Resilience always pays | Inheritance

 Resilience always pays. Drawing illustrations from David Mulwas’s Inheritance, validate this statement.

Introduction.

We are faced with many difficult situations but it should never be the end of everything. We should press on just like Lulu,Bengo,Reverend Sangoi

 Ri) Citizens

The citizens of Kutula are subjected to inhumane conditions. They are mistreated,killed,maimed,exploited intimidated and denied their rights .These barbaric acts set them against the cruel regime of Lacuna Kasso,these bad experiences do not put them down but they revolt and are unable to move on as liberated citizen.

 Rii) Bengo

Bengo preaches the message of the removal of the dictatorial regime, even when in prison; he still communicates to the people and this confirmed by Lulu who says they got his message even when he is in prison, he does not even give up the fight to see removal of bad leadership even after being imprisoned for more than ten years. He comes out and proceeds with the revolutions and rebellion against Lacuna, this eventually comes to fruition when Lacuna is toppled.

Satisfaction We need | The folded leaf

Drawing illustrations from Segun Afolabi’s short story, The folded leaf, write an essay to shows that the satisfaction we need to be happy in our lives is always within and around us.

 Introduction

The story ‘Folded Leaf’ by Segun Afolabi explores the characters’ desperate search for healing from their various physical ailments against the reality of who they are only for them to end up disappointed. This is seen through Bunmi, who is blind and the other Christians who are disabled in different ways seeking miracle healing from Pastor Fayemi.

 The journey to the would-be healing venue in Lagos long and uncomfortable probably to foreshadow the futility of the journey as well as their expectations. They are harassed by the police officers at the road block and are only allowed to proceed with their journey after bribing the police. (p. 83-84). Bola says there is so much traffic in Lagos- more cars than people, the roads have potholes making the journey uncomfortable.

Betrayal in our Society | A Dolls House

“There is a lot of betrayal in our society”. Write a composition to support this statement drawing your illustration from the play “A doll House”, By Henrik Ibsen

 Most people betrays others by deceiving who trusted them, failing to honor an agreement or simply disappointing a person who has put trust in them. A marriage partner may betray his or her partner by breaking the vow or being unfaithful; A politician betrays the citizens by not honoring his or her campaign pledges/Betrayal run through the play as show by characters such as Helmar, Krogstad and Christine.

  Helmer betrays his wife Nora by not defending and understanding her when he finds out the secret she has been keeping from him. Nora had hoped and feared for the wonderful thing to happen when Helmer finds out that she had lied and sacrificed her comfort and money to pay the loan that save his life. She had hoped that Helmer would take the guilt upon himself because Nora committed the forgery to save his life. To her wild disappointment, Helmer tells her that he can work day and night for her, bear sorrow for her but no man can sacrifices his honor for the one he loves. She also realizes that the Helmer has been treating like a doll to amuse and entertain himself. This makes her realize she has been living with a stranger all a long and she decides to leave him.

Desperation can bring agony to one self | A Doll's House

 Henrik Ibsen:A Doll’s House

“Desperation can bring agony to oneself.” Using specific examples from Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House, write a composition to justify the truth in this statement.

Introduction

Sometimes when one becomes desperate to get or do something they may end up suffering in the process. This is the case with characters such as Nora, Dr. Rank, Helmer and others in A Doll’s House.

 ILLUSTRATIONS

D (i) Krogstad is desperate to redeem his reputation through the job he has at the bank and in so doing he suffers a lot. He visits Nora frequently hoping to arm-twist her to put in a good word for him to retain the job. He threatens her with dire consequences through a court action if she would not do so. He reminds Nora of the discrepancy he had noted in the bond. However, instead of retaining the job, he gets fired.

D (ii) Helmer is desperate to maintain his manly dominance over Nora and this makes him suffer. He struggles to keep her in good moods by giving her money. He cautions her against associating with those regarded as morally diseased such as Krogstad. He coaches her on the Tarantella so as to have a stellar performance at the Stenborg’s and is disappointed when Nora doesn’t dance as he instructs. Finally, when Nora decides to walk out on him, he pleads with her to remain even if they were to behave like a brother and a sister. He asks if he even write to her but Nora refuses. In the he is embarrassed and sinks down in his chair when Nora leaves.

Resilience always pays | Inheritance

Resilience always pays. Drawing illustrations from David Mulwas’s Inheritance, validate this statement.

 Introduction.

