JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 2000

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The term for the moral flaw or weakness that leads to the downfall of a major character in drama is "hamartia." This is a Greek term that is commonly used in literary analysis to refer to the tragic flaw or error of judgment that brings about the tragic hero's downfall. The concept of hamartia is often associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who outlined it in his Poetics.

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The phrase "The old man was dreaming about the lions" indicates that the old man is likely still determined and hopeful. It suggests that he is not giving up despite the struggles he has faced, and that he is still capable of experiencing vivid dreams and memories. The lions represent a sense of hope and strength for the old man, reminding him of past victories and the possibility of future success.

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The images depicted in the passage are those of suffering and brutality. The speaker describes the lack of basic amenities such as electricity and the use of a stream for drinking water, as well as the imprisonment of their children. The use of the phrase "police mounted expeditions to maim us and reduce our houses to ashes" further emphasizes the theme of brutality.

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Willy's first words show that his coming back is "not expected". This is evident from Linda's response with "some trepidation" and her follow-up question "Why? What happened?" which suggests that she did not expect him to return at that moment and is concerned that something might have happened to cause his return. Willy's response of "No, nothing happened" further emphasizes that his return was not prompted by any significant event or urgency.

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A panegyric poem is composed to praise. It is a literary work that expresses lavish and highly laudatory praise for a person, group, or thing. The purpose of a panegyric is to celebrate and eulogize the virtues, accomplishments, or achievements of the subject. These poems are often used to commemorate significant events or to honor individuals who have made remarkable contributions to society. The language of a panegyric is typically grandiose, flattering, and exultant, with the intention of conveying the highest degree of admiration and appreciation.

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According to Camara Laye's The African Child, the friendship between Laye and Marie lasted because they had mutual respect for each other. The novel describes their friendship as one that was built on a deep understanding and appreciation of each other's personalities, rather than superficial qualities like physical beauty or social status. They were also shown to be supportive of each other's goals and dreams, which further strengthened their bond. Therefore, it can be concluded that their friendship was based on a foundation of mutual respect, understanding, and support.

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The term given to a type of incident or device which recurs frequently in literature is a motif. A motif is a recurring symbol, theme, idea, or object that appears throughout a literary work, often contributing to its overall meaning or theme. Motifs can be concrete, such as a particular object or image that appears repeatedly, or abstract, such as a recurring idea or concept. They may also serve as a means of connecting various elements within a work or linking different works in a larger literary tradition.

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The poet-persona in the given lines expresses a sense of resignation. The use of words such as "cast-off" and "snaps off service like a weathered strand" suggest a feeling of being discarded or abandoned. The mention of being "pressed" and "braced for this pressure" indicates that the poet-persona is prepared for this inevitable outcome. This sense of resignation is further emphasized by the use of the word "fare" which suggests a journey or departure. Overall, the lines convey a tone of acceptance and readiness to move on from a difficult situation.

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The stanza above succinctly presents the repercussion of violence. The stanza suggests that those who have nothing but guns and are obsessed with death and dying will eventually reap the consequence of their violent actions, which is the spilling of their children's blood. It highlights the destructive nature of war and how it leads to tragic and devastating outcomes.

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In 'Ode on a Grecian Urn', John Keats is concerned with the everlasting beauty of art. The poem is an exploration of the nature of art and its ability to capture and preserve the beauty of the world. Keats is particularly interested in the idea that art can freeze a moment in time and allow it to live forever. The Grecian Urn is a symbol of this idea, as it is a piece of art that has survived the passage of time and is still able to evoke powerful emotions in the viewer. Keats celebrates the ability of art to transcend time and capture the beauty of the world in a way that is both eternal and unchanging.

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The imagery above describes Olivia's intense grief over the death of her brother. The phrase "eve-offending brine" refers to her tears, which she sheds constantly to the point of walking around her chamber every day to water it. The use of the word "cloistress" suggests that Olivia is isolating herself and living like a nun, veiled and mournful, which reinforces the idea of her deep sorrow. The speaker, Valentine, is describing Olivia's behavior to Orsino, who is in love with her and seeks to win her affections.

