English Fal Short Stories 2023

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English FAL Short Stories 2023
Phisical Sciences (Masiyile Senior High)
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COVER PAGE
EENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE GRADE 12

MIND THE GAP
SHORT STORIES
CHANGES: An Anthology of Short Stories
By B Walter

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This content may not be sold or used for commercial purposes.
Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) Grade 12 English First Additional
Language Mind the Gap study guide for the Short Stories: Changes by B Walters.
This publication has a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Sharealike Licence. You
can use, modify, upload, download, and share content, but you must acknowledge the
Department of Basic Education, the authors and contributors. If you make any changes to the
content you must send the changes to the Department of Basic Education. This content may
not be sold or used for commercial purposes. For more information about the terms of the
license please see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/.
Copyright © Department of Basic Education 2019 222

Struben Street, Pretoria, South Africa
Contact persons: Ms C. Weston and Dr S. Malapile Email:
[email protected] / [email protected] Tel: (012)
357 4183 / 012) 357 3811
http://www.education.gov.za Call
Centre: 0800202933
Acknowledgements
The extracts from the Short Stories in this study guide are from Changes
by B Walters
Mind the Gap Team

Senior Project Leaders: Dr S. Malapile, Ms C Weston
Production co-ordinators:
B. Monyaki, B.Ras, M. Phonela, M. Nematangari
Authors: Ms Pila Masakane, Ms Thembeka Mtolo, Ms Mpho Mongale,

Ms Nonhlanhla Mzila, Ms Renske Pieterse, Dr Nkosinathi Sithole
Critical reader: Monyaki BS

Designer and editor: Page82 Media
Onsite writers’ workshop support:

J. Mphidi, V. Magelegeda, R. Maboyi, K. Mothapo and N. Malope
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Ministerial Foreword
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has pleasure in releasing the second edition of the
Mind the Gap study guides for Grade 12 learners. These study guides continue the innovative
and committed attempt by the DBE to improve the academic performance of Grade 12
candidates in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination.
The study guides have been written by teams of exerts comprising teachers, examiners,
moderators, subject advisors and coordinators. Research, which began in 2012, has shown that
the Mind the Gap series has, without doubt, had a positive impact on grades. It is my fervent
wish that the Mind the Gap study guides take us all closer to ensuring that no learner is left
behind, especially as we celebrate 20 years of democracy.
The second edition of Mind the Gap is aligned to the 2014 Curriculum and Assessment Policy
Statement (CAPS). This means that the writers have considered the National Policy pertaining
to the programme, promotion requirements and protocols for assessment of the National
Curriculum Statement for Grade 12 in 2014.
The Mind the Gap CAPS study guides take their brief in part from the 2013 National Diagnostic
report on learner performance and draw on the Grade 12 Examination Guidelines. Each of the
Mind the Gap study guides defines key terminology and offers simple explanations and
examples of the types of questions learners can expect to be asked in an exam. Marking
memoranda are included to assist learners to build their understanding. Learners are also
referred to specific questions from past national exam papers and examination memos that are
available on the Department’s website – www.education.gov.za.
The CAPS editions include Accounting, Economics, Geography, Life Sciences, Mathematics,
Mathematical Literacy and Physical Sciences. The series is produced in both English and
Afrikaans. There are also nine English First Additional Language (EFAL) study guides. These
include EFAL Paper 1 (Language in Context); EFAL Paper 3 (Writing) and a guide for each of
the Grade 12 prescribed literature set works included in Paper 2. These are Short Stories,
Poetry, Cry, the Beloved Country, The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Macbeth and My
Children! My Africa! Please remember when preparing for Paper 2 that you need only study the
set works you did in your EFAL class at school.
The study guides have been designed to assist those learners who have been underperforming
due to a lack of exposure to the content requirements of the curriculum and aim to mind-the-
gap between failing and passing, by bridging the gap in learners’ understanding of commonly
tested concepts, thus helping candidates to pass.
All that is now required is for our Grade 12 learners to put in the hours required to prepare for
the examinations. Learners, make us proud - study hard. We wish each and every one of you
good luck for your Grade 12 examinations.
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Table of Contents
Item Page Number
5
Dear Grade 12 learner
6-8
How to use this study guide
9
Top 7 study tips
10
On the exam day
11
Overview of the English First Additional Language Paper 2: Literature Exam
What are the examiners looking for?
Sub headings per story Short Stories

Author’s background information Forbidden Love – Can Themba 12-19
1. Summary Rejection – Mariana Bȃ 20-27
2. Title
3. Themes Eveline – James Joyce 28-35
4. How is the story told?
4.1. Setting A bag of sweets – Agnes Sam 36-43
4.2. Structure and Plot
Development Class act – Namhla Tshisana 44-52
4.3. Characterisation
4.4. Narrator’s point of view
4.5. Style The wind and the boy – Bessie Head 53-58
4.6. Tone and mood
5. Activity/Exam-like Activity The girl who can – Ama Ata Aidoo 59-65
Triumph in the face of adversity –

66-75
Kedibone Seku
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Dear Grade 12 learner

This Mind the Gap study guide helps you to prepare for the end-
of-year Grade 12 English First Additional Language (EFAL)
Literature exam.
There are three exams for EFAL: Paper 1: Language in
Context; Paper 2: Literature; and Paper 3: Writing.
There are nine great EFAL Mind the Gap study guides
which cover Papers 1, 2 and 3.
Paper 2: Literature includes the study of novels, drama,
short stories and poetry. A Mind the Gap study guide is
available for each of the prescribed literature titles.
Choose the study guide for the set works you studied in
your EFAL class at school.
This study guide focuses on the eight prescribed short
stories examined in Paper 2: Literature. You will need to
study all eight short stories for the exam:
1. Forbidden Love by Can Themba
2. Rejection by Mariana Bȃ
3. Eveline by James Joyce
4. A bag of sweets by Agnes Sam
5. Class act by Namhla Tshisana
6. The wind and the boy by Bessie Head
7. The girl who can by Ama Ata Aidoo
8. Triumph in the face of adversity by Kedibone Seku
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How to use this study guide

There is one chapter for each of the short stories. Each chapter
includes a summary, a brief statement of the importance of the
title, and the themes. More detail is given on how the story is told
by examining:
Setting;
Structure and plot development;
Characterisation;
Style;
Narrator and point of view;
Diction and figurative language; and
Tone and mood.
All of the above information is also summarised in a set of notes.
Use these notes to hold the eight short stories clearly in your mind.
You can test your understanding of each short story by
completing the activities, and using the answers to mark your
own work. The activities are based on exam extracts.
Learn all of the vocabulary lists for each short story at the end of each
chapter.
Structure and plot development
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A short story requires the reader to understand and unpack its main elements. These
elements apply to most short stories. The following is a simplified table that you can use
with any short story immediately after reading it. This analysis will assist you when you
prepare for a test, an assignment or revise for examinations.
SHORT STORY ANALYSIS SHEET

Title: ___________________________________Author: __________________________
Setting WHEN & WHERE does the story take place?
Characters
Who are the characters in the story?
Characterization
Definition of character trait:
What are the personality traits of each Personality characteristic or inherent value
character? that someone has which they are unlikely to
change and that helps to make an individual
into the kind of person he/she is.
Theme
(The Message) The theme is a main idea or an underlying
meaning of a literary work, which may be
What is the main idea of the story? stated directly or indirectly. A short story may
have more than one theme.
Tone Tone is a quality in the voice that expresses

the speaker’s feelings or thoughts, often
towards the person being spoken.
Mood
Describe how you felt reading this story. Mood explains the way you feel at a particular time:
(Use the author’s intentions, not bored) Are you feeling good or bad, cheerful or irritable, etc?
Imagery The use of literary devices e.g. figures of speech and sound
What pictures could you devices.
visualise as you read the story?
Simile, personification, metaphor, irony,
synecdoche, metonymy, assonance, alliteration,
etc. Refer to CAPS, pages 31, 32 and 46
Point of View What narrative perspective from which the story is told?
Conflict Internal
List and describe the different types of (self vs. self)
conflict from the story.
Which are internal and which are
External
external?
(self vs. person, society or nature)
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SELF ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET

NAME OF LEARNER:……………………………… CLASS:…………………..
SHORT STORY ANALYSIS
Title: ___________________________________Author: __________________________

Setting
Characters
Characterization
Theme(s)
Tone
Mood
Imagery
Point of View
Conflict Internal
External
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Study tips
1. Divide your workload into manageable sections.
This will help you to focus. Take short breaks
between studying one section and going onto the
rest.
2. Have all your materials ready before studying a

particular section of your work – pencils, pens,
highlighters, paper, glass of water, etc.
3. Be positive. It helps you to retain information.
4. You learn better when using colours and pictures.

Use highlighters of different colours whenever you
can.
5. Repetition is the key to remembering information

you have learnt. Constantly go over your work, until
you can recall it with ease.
6. Work with a partner. Teach each other what you

have learnt. It is worth reading your revision aloud.
7. Sleep for at least eight hours every night. Eating

healthy food and drinking plenty of water are all
important things you need to do to stay refreshed.
8. Studying for exams is like exercise, so you must be

prepared physically and mentally.
9. Practise past papers, familiarise yourself with the

format, structure and type of questions.
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On the exam day

Make sure you bring pens that work, sharp pencils, a rubber
and a sharpener. Make sure you bring your ID document and
examination admission letter. Arrive at the exam venue at least
an hour before the start of the exam.
Go to the toilet before entering the exam room. You don't want
to waste valuable time going to the toilet during the exam.
You must know at the start of the exam which two out of the
four sections of the Paper 2 Literature exam you will be
answering. Use the 10 minutes’ reading time to read the
instructions carefully.
Break each question down to make sure you understand what

is being asked. If you don’t answer the question properly you
won’t get any marks for it. Look for the key words in the
question to know how to answer it. You will find a list of
question words on pages xiv and xv of this study guide.
Manage your time carefully. Start with the question you think is
the easiest. Check how many marks are allocated to each
question so you give the right amount of information in your
answer.
Remain calm, even if the question seems difficult at first. It will

be linked with something you have covered. If you feel stuck,
move on and come back if time allows. Do try and answer as
many questions as possible.
Take care to write neatly so the examiners can read your

answers easily.
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Overview of the English First

Additional Language Paper 2:
Literature Exam
In the Paper 2 Literature exam, you need to answer questions from two
sections. Choose the two sections that you know best:
• Section A: Novel
• Section B: Drama
• Section C: Short stories
• Section D: Poetry
A total of 70 marks is allocated for Paper 2, which means 35 marks for each section you choose.
You will have two hours for this exam.
Here is a summary of the Paper 2 Literature exam paper:

Question Title of novel Type of Number of
number question marks
Section A: Novel If you choose Section A, answer ONE question. Choose
the question for the book you have learnt.
1. Cry, the Beloved Contextual 35
Country
2. The Strange Case of Dr Contextual 35
Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Section B: Drama If you choose Section B, answer ONE question. Choose

the question for the play you have learnt.
3. Macbeth Contextual 35
4. My Children! My Africa! Contextual 35
Section C: Short stories If you choose Section C, answer BOTH questions.
You will not know exactly which short stories are included until the exam.
TWO stories will be set. Answer the questions set on BOTH short stories.
5.1 Short story Contextual 17 or 18
5.2 Short story Contextual 17 or 18
Section D: Poetry If you choose Section D, answer BOTH questions. You
will not know exactly which poems are included until the exam. TWO
poems will be set. Answer the questions set on BOTH poems.
6.1 Poem Contextual 17 or 18
6.2 Poem Contextual 17 or 18
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What is a contextual question?

In a contextual question, you are given an extract from a short story. You
then have to answer questions based on the extract. Some answers you
can find in the extract. Other questions will test your understanding of
other parts of the story. Some questions ask for your own opinion about
the story.
What are the examiners looking for?

Examiners will assess your answers to the contextual questions based on:
 Your understanding of the literal meaning of the story. You need to

identify information that is clearly given in the extract.
 Your ability to reorganise information in the short story. For
example, you may be asked to summarise some points.
 Your ability to provide information that may not be clearly stated in
the extract provided, using what you already know about the text
as a whole. This process is called inference. For example, you may
be asked to explain how a figure of speech affects your
understanding of the story as a whole.
 Your ability to make your own judgements and form opinions about
aspects of the story. This process is called evaluation. For
example, you may be asked if you agree with a statement.
 Your ability to respond to the emotional level of a short story. This
is called appreciation. You may be asked to discuss how the
writer’s style helps to describe the tone and mood of the extract.
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Forbidden Love
by Can Themba
Can Themba was born on 21 June 1924 in Marabastad,
Pretoria, into a family of four. He won a scholarship to study at
Fort Hare College, where he received an English degree in
1947. He later obtained a teacher's diploma and taught in
Johannesburg’s western township areas. In 1960 he started
working for Golden City Post. He went into voluntary exile in
Swaziland in 1963 and in 1966 his writing was banned in South
Africa. He died in 1968, in Swaziland.
Can Themba
1.Summary
The story is about two people who loved each other deeply and had to hide
their feelings. Michael is black and Dora is coloured. The two lovers are
eventually exposed when Dora’s little brother, Bobby, is told at his school that
his sister is in a relationship with a native. A fight follows and Meneer Carelse
(school teacher), who is in love with Dora, finds out. He tries to convince the
Principal that her family must be told, and much against the Principal’s wishes,
he goes to tell the whole community about what they considered a ‘scandal’.
The irony in the story lies in the fact that Davie (Dora’s brother) has had a
relationship with Salome (Mike’s sister) from which a child was conceived.
2.Title
Forbidden Love refers to a romantic relationship between two individuals which
is not approved because of among others, religious, cultural, political
differences. In this instance it refers to a romantic relationship between Dora
and Michael, which is highly discouraged by the ‘coloured people’ of
Noordgesig.
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3.Themes
3.1 Fear
The theme of fear is woven throughout the story. Dora’s family lives their life in
fear, as they feel that they do not want to have any involvement with black
people. Their peers’ actions and beliefs that make them think that black South
Africans are beneath them or are less human than they are.
3.2 Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is when one claims to have certain high standards or beliefs than is
the case or doing the opposite of what you say or believe. In the case of this
story, Davie had a relationship with Salome (a black woman) and a child was
born. Ironically, Davie still considers it appropriate to beat Mike up due to him
having a relationship with Dora. This may leave some readers to suggest that
Davie, like many other racist people at the time, is a hypocrite.
3.3 Apartheid
Apartheid (‘apartness’ in the language of Afrikaans) was a system of legislation
that upheld segregationist policies against non-white citizens of South Africa.
Racism is influenced by the idea that one race is superior to another. Like in
the story, the people of Noordgesig (coloureds), referred to black people as
‘natives’, which is very derogatory. The author also uses the fact that black
people are not allowed to attend the cinema for the film that is being shown as
yet another example of apartheid.
4.How is the story told?

4.1 Setting
The setting is during the height of apartheid, in the Western townships of
Johannesburg, Sophiatown; the Noordgesig area. The story is told from an
omniscient narrator’s point of view of his personal experience with apartheid
laws.
4.2 Structure and Plot Development

Exposition
The narrator introduces us to the story through two lovers from different
racial backgrounds who have to hide in ’tall grass’ due to prohibitions on
mixed relationships.
Rising Action:
Dora’s brother, Davie, with a few of his coloured friends go out looking for
Michael. They meet him at the Rhythmic Cinema and beat him. Dora tries
to stop them but they are determined to beat him. The other African boys
run away and Michael and Dora are left by themselves with the angry
crowd of coloured boys.
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Climax:
After learning about the story of Michael’s beating by Davie and his
friends, Salome has an idea of how to end the whole issue. When Michael
has healed, Salome exposes the truth that Davie, Dora’s brother, is
actually the father of her child. Salome even presents evidence in the form
of love letters that Davie has written to her. Both families are shoched.
Resolution:
Michael and Dora are no longer living under fear anymore. There is a
feeling that the rivalry and the fighting has subsided forever.
4.3 Characterisation
Dora Randolph ● She is loving and caring:
● She is overprotective of her younger sister,
Louisa.
● She loves Michael very deeply.
● She takes care of Michael when he was beaten
by the young coloured lads (gang).
● She is ashamed of how her community treats their
black counterparts.
● She does not give up on her relationship with
Michael.
Michael ● He is considerate: He chooses his words
Chabakeng carefully when talking to Dora about her family.
● He is very concerned about the identity of his
sister, Salome’s child.
● He is humble and his love for Dora is evident in
how he treats her and her family.
Mr Van Vuuren ● He is a racist: He hates black people with a
passion.
Louisa ● She is Dora’s younger sister. She is a bit darker
in complexion than the others.
● She does not want to be associated with black
people.
Meneer Carelse ● He is bitter: he is driven by bitterness. (an
outside influence in the story)
● Meneer Carelse tells others that Dora is in a
mixed race relationship.
Davie ● He is a hypocrite.
● He shares a child with Salome.
● He lives in fear that he will be exposed by
Salome that he is the father of her child.
● He still considers it appropriate to beat Michael
up due to him having a relationship with Dora
(his sister).
Salome ● She is brave and strong.
● She is Michael’s sister.
● She exposes her relationship with Davie to his
family despite their race issues.
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4.4 Narrator’s point of view

The story is narrated in the third person, by an unnamed narrator. The narrator
tells a story using a bird’s eye/ omniscient view. This means that the narrator
knows everything about the actions, attitude, secrets and even thoughts of all
characters. The narrator helps us to understand how fear and shame are
relentlessly part of a community that seeks to prove that black people are
beneath them in all areas of their being.
4.5 Style
An easy flowing literary style has been used throughout the story. This is
maybe, due to the fact that the narrator wants to demonstrate apartheid norms
as lived by different racial groups in the townships. This narrative explores
deeply into the practices of the apartheid system and its cruel tendencies.
4.6 Diction and figurative language

● The writer uses idiomatic expressions in order to emphasise meaning:
e.g. ‘This business of becoming an African is nearest to her, seems
would soonest catch her in its cruel fingers.’(p11)
The cruelty of the system of apartheid and its separation laws are
compared to a cruel monster threatening to catch Louisa.
Some examples of figures of speech in the story include:
● SIMILE:
o ‘A ghost-like shadow flew out to Noordgesig like a tongue flicked out
of a mouth mockingly.’(p12)
Mike slips away in the darkness like a ghost, and the fact that the
two lovers met in secret is like a taunting flucking of the tongue to
the authorities who prohibit a relationship between them.
● METAPHOR/ ALLUSION:
o He must have seen her for his dark form swam towards her.’(p10)
The movement of the man is slow and flowing like a person
swimming.
o ‘Between you and I, there is, lying side by side with the fear, a faith.
Let’s feed the faith. Let’s talk of love.’(p11)
Fear and faith are compared to animals lying side by side. It reminds
of the biblical image of the lamb and the lion lying side by side.
o ‘He had a bombshell …’ (p13)
The news Dick Peters has, will have as much shock power to cause
pain and destruction, as a bombshell would have if it exploded.
● PERSONIFICATION:
o ‘From the bridge the road climbed the hillock and sailed
away to Newclare.’ (P10)
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The road is given human qualities by stating that it wilfully climbs a hill
and then goes sailing.
● IRONY:
It is ironic that Davie, who has a baby with a black girl, beats up a
black boy for having a relationship with his sister.
4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
● Secretive: there are secrets not told by Salome about the identity of her
child’s father.
● Tension: the community lives in a tense or rather fearful environment
whereby black people are treated as inferior to coloureds. and this
separated them most of the time. The fact that Dora and Mike having to
hide in the bushes for them to be together and being fearful of what the
people in the community will say, is gross.
Mood:
● Shame
● Hopelessness
● Fearful
● Optimistic
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Activity 1
‘Forbidden Love’
Read the following extract and answer questions which follow:
‘Not here, darling,’ he said hastily,’ some car-lights may strike upon us.’ He led her
higher up the road into the tall grass. Suddenly she caught his coat lapels and dragged
him down so that no one could see them. He clambered towards her and curled her
into his arms. His lips thrilled upon hers, burningly sweet, and with digging fingertips
she tried to find the source of his fire in his spinal column. 5
Then the flames went out of them, settling into a low glow. She broke away with a
sigh. She caught a stalk, put it in her mouth, and turned to look at the scattered lights
of Noordgesig.
‘They were at it again, Sweetie,’ she said between her teeth,’ and what makes me
mad is that I cannot fight back anymore.’ 10
‘What did they say now?’ Mike asked, a little worried.
‘Mr Van Vuuren was at our place again. It looked almost as if Dad had called him in to
preach to us. He spoke about how terribly important it is that we keep away from the
‘Natives’, otherwise we would be associated with them. And his voice had a trick of
making that word ’associated’ sound horrible. But what made me hate him was the 15
way he stared at Louisa as he spoke. I–’
1.1 Choose a description from COLUMN B that matches the name in COLUMN A.
Write only the letter (A–D) next to the question number (1.1(a) – 1.1(d)) in the
ANSWER BOOK.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
(a) Mike A Dora’s brother
(b) Davie B Mike’s sister
(c) Salome C Dora’s sister
(d) Louisa D Dora’s boyfriend
E Mike’s brother
(4 x 1) (4)
1.2 Describe the setting of this story. (2)
1.3 Refer to lines 3-4 ‘He clambered towards… curled her into his arms.’
(a) Identify the figure of speech used in these lines. (1)
(b) Explain the meaning of this figure of speech. (2)
1.4 Quote a single word which proves that Dora takes a deep breath. (1)
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1.5 Refer to lines 4-5 ‘His lips thrilled … his spinal column.’
Choose the correct answer from those given below. Write down only the letter (A – D)
next to the question number (1.4 (a)) and the answer in the ANSWER BOOK.
The phrase ‘burningly sweet’ in this context is an example of…
A hyperbole.
B metonymy.
C oxymoron.
D sarcasm. (1)
1.6 What does this extract reveal about Mike’s character?
Substantiate your answer. (2)
1.7 One of the themes in this short story is fear.
Discuss this theme. (3)
1.8 Davie is a hypocrite.
Discuss your view. (3)
Suggested answers to Activity 1

1.1 (a) D/Dora’s boyfriend (1)
(b) A/Dora’s brother (1)
(c) B/Mike’s sister (1)
(d) C/Dora’s sister (1)
1.2 The setting of the story is Western Township during apartheid/segregation time.  (2)
1.3 (a) metaphor (1)
(b) The manner in which Mike embraces Doralooks as if his arms are
curving around her body.  (2)
1.4 ‘sigh’ (1)
1.5 C/oxymoron (1)
1.6 caring/loving/protective
He takes Dora to a safe place./He caresses Dora in a loving way. (2)
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1.7 The discussion of the theme of fear should include the following points, among
others:
 Dora lives her life in fear of being ridiculed by her family and community.
 Michael and Dora hide in the ‘tall grass’ in a secluded place, just so they are
not seen by the people from her community.
 Michael fears that the coloured boys might hurt Dora and hides her behind him.
 Davie fears rejection from his people and he keeps his child with Salome a
secret.
NOTE: For full marks, the response must be well-substantiated. You can score 1 or 2 marks
for a response which is not well-substantiated. Your interpretation must be grounded
in the short story. (3)
1.8 Open ended response e.g.
Yes.
Davie has a child with Michael’s sister who is black. Yet he wants to beat up Michael
for having a relationship with his sister, Dora.
OR
Davie does not have a choice but to act as if he hates black people in order to make
his family happy. Acting this way can help him conceal his own secret.
NOTE: You will NOT be awarded a mark for YES or NO only.
For full marks, the response must be well-substantiated. You can score 1 or 2 marks
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Rejection
by Mariama Bậ
Mariama Bậ (born April 17, 1929 – August 17, 1981) is a

Senegalese author and feminist who later became a
teacher. Her two French-language novels were both
translated into more than a dozen languages. Born
in Dakar, she was raised a Muslim.
Her frustration with the fate of African women is expressed
in her first novel, Une si longue lettre (1979), translated into
English as So Long a Letter.
Mariama Bâ used her novels to reveal the unjust treatment

of women justified by a patriarchal society, polygamous
practices, and certain Muslim traditions.
Mariama Bậ
1.Summary
The narrator is an Islamic wife who takes care of her household including
supporting her children’s education. She is a caring person who
accommodates friends of her daughter, Daba, when they come to study in
her home. Her husband, Modou, also shows interest in the beautiful young
girl, Binetou by taking her home at times after studying.
Daba is Binetou’s confidant. When she starts transforming, wearing very
expensive clothes, she freely shares all the information about having a ‘sugar
daddy’/’blesser’. However, when things get serious, (Binetou’s old man wants
to marry her), the narrator and her daughter advise her not to do so because
she will have to drop out of school.
Binetou’s mother puts her under pressure to accept the hand of marriage.
She wants to live a better life and have a proper house which will be provided
by the wealthy man. Binetou is not excited about the marriage, but she
submits to her mother’s plea and agrees.
The three men, Tamsir (Modou’s brother), Mawdo Bậ and a local Islamic
Spiritual Leader, break the news that the narrator’s husband has taken a
second wife. The narrator is shocked, she has not been hinted about such
arrangement. She decides to be in control of the situation by staying calm.
Daba is furious and feels betrayed and humiliated by his father and friend.
After 40 days the three men visit the narrator for a spiritual intercession on
the part of the late Modou. Tamsir announces his intention of marrying the
narrator after she comes out of mourning. The narrator, for the first time,
does not keep quiet but stands her ground and rejects him in front of the
other men.
She finally ventures out her anger and gets her revenge on the three men
who once came to humiliate her by breaking news of Modou’s marriage to a
young girl. The narrator’s rejection of Tamsir is the turning point of her life,
no one will ever bully her or tell her what to do.
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2.Title
Rejection means the dismissing or refusing of a proposal/idea. The story is
about the narrator, who at the end of the story rejects the idea of marrying
her late husband’s brother. The rejection gives the narrator power and voice
over a patriarchal society.
3.Themes
3.1 Cultural and religious practices
In this short story the narrator, an Islamic wife, submits to her cultural values.
At the beginning she enjoys being the only wife, but crisis erupts when a
second wife joins in the marriage without any consultation. She hates the fact
that she must pretend to be happy and support the young co-wife. Her
feelings are not considered by her in-laws especially Tamsir who announces
his intention to marry her on the 40th day which is crucial in mourning her late
husband.
3.2 Broken relationships

The narrator’s relationship with her husband, Modou, is shaken when he
takes a second wife without consulting her. The family expects her to accept
the new living arrangement of being left alone at times. The narrator’s
daughter, Daba and Binetou’s relationship ends when Binetou becomes her
father’s second wife/ her step- mom. The narrator’s relationship with her in-
laws is shaken when she openly refuses Tamsir’ intention to marry her after
Modou’s passing.
3.3 Betrayal
The narrator feels betrayed by her life partner, Modou, who takes a second
wife without consulting her. She is expected to accept without questioning her
husband. The narrator’s daughter, Daba, feels betrayed by her close friend
Binetou, who is taken by her father as his second wife. Both the narrator and
Daba feel betrayed by Binetou whom they welcomed in their home to do
schoolwork.
3.4 Gender inequalities/ patriarchy/ abuse

Men like Modou and Tamsir dominate their marriages. They take decisions
without consulting their partners. Women in their lives are treated as objects
that do not have feelings. Modou shows no respect to girls as he exploits the
young Binetou by making her his second wife.
Binetou’s mother abuses her daughter when she begs her to marry Modou.
She sees Binetou’s marriage as a life changer and social status upgrade.
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4.1 Setting
The story takes place in Dakar, Senegal. Most events take place in the
narrator’s home where she stays with her family.

Exposition
The narrator introduces the story with ‘MY OWN CRISIS CAME’ which
indicates that she has been living happily at home. The most interesting
thing in this story is the introduction of Binetou, a classmate to Daba
(narrator’s daughter) who frequently visits the narrator’s house. She is
described as young, beautiful, evidently poor and she gets the attention of
the narrator's husband.
Rising Action
Binetou’s relationship with an old man transforms her into a new person who
wears expensive dresses. The narrator’s daughter shares all news of her
friend with her mother, the narrator including Binetou’s crisis of being
courted by the ‘sugar daddy’. Binetou gives in to the idea of marrying the
old man because her mother is desperate for a better life that will be
provided by her suitor.
Climax
The arrival of the three men Tamsir, Mawdo and a local spiritual group
‘Imam’ bring crisis to the narrator’s world. She learns about her husband’s
new wife, Binetou. The narrator and her daughter’s worlds are shaken by
the news as they have never thought of Binetou’s ‘sugar daddy’ to be Modou
(husband and father). They both feel humiliated and powerless as they
experience Modou’s rejection.
Resolution
The narrator finally gets a chance to give vent to her bottled anger on the
40th day of mourning her late husband, Modou. Tamsir’s announcement on
his intention to marry her makes her speak her heart out. She deals with the
initial crisis, which is highlighted in the beginning of the story. She stops
taking the abuse and brings back her power/ independence as a woman.
Never again shall any man decide on how she must live her life.
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The narrator ● She is a round character. She experiences both
inner conflict and outer conflict.
● She is emotionally strong and content with her life
at the beginning of the story.
● After her husband’s rejection/betrayal of taking a
second wife who is very young, she puts on a
brave face though she is disappointed.
● She deals with her rejection by refusing to be
married again or submitting to the cultural
practice of being inherited by a husband’s
brother.
● She is determined never to be bullied again; she
boldly displays her independence from her in-
laws.
Modou ● He is a secretive and cunning man.
● He is an autocratic patriarch who rejects his wife
for a young girl who is his daughter’s classmate.
● He is abusive, uses his money to lure Binetou/ the
poor girl into marrying him.
Binetou ● She is young and beautiful.
● She is a shy, naive and poor girl.
● She is Daba’s close friend/ classmate.
● She is untrustworthy. She betrays her friend Daba
when does not disclose the name of her ‘sugar
daddy’
Binetou’s mother ● She is a manipulative and desperate poor
woman.
● She is a gold-digger who uses her daughter to
improve her lifestyle.
Tamsir ● He is a supportive brother to Modou.
● He is a courageous man.
● He is an opportunist who tells the narrator that
she is his good luck charm.
● He follows his heart and shares his intention to
marry the narrator.
Daba ● She is a supportive and caring young girl.
● She is protective of her mother.

The story is narrated by the main character. She is an Islamic wife who enjoys
her married life at the beginning of the story. She tells the story of how she
experienced a crisis at home and eventually becomes a bitter person. The story
is told from the narrator’s point of view in the form of a letter/diary that is written
to a friend.
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4.5 Style
A formal register is mostly used in the story. There is some dialogue within the
story to portray the character's feelings/emotions. The dialogue brings the story
to life. Characters can be known better through what they say. The use of
contractions also brings informal register, especially when the narrator speaks
to her daughter and Aissatou (the friend she is writing the letter to).

The writer uses idiomatic expressions in order to emphasize meaning:
e.g. – haughty lips.
- too perfect to be honest.
Some examples of figures of speech in the story include:
SIMILE:
o The narrator compares the pride resulting from the success of her
children at school to praises/accolades given to her husband ‘Their
success at school was my pride, just like laurels thrown at the feet of
my lord and master.’ (Page 57)
METAPHOR:
o The narrator refers to ‘the cry of a hunted beast’ to describe how she
panicky asked the three men about her husband just like an animal
that is a victim of prey would cry for help (Page 53).
o The narrator describes the fastness of Iman's explanation of the
status quo to getting out something that causes unbearable pain. ‘He
went on quickly, as if the words were glowing embers in his mouth’.
(Page 53)
o The narrator compares her accepted shock/ heartbreak with dripping
poison that painfully destroys her. ‘I acquiesced under the drops of
poison that were burning me’. (Page 54)
o The narrator compares Binetou to a sacrificial lamb as she agreed to
marry Modou to please her mother. ‘Binetou, like many others, was a
lamb slaughtered on the altar of affluence’. (Page 55)
HYPERBOLE:
o The narrator exaggerates her accepted shock/ heartbreak/pain with
dripping poison that hurts so much ‘I acquiesced under the drops of
poison that were burning me’. (Page 54)
RHETORICAL QUESTION:
o The narrator questions Binetou’s opinion in the marriage though she
knows that she has little say in the matter. ‘But what can a child do,
faced with a furious mother shouting about her hunger and her thirst to
live?’ (Page 55)
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4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
● A gloomy, downhearted and depressed tone.
The narrator uses this tone when the story begins, the choice of first words in
the story “MY OWN CRISIS CAME…” creates a melancholy atmosphere.
● Enraged tone
The narrator feels betrayed by her husband when she is rejected for a
younger wife.
Daba is furious at his father Modou who took her close friend /classmate to
be his second wife.
● Cheerful tone
Binetou changes from being a shy girl after getting an old man who bought her
expensive clothes.
The tone becomes exciting when she thinks she is in control of the situation.
Mood:
● sad, angry, emotional (initially)
● happy, optimistic (at the end)
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Activity 2
‘Rejection’
I acquiesced under the drops of poison that were burning me: ‘A quarter of a
century of marriage’, ‘a wife unparalleled’. I counted backwards to determine where
the break in the thread had occurred from which everything has unwound. My mother’s
words came back to me: ‘Too perfect. …’ I completed at last my mother’s thought with
the end of the dictum: ‘… to be honest’. I thought of the first two incisors with a wide 5
gap between them, the sign of the primacy of love in the individual. I thought of his
absence all day long. He had simply said: ‘Don’t expect me for lunch.’ I thought of
other absences, quite frequent these days, crudely clarified today yet well hidden
yesterday under the guise of trade union meetings. He was also on a strict diet, ‘to
break the stomach’s egg,’ he would say laughingly, this egg that announced old 10
age.
Every night when he went out he would unfold and try on several of his suits before
settling on one. The others, impatiently rejected, would slip to the floor. I would have
to fold them again and put them back in their places; and this extra work, I discovered,
I was doing only to help him in his effort to be elegant in his seduction of another 15
woman. I forced myself to check my agitation.
2.1 Choose a description from COLUMN B that matches the name in COLUMN B. Write
only the letter (A-E) next to the question
Numbers (2.1.1(a) to (2.1.1 (d) in the ANSWER BOOK.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
(a) Modou A caring and protective
(b) Binetou B opportunist and desirous
(c) Daba C courageous and submissive
(d) Tamsir D secretive and cunning
E shy and naive

4X1 (4)
2.2 Describe the setting of this extract. (2)
2.3 Explain why the following statement is FALSE:
Modou has three wives. (1)
2.4 Refer to line 1 (‘I acquiesced under … were burning me’)
(a) Identify a figure of speech in this line. (1)
(b) Explain why this figure of speech is relevant in this extract. (2)
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2.5 Refer to lines 8-9 (‘He had simply… me for lunch’)
(a) What tone would Modou use in these lines? (1)
(b) Why would Modou use this tone? (1)
2.6 What does this extract reveal about the speaker’s character?
2.7 One of the themes in this short story is broken relationships.
Discuss this theme by referring to the speaker and Daba. (3)

2.1 (a) D/secretive and cunning
(b) E/shy and naïve
(c) A/caring and protective

(d) B/opportunist and desirous (4)
2.2 Modou’s house/home,  after his wife gets disturbing news about her husband’s (1)
marriage to Binetou. 
2.3 Modou recently took his second wife/ Modou has two wives.  (1)
2.4 (a) metaphor  (1)
(b) The narrator compares her acceptance of the (shocking) news with
dripping poison which slowly kills her inside.  (2)
2.5 (a) Affectionate/friendly  (1)
(b) Modou uses this tone to elicit his wife’s trust/ to pretend to have his
normal conversation/ to remove any suspicious thoughts in his wife.  (1)
2.6 The speaker is humble/ submissive. She diligently attends to household chores
without complaints.  (2)
2.7 The discussion of the theme of broken relationships should include the following
points, among others:
● The speaker is a loving wife who trusts and cares for her husband.
● Their relatioship tumbles when the speaker discovers that her husband has
secretely married Binetou (as his second wife).
● Daba and Binetou’s relationship ends when Daba finds out that her father’s
second wife/ step- mom is her close friend.
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Eveline
by James Joyce
James Joyce was born in Dublin (Ireland) in 1882. He
studied French, German, Italian and English languages
and literature. He graduated in 1902. He was interested
in a broader European culture and this led him to
consider himself a European. He hated Ireland,
considering Dublin the centre of all paralysis and his
attitude was in contrast to that of W.B. Yeats. Joyce did
not have any Irishness in him and he believed that the
only way to increase Ireland’s awareness was by making
a realistic portrait from a European viewpoint.
His masterpiece is ‘Dublinners’, a collection of short
stories completed in 1905 and published in 1914. The
story, ‘Eveline’ comes from ‘The Dubliners’. He also
wrote some novels like ‘Ulysses’ and ‘Finnegans Wake’.
Joyce died in Switzerland in 1941.

James Joyce
1.Summary
Eveline, the main character, is a young woman who lives in
Dublin with her father. Her mother is dead. She is dreaming of
a better life beyond the shores of Ireland such that she plans
to elope with Frank, a sailor who is her secret lover and start a
new life in Argentina. With her mother gone, Eveline is
responsible for the day-to-day running of the household: her
father is drunk and only reluctantly tips up his share of the
weekly housekeeping money, and her brother Harry is busy
working and is away a lot on business (another brother, Ernest,
has died).
Eveline herself keeps down a job working in a shop. On
Saturday nights, when she asks her father for some money,
he abuses her verbally especially since he is always drunk.
When he eventually hands over his housekeeping money,
Eveline has to go to the shops and buy the food for the Sunday
dinner at the last minute. Eveline is tired of this life, and so she
and Frank book onto a ship leaving for Beunos Aires,
Argentina. But as she is just about to board the ship, Eveline
suffers a failure of resolve, and cannot go through with it.
Without saying a word, Eveline turns around and goes home,
leaving Frank to board the ship alone.
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2.Title
Eveline, the title, is the name of the main character. The story is
about Eveline, her life, her relationship with her father, siblings and
Frank. The story focuses on her suffering in the hands of her father
and the decisions she has to make about her life.
3.Themes
3.1 Different forms of death
Death is both figuratively and literally discussed in this short story.
People who are no more part of Eveline’s life are described as
though ‘they are no more.’ But this is not the case in the majority
of the people who are alive but are no more in contact with her.
She describes life before her mother’s death better than what it is
at present.
She also describes those who left Dublin and never asserts her
emotional response to these happenings. From this, meaning can
be inferred, which is that those people die when they leave
Dublin. She fears that if she leaves Dublin, she will be considered
dead. She fears that if she elopes and gets married, her marriage
will be like death, she will lose her identity and she will be no
more. Eveline’s husband will become her master and identity, and
she will ‘drown’ in unknown seas.
3.2 Religion and keeping promises
One of the reasons for Eveline’s failure to escape is her Catholic
religion. Her Catholicism beliefs enforce in her that she should be
able to make sacrifices, promises and to live in guilt. She then
sacrifices her own freedom and happiness in order to keep her
promise which binds her with her (late) mother.
3.3 Nostalgia
Eveline’s thoughts about what it means to be a ‘Dubliner’, make her
think of liberating herself by leaving Dublin. She feels that if she
leaves, she will have to start a new life and lose her identity. She
is ready to sacrifice her life, which is a reality but does not want to
sacrifice her memories.
3.4 Women and society

Eveline is a typical twentieth-century Dublin woman who faces the
majority of the problems that were usual then. In that society, the
women had inferior value to men. This led to the oppression of
women by men. Women were controlled by men and had no
power. Women had to be grateful that there were powerful men in
their lives. Eveline needs a male in her life who can support her
emotionally and physically and she finds Frank. Unfortunately, her
doubts prevents her from breaking the chains, and she is not able
to challenge the system.
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3.5 Escapism
Eveline tries to escape from the life she has led being suppressed
and abused by her father. She believes that if she goes away, the
society in Argentina will be different, and people will not judge her
for her past actions (sex-related). The escape idea attracts her,
but when the time to act, she cannot do it. Through this theme,
the author conveys the message that escape does not always
yield positive results and may even worsen the situation.

4.1 Setting
The story takes place in Dublin, Ireland where the main character,
Eveline grows up. It is during the early twentieth century.

Exposition
The main character, Eveline is introduced as a troubled teenager (nineteen
years old). She looks at her surroundings, her life and her past experiences
critically. She feels that under her father’s abusive conduct, she is going to
suffer the way her late mother suffered.
Rising Action
Eveline meets Frank who promises her a better life in Argentina than the one
she is experiencing in Dublin. She writes two letters, one to her father and
another to Harry, to let them know that she is going to look for a better life. The
plan is to go board a ship with Frank and escape to another country where the
two will get married and live happily ever after.
Climax
When the time comes for Eveline to leave Dublin, the idea of her mother’s last
days comes back to haunt her. On arrival at the port, the ship that was bound
to take her and Frank is there. Frank is also there, and the ship is blowing the
whistle, signalling its departure. Frank holds her hand, asking her to come on
board. Her thoughts are too busy, and she cannot decide whether to board the
ship or turn back home.
Resolution
Eveline feels as if this ship would drown her, and she decides to stay. She does
not move even when Frank keeps calling her.
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Eveline ● She is a nineteen year old girl.
● She is emotionally abused by her father after the death
of her mother.
● Her father and siblings do not show her love.
● She meets Frank whom she loves and believes
running away with him will bring about change in her
situation.
● She works at Miss Gavan’s store and also suffers
emotional abuse from her.
● She feels that the change of scenery will make the
abuse come to an end.
● She is indecisive at the end and she does not fulfil her
desire to escape when she cannot board the ship and
lets Frank leave by himself.
Eveline’s father ● He is always drunk.
● He takes all of Eveline’s wages/salary on weekends
and abuses her.
● It is implied in the story that he sexually abuses
Eveline.
● He is not a caring father.
● He treats his girl child differently from how he treats his
boys.
Frank ● He is kind and open-hearted.
● He is a loving boyfriend.
● She took Eveline to theatre.
● He has worked on a few ships.
● He is well-travelled.
● He can sing.
● He tries to take Eveline away from her father’s abuse.
● He leaves alone when Eveline changes her mind.
Eveline’s mother ● She suffers abuse in the hands of her husband.
● She teaches her children honesty and Catholicism.
● She is dead.
Miss Gavan ● She own a shop.
● She is an employer for Eveline.
● She mistreats Eveline in front of people/customers.
Harry ● He is Eveline’s brother.
● He works in a church decorating business.
Ernest ● Eveline’s brother who died.
The priest ● He appears in a picture, hanging on the wall in the
Hills house.
● He has moved to Melbourne.

