An African Elegy - Wynberg Moodlemoodle.wbhs.org.za/pluginfile.php/5182/mod_folder/content/0/Term 2... · something wonderful and amazing. We will be better for our suffering. STANZA

BEN OKRI

PRE-READING ACTIVITIES

• Look at the title: Is this an elegy? Is the poem about death?

Why choose this title? (Is it an appropriate title?)

• What do you notice about the language? Why has the poet

used this type of language?

• Is there a rhyme scheme? Why has the poet chosen to write

like this.

• Look at the line lengths, is there anything in it? Which lines

are shorter, is there anything in that?

• Are there any repeated words?

• Identify all the sound words.

STANZA 1 QUESTIONS

•1. Who are the “we” ? Why “We” not “them”?

•2. What do you notice about the structure of this

stanza?

•3. “To taste the bitter fruit of time” – Identify the

figure of speech here. What two things are being

compared? Is this an effective comparison?

STANZA 1

We= African people.

-Conveys unity.

- Maybe speaking to

an African audience

Special , amazing,

needed, wondrous

We reflect God’s

image, we are special

because we were

made by the divine.

Bad times are compared to the eating of bitter fruit. Fruit is

associated with sweetness and should be pleasant but eating bitter

fruit is an unpleasant thing, it is hard to eat like bad times are hard

to deal with.

We go through good and bad experiences. We are made to endure suffering ,

it is part of the journey of life.

Short line makes this stand out and provide

impact in the reader’s mind

Our pain and suffering is never in vain, they will produce

something wonderful and amazing. We will be better for our

suffering.

STANZA 2

•There are things that me now

Which turn when I am happy.

-Anger, upset, hurt, pain/ sear

-These things leave a scar

Gold associated with richness. When the

speaker is happy those things that previously

burnt him turn to something good.

•Do you see the mystery of our pain?

That we bear poverty

And are able to sing and dream sweet things

Rhetorical Q

Why ask a RQ?

Pain produces character ,

character produces hope

and hope sustains and

energises

We are able to see joy

and hope amidst our

pain

STANZA 3

•And that we never curse the air when it is warm

Or the fruit when it tastes so good

Or the lights that bounce gently on the waters?

Look at the imagery:

- positive-

- Warm, comforting,

peaceful

Fruit is used here in

the positive. Earlier it

was used in a negative

way, why?

Africans do not take things for granted, the

cherish all they have.

we never curse the air

when it is warm

lights that

bounce

gently on

the waters

•We bless things even in our pain.

We bless them in silence.

•Africans understand something

about pain and good times. They

know pain will not last forever.

STANZA 4

•That is why our music is so sweet.

It makes the air remember.

What does this line

mean?

What figure of

speech has been

used here?

•There are secret miracles at work

That only will bring forth.

I too have heard the dead singing.

Things are happening for the good but

we do not always see it. God does not

forget about his creation, he is always

at work.

Remember the concept-All good

things come to those who wait.

In this instant gratification society it is

difficult to persevere when we are not

seeing changes quickly.

AncestorsImplies sweet, inviting,

non- threatening

The ancestors know things about life

and pain and we must “listen” to their

songs. (what does this mean to you?)

This line shows us that the speaker is

in touch with the spiritual.

STANZA 5

• And they tell me that

This life is good

They tell me to live it gently

With fire, and always with hope.

There is wonder here

Live life both gently and

fiercely. Be kind, choose

your battles but then also

fight for justice, protect

others, be passionate

Where? What?

STANZA 6

•There is wonder here

• Who is the unseen?

• Something is always at work, there is always a

masterplan.

•Sky associated with natural disasters , floods,

thunderstorms etc. is not our enemy.

•The sky is also limitless and vast,.

•These things must not be feared.

IMAGERY WORK

•1. Identify all the imagery. (group them

and give that group a name)

•2. Are these images fitting for this poem

and its context?