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JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 2001

Question 1 Report

This question is based on selected poems from R. Johnson and D. Ker, et al (ed.): New poetry from Africa; Wole Soyinka (ed.): poems Black Africa; K.E. senanu and T. Vincent (eds.): A Selection of African poetry; M. Umukoro and A Sani, et al (eds.): Exam Focus: Literature - in - English; A.E. Eruvbetine and M. Jibril, et al (eds.): Longman Examination Guides: poetry: E.W. Parker (ed.): A Pageant of Longer poems and D.I. Nwoga (ed.): West African Verse.

In Mapanje's When This Carnival Finally Closes', the poet is describing the

Answer Details
In Jack Mapanje's "When This Carnival Finally Closes", the poet is describing the role of sycophancy and bad leadership. The poem is a metaphorical critique of the oppressive regime in Malawi at the time it was written. The carnival is used as a symbol for the government and its corrupt officials, who are described as "clowns" and "masqueraders" who engage in a grand spectacle of self-aggrandizement while the people suffer. The poem highlights the destructive effects of sycophancy, corruption, and bad leadership on a society, and suggests that the carnival will only come to a close when these negative forces are eradicated. Therefore, the correct option is that the poet is describing the "role of sycophancy and bad leadership".