The story is narrated from the third-person omniscient point of view. The
narrator allows the reader to know both the internal development of the story
in the mind of the protagonist and the external development in the real world.
The action is told with a rhythmical remembrance of the past so as to let the
reader decide if the protagonist is doing right or wrong.
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4.5 Style
The short story ‘Eveline’ was the advent between adolescence and maturity.
Written in 1914, which preceded the women's suffrage (right to vote) in Ireland
by four years. The protagonist and title character, Eveline, is largely affected
by the feminist issues of the time period. These feminist ideas are illustrated
through Eveline's relationships with her family and boyfriend, as well the
societal expectations, and her duties and obligations.
The short story is the tale of such an unfortunate individual. Anxious, timid,
scared, perhaps even terrified, all these describe Eveline. She is a frightened,
indecisive young woman poised between her past and her future. The story is
clearly associated with details, with metonymy and synecdoche.

● The writer uses figurative language in order to emphasise meaning :
● Some examples of figures of speech in the story include:
METONYMY AND SYNECDOCHE

o ‘dusty cretonne’ (page 61)
o ‘Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque’ (page 61)
o ‘the night boat’ (page 62)
SIMILE:
o ‘passive, like a helpless animal.’ (page 65)
METAPHOR:
o ‘to hunt them down’ (page 61)
o ‘his hair tumbled forward…face of bronze’ (page 63)
o ‘The evening deepened in the avenue’ (page 63)
o ‘fold her in his arms’ (page 64)
o ‘out of a maze of distress’ (page 64)
PERSONIFICATION:
o ‘the seas of the world tumbled about her heart’ (64)
4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
● A depressed tone.
This tone is used by the narrator to show the state of events surrounding
Eveline’s life.
● A harsh tone
This tone is used when Eveline’s father and the boss address her and make
their demands.
Mood:
● sad, emotional (initially)
● optimistic (when a decision to elope is made)
● remorse/guilt (at the end)
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Activity 3.1
‘Eveline’
She had consented to go away, to leave her home. Was that wise? She tried to
weigh each side of the question. In her home anyway she had shelter and food; she
had those whom she had known all her life about her. Of course she had to work hard,
both in the house and at the business. What would they say of her in the Stores when
they found out that she had run away with a fellow? Say she was a fool, perhaps; and 5
her place would be filled up by advertisement. Miss Gavan would be glad. She had
always had an edge on her, especially whenever there were people listening.
– Miss Hill, don’t you see these ladies are waiting?
– Look lively, Miss Hill, please.
She would not cry in her new home, in a distant unknown country, it would not be like 10
that. Then she would be married – she, Eveline. People would treat her with respect
then. She would not be treated as her mother had been. Even now, though she was
over nineteen, she sometimes felt herself in danger of her father’s violence. She knew
it was that that had given her palpitations. When they were growing up he had never
gone for her, like he used to go for Harry and Ernest, because she was a girl; … 15
3.1.1 Choose a description from COLUMN B that matches the name in

COLUMN A. Write only the letter (A–D) next to the question number
(3.1.1(a) – 3.1.1(d)) in the ANSWER BOOK.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
(a) Harry A Eveline’s boyfriend
(b) Miss Gavan B Eveline’s late sibling
(c) Frank C Eveline’s employer
(d) Ernest D Eveline’s father
E Eveline’s brother
(4 x 1) (4)
3.1.2 Refer to lines 1-5 (‘Was it wise?... with a fellow?’)
(a) Choose the correct answer from those given below. Write down only the letter
(A – D) next to the question number (3.1.2 (a)) and the answer in the ANSWER
BOOK.
In this extract Eveline is asking a number of … questions.
A difficult
B rhetoric
C original
D delicate (1)
(b) Why does the speaker ask this type questions? (2)
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3.1.3 Explain why the following statement is FALSE:
Eveline’s abuse included being starved. (1)
3.1.4 Refer to line 5 (‘they found out that she had run away with a fellow?’)
(b) Explain the comparison in this figure of speech. (2)
3.1.5 Quote FOUR CONSECUTIVE words which prove that Eveline’s position will be given
to another employee? (1)
3.1.6 Refer to line 9 (‘Look lively, Miss Hill, please.’)
(a) What tone of voice would Miss Gavan use in this line. (1)
(b) Why would she use this tone. (2)
3.1.7 Why would people in another country treat Eveline better? (2)
3.1.8 Eveline is a courageous woman.
3.1.9 Refer to the story as a whole:
Do you sympathise with Frank?

3.1.1 (a) E/ Eveline’s brother (1)
(b) C/ Eveline’s employer (1)
© A/ Eveline’s boyfriend (1)
(d) B/ Eveline’s late sibling (1)
3.1.2 (a) B/rhetoric (1)
(b) Eveline has to make a decision (whether to leave her country or not.)  She
is not certain if the decision to leave is the correct one.  (2)
3.1.3 She had shelter and food at home. (1)
3.1.4 (a) metaphor (1)
(b) The way Eveline’s departure from her home/country will be kept a secret
is like she leaves hurriedly/she is literary running.  (2)
3.1.5 ‘filled up by advertisement’ (1)
3.1.6 (a) mocking/condescending/cold (1)
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(b) She is making Eveline look incompetent/ridiculous especially in front of

the customers. (2)
3.1.7 People in another country/Argentina do not know herand they will not use her past
to treat her badly. 
OR
People in Argentina have respect for everyone including women,  unlike people of
Dublin who ill-treat and abuse women.  (2)
3.1.8 Open ended response e.g.
Eveline is courageous because she is able to stand the abuse from her father. She
still runs all the chores at home. She continues to work and earns money even
though her boss ill-treats her and her father takes her money on the weekends.
OR
Eveline is not courageous because she plans to leave her family without telling them.
She does not stand up against her abusive father and her boss, instead she opts for
the easy way out. She also does not carry through her plan when she turns and
leaves Frank and does not board the ship. (3)
3.1.9 Open ended response e.g.
Yes.
Frank does not get an explanation from Eveline when she makes her leave alone to
Argentina. He honours his part of the plan of leaving/eloping with Eveline so that
they can start a new life together in another country.
OR
No.
Frank is spared the pain of leaving with an indecisive Eveline. Their lives/marriage
would not have been a happy one as Eveline would constantly live with regret all the
time.

Activity 3.2: Shorter Transactional Text

‘Eveline’
3.2 DIRECTIONS
Imagine that you are Frank. Eveline has indicated that she does not know how to get
to the port where you are planning to board the night boat with her. You have decided
to write her directions from her home to the port.
Write the directions that you will give to your Eveline.
You must include landmarks, distances and specific directions in your response.
NOTE: Do NOT include illustrations or drawings. (20)
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A bag of sweets
by Agnes Sam
Agnes Sam is a descendant from an Indian great-grandfather who

was brought to Durban in 1860 as an indentured labourer. Sam was
thus born into an Indian family in Port Elizabeth, and grew up there,
near the family business. She was educated at a Roman Catholic
school in Port Elizabeth, where the Indian experience was never
mentioned in history lessons. She explained that meant very little
information about how the largest group of Indians outside the
subcontinent came to be in South Africa was never accounted for
Sam went on to study Zoology and Psychology at the National

University of Lesotho and trained as a teacher in Zimbabwe. After
briefly teaching science in Zambia, she went into exile in 1973 in Agnes Sam
England, bringing up three children there while also attempting to
take a further degree. Most of the stories in Sam's debut collection,
‘Jesus is Indian’, are set in Port Elizabeth. She returned to South
Africa in 1993.
Indentured labour was a system where
labourers, receiving a meagre pay, were
recruited to work on sugar, cotton and tea
plantations and rail construction projects
in British colonies in West Indies, Africa
and Southeast Asia, It differed from
slavery in that the family members of the
labourers were not automatically roped
into the system.
1.Summary
In the Muslim
A young Muslim woman called Kaltoum assists in the family shop on Fridays culture, men
when her brothers attend prayers at the Mosque. One day, she is surprised to attend
Mosque every
see her estranged sister, Kadidja, entering the shop. Khadidja left the family
Friday
three years before to marry a Christian man. She has been calling at the family between
home daily after the passing away of their parents, hoping for a reconciliation. 12h00 and
The family refuses her entry and ignores her time and time again. She then 14h00.
decides to change track and meet the eldest sister at the shop on Fridays.
Kaltoum continues to ignore the advances of her sister even though she knows
that as the eldest, she had the ability to change the mind of her family members.
On a whim, she gives her sister a bag of sweets but continues to ignore her,
until finally Khadidja does not come back on a Friday.
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2.Title
Muslims regard giving gifts is one of the good manners that maintains and strengthens
relations between the giver and the recipient. This explains why Khadidja hopes for
reconciliation and continues to come to the shop after her sister gives her the bag of
sweets. It furthermore explains why the brothers endlessly look for an explanation for
the bag of sweets Kadidja gives her sister, despite the fact that she does not want to
relent and forgive her sister.
3.Themes
3.1 Lack of tolerance
The theme of intolerance is noted throughout the short story. The family is unable
to forgive Khadija for leaving them to marry into a Christian family. It is ironic,
however, that Kaltoum mentions her own Christian friends, but she shows no
tolerance and acceptance of her sister’s choice in life.
3.2 Forgiveness
The family blames Khadija for the death of their parents and despite being
practising Muslims, they cannot find it in their hearts to forgive her. On the other
hand it appears as if Khadija has forgiven her family for shunning her all these
years.
3.3 Pretence
Kaltoum is adept at keeping up pretences. She feels herself softening towards
her sister when she realises that Khadija resembles their mother the closest,
but she pretends that she feels nothing for her.
3.4 Expectations vs reality

Khadija hopes that by showing up regularly and being herself, that her family
will relent and welcome her back into the inner circle. In reality it is Kaltoum’s
stubborn refusal to accept her sister into their midst that prevents the
reconciliation.

4.1 Setting
The story is set in the family shop of a Muslim family and in their house.
There is no clear indication of the location of the shop.
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4.2 Structure and Plot Development Exposition:

It is the
Exposition background
information on the
At the beginning of the short story, the reader is exposed to two sisters,
characters and
Kaltoum and Khadija. It is clear from the start that there is tension between
setting explained
the two sisters, because Kaltoum ignores her sister even though she carries
on talking. The eldest, Kaltoum, manages the family shop on Fridays when at the beginning
of the story. The
the brothers attend prayers at the Mosque and this is the only time Khadija
comes to the shop. exposition will often
have information
Rising Action about events that
happened before
We realise that there are past events that influenced Kaltoum’s attitude. the story began.
Khadija leaves her Muslim family and marries a Christian with whom she has The exposition is
a baby. After the death of her parents, Khadija pays daily visits to her family often the very first
home in the hope of reconciliation, but she is turned away at the door. She part of the PLOT.
then starts visiting the store when she knows she will find her sister, Kaltoum
on her own in the hope that her sister, to whom she used to be very close, will
relent and welcome her back in the family, but to no avail.
Climax
Kltoum gives Khadija a bag of sweets (cheap sweets). Khadija might take it
as a sign of reconciliation, but Kaltoum’s intentions are not reconciliation as
she carries on ignoring her sister. It does, however, make her brothers think
that she could be ready to forgive her which would allow for her return to the
family. Kaltoum one day realises that her sister has the closest resemblance
to their mother. At that moment she does not want Khadija to leave because
she realises that Khadija is still related by blood to them, but despite this fact
she allows her lack of tolerance and inability to forgive to allow her to
relentlessly ignore her sister.
Resolution
Khadija finally stops coming to the family shop. It seems that Kaltoum regrets
her harsh treatment of her sister. Kaltoum waits for her sister – even past the
shop’s closing time which shows that she hopes for Khadija to visit again.
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The narrator ● She is a young woman who heads her family
Kaltoum after the death of her parents due to her status
as the eldest child.
● She is a round character, she experiences both
inner conflict and outer conflict.
● She is cold-hearted and holds grudges, not
only because she was hurt that her youngest
sister did not share her secret with her, but also
for the betrayal of the family.
● She is stubborn because she struggles to
forgive her sister for leaving the family and she
believes her leaving was a betrayal causing the
death of their parents.
Khadija ● She is principled because she marries a Christian

man even though she knows it will cause a rift
between her and the family. She, however, stays
true to her Muslim religion and is motivated by
love.
● She is unwavering in her pursuit of an improved
relationship between her and her family members.
● She is kind and always smiling.
● She is forthcoming because she expresses her
emotions clearly and openly declares that she
misses their family traditions and especially her
eldest sister.
● She is loving because she expresses her love for
her Christian husband and her baby.
Abdul ● He is the eldest brother.
● He follows the example set by Kaltoum and does
not speak to Khadija.

The story is narrated in the first person and the narrator is the main
character. She is a young woman who is the eldest child in an orphaned
family. She expresses her negative sentiments towards her sister by
ignoring her and despite the fact that she realises her sister resembles their
mother the most, she does not allow her heart to soften. She tells the story
of how her sister betrayed the family by her ‘bid for freedom’ and only at the
end after the visits stop do we get an indication that she waited for her to
return.
4.5 Style
A formal style was used throughout the story but there contractions are
used in dialogues. The style is appropriate for a person who deemed
herself to be superior to her sister. It also mirrors the age of the woman.
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Some examples of figures of speech in the story include: It is a comparison, using
‘like’ or ‘as’. For
SIMILE: example, ‘He is as brave
The narrator compares her feelings towards her sister ‘as as a lion.’
cold ...as the last kiss I gave to anyone.’ p 67.
The narrator says Khadija’s ‘hands resting easily on the cold

glass counter were like a bird’s wings, relaxed, yet with the
potential for unimaginable flight.’ p 67
METAPHOR: It is a direct comparison

The narrator describes how ‘one day as in a trance, I reached without ‘as’ or ‘like’. For
for a fistful of sweets’ p 69 to explain she was not fully aware example, ‘He is a lion.’
of the reasons for the action. Note: the ‘as’ is used in the
subjunctive mood and not comparing two things.
PERSONIFICATION: PERSONIFICATION is a
‘I could see those hands running across the keyboard’ p 67. figure of speech in which
Her hands moved so fast it resembled a person running. a
non-living object is given
the
characteristics of a
person.
IRONY:
The definition of irony is
● A bag of sweets is supposed to be a treat and bring joy to the use of words where
the receiver but in this story, it is used as a form of insult the
to the one who receives it. Khadija is disrespected and meaning is the opposite of
she was treated like a child. their usual meaning or
what
● It is ironical that Kaltoum never speaks to her sister and is expected to happen
tells her brothers she wishes that she would come calling
at the shop. Yet when Khadija one day does not come,
Kaltoum waits for her until after closing time. .
4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
The tone is gloomy because Kaltoum
only expresses negative thoughts.
Mood:
Angry and upset
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ACTIVITY 4
A Bag Of Sweets
Read the following extract and answer the questions which follow:
Khaltoum and her brother discuss Khadija’s situation
I knew he would have forgiven Khadija the very day she ran away to
marry the Christian boy. But he had to take his cue from our parents.
‘It’s like you would insult someone? Listen. You know that rich family
who live in the valley? They’re very generous to everyone, aren’t they?
But do you know what they do to someone who has spoken ill of them and then 5
has the cheek to visit? ‘
He did not know. ‘They dish up food in a bowl, wrap it in a cloth, and give it
to the visitor.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It’s to say we will not eat with you. Eating with people is a big thing with 10
us. The visitor goes soon after.’
‘I can see you want to make Khadija feel cheap! But why does she come
back?’
‘She doesn’t take the insult. She knows I want to make her not to come
back. But she wants to come back. Like a woman when she loves a man who 15
beats her up. After each beating they make up. She forgives him. She makes
excuses for why he beats her up. She says he is possessive. She say’s it’s
because he loves her but can’t control his jealousy!’ We sat pensively for a
while.
‘Perhaps it’s guilt,’ he whispered. 20
4.1. Refer to 1–2 (‘I knew he would … the Christian boy’).
Show the differences in behaviour in the attitudes of the brother and Kaltoum in these
lines (2)
4.2. Explain the implication of ‘But he had to take his cue from our parents.’ In relation to
the story as a whole. (2)
4.3. Refer to line 12 ( ‘I can see you want to make Khadija feel cheap!’)
4. 3.1 What did Kaltoun do to make Khadija feel cheap? (1)
4.3.2 Explain if her deed had the necessary effect? (1)
4.3.3 Explain the figurative meaning of Kaltoun’s deed with reference to the
title. (3)
4.4 Refer to line 15 -16 (‘But she wants... beats her up.’).
4.4.1 Identify the figure of speech in this line. (1)
4.4.2 Explain why this figure of speech is relevant to the short story. (2)
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4.5 Refer to line 20 (‘Perhaps it’s guilt’.)
4.5.1 What tone would the speaker use in these lines? (1)
4.5.2 Why would the speaker use this tone in these lines? (2)
4.5 Khatija can be admired. Discuss your view. (3)
Suggested answers for Activity 4

4.1 The brother has a forgiving nature and would easily have forgiven Khadija for
running away, but Kaltoum steadfastly refuses to forgive Khaditja. (2)
4.2 In their traditional family, the children had to obey the instructions of the parents to
the letter.  It shows that they were very obedient, and this role is taken over by the
eldest daughter, Kaltoum.  (2)
4.3 4.3.1. She gives her a bag of cheap sweets. (1)
4.3.2 No, because she carries on visiting her sister.  (1)
4.3.3 In the Muslim culture, a gift is seen to strengthen relationships between

people,  but Kaltoun wanted to insult her sister by giving her a gift fit for
a child. Her intentions are not clear, however, because she impulsively
gave her the bag of sweets.  Khadija, on the other hand, views it as a
sign of goodwill and continues visiting her sister.  (3)
4.4 4.4.1 Simile (1)
4.4.2 This figure of speech is relevant to the short story as it compares

Khadija’s persistent visits to Kaltoumto that of a woman who is beaten
by her husband but cannot leave because she loves him.  (2)
4.5 4.5.1 concern/ troubled/ anxious (1)
4.5.2 He is concernedthat the only reason why Kaltoum would not forgive
their sister is because she felt betrayed that Khadija did not take her into
her confidence when she planned to run away with the Christian man.  (2)
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4.5 Open-ended.
A relevant response which shows an understanding of the following aspects, among
others:
Yes
● She makes a decision to marry a Christian man and does not change her
mind even when her family disowns her.
● She stays loyal to her family even though they refuse her entry.
● She does not convert to Christianity which is an indication that she has
integrity.
● She makes every effort to reconcile with her family after the death of her
parents,
OR
No
● She denounced her family and that is unethical.
● She is insensitive because she returns time and again even though Kaltoum
makes it clear she is not welcome.
● She leaves again when it becomes clear that Kaltoun may change her mind.

For full marks, the response must be well-substantiated. You can score 1 mark for a
response which is not well-substantiated. Your interpretation must be grounded in
the short story. (2)
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Class Act
by Namhla Tshisana
Namhla Tshisana was born in Mdantsane (East

London) in 1984. She worked for the Sowetan for five
years before joining the Masters programme in
Creative Writing.
1.Summary
This story is set in the Eastern Cape in the early 1990s. It is narrated in the first
person by a young girl who has just started high school. She is subjected to
teasing because of her appearance. She also hates Afrikaans, which is one of
the languages at school. The pressure she feels makes her to hate school. She
is too young to defend herself. She, under the circumstances, tries to adapt in
on order to survive and get by.
The narrator is alienated from schoolmates and finds it difficult to make friends.
Mr. Sauls, her English teacher, cannot control his own class and that gives
Renato, who has failed Standard 6 three times, an opportunity to bully new
learners. He makes them stand in front of class to inspect their uniforms. He
then calls the narrator Sister Mary Clarence because of her long uniform. Sister
Mary Clarence is one of the nuns in the movie Sister Act.
She does not report the ‘bullying’ to her mother and her aunt, but she fights the
demons alone and all by herself. She looks up to her elder sister, Ayanda, who
has just finished school. Unfortunately, her sister is not always there to fight for
her.
The adults contribute to her suffering by ignoring her requests to have the tunic
shortened. Firstly, it is her aunt who cannot do it because there is no cotton
thread matching the tunic. Then it is her mother, who cannot find time to do it.
The narrator is 12 years old and not involved in decision making. Her aunt
indicates she prefers to keep the uniform long. Her mother bought her a jersey
that was a size too big (because she is still growing).
The narrator finally tells her sister about the taunts. The tunic is adjusted or
shortened, but she is then teased for the thick hem and white cotton thread.
She is further ridiculed because of the colour of her underwear as well as her
black knees. The renewed bullying makes her feel she is better off called Sister
Mary Clarence because nobody knows what colour underwear the nuns wear.
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2.Title
The phrase ‘class act’ refers to an excellent performance, or someone whose
performance is extra-ordinary or excellent.
The phrase also refers to someone who is generally well-mannered. Looking
at the narrator’s life and experiences she does not lose her temper or even
talk back when ridiculed, but instead acts cool (nonchalantly) throughout the
story.
The title is, in a way, linked to the movie, Sister Act, because of the long tunic
the narrator wears at school. She (the narrator) is likened to one of the nuns,
Sister Mary Clarence, portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie. The
narrator is ridiculed and even called by the nun’s name.
3.Themes
3.1 Bullying
The story explores bullying. The narrator is continuously teased by her
schoolmates. Her bullying is not physical, but it kills her spirit. She now hates
school. A class repeater, Renato, starts this bullying by making her stand in
front of the class. She is then called names. Teasing spirals out of control.
Even girls laugh at her.
3.2 Identity, Acceptance & Appearance

The narrator faces a difficult time because of her appearance. She does not
feel accepted by other learners at school. She accepts the identity given to
her and does not challenge it. She is only 12 years old and too young to
challenge some of her older classmates.
3.3 Conflict
There are two identifiable forms of conflict in this story. The first one is
internal. The narrator has to go to school when school is not favourable to
her. She must spend time in the place she hates. She has to find her way
around that unconducive situation and environment. The narrator has
confused or conflicted feelings.
The second conflict, which is external, is about incompatibility that makes it

difficult for characters to co-exist. The narrator has a problem of being teased
by other learners. There are two learners who make life difficult for her. A girl
who looks down upon her and a boy who constantly teases her about
everything.
3.4 Helplessness
The narrator is bullied at school and is too young to fight back. She is bullied
by a boy who has failed one grade three times. The narrator cannot report
her problems to her mother who is always busy.
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4.1 Setting
The story is set in a homeland called Ciskei (which is now part of the Eastern
Cape). It takes place in the early nineties. The story shifts between school and
the narrator's home.

Exposition
The narrator is introduced as a young girl (about 12 years) who has just started
high school. She has two main challenges at school, i.e. she hates Afrikaans
and she is teased by other learners.
The narrator is at home with her mother and her aunt and they prepare her new
uniform.
Rising Action
Mr Sauls, who is one of the teachers, cannot control his class and learners do
as they like in his presence. Renato makes the new learners in the institution
(freshers) to stand in front of the class so he can inspect their uniform. The
narrator’s uniform is long and goes below her knees. Renato then calls her Sister
Mary Clarence. Sister Mary Clarence is a nun in two 1990s movies, Sister Act
and its follow up Sister Act 2.
Climax
The climax is reached when the narrator tells her sister, Ayanda, about teasing.
Ayanda offers to adjust the tunic and decides to use the only available cotton
thread. Unfortunately it is white, and the tunic is blue. When the narrator wears
the tunic, she also realises that it was shorter than she had requested and it will
make other learners see her thighs and her knock knees.
She is then teased by the other learners because of the white thread and her
black knees. Some even commented about her yellow panties.
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Resolution
She resolves that she was better off as Sister Mary Clarence, wearing a long
tunic, because people would not know about her panties (and even her knock
knees and black knees as well).
The narrator ● She is a 12 year old who cannot fit in a high school
because of the length of her tunic.
● She struggles with bullying coming from her fellow
schoolmates.
● She does not have a voice at home and they decide
what is good for her.
Ayanda ● She is friendly to her sister.
● She understands her sister’s problems and assists
in trying to solve them. She fixes the tunic but
unwittingly adds to the narrator’s problems
Mr Sauls ● He is a new English teacher
● He cannot control his class. He lets people do as
they like in class.
Aunt Connie ● She accuses the narrator of being angry when she
is not. She seems to push her around the house.
Khanyisa ● She is a pompous girl who looks down upon the
narrator.
Renato ● He is a bully who does not care about the
narrator’s feelings. He says anything to spite the
narrator.
● He always taunts her by calling her names.
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The story is narrated in the first person with the narrator as the main character.
It is told from the narrator’s point of view. As a young girl, the narrator suffers
because of a lack of self-confidence. A young girl tells a story about how she
is teased at school because of another learner’s comment about the length of
her tunic. She fights this demon alone and without the help from adults. Her
mother does not have time to fix her uniform or to find out if she was adapting
to the new school environment. She reports the taunts to her sister who can
only assist by adjusting the length of the tunic. The adjustment causes more
damage, leading to the narrator preferring the previous taunts to the new ones.
4.5 Style
The story uses an informal register which is appropriate to the narrator’s age
and grade level. This is evident in the use of contractions like didn’t, you’re,
can’t, etc.

The author effectively uses vernacular phrases in some of the statements to
show context in which words were used. Aunt Connie uses township slang
(Ukwateleni) to ask her why she was angry. That confuses the narrator a bit
because the isiXhosa version (Uqumbeleni) is not very close in sound to the
Afrikaans version (kwaad).
The black boy comments about her black knees implying that the young girl
kneels down when cleaning the floor. This is a sign of undermining her
blackness and also her financial status. This is confirmed by the use of
‘snooty’ to describe Khanyisa, one of the girls.
There are elements of allusion in the story. Calling the narrator Sister Mary
Clarence means she looks like a nun. This makes reference to the movies
titled ‘Sister Act’ and ‘Sister Act 2’, here one of the nuns is Mary Clarence.
Following are some of the literary devices used:
HYPERBOLE (EXAGGERATION)
I keep thinking it is going to hit the floor (page 83). This is a reference to Aunt
Connie’s tummy which has grown bigger.
IRONY
‘You’re starting a coloured school next week but you can’t speak Afrikaans?’
(page 82). It is ironic that the narrator does not speak Afrikaans when the
population of the school speaks Afrikaans.
SIMILE
‘The class’s laughter sounded like thunder in my ears…’ (page 84). The
narrator compares the laughter of the class to thunder.
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4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
● A gloomy and depressed tone.
● The narrator begins the story with a strong word depressing statement (‘I
hate high school’). She uses a powerful word like ‘hate’ in describing her
feelings about school. She emphasises that fact by using, ‘Really, I do.’
Mood:
● sad, emotional
Activity 5.1
‘Class Act’
Still in her uniform, a maroon skirt and white blouse, Mama came in and sat on my
bed, facing Aunt Connie.
‘Your aunt says she was a fashion designer eRhawutini. Why don’t you ask her to
fix your uniform? I have to work this weekend so I won’t be able to do it.’
Since my Aunt Connie came back from Jo’burg she has been taking measurements 5
and material from my other aunts and some of Mama’s friends to turn them into
curtains, suits and dresses in her flat in King. The room where she supposedly works
from ─ and where the sewing machine allegedly is ─ is always locked. It has been
months since she came back and her tummy has grown bigger ─ I keep thinking it is
going to hit the floor ─ but not a single dress or a drop of curtains has come out of her 10
design studio.
As usual when Aunt Connie visits, Mama has taken out more material from her kist.
Some of the material is bright and colourful and was brought from Nigeria by my Aunt
Nozi on her yearly trip to visit her husband. I last saw my Uncle George the year I
turned nine. That was three years ago. I wonder if he still has an Afro? He used to 15
wear long dresses and gold rings on three of his fingers on each hand.
5.1.1 Describe the setting in this extract. (2)
5.1.2 What does this extract reveal by aunt Connie?
5.1.3 Explain why the following statement is TRUE.
The narrator’s mother works as a nurse. (1)
5.1.4 Give the official name for eRhawutini. (1)
5.1.5 Quote one word from the passage that has the same meaning as stomach. (1)
5.1.6 Refer to lines 9-10 (‘I keep thinking it is going to hit the floor’)
(a) Identify a figure of speech in these lines. (1)
(b) Explain this figure of speech as used in the extract. (2)
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5.2.7 Choose the correct answer from those given below. Write down only the letter (A – D)
next to the question number (5.1.6 (a)) and the answer in the ANSWER BOOK.
The word, kist, refers to a…
A metal trunk.
B plastic bag.
C wooden chest
D leather suitcase. (1)
5.1.8 Do you think the narrator is a patient person?
Answers to Activity 5.1

5.1.1 The setting is the narrator’s home in Eastern Cape in the afternoon when everyone
has come back from school/work. (2)
5.2.2 She is a procrastinator/cheat/deceitful
Aunt Connie makes promises but does not implement any of them./She claims that
she is a fashion designer but she has not made any garment./She makes excuses
for not sewing the narrator’s hem. (2)
5.2.3 She is said to be wearing maroon and white uniformwhich is the uniform that
nurses wore during that period. (2)
5.2.4 In Johannesburg (1)
5.2.5 ‘tummy’ (1)
5.2.6 (a) hyperbole (1)
(b) The narrator exaggerates the size of her aunt Connie’s tummy that it (2)
looks like it will hit the floor.
5.2.7 C/wooden chest (1)
5.2.8 Open-ended response e.g.
Yes.
She does not complain when her mother buys her oversized school uniform. She still
goes to school even after a boy has teased her by how her dress looks. She accepts
any response/delay tactics which her mother and aunt come up with regarding the
sewing of her tunic.
OR
No.
It is because of her age that she conforms to all the treatment that she receives from
school and from home. As a child, she cannot force anyone to fix her tunic. She must
wait until the adults are ready attend to her needs.

For full marks, the response must be well-substantiated. You can score 1 mark for a
response which is not well-substantiated. Your interpretation must be grounded in
the short story. (3)
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Activity 5.2
‘Class Act’
‘Whoa, Sister Mary has undergone a makeover! Who knew she had nice legs,’ said
Renato behind me while we were changing periods on our way to Mr Patel’s class for
geography. Next thing I know, I catch him below the staircase looking under my skirt
as I was going up the stairs.
‘Nice yellow bloomers,’ he hissed as we left Mr Patel’s class. ‘You’re still Sister Mary 5
under all that.’
‘Girl, umgobo ongaka? Why the big hem? Irhali emhlophe ke yona iyaphi? Where
do all the white tracks lead?’ Said snooty Khanyisa Peter when I bumped into her at
break, breaking into a fit of laughter.
‘Amadolo amnyama ke wona asisathethi ngawo. I won’t even mention the black 10
knees. Your mama must invest in a mop.’
I have never been so humiliated in my life. All in one day! The boys make fun of me,
and so do the girls. I don’t think the school would allow me to wear the same grey
pants as the boys. Besides, my mother will freak. She made it clear she won’t spend
more money on my uniform. Maybe I should just accept that I am Sister Mary Clarence. 15
At least no one cared what colour panties she wore.
5.1.1 Choose a description from COLUMN B that matches the name in COLUMN A.
Write only the letter (A–D) next to the question number (5.1.1(a) – 5.1.1(d)) in the
ANSWER BOOK.
(a) Sister Mary A has failed Standard 6 three times
(b) Renato B wears long dresses in the movie
(c) Ayanda C cannot control Standard 6 class
(d) Mr Sauls D an elder sister to the narrator
E a fashion designer in Rhawutini
(4 x 1) (4)
5.2.2 Describe the setting in this extract. (2)
5.2.3 Who does Renato refer to as Sister Mary? (1)
5.2.4 Explain why the following statement is FALSE:
The narrator is wearing black panties. (1)
5.2.5 Refer to lines 5-6 (‘Nice yellow bloomers…under all that.)
(b) Explain the effectiveness of this figure of speech. (2)
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5.2.6 Refer to lines 7-9 (‘Girl, umgobo ongaka…fit of laughter.
(a) Quote three words that has the same meaning as giggle (1)
(b) Choose the correct answer from those given below. Write down only the letter
(A – D) next to the question number (5.2.6 (a)) and the answer in the ANSWER
BOOK.
The narrator bumped into Khanyisa at break. It means she ….
A danced bum-jive with her.

B met her by accident
C was excited to meet her
D punched her (1)
5.2.7 Discuss the narrator’s opinion about Khanyisa. (2)
5.2.8 Refer to the story as a whole:
The narrator succumbs to pressure. Discuss your view. (2)
Suggested answers to Activity 5.2
5.2.1 (a) B/wears long dresses in the movie  (1)
(b) A/has failed Standard 6 three times (1)
(c) D/an elder sister to the narrator (1)
(d) C/cannot control Standard 6 class (1)

5.2.2 It is at school during the day and the narrator is wearing the newly-adjusted tunic (2)
5.2.3 The narrator (1)
5.2.4 The narrator was wearing yellow bloomers (panties) according to Renato. (1)
5.2.5 (a) onomatopoeia (1)
(b) Renato used a soft but menaceful voicethat took the narrator by
surprise. (2)
5.2.6 (a) A/fit of laughter  (1)
(b) B/met her by accident (2)
5.2.7 The narrator thinks Khanyisa is pompousand thinks she is the centre of attraction
and more important than other learners.  (2)
5.2.8. Open-ended response e.g.
The narrator is only 12 years old and is not strong enough to fight her own battles.
She needs to report her troubles to other people to do things for her.
OR
The narrator is brave to absorb all insults hurled at her by both boys and girls. Instead
of stooping to their level and be rude, she cushions the bullying and continues with her
life. (2)
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The Wind and a boy

by Bessie Head
Bessie Amelia Emery Head was born on 6 July 1937 in
Pietermaritzburg and died on 17 April 1986 in Botswana.
She is a South African writer who, though born in South
Africa, is usually considered Botswana’s most influential
writer. She wrote novels, short fiction and
autobiographical works.
Bessie Head described her childhood as haphazard and

self-reliant. After completing her Junior Certificate, she
studied for a two-year Teacher Training Certificate. In
1956 she started teaching at Clairwood in Durban. After
18 months of teaching, she resigned and moved to Cape
Town where she started a career as a journalist.
Bessie Head
In March 1964 she accepted a teaching post in Serowe
(Botswana) and left South Africa for good.
1. Summary
The story is about Sejosenye (a grandmother) who is raising her
daughter’s son in a rural village. She is raising her grandchild (Friedman)
because the mother (her daughter) wanted to continue working and
could not take the child with her. The ward in which they live is called
Ga-Sefete-Molemo. Sejosenye takes Friedman everywhere with her,
there is a close bond between the grandmother and her grandson.
Sejosenye is very proud of her grandson. He is the apple of her eye.
2.Title
The title of the story refers to Friedman, the main character. He is a boy who
has a magical wind blowing for him. There is something special about him.
Not only is he lovable but he is envied by other parents who see him as a
bright little boy who is different from other children.
3.Themes
3.1 Gender roles
In the story there is a clear distinction of gender roles between boys and girls
or males and females. The boys do as they please, no one gives them
guidance on how to behave as they grow up. They go wherever they want,
leaving home in the morning only to come back after sunset.
Girls stay at home and do household duties that include fetching water, they
do not need any education.
Sejosenye becomes the envy of other women because she can plough the
land, which is a duty that is mainly associated with men.
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3.2 Loyalty
Friedman is loyal to his grandmother; he listens to her stories and teachings
and emulates the heroes from the stories that he has listened to. He goes
hunting so that they can have meat. He becomes more loyal to his
grandmother and wants to help her in any way.
Sejosenye is loyal to Friedman. She is there for him throughout his life. She
takes him everywhere she goes; she is very proud of her grandson.
3.3 Change and modernity

Towards the end of the story there is evidence of change and modernity.
Although the village is still rural and predominantly agrarian, there is an
emergence of a new class of people who are modern and are buying cars.
The driver of the truck that killed Friedman did not have a driver’s licence, he
rushed to get a truck so that he could fit into the privileged class.

4.1 Setting
The story takes place in a rural village. The events occur at Ga- Sefete-
Molemo ward in the village.

Exposition
The narrator introduces the reader to Friedman’s phases of life. In the first
phase he comes home from the hospital as a small bundle and his
grandmother takes care of him. The next phase is characterised by him
toddling silently next to his tall grandmother. In the third phase, he is a tall,
long legged boy who has become the king of kings of all the boys in his area.
Rising Action
Whilst listening to his grandmother’s stories, Friedman gets hooked on the
heroic stories of Robinson Crusoe (the great hunter) and decides that one
day he is going to be just like him.
Climax
Life and its responsibilities start to increase for Friedman as he starts his
teenage years. He then asks for a bicycle so that he can do more for his
grandmother. His mother buys the bicycle and Friedman starts running more
errands for his grandmother.
Resolution
Friedman is hit by a truck whilst cycling as he was running errands for his
grandmother. Sejosenye is sent to hospital for shock. She dies in hospital and
the villagers bury her.
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Friedman ● A lovable young boy who is brilliant, talented, and
naughty like other boys.
● He loves to listen to the stories his grandmother
tells and gets captivated by Robinson Crusoe’s
heroic actions.
● He decides that one day he is going to be like
Robinson Crusoe.
● He is very loyal to his grandmother and wants to
help her all the time.
Sejosenye ● She is a loving grandmother who loves her
grandchild unconditionally.
● She does not conform to society’s expectations.
She ploughs the fields whilst other women sit and
wait for their husbands to do it for them.
● She is a confident woman who holds her head
high even when the society thinks she has
committed scandalous acts.
● She is physically strong and independent.
Dr Friedman ● He is a friendly ‘foreign’ doctor who works at the
hospital ‘baby’ Friedman was born in.
● Sejosenye decides to name her grandson after
him because of the friendly nature with which he
treated Sejosenye when she visited the hospital.

The story is narrated by a third person omniscient narrator who has a bird’s
eye view of all the events that take place in the story. The narrator gives an
unbiased turn of events from the beginning of Friedman’s life and through his
growing up stages, until his untimely death.
4.5 Style
The story is told as a narrative that is done by a third person omniscient
narrator. The reader easily gets all the details pertaining to what is happening
to the characters because the narrator is not part of the story but has a bird’s
eye view of the events as they unfold.
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SIMILE:
o Page 134 – ‘from side to side like a cobra’ - Friedman’s movements
are compared to a cobra.
METAPHOR:
o Page 133 – ‘small dark shapes’ - The narrator compares the village
boys to small dark shapes as they sped out of the village to the bush.
o Page 133 – ‘extravagant care’ – The overgenerous care with which
Sejosenye takes care of Friedman is compared to an extravagant gift
of love.
o Page 134 – ‘a small dark shadow’ – Young Friedman is compared to
a small dark shadow.
o Page 134 – ‘your handbag’ – How other women referred to Friedman
because he was always with his grandmother.
o Page 137 – swollen rivers - The overflowing river compared to
something that is swollen.
PERSONIFICATION:
o Page 133 – ‘a porcupine hurled his poisonous quills’ – The speed with
which the porcupine raises its quills is compared to someone who is
throwing something.
IRONY:
o The bicycle that was meant to help Friedman cuts his life short.
o The civil servant who come to the village to bring development bring
carnage and fear to the village instead of hope and joy.
4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
● Cheerful, appreciative.
● Sympathetic, disappointed, and dull (after Friedman and Sejosenye’s
deaths)
Mood:
● happy, optimistic
● sad, angry, emotional
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Activity 6
‘The Wind And A Boy’
They began to laugh at his third phase. Almost overnight he turned into a
tall spindly-legged, graceful gazelle with large, grave eyes. There was an odd,
musical lilt to his speech and when he teased, or was up to mischief, he moved
his head on his long thin neck from side to side like a cobra. It was he who became
the king of kings of all the boys in his area; he could turn his hand to anything and 5
made the best wire cars with their wheels of shoe-polish tins. All his movements were
neat, compact, decisive, and for his age he was a boy who knew his own mind. They
laughed at his knowingness and certainty on all things, for he was like the grandmother
who had had a flaming youth all her own too. Sejosenye had scandalised the whole
village in her days of good morals by leaving her own village ward to live with a married 10
man in Ga-Sefete-Molemo ward. She had won him from his wife and married him and
then lived down the scandal in the way only natural queens can. Even in old age, she
was still impressive. She sailed through the village, head in the air, with a quiet, almost
expressionless face. She had developed large buttocks as time went by and they
announced their presence firmly in rhythm with her walk. 15
6.1 What is the setting of the story? (1)
6.2 What characterises Friedman’s third phase of growth?
Mention TWO things. (2)
6.3 Explain why the following statement is FALSE.
Friedman’s mother is a responsible parent who takes care of her son’s needs. (1)
6.4 Refer to line 2 (‘tall spindly-legged... grave eyes’)
(b) Explain the comparison in this figure of speech. (2)
6.5 Refer to lines 13-14. (‘Even in old… impressive’).
What makes Sejosenye remain impressive? (2)
6.6 Give TWO reasons why Friedman needs a bicycle. (2)
6.7 One of the themes in this story is gender roles.
Discuss this theme as it appears in the story. (3)
6.8 Sejosenye can be admired.
Discuss your view (3)
6.9 Discuss the negative effects of modernism in Ga-Sefete-Molemo. (3)
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Suggested answers to activity 6
6.1 It is in a village, in a ward called Ga-Sefete-Molemo.  (1)
6.2 He has grown tall and has become very mischievous. 

He is now a talented young man who can turn his hand to anything  (2)
6.3 She left Friedman with Sejosenye and went back to work. She is not involved in
bringing the child up.  (1)
6.4 (a) Metaphor (1)
(b) Friedman’s physical features are compared to a gazelle.  (2)
6.5 After taking someone’s husband the society expected her to be ashamed of herself.
 She held her head up high and lived her life confidently.  (2)
6.6 He would run up and down to the shops for his grandmotherand also
deliver messages for her.  (2)
6.7 The discussion of the theme of gender roles should include the following points,
among others:
● The boys and girls do activities that clearly define their gender roles. The
girls remain at home during the day and do house chores, whilst the boys run
to the bush to hunt and go back home late in the afternoon.
● The boys are given some independence to do as they please whilst girls
must be under the tutelage of their mothers.
● Sejosenye is an independent confident woman who does not conform to the
stereotypes of gender roles. She ploughs her fields and does not assign
such responsibilities to males.
NOTE: For full marks, the response must be well substantiated. The interpretation
must be grounded on the story. (3)
6.8 Open-ended
The response must show an understanding of the following aspects, among others:
Yes.
● She takes her daughter’s son and raises him as her own. She loves her
grandchild unconditionally.
● She is a responsible mother who allows her daughter to go back to work
immediately after giving birth. She does not expect her to raise the child.
● She instils good work ethics to Friedman, from a very young age.
● As an independent, confident woman she does not subscribe to the society’s
gender role stereotypes.
OR
No.
● She teaches her daughter to be an irresponsible parent because she allows
her to leave a newborn baby and go back to work.
● She took someone else’s husband.
● She told fictitious stories to her grandson, and this made the child to believe in
a lie. (3)
6.9 The new class of civil servants that emerged after independence did not care about
human life. They bought cars without getting proper driving lessons. In their rush to
belong to the rich class, they left many dead bodies on the roads as they killed people
in car crashes that are caused by their inability to drive properly. (3)
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The girl who can

by Ama Ata Aidoo
Ama Ata Aidoo, born in Saltbond, Ghana in 1942 is an
author, poet, playwright and academic. She was the
Minister of Education under the Jerry Rawlings
administration. In 2000, she established the Mbaasem
Foundation to promote and support the work of African
women writers.
Ama Ata Aidoo
1.Summary
Little Adjoa is an ambitious girl, like any other girl of her age who has
dreams and aspirations of her own and truly believes that anything is
possible. Maami, her mother, wants the best for her child. She wants
her to soar high on success and earns a respectful position in this
society. Nana, Adjoa’s grandmother, has lived all her life according to
society's perspective. Nana believes that Adjoa can never be a woman
as she has very thin legs that will bar her from carrying a baby. Nana
only changes her view about Adjoa’s legs when she becomes an athlete
and is successful because of her legs. The grandmother is proud of
Adjoa.
2.Title
Adjoa is the little girl who struggles to speak about her feelings. She
is ridiculed by her grandmother because of her tiny legs.
3.Themes
3.1 Insecurity/Fear/Innocence
The girl, Adjoa is not able to voice out her feelings because she fears that
people would laugh at her. She allows her grandmother to ridicule her about
her legs and she does not say anything.
3.2 Gender Stereotype

Nana, Adjoa’s grandmother makes fun of her granddaughter’s thin and long
legs. She believes that a girl’s legs should have flesh in them and that is in
preparation for the child-bearing stage.
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3.3 Conflict
Nana and Maami (mother and daughter) argue about the choice of husband
Maami has. Nana blames Maami’s choice of a husband for the type of child
she has. The child, Adjoa, has skinny legs and that causes conflict between
the two women. Maami does not see anything wrong with Adjoa’s legs while
Nana thinks they are not acceptable.
3.4 Success
Adjoa becomes a successful athlete when her teachers realise that she can
run faster. She is chosen to represent the school at the district games.
3.5 Pride/Appreciation
Maami becomes Adjoa’s number one fan when she becomes famous and
successful in athletics. She prepares her school uniform for her, accompanies
her to school and to athletic events. She takes pride in carrying her
granddaughter’s trophy.

4.1 Setting
The story takes place in Ghana, Africa, in a village called Hasodzi. The
main character walks five kilometres to reach the school in the nearby
small town. The walks are not a problem for her as she is used to long
walks in the village.

Exposition
The main character, Adjoa, faces a challenge of not being able to voice out
how she feels. The one time she tries to say something to her grandmother,
Nana, she becomes a laughing stock. She then learns to keep quiet.
Rising Action
There are arguments between Maami and Nana about Adjoa. The arguments
are mainly about Adjoa’s legs that are too thin and long, Adjoa’s father who
is not a good choice for a husband and about that it is not necessary for Adjoa
to attend school.
Climax
Adjoa participates in athletics with her classmates and wins each time. Her
talent is recognised by her teachers who select her to represent the school’s
junior section at the district games.
Resolution
Nana changes her perspective when Adjoa’s skinny legs make her a winner
in running. She becomes so proud that she does favours and walks with her
to school and carries her trophy.
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Adjoa ● She is a seven year old girl.
● She is the narrator of the story.
● She is the main character.
● She has a fear of talking because of her
grandmother’s behaviour towards her (Adjoa)
statements.
● She has thin and long legs.
● She becomes an athlete by default.
● She is chosen to represent the school in the district’s
athletic meetings.
Nana ● She is Adjoa’s grandmother.
● She makes fun of Adjoa’s statements.
● She tells and retells Adjoa’s stories and laughs about
them with anyone that visits their home.
● She does not think Adjoa should attend school.
● She does not agree with Kaya regarding Adjoa’s
legs.
● She does not think Adjoa has suitable legs to carry
hips that could allow her to bear children.
● She changes her mind when Adjoa becomes
successful because of her long and thin legs.
● She is proud to walk with Adjoa, shows kindness
towards her and even does favours for her.
Maami/Kaya ● She is Adjo’s mother.
● She wants Adjoa to attend school and be better than
her.
● She argues with Nana in support of Adjoa.
● She does not talk too much.
Mr Mensah ● He is the neighbour to Adjoa’s family.
● He lends Nana a charcoal pressing iron for her to
press Adjoa’s school uniform.

The story is narrated from the first-person view. The narrator, Adjoa, is the
main character. The narrator allows the reader to know both the internal
development of the story in her mind as the protagonist and the external
development of the story in the world of her grandmother and her mother.
4.5 Style
The story is told in a conversation-like narrative. The author uses direct
quotations from characters to allow the reader to understand each character’s
tone, attitude and insight.
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● The writer uses figurative language in order to emphasise meaning:
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSION
o ‘touch wood’
SIMILE:
o ‘She carried the gleaming cup on her back, like they do with
babies’(page 146)
METAPHOR:
o ‘Africa is not choking under a drought’ (page 142)
o ‘Hasodzi lies in a very fertile lowland in a district’ (page 142)
o ‘I came out of the land of sweet soft silence into the world of
noise and comprehension,’ (page 143)
o ‘But if any female child decided to come into this world with
legs,’ (page 143)
o ‘my mother was weeping inside herself.’(page 143)
o ‘Nana would pull in something about my father.’ (page 144)
o ‘felt that she was locked into some kind of darkness’ (page
145)
o ‘it caught the rays of the sun and shone brighter’ (page 146)
IRONY:
o ‘some other things I say would not only be alright, but would be
considered so funny, they would be repeated so many times for
so many people’s enjoyment.’(pages 142-143)
4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
● An apprehensive tone.
This tone is used by the narrator/Adjoa to show the state of her mind at the
beginning of the story.
● A harsh/cruel/mocking tone
This tone is used by Nana, Adjoa’s grandmother when she makes
comments about her legs.
● Cheerful tone
Nana’s tone changes when she realises that Adjoa is becoming successful
because of her long and thin legs.
Mood:
● sad, emotional (initially)
● optimistic (when a decision to elope is made)
● remorse/guilt (at the end)
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Activity 7
‘The Girl Who Can’
‘But Adjoa has legs,’ Nana would insist; ‘except that they are too thin. And also too
long for a woman. Kaya, listen. Once in a while, but only once in a very long while,
somebody decides nature, a child’s spirit mother, an accident happens, and somebody
gets born without arms, or legs, or both sets of limbs. And then let me touch wood: It
is a sad business. And you know, such things are not for talking about everyday. But 5
if any female child decides to come into this world with legs, then they might as well
be legs.’
‘What kind of legs?’ And always at that point, I knew from her voice that my mother
was weeping inside herself. Nana never heard such inside weeping. Not that it would
have stopped Nana even if she heard it, which always surprised me, because, about 10
almost everything else apart from my legs, Nana is such a good grown-up.
In any case, what do I know about good grown-ups and bad grown-ups? How could
Nana be a good grown-up when she carried on so about my legs? All I want to say
that I really liked Nana except that.
Nana: ‘As I keep saying, if any woman decides to come into this world with all of her 15
two legs, then she should select legs that have meat on them:
7.1 Complete the following sentence by using the words in the list below. Write only the
word next to the question number (7.1( a) – 7.1 (c)) in the ANSWER BOOK.
better; mother; thick; grandmother; thin; worse
Nana is Adjao’s (a)… who believes that children who are born disabled are (b)…
than girls who are born with (c)… legs. (3)
7.2 Quote a SINGLE word which proves that Nana does not stop to prove her point. (1)
7.3 Refer to line 3 (‘a child’s spirit mother, an accident happens,’)
The word ‘accident’ in this context means…
A a collision.
B a solution.
C a mistake.
D a fortune. (1)
7.4 Refer to line 5-7 (‘But if any … well be legs.’)
(a) Identify a figure of speech in these lines. (1)
(b) Explain the meaning in this figure of speech. (2)
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7.5 Refer to lines 9-10 (‘Not that it… always surprise me’)
What do these lines reveal about Nana’s character?
7.7 One of the themes in this story is gender stereotype.
Discuss this theme. (3)
7.9 Do you think Nana is cruel towards Adjao?
Substantiate your view. (3)

7.1 (a) grandmother (1)
(b) better (1)
(c) thin (1)
7.2 ‘insist’ (1)
7.3 C/a mistake (1)
(b) An unborn girl child is regarded as the creator/God/nature,  who decides

how a child should look like when it is born.  (2)
7.5 inconsiderate
Nana does not take other people’s feelings into consideration.  (2)
7.7 The discussion of the theme of gender stereotype should include the following
points, among others:
 Nana does not approve that Adjoa should continue attending school.
 She believes that educating a girl is a waste of time.
 She is also obsessed with Adjoa’s thin and long legs.
 She believes they are not suitable for a girl who will eventually become a
mother.
 To her, a woman should look in a particular way and that look should prepare
her for bearing children.
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7.9 Open ended response e.g.
Yes.
Nana does not listen to Adjao, instead she makes fun of what she says. She
discusses it with her friends and everyone that she comes across and continue
mocking her. She ridicules her for her looks, indicating that she is born with thin legs.
OR
No.
Nana’s own upbringing makes her feel that Adjao’s looks are not appropriate. She
changes her mind and becomes nice and even perform some duties for her when
she wins running competitions.

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Triumph in the face of adversity

by Kedibone Seku
Kedibone Seku was born in Pimville, Soweto in 1974.
She became an Adult Basic Education and Training
(ABET) specialist. She also worked as a teacher for
English and History at White City Jabavu Community
College. The story, ‘Triumph in the face of adversity’
was published after Seku attended a workshop that
was associated with the Caine Prize for African Writing.
Kedibone Seku
1.Summary
The story is about a young lady, Thulisile who is the
narrator and the main character. She appears at her
mother’s graveside and a flashback of events
unfolds.
She tells a sad story about her mother’s marriage to
her father that was not approved by her paternal
grandmother. Her mother is treated like a slave and
no matter how hard she works, the mother-in-law
does not appreciate her.
The suffering leads to the narrator’s family moving
out of the main house/home to a squatter camp.
Unfortunately, the father loses his work and becomes
abusive to the mother, the narrator and her siblings
when he is drunk.
The narrator works hard to change the situation
around by selling some sweets, getting help from
friends and neighbours. She eventually gets
employed as a TV presenter and can afford to buy a
house. She only moves into that house later since her
parents refuse to sign for her. Her father dies and
only then does her mother move in with her in a
proper house. Sadly, her mother is too weak to
survive and she dies.
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2. Title
The title, Triumph in the face of adversity, is the title which is suited
to the story. The long list of incidents faced by the narrator, her
mother and her family does not stop the narrator from reaching her
goal of making her own money and improve her life and her
siblings’ life.
Though she does not get to improve her mother’s life, she still
succeeds in getting a better life for her and her siblings.
3.Themes
3.1 Prejudice/Intolerance
Thulisile’s grandmother does not approve of her son (Thulisile’s father)
marrying a ‘girl’ from Johannesburg (egoli). She has nothing against
Thembekile as such but she despises her because of where she comes
from. MaDlamini wants her son to marry someone who grew up in Natal
(currently known as KwaZulu-Natal).
3.2 Mother-in-law and ‘makoti’ conflict

MaDlamini continues to torture Thembekile even after she gets married
to the narrator’s father. She makes her wake up earlier than everyone.
She is not allowed to wear trousers, short skirts and she must cover her
head all the time.
3.3 Poverty
The life at Phambili Squatter Camp is characterised by tin shanties,
commune toilets, overpopulation and poverty. The narrator’s household
also suffers when the father loses his job and cannot provide food and
other necessities. It is because of poverty that the narrator’s family stays
in the squatter camp longer than it had been planned (to be a temporary
home).
3.4 Unemployment
Thulisile’s father loses his job and no matter how much he looks, he
does not find work. It seems that most people in Phambili Squatter
Camp are also unemployed.
3.5 Gender Based Violence

The father finds an escape in liquor. When he is drunk, he beats Thuli’s
mother for no apparent reason.
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3.6 Child Abuse

When Bongani and Zanele are born, their father beats them up for
no reason. Thuli works hard but her father steals her money and
uses it to buy alcohol. He even goes to her employer and takes part
of her salary without her consent.
3.7 Child labour

Thuli who is literally a child, is forced to go find employment in order
to feed the family. She sells sweets and eventually gets employed
by Mr Rathebe who owns a fish & chips shop. At fifteen, she works
as a cleaner after school and on weekends.
3.8 Loyalty
At the beginning of the story, Jabulani stays loyal to Thembekile by
loving her and marrying her despite his mother’s disapproval of her.
Later in the story, Thembekile refuses to leave Jabulani even though
he abuses her. She stays loyal to her marriage despite several
attempts by her parents to make her leave the abusive marriage.
Instead she stops visiting or talking to her parents. She also
continues to stay loyal by not standing up to her husband when he
steals her daughter’s money. She does not sign the documents that
needed to be signed when Thuli wanted to buy a house. She even
stays behind when she is offered to move into a better house. All
because of her loyalty to her husband.
3.9. Fear
Thembekile stays in constant fear from when she is introduced to the
family as a young bride and later when she is abused by her husband.
She fears even to protect her children when their father beats them.
3.10. Ambition
Thulisile is an ambitious young girl who has a drive to be successful.
No matter how many times her attempts fail, she keeps on trying until
she is successful and manages to have a proper house.
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4.1 Setting
The story takes place South Africa, Johannesburg. It further develops to
Phambili Squatter Camp where the family spends most of their time.

Exposition
Thulisile, the narrator is standing by her mother’s grave when she thinks of how
much her mother’s death affected her emotionally. She starts comparing the
pain she felt when her mother died compared to when her father had died.
Rising Action
The narrator takes the reader through the beginning of her mother’s suffering
in the hands of her grandmother, MaDlamini. MaDlamini does not approve of
her becoming Jabulani’s wife because she is from Johannesburg. The suffering
escalates further when the narrator’s parents move to Phambili Squatter Camp.
The narrator’s father loses his job, drowns his sorrows in liquor and becomes
abusive to his wife and children.
Climax
The narrator’s ambition of becoming a better person is fulfilled when she gets
employed as a TV presenter for a kid’s programme. Her work makes her afford
to buy a proper house and move her family from the shanty. Her mother and
father stay behind.
Resolution
After her father’s death, the narrator manages to move in with her mother in
her proper house. Unfortunately, the mother’s health condition has
deteriorated that she eventually dies.
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Thulisile ● She is the narrator and the main character in the
story.
● She is the eldest of three chidren.
● Her parents get married after she is born.
● She witnesses her mother being verbally abused by
MaDlamini, the narrator’s paternal grandmother.
● She witnesses her mother being physically abused
by Jabulani, the narrator’s father.
● She witnesses her father beating her siblings.
● She experiences hardship and poverty her family
and their neighbours suffer in the squatter camp.
● She makes attempts to earn money to feed her
family.
● She gets food from a friend from school so that her
siblings can have some food.
● She borrows thirty rands from her maternal
grandmother in order to start her business of selling
sweets.
● She gets in an argument with her father after he
steals her savings to buy liquor.
● She gets a part-time employment at Mr Rathebe’s
fish & chips shop.
● She is employed at a TV station as a presenter for a
kid’s programme.
● She affords to buy a proper house but her plans are
delayed by her being under-age. Both her parents
refuse to sign for it.
● She only manages to buy a house later.
● She does not cry much when her father dies.
● She cries more when her mother dies.
Thembekile ● Thembekile is the narrator’s mother and Jabulani’s
wife.
● She is given rules by her mother-in-law when she
marries Jabulani.
● She is made to wake up early and work in the house
throughout each day.
● She manages to move her family to a squatter camp
as a temporary arrangement.
● She suffers abuse in a form of beatings by her
husband.
● She stays loyal to her marriage and does not want to
leave her husband despite the abuse.
● She takes her husband’s side instead of her own
parents.
● She does not fight her husband back.
● She only joins her children in a proper house after
her husband dies.
● She is very ill when she moves to stay with her
children.
● She also dies.
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MaDlamini ● MaDlamini is the narrator’s grandmother.

● She does not approve that her son, Jabulani marries
Thembekile.
● She makes rules for Thembekile when she is
married.
● She treats Thembekile like a slave in her household.
Jabulani ● Jabulani is the narrator’s father.
● He marries Thembekile despite his mother’s
disapproval.
● He loses his job.
● He drowns his sorrows in getting drunk.
● He beats up his wife for no particular reason.
● He also emotionally and physically abuses his
children.
Ntombi ● She is the narrator’s friend from the squatter camp.
● She is badly burned when her shark catches fire.
● She survives and some family member takes her to
stay with them.
Bongani ● He is the narrator’s younger brother.
● He suffers beatings from his father.
● He moves to the new house with the narrator.
Zanele ● She is the narrator’s younger sister.
● She suffers beatings from her father.
● She moves to the new house with the narrator.
Nthabiseng ● She is the narrator’s friend from school.
● She brings lunch to share with Thuli at school.
● She assists Thuli to get her employment at the TV
station.
Mr Nkwane ● Mr Nkwane is the narrator’s teacher.
● He realises that the narrator is not doing well in her
studies.
● He tries to talk with the narrator but their talk leads
to the narrator stopping school for a while.
Mme Sedike ● She is an old lady.
● She has a beautiful house.
● She trusts the narrator’s story that she gives her
bread to share with her family.
● She advises Thuli to speak with a social worker or
the police.
Mr Rathebe ● He owns a fish & chips shop.
● He employs the narrator to do cleaning in the shop
during weekends and after school.
● He gives part of Thuli’s salary to her father when he
comes asking for it.

The story is narrated from the first-person view. The narrator tells the story
about her mother’s suffering from her (narrator) perspective. The plot develops
with her telling the story while at the same time she is fully involved. Her
suffering and experiences are told from a first-hand experience view.
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4.5 Style
The story is told using an informal register which is suited for a young girl.
The use of direct speech seeks to capture the actions and attitude of the
different characters the narrator comes across in her life. The author uses a
number of ‘IsiZulu’ phrases, which emphasises the background of most
characters in the story.

● The writer used idiomatic expressions in order to emphasise meaning:
o ‘pleas fell into deaf ears.’ (page 155)
o ‘used as a punching bag depending on the mood’(page 155)
o ‘I had to swallow my pride.’ (page 159)
o ‘make sure that you rise above odds,’ (page 159)
METAPHOR:
o ‘the empty life she had led.’(page 155)
o ‘my father was a complete monster’ (page 158)
o ‘The evening deepened in the avenue’ (page 63)
o ‘she would be next on his list’(page 158)
o ‘we were trapped in poverty and constant abuse’(page 158)
o ‘I could hear a tint of sadness in a voice.’(page 160)
o ‘I said chocking on my tears.’ (page 161)
o ‘shattered my dreams like that?’ (page 161)
o ‘constantly scratching in the shack’ (page 161)
o ‘I was swept from the life of poverty’ (page 162)
o ‘the dark cloud…hanging around us’ (page 163)
PERSONIFICATION:
o ‘rules were awaiting her.’(page 155)
o ‘the sadness in their eyes tormented her’ (page 158)
o ‘was their pity, because it was not going to feed me,’(page 159)
o ‘My dream of having my own business had not died.’(page 161)
o ‘bury the past and open a door to the future.’(page 163)
4.7 Tone and Mood

Tone:
● A depressed tone
o The narrator uses this tone at the beginning of the story and
throughout her mother’s ordeal and her own experiences.
● A mean tone.
o MaDlamini uses this tone when she disapproves of Thembekile’s
marriage to her son. She continues using the same tone even when the
couple is married.
● A defensive tone
o Thembekile uses this tone when she defends her husband’s
behaviour.
Mood:
● sad, emotional
● optimistic
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Activity 8
‘Triumph in the face of adversity’
She even allowed me to sit on her very expensive couches. I was uncomfortable but
she made me feel at ease. She told me who she was and asked for my name.
‘Thulisile, but my friends call me Thuli,’ I said.
‘That is a very beautiful name. So what should I call you?’ she asked.
‘Thuli,’ I said almost whispering. 5
‘Where do you stay?’ she asked, and I told her that I was from the nearby squatter
camp.
‘Are you in school?’ she asked.
‘Yes, but I did not attend today because I was too embarrassed.’
‘Embarrassed by what?’ I broke down and told her the whole story. She held me in 10
her arms. For the first time I let it all out, the anger, the pain, the frustration, everything.
‘There is no need for you to feel that way, many people go through that in life, you
just have to make sure that you rise above the odds,’ she said after I had calmed down.
‘That is exactly what my teacher said to me but I really do not know how I am going
to be able to do that.’ 15
‘There are a lot of options; you can either go to a social worker or the police and
tell them your story.’
‘Will they be able to assist me?’
8.1 Choose a description from COLUMN B that matches the name in COLUMN A.
Write only the letter (A–D) next to the question number (8.1(a) – 8.1(d)) in the
ANSWER BOOK.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
(a) Mr Nkwane A Thulisile’s father
(b) Bongani B Thulisile’s cousin
(c) Jabulani C Thulisile’s brother
(d) Mr Rathebe D Thulisile’s teacher
E Thulisile’s employer
(4 x 1) (4)
8.2 Describe the setting in this extract. (2)
8.3 Refer to line 3 ‘Thulisile, but my friends call me Thuli)
The tone that Thuli would use when saying these words is a/an…. tone.
A honest
B gloomy
C nervous
D anxious (1)
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(b) Why would Thuli use this tone? (2)
8.5 Explain why the following statement is FALSE:
Thulisile’s home is very far from Mme Sedike’s house. (1)
8.6 Refer to line 10 (‘I broke down and told her the whole story.’)
(b) Explain the meaning of this figure of speech. (2)
8.7 What does this extract reveal about Mme Sadike’s character?
8.8 One of the themes in this short story is poverty.
Discuss this theme in relation to this extract. (3)
8.9 Mme Sadike changes Thuli’s view about school.
8.10 Do you think Thuli’s decision to tell her mother about the idea of contacting a social
worker is a wise one?

8.1 (a) D/Thulisile’s teacher (1)
(b) C/Thulisile’s brother (1)
(c) A/Thulisile’s father (1)
(d) E/Thulisile’s employer (1)
8.2 The setting is Mme Sedike’s houseduring Thulisile’s search for food to feed herself
and her siblings.  (2)
8.3 (a) A/honest (1)
(b) Thuli requires assistance from Mme Sedike,so it is important that she
conducts an honest conversation with her. (2)
8.5 Thulisile tells Mme Sedike that she comes from a nearby squatter camp. (1)
(b) The manner in which Thuli is crying when she tells the story is like she is
breaking down.  (2)
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8.7 kind/humble/friendly/loving/caring
She accepts Thuli in her beautiful house./She shows keen interest in Thuli’s
name/education./ She gives Thuli a loaf of bread. (2)
8.8 The discussion of the theme of poverty should include the following points, among
others:
● It is poverty at Thuli’s home which drives her out to go begging for work/food.
● Her parents do not work and cannot afford to buy food for their family.
● No one can help them at Phambili squatter camp since everyone is poor.
● Thuli is amazed that someone can allow her to sit on such expensive couches,
she is used to bad treatment as a poor person.
8.9 Open-ended response e.g.
Yes
Mme Sadike listens to Thuli and makes her realise that there is no need for her to be
embarrassed. The manner in which she addresses Thuli makes her listen to her.
She also suggests further assistance by either a social worker or the police.
No.
It is Thuli’s ambition to be a successful person that makes her go back to school.
She also mentions that she was just not at school for the day. It is because Thuli
does not have another source of food that she goes back to school so that she can
be assisted by Nthabiseng.

8.10 Open-ended. Accept a suitable response e.g.
Yes.
Thuli is still a child and whatever she does, she must get permission from her
mother. Involving the social workers could have led in her and her siblings being
taken away from their parents. That would have crushed her mother.
No.
She should have just gone to look for a social worker without her mother’s consent.
Her mother is known for her loyalty of fear of doing anything that defies Jabulani.
Thuli and her siblings would have been assisted if she did not report to her mother
first.

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References
1. https://interestingliterature.com/2017/07
2. www.associatedcontent.com (2006)
3. https://sittingbee.com/
4. https://wikipedia.com
5. The times.co.uk
6. ahgate.com
7. https://za.linkedin.com/in/kedibone-seku-34361876
8. 32f94aflyinbuttermilkbaldwin-150405115821-conversion-gate01-thumbnail
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English FAL Short Stories 2023

Phisical Sciences (Masiyile Senior High)

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EENGLISH FIRST ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE GRADE 12

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Copyright © Department of Basic Education 2019 222

Mind the Gap Team

Authors: Ms Pila Masakane, Ms Thembeka Mtolo, Ms Mpho Mongale,

Critical reader: Monyaki BS

Onsite writers’ workshop support:

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What are the examiners looking for?

Sub headings per story Short Stories

Triumph in the face of adversity –

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Dear Grade 12 learner

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How to use this study guide

Structure and plot development

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SHORT STORY ANALYSIS SHEET

Tone Tone is a quality in the voice that expresses

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SELF ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET

Title: ___________________________________Author: __________________________

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2. Have all your materials ready before studying a

3. Be positive. It helps you to retain information.

4. You learn better when using colours and pictures.

5. Repetition is the key to remembering information

6. Work with a partner. Teach each other what you

7. Sleep for at least eight hours every night. Eating

8. Studying for exams is like exercise, so you must be

9. Practise past papers, familiarise yourself with the

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On the exam day

Break each question down to make sure you understand what

Remain calm, even if the question seems difficult at first. It will

Take care to write neatly so the examiners can read your

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Overview of the English First

Here is a summary of the Paper 2 Literature exam paper:

Section B: Drama If you choose Section B, answer ONE question. Choose

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What is a contextual question?

What are the examiners looking for?

 Your understanding of the literal meaning of the story. You need to

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4.How is the story told?

4.2 Structure and Plot Development

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4.4 Narrator’s point of view

4.6 Diction and figurative language

Title: _________Author: