Simplified JHS Literature

THE OLD MAN AND HIS CHILDREN
BY: JEAN WATSON

THE SETTING
The story took place in an Eastern African village.

The Subject Matter
Old man Kamau, resting under a mugumo tree, is unable to sleep because his twin grandsons, Mwangi and Njoroge, were quarreling. When blows began flying, their mother comes in to separate and scold them. The old man then invites them and shares a story of another old man to them. In the story, seven sons were given a bundle of sticks by their father to break in turn. None of them was able to do so. However, when he gave a stick each out of the bundle to each child, they broke them easily. The old man in the story explained to his grandchildren that when sticks are tied, they are harder to break than when separated. Old man Kamau then points out to his grandsons that the same principle applies to humans. When people are together, they are strong, but when they fight among themselves they become weak.

CHARACTERS
A. Njoroge and Mwangi
They are apt to duty. Their distrust of each other leads them to quarrel often. From the story they fear or revere their father. They have respect for their grandfather as well.
B. The Children's Mother
She is strict, applying a little corporal punishment to deter the boys.
C. Old Man Kamau
He is seen to be very wise man. He carefully uses a simple story bring his grandsons to make peace. He's tolerant of the noise of the flies and his grandchildren.
D. The Boy's Father
He's seen to be a disciplinarian, revered by his sons.

THEMES
A. Unity is strength.
B. A people who fight among themselves become weak, and a people united people are strong.

CONFLICTS
A. Man against nature
The old man versus the insects
B. Man against Man
Grandpa Kamua versus the twins
Njoroge versus Mwangi

LITERARY DEVICES
. Antithesis (the complete opposite of situations)
A. The peaceful atmosphere enjoyed by the old man and the noisy atmosphere created by his grandchildren are completely opposite.
B. The old man himself is an example of antithesis. He has a calm demeanor outside but inwardly he is disturbed by the noise around.
2. Alliteration
A. ..sat....stool...spreading.. /s/
B. ...fast...furious....forefinger /f/
3. Rhetorical Question
"How could he be at peace when...heard all over the compound?"
4. Onomatopoeia
A. "Huh!" snorted Njoroge.
B. "...shouting and whistling..."
5. Metaphor
A. "It went spinning madly away ...."
B. "...blows and insults were flying to and fro..."
6. Simile
A. "...is the same with people as with sticks..."
7. Idiomatic Expression
A. "...the last straw..."
8. Frame Story ( telling a story within a story)
The Old Man and His Children is the frame story and the other story shared by Kamau is the inner story.

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Dilemma of a Ghost (Act One)

Subject Matter
Two village women gossip about Esi Kom and her issues. Of the two, the 1st woman is deeply concerned of her childlessness, while the 2nd woman despairs of her children’s lack of support with household chores. The two share with us news of Ato’s arrival and Esi Kom’s indebtedness. In the scene following, the family meets to formally welcome Ato. In the ensuing conversation, they learn to their utter shock that Ato has married.
Their shock is well founded as the Fantis, Ato’s people, see marriage as a very important institution. To them, it’s a whole family affair so as to ascertain the origin of the spouse. As the old one in the drama puts it, this is done to ensure that their children do not marry from a people of ‘doubtful stock.’ Then to add more salt to injury, Ato informs them that his wife is a descendants of slaves and not white.

Characters
1.1st and 2nd Women
The two are village gossips that give us a wealth of information on and off stage.
2.Ato
Ato, reluctantly shares information of his marriage with the family. He is taken aback and isn’t able to explain clearly why he married without their consent. He further exhibits a lack of boldness when questioned on the origin of the wife. In the end, the family understood him to say that his wife is a slave (p. 35).
3.Esi Kom
She is Ato’s mother. According to the two gossips, she is extravagant. In the scene that followed, we are told her concern for her son’s marriage led her to sell her sheep to raise the bride price.
4.Nana
Nana is Ato’s grandmother. The last grand old lady in the family. With her sharp tongue, she scolds members of the family who go wrong. An astute believer in custom, she is very disappointed in her grandson for marrying without the family’s consent, and a slave at that.
5.Monka
Monka is Ato’s sister. We see her speaking sarcastically to the brother in this act.

Exercise 1
1. What is the setting of the opening act?
2. Who is Aba?
3. Which of the two women was barren?
4. Why did the two neighbors pity Esi Kom?
5. How old is Nana?
6. How did Nana look like in her youth?
7. Explain this in your own words, “Already naughty slumber is stealing over my senses.”
8. What was Nana’s mood as she waited for the family?
9. What advice did the old woman give Akroma?
10. Why was there no chair for Ato to sit on?

Exercise 2
1. Explain this, “ no one knows what the man of fame and honour was like when he was a child”.
2. What did Nana mean by this, “we can soon know the bird which will not do well, for his nest hangs by the wayside.”
3. Why was Ato believed to be humble?
4. Why was the family surprised to hear of Ato’s marriage?
5. Why did the family gather that night?
6. What brought the confusion at the gathering?
7. Explain this, “Ato, do not talk with the foolishness of your generation.”
8. Why did the two women think Ato’s family’s lamentation might be due to Nana’s death?
9. Whom did Nana refer to as “my royal dead?”
10. Who was/were being referred to as “a doubtful stock?”

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Today, I want to wish all WASSCE candidates the best of excellence in their examinations.

My gallant champions Abdul Rahman Issahaku, Abdul Rauf Damba, Mariama, Jamal Muslima, Agbesi, Pankani Huzeima, Kahar, etc.

I call them the premier class of 2020. They are my best students of all time. Today, I am known and celebrated as the best teacher because of you. I left the comfort of Tema to come to Mpaha (Savannah Region) to assist with you with English Language lessons.

Being warned of constant robbery on the road leading to the community, I was undeterred. Sleeping amidst scorpions, bats and snakes, I was resolute to the task. What kept me going everyday, was your motivation to put in your best to learn the language (waiting for me in the school as early as 6am each day).

I know you will ace this exams as you did in the BECE three years ago. I love you all and will forever be your English language teacher.

Signed
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