—reveals underlying tensions and critiques of post-colonial societal changes.

Meka’s characterization in “The Old Man and the Medal” reflects his personality traits and role in the narrative. Describing him as an old religious bigot highlights his rigid beliefs and potential conflicts with other characters, embodying themes of tradition versus change and the impact of colonialism on personal identities.

Colonial attitudes in “The Old Man and the Medal” are depicted through interactions between colonizers and Africans. Describing this treatment as disdain underscores the condescending and oppressive nature of colonial rule, highlighting themes of exploitation, racism, and the struggle for dignity and self-identity among the colonized population.

In George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-four,” the Ministries are paradoxically named to represent their actual functions, which are contrary to their titles. The Ministry of Peace, for instance, is responsible for perpetuating war. Understanding this irony is crucial for analyzing the dystopian society Orwell portrays, where language and truth are manipulated for control.

“Nineteen Eighty-four” explores themes of totalitarianism, surveillance, and individual freedom. Identifying the main subject matter as totalitarian dictatorship is essential for understanding the novel’s critique of oppressive political systems and the mechanisms used to maintain power and control over society.

Winston Smith’s rebellion in “Nineteen Eighty-four” begins with small acts of defiance against the Party’s oppressive regime. Keeping a private diary symbolizes his yearning for truth and individuality, representing the initial spark of resistance that challenges the totalitarian control and sets the stage for his eventual downfall.

In “Nineteen Eighty-four,” the Party’s pursuit of power is depicted as an end in itself, devoid of any altruistic motives. Understanding that the Party seeks power for its own sake highlights the themes of corruption, absolute authority, and the loss of personal freedoms under a totalitarian regime, emphasizing Orwell’s warning against unchecked governmental power.

This question pertains to the interpretation of imagery in poetry. The transition from sorrow to joy as depicted in Adeoti’s “Naked Soles” illustrates the transformative power of movement and resilience amidst hardship. Analyzing such imagery helps in understanding the underlying themes of perseverance and the human spirit overcoming adversity.

Understanding the depiction of natural events in poetry like Rubadiris’s “An African Thunderstorm” involves analyzing the interactions between characters and their environment. The contrast between women’s domestic activities and children’s playful responses highlights cultural dynamics and the varying perceptions of nature’s power and beauty within the community.

This excerpt utilizes enjambment, a literary device where a sentence continues beyond the end of a line without a terminal punctuation mark. Enjambment creates a sense of flow and continuity, enhancing the poem’s rhythm and emphasizing the connection between thoughts and emotions. Identifying this device aids in appreciating the poem’s structural nuances.

In “A Heritage of Liberation,” the poet’s plea to pass weapons to future generations symbolizes a desire for peace and the end of conflict. By transferring tools of war to grandchildren, the persona advocates for a legacy of harmony and the rejection of violence, reflecting themes of hope and transformation within the context of liberation.

Launko’s “End of the War” employs paradox as a predominant literary device, juxtaposing conflicting ideas to highlight the absurdity and contradictions inherent in war. This technique underscores the futility and devastation of conflict, encouraging readers to reflect on the irrationality of war and its impact on humanity.

“Give Me The Minstrel’s Seat” explores themes of companionship and the human desire for connection and understanding. The minstrel’s seat symbolizes a place of storytelling and shared experiences, highlighting the importance of relationships and the comfort they provide in navigating life’s challenges.

In “To His Coy Mistress,” the poet employs hyperbolic praise to emphasize the urgency of love and seizing the moment. Praising the lady’s eyes for a century underscores the intensity of his affection and the fleeting nature of time, urging her to embrace their love before it’s too late. This technique highlights themes of carpe diem and romantic urgency.

In “Bat,” the poet’s mistake in identifying the bats reflects themes of perception and the unknown. Confusing bats for owls suggests a misunderstanding or fear of the unfamiliar, highlighting the tension between human knowledge and the mysteries of nature. This misidentification serves as a metaphor for broader themes of ignorance and discovery.

“Journey of the Magi” by T.S. Eliot portrays the magi’s arduous trek to witness a significant event. The use of camels as their mode of transport emphasizes the arduous and enduring nature of their quest, symbolizing the challenges faced in seeking enlightenment or truth. This imagery enhances the poem’s themes of pilgrimage and spiritual transformation.

Cope’s Sonnet VII presents poetry as a therapeutic medium, offering solace and emotional release. By characterizing poetry in this way, the poem emphasizes the healing power of artistic expression and its ability to convey deep personal and universal truths, making it an essential aspect of human experience and emotional well-being.

A farce is a type of comedy that relies on exaggerated situations and physical humor to elicit laughter. Unlike satire or tragi-comedy, which may blend humor with serious themes, farces focus purely on humor, often through improbable events and slapstick antics. Understanding this helps in categorizing plays based on their intended emotional impact.

Both comedy and tragedy share structural elements such as a climax, which is the peak of the story’s conflict. While their outcomes differ—comedy typically ending happily and tragedy ending sorrowfully—the presence of a climax is essential in building tension and leading the narrative towards its resolution. This shared feature underscores their common roots in dramatic structure.

A eulogy is a speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly, typically someone who has just died. It serves to honor the individual’s contributions and character, providing comfort to the bereaved and celebrating the person’s life. This distinguishes it from other forms of praise like lampoons, which are satirical.

First-person narrative allows the protagonist to convey their story from their own perspective, providing intimate insights into their thoughts and feelings. This style enhances the connection between the reader and the character, offering a subjective view that differs from the objective or third-person narratives, which provide a more detached account.

The setting of a literary work encompasses its physical location, historical period, and cultural context. It provides the backdrop against which characters interact and events unfold, influencing the narrative’s tone and themes. Understanding the setting is crucial for interpreting characters’ motivations and the story’s broader implications.

An organic plot structure allows the narrative to flow in a non-linear fashion, often reflecting the natural progression of events as they unfold in the characters’ minds. This contrasts with chronological or episodic structures, offering a more fluid and interconnected storytelling approach that can enhance thematic depth and character development.

A pun involves wordplay that exploits multiple meanings or similar sounds of words for humorous or rhetorical effect. It adds a layer of wit to the language, often making the text more engaging and memorable. Understanding puns enhances appreciation of the author’s creativity and the nuanced meanings within the work.

A narrative poem tells a story with a clear sequence of events, characters, and a plot, similar to a short story or novel. The poet uses verse to convey the narrative, often incorporating elements like dialogue, setting, and conflict to engage the reader and advance the storyline, distinguishing it from other poetic forms focused on emotions or imagery.

A travelogue is a literary genre that documents an individual’s experiences and observations while traveling. It often combines factual reporting with personal reflections, providing insights into different cultures, landscapes, and personal growth. This distinguishes it from autobiographies or memoirs, which focus more broadly on an individual’s life experiences.

Satire utilizes irony to critique and expose flaws in individuals, institutions, or society. By highlighting contradictions and hypocrisies, satire aims to provoke thought and encourage change. Understanding this device is essential for interpreting the underlying messages and intentions behind satirical works.

This dialogue from Wole Soyinka’s work portrays a confrontational relationship between the characters. Identifying the person being addressed helps in understanding the dynamics of authority and hierarchy within the narrative, as well as the emotional tone and underlying conflicts that drive character interactions.

The aggressive and critical language used by Basha indicates a tone of anger and frustration. Recognizing the speaker’s emotional state is crucial for interpreting character motivations and the intensity of the conflict presented in the dialogue, reflecting broader themes of authority, discipline, and interpersonal tensions.

The excerpt from Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” conveys a mood of despair and hopelessness. The imagery of sad harvests and tragic actions like suicide reflects the characters’ struggles and the broader societal challenges they face, evoking an emotional response from the reader that underscores themes of loss and suffering.

The rhyme scheme of this excerpt follows an abab pattern, where the first and third lines rhyme, as do the second and fourth. Recognizing rhyme schemes helps in analyzing the poem’s structure and the poet’s use of sound to enhance meaning and rhythm, contributing to the overall aesthetic and emotional impact of the work.

The vivid description of earth movement and destruction points to an earthquake as the subject matter. Understanding the subject helps in interpreting the poem’s themes of natural disaster and its devastating impact on human structures and lives, emphasizing the power of nature and the fragility of human achievements.

In this metaphor, “shadow” symbolizes darkness or ignorance, while “laughter like a flame” represents enlightenment and joy. The imagery suggests that the subject’s laughter brings clarity and warmth, revealing a brighter perspective of Africa. Understanding such metaphors is key to interpreting the poem’s deeper meanings and emotional resonance.

The speaker’s advice to stay calm and regain composure indicates confidence and reassurance. This tone suggests a desire to comfort and guide the listener through emotional turmoil, highlighting themes of resilience and emotional regulation in the face of challenges. Understanding the speaker’s attitude helps in interpreting the message’s intent and impact.

This poem employs the elegy form, mourning the loss or absence of someone dear. The reflective tone and themes of awakening and memory underscore the sorrow and longing characteristic of elegiac poetry. Recognizing the form helps in understanding the emotional depth and purpose behind the poet’s expression of grief and remembrance.

The theme of futility of life is evident as the poem reflects on the relentless efforts of the sun to awaken the earth, symbolizing the continuous but often ineffective attempts to bring about change or growth. This theme underscores the existential struggles and the perceived meaninglessness of certain endeavors, highlighting a pessimistic view of life’s efforts.

The rhyme scheme of the stanza follows an abab pattern, where the first and third lines rhyme with each other, as do the second and fourth lines. Recognizing rhyme schemes is essential for analyzing the poem’s structure and the poet’s use of sound to create rhythm and enhance the thematic expression.