Reapers in a Mieliefield - elitecollege.net
Post on 03-Dec-2021
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Reapers in a mieliefieldMbuyiseni Oswald Mtshali
Line 1
• Alliteration: “Faces furrowed”
• Assonance: “wet with sweat”
• The labourers are frowning and sweating due to exertion – the work is physically demanding.
Lines 2-5• Alliteration: “wasp waists” (line 2)
• The female labourers break the mielie cobs off the plants and throw them in bags.
• Onomatopoeia: “rustling” imitates the sound the dry leaves of the mielies make when handled by the labourers.
Line 6
• Repetition: “row upon row” – the work the labourers do seems to be endless.
Lines 7-9
• Simile: The tractor is compared to a desert tanker as it is huge, probably noisy and kicks up a lot of dust.
Lines 10-12
• Alliteration: “pipe puffing”
• Simile: The driver’s teeth are compared to mielies as it is stained yellow.
Lines 13-14
• Alliteration: “loaded by thick-limbed labourers”
• The labourers are muscular/strong from daily physical labour.
Lines 15-16
• Metaphor: Their vests are brown from the dust and reminds the speaker of baked bread.
Lines 17-19• Personification: The sun is like a slave driver who
carries a red hot rod to force the labourers to keep working.
• It is really hot outside.• The image evokes pain and suffering.
Lines 20-23• Assonance: “wipe a brine”
• Alliteration: “brine-bathed-brow”; “malty maheu”
• The labourers are drenched in sweat and take a quick break to drink maheu.
Line 24
• Alliteration: “slaked in seconds”
• “seconds” - it is only a short break.
Line 25
• Simile: Heavy bags are picked up as though they are light as bags containing feathers.
• Shows the renewed energy of the men.
Line 26
• Metaphor: The women are compared to energetic female horses.
• Demonstrates the renewed vigour with which they return to their work.
Lines 27-28
• Alliteration: “reapers will rest”
• “Kraals” – term often used to describe housing for animals.
• Labourers are possibly not treated humanely.
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