We are faced with many difficult situations but it should never be the end of everything. We should press on just like Lulu,Bengo,Reverend Sangoi

Ri) Citizens

The citizens of Kutula are subjected to inhumane conditions. They are mistreated,killed,maimed,exploited intimidated and denied their rights .These barbaric acts set them against the cruel regime of Lacuna Kasso,these bad experiences do not put them down but they revolt and are unable to move on as liberated citizen.

 Rii) Bengo

Bengo preaches the message of the removal of the dictatorial regime, even when in prison; he still communicates to the people and this confirmed by Lulu who says they got his message even when he is in prison, he does not even give up the fight to see removal of bad leadership even after being imprisoned for more than ten years. He comes out and proceeds with the revolutions and rebellion against Lacuna, this eventually comes to fruition when Lacuna is toppled.

Living with the Sick | Memories we Lost

 Drawing examples from Mqombothi’s story, Memories We Lost, write a composition to show that when we live with the sick we need to show them love and compassion.

 Introduction

Those who are sick in our midst require compassion for them to recover. This is the case in the story Memories We Lost.

ILLUSTRATIONS

S (i) The narrator’s sister is attacked while playing near hot porridge. She hurls the pot which misses the narrator’s face but lands on the chest. She is pain and strips off her clothes. When the sister comes to she sympathizes with what happened to her sister. The narrator lies to her that she had poured hot water on herself. This is to save her the agony she would have felt if she learned she had caused the sister that much pain.

 S (ii) The narrator’s sister is attacked in the classroom. She throws desks and breaks windows and everybody runs away scared of her. But the narrator stands in front of her and looks at her straight in the face. She scans the environment, recognizes her sister and “returns’. Whereas everybody flees from her, the narrator remains.

Wrong Judgement | A Doll's House

 Using Tovald Helmer for illustrations, write an essay on how one can have wrong judgement about others drawing your illustrations from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.

 Introduction

One can easily have a wrong perception of a person based on their physical appearance. One who is smartly dressed for instance, would command respect as opposed to a person who is shabbily dressed. This is true of A doll’s House from the way Helmer perceives certain characters in the text.

 i) Ji- Intelligent

Torvald thinks Nora is not intelligent. Yet she is very intelligent. Helmer calls her demeaning names like little featherhead, little obstinate person. Nora saves Torvald’s life and from the suffering.  She goes against societal norms by borrowing money despite women being barred from doing so unless with husbands permission. She manages to forge her father’s signature.

She is able to device ways of repaying the loan and manages to keep it a secret. She manages to cunningly convince Torvald to offer Mrs. Linde a job.                     

'Grey and Ulcerous' | The Pearl

“He looked into its surface and it was grey and ulcerous” with close reference to the Pearl, write an essay explaining how the pearl could be said to be grey and ulcerous.

 INTRODUCTION

When Kino gets the pearl of the world he has high hopes that it will transform his life and that of his life family for the better. Unfortunately for him the pearl turns to be the cause of his misfortunes. This as illustrated in the arguments below.

 The doctor – When the doctor learnt that Kino Had the pearl of the world he decides to try his lack at benefiting from it. He declares that Coyotito is a patient of his and visits Kino with the intention of treating the boy and getting the pearl as his payment. When he realizes that that Coyotito had recovered from the scorpion sting,he resorts to poisoning him. This caused Kino and his wife a lot of agony as they fear for their son since the doctors treatment worsened Coyotito’s condition (pages 41, 50, 52-53)

 Pearl buyers \ Kino finds himself faced by the exploitative pearl buyer who are set reap maximally from his pearl. The buyers conspire beforehand to offer a low price for Kino’s fortune. For a pearl expected by Kino to raise 50 thousand piaster he is only offered a possible 150 piaster’s. He is greatly disappointed and opts not to sell to them (Pages 64, 67 – 75)

Nothing good comes easy | Inheritance

 ‘Nothing good comes easy.’ Using illustrations from David Mulwa’s Inheritance show how true this is.

Introduction

Nothing good comes easy and many times one has to struggle to get whatever good thing they want. Sangoi and Bengo struggle to get liberation for the people. Sangoi has to endure an arrogant brother while Bengo is imprisoned.

 Illustrations

The people in Kutula, an independent state, suffer not only under the colonial masters but also after independence because of the leadership of Lacuna. They want to change the situation as he has oppressed them for too long. They plan to rebel against him. Many of the people are detained and killed when they oppose Lacuna. He wants Judah to kill his brother who opposes him. When he refuses he is exiled. But it is the price he has to pay for his brother to live. Later he is murdered in a machine accident for disobeying Lacuna's orders.

 Sangoi accepts a ministerial post that she does not like for fear of being assassinated by Lacuna. Later the people appoint her as the leader and she leads them to arrest Lacuna and they liberate Kutula. When Lacuna works with 'the imperialists, they give him loans though he cannot pay up. They add more money but give him conditions that not only oppress him but also his people. When the loan is not paid, they drain his foreign accounts. In turn, he detains them and they are only rescued when Sangoi takes over.

A Kenyan Road| Windows Seat by Benjamin Branoff

Drawing illustrations from Window Seat by Benjamin Branoff, show the truthfulness in the observation that “Travelers are sometimes subjected to pathetic travelling conditions on most of the Kenyan roads.”

Introduction

Candidates should show the difficulties associated with public transport

Points of Interpretation

i) It is uncomfortable to use public means of transport on Kenyan roads as one is exposed to uncouth conditions such as Air/noise pollution….endless dirt drifts through the window ….it finds crevices on my body… and sneaks into the stitching of my clothes (pg63/65)

Air pollution seen when he says …the rancid smell from the burning garbage oozing into the vehicle from nearby rots. (pg 65). Noise pollution… when they reach the bus stop, they are exposed to the smelling bodies of the passengers.

Personal Freedom | A Dolls House

 The society in  A Doll’s House is portrayed as one that inhibits personal freedom. Show the truth of this statement using Nora.

 In the text A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, the community prevents/restrains an individual from exercising liberty in their day to day lives as seen when Nora has to work secretly and when she is unable to make independent decisions.

 The society inhibits married women from taking a loan without their husband’s consent. During the first year of Nora and Helmer’s marriage, Helmer overworks himself and becomes dreadfully ill. The doctors come to Nora and tell her that Helmer is in a dangerous condition and that they need to live in the South for him to recover. Nora tries all means to persuade Helmer to take them to South without success. She tells him how much she wants to live broad like other young wives. She tries tears and entreaties and that he ought to remember the condition she is in. She hints to him that he might raise a loan and this makes him nearly angry. Helmer calls Nora a thoughtless woman and tells her he cannot indulge in her whims and caprices. With no other option left, Nora devices a way out of the difficulty by taking a loan of 250 pounds from Krogstad without Helmer’s consent. This is against the law as Mrs Linde reminds her that a wife cannot borrow without her husband’s consent. In the process of keeping this as a secret from Helmer, Nora suffers anxiety to the point of contemplating suicide. When Helmer learns about this, he abuses Nora and forbids her from raising her own children. Nora is forced to leave her marriage.

Moral values |The Pearl

‘Most people in the society have lost their moral values’: using The Pearl by John Steinbeck for your illustrations show the truth of the above statement.

 INTRODUCTION:

Ideally a society is supposed to be bound and governed by values and norms which should dictate the relationship between and among people. However, not everyone is virtuous enough and many are morally deficient.

 Pi)- The doctor declines to treat Kino’s child, Coyotito, of the scorpion sting because he has no money(has only small worthless seed pearls).The doctor is hypocritical. When Juana and Kino take Coyotito for treatment at his house, he send the servant informing them he is not in because they have no money. when he learns about the pearl,he visits Kino and offers to treat Coyotito and wait for the money. He also administered the wrong medicine. – The doctor comes to take advantage of Kino’s ignorance by making Coyotito sick and pretending that his illness is the result of the scorpion sting. He pretends as if he does not know of Kino’s pearl, yet the only reason comes to treat Coyotito was to try and seek out where Kino might be hiding it.

Pii) – The Pearl Buyers are out to take advantage of Kino and his pearl. Their goal is to cheat him and ruin his plans of happiness and peace for his family.The pearl buyers exploit the pearl divers by buying their pearls at a lower price than the actual. They also conspire to cheat Kino off his pearl. (pg 33)

Fate has a way of punishing or rewarding| Inheritance

“Fate has a way of punishing or rewarding its victims based on their actions”. Drawing illustrations from the play Inheritance by David Mulwa, Write an essay to justify this statement.

INTRODUCTION:

When one does good things/acts humane towards others will eventually be rewarded, on other those who do evil and are cruel to others will equally get their dues accordingly.

Content

Ii) The old king kutula treated his people well. He was at the forefront in Kutula’s fight for their self rule/independence. He did not want his people to live in debt and he did not work with the foreigners to take loans. He envisioned a self sustainable Kutula. In turn,Kutula people were all behind him and they eventually attained independence from the colonialists. The people loved and respected him.

Challenges Experienced by the Sick Girl | Memories We lost

Write a composition on the challenges experienced by the sick girl and her family members citing illustrations from the short story Memories we lost by Lidudumalingani Mqombothi.

 Introduction

Mental health problems bring along with them a myriad of challenges. The patients and the people around them cope with problems such as injuries, ignorance and misdiagnosis. This is illustrated in the short story Memories we Lost

Mi) Firstly, illness makes the patient to run away from home in the middle of the night. The mother and the entire village are abducted from their sleep. Mean and boys organized a disoriented search party in small uncoordinated groups. Children are frightened. The entire village searches for her in the darkness facing the risk of plunging down a cliff. They would search and search for the whole night.

Family members always want the best | The Pearl

“Family members always want the best for us”. Write an essay to validate this claim basing your

illustrations from John Steinbeck’s The Pearl.

Introduction

In the face of diversity, our relations are always there for us. For instance, Juana Kino’s wife does everything in her power to protect her husband Kino and child Coyotito. She risks her life by sucking the scorpion’s poison out of the child’s shoulder for she cares for her son Coyotito.

Points of Interpretation

Fi: Mother

First, Juana cares for her son Coyotito. When he is stung by a scorpion, she does everything within her means to save his life. First, she sucks the poison out and spits and sucks again. She suggests that they go to see the doctor. She also sticks with Kino when he was pearl fishing and prays that they find a pearl with which they can hire the doctor to treat their son Coyotito. Meanwhile she gathers brown seaweed and makes flat damp poultice which she uses as a remedy for Coyotito’s pain. Her quick thinking saves Coyotito from the adverse effect of the scorpion sting; a withered leg, a crumpled back or a blind eye. Surely, family members are always there for us.

Fii: Kino

Kino is a simple family man who loves and strives to protect his family. Kino finds solace and contentment in the song of the family. He knows the value of family since he inherited his only prized possession, a canoe, from his father and grandfather. He cannot take a chance that the doctor is lying to him about Coyotito’s health since he doesn’t want his child to suffer. When he gets the pearl Kino only thinks of how to improve his family; clothes for Juana and Coyotito, education for Coyotito and marrying Juana in church. Although the pearl causes pain, Kino only clings on it because he wants the best for his family.

Citizens suffer due to bad leadership| Inheritance

David Mulwa: Inheritance

“Citizens suffer due to bad leadership”. Discuss the truth of this statement basing your arguments on David Mulwa’s Inheritance.

 Introduction

The citizens suffer because of bad leadership. Lacuna Kasoo is a dictator who demands to be obeyed. Those who refuse to obey him are incarcerated and killed. Those who oppose him, like Bengo, are imprisoned.

Si: Bengo

Lacuna asks Judah Zen Melo to kill his brother Bengo because Bengo is opposing him. When Judah refuses, he is put out by Lacuna and he cannot get employment. His family suffers in his absence as Tamina his wife cannot make ends meet.

How Much Land Does One Need?| Memories We Lost

 Moran (Ed), Memories We Lost and Other Stories

Basing your answer on Leo Tolstoy’s How Much Land Does One Need? Show how lack of contentment with what one has leads to destruction.

Introduction

Lack of contentment in life can lead to greed and even in some case death. Leo Tolsoy in the story, How Much Land Does One Need? reminds us that we do not need a lot in life and we should be content with what is enough. Pahom looks for more land yet he has more than what many people have.

Ci: Attraction

Lack of contentment can lead one to destruction as seen with Pahom. He is a farmer who owns 123 acres of land and pasture but he still wants more. He keeps thinking of how he wants more land. When a man tells him of the land of the Bashkirs and how cheaply it is sold, he is strongly attracted.

Cii: Sleep

Women are largely unappreciated | A Dolls House

 Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House

“Women are largely unappreciated for the roles they play in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House.” With illustrations, discuss the validity of this statement.

Introduction

All over the world, women do a lot to people around them but many a time, their roles and service to others around them go unappreciated. Women in the play, A Doll’s House by H. Ibsen do a lot that is not appreciated even by people who are close to them or no one seems to notice what they are doing.

Points of interpretation/ Body/ Content

Wi: Christmas decoration

When the play opens, Nora is busy preparing for Christmas. She is secretly adorning the Christmas tree to unveil it as a secret to the family (p.1). During the previous Christmas, we are told that she shut herself up for three weeks making ornaments for Christmas tree. Helmer reveals: “it was the dullest three weeks I ever spent!” (p.8). his confession shows that he did not appreciate what she was doing to ensure that family has a happy Christmas.