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The author successfully conveys his message through a comedy of errors. In Twelfth Night, Shakespeare uses mistaken identity, disguise, and confusion to create humorous situations and explore themes of love, gender roles, and social class. The play's comedic elements engage the audience while also conveying important messages about the human condition. The characters' actions and reactions to the various situations they find themselves in offer insights into the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which societal norms can constrain and limit individuals.

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Ernest Hemingway's thematic concern in The Old Man and the Sea is the ability to rise above defeat. The novella focuses on the old man's struggle to catch a giant marlin and his subsequent battle against sharks to bring back his prized catch. Despite the old man's physical exhaustion and loss of the marlin, he finds inner strength and courage to continue fighting. This theme of perseverance in the face of defeat is a recurring motif throughout Hemingway's works.

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The dominant images in Nyi Osundare's poem 'They Too are the Earth' are poverty, suffering, and the downtrodden. The poem speaks of the struggles of the common people and their connection to the earth, contrasting their poverty with the greed and excess of the wealthy. The images used in the poem evoke a sense of struggle and injustice, highlighting the plight of those who are marginalized and oppressed.

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Lineation refers to the arrangement of lines in a poem. It is how the lines are separated from each other to form stanzas and verses. The way a poem is lineated can affect its meaning and interpretation, as well as its rhythm and pace.

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The success of Camara Laye's novel, The African Child, lies in his effective use of sociological and fictional materials. Laye's work combines his own experiences growing up in Guinea with a larger societal and cultural analysis. He uses fictional elements to convey his own experiences while also drawing upon broader social and cultural themes, making the novel relatable and informative to readers. The novel provides insight into the life and culture of Guinea, and captures the essence of an African childhood in Conakry. Although the novel includes traditional elements for colour, this is not the main reason for its success.

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The correct answer is "flashback". In Femi Osofisan's Morountodun, Titubi's experience at the peasants' camp is narrated through a dramatic technique called flashback. This technique involves the interruption of the chronological sequence of events in a story by going back to an earlier time or situation in order to provide more information to the audience. In this case, the flashback is used to reveal the events that led up to Titubi's arrival at the peasants' camp and to provide insight into her character and motivations.

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Mock-heroic poetry is a genre that uses a style similar to classical epic poetry to treat trivial or mundane subject matter in an exaggerated, grandiose or ridiculous manner. Therefore, it elevates trivial subject-matter by using the style of the classical epic, and often employs irony and humor to highlight the contrast between the subject and its grandiose treatment.

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The instance of using the name of one thing for something else with which it is closely associated is called metonymy. This is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is substituted with another word or phrase that is closely associated with it, in order to enhance the reader's understanding of the concept being referred to. For example, using "the crown" to refer to a monarch, or "the White House" to refer to the United States government.

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'Hurrah for Thunder' by Christopher Okigbo can be regarded as a call to be conscious and vigilant of man's abuse of power. The poem celebrates the power of thunder, describing it as "the voice of God" and a symbol of the power of nature. However, the poem also suggests that man has the ability to harness and abuse this power, as evidenced by the line "Man's laughter scares the earth to death." The poem can be interpreted as a warning against the destructive consequences of man's misuse of power, and a call to respect and preserve the natural world.

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Adah's sojourn in London reveals that the plight of the black woman does not change. Throughout the novel, Adah struggles against various forms of oppression, including sexism and racism. Her experiences in London highlight how these issues persist even in a different cultural context. Despite her education and hard work, she still faces discrimination and obstacles in finding employment and achieving her goals. Her husband, Francis, also continues to mistreat and belittle her. Thus, Adah's journey to London underscores the challenges that black women face in both their personal and professional lives, and the persistence of these challenges despite changes in location or circumstances.

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The pervasive mood of the speaker in Mtshali's 'Nightfall in Soweto' is that of terror and insecurity. The poem describes the violent and oppressive atmosphere of apartheid-era Soweto, where police brutality and injustice were commonplace. The speaker's sense of fear and vulnerability is evident throughout the poem, as he describes the "bitterness and terror" of the night, the "gun-toting police," and the "unholy rage" of the oppressors. The poem's overall tone is one of lament and sorrow, as the speaker mourns the loss of freedom and dignity in his community.

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A character who does not develop or experience change in the course of his or her existence in a novel is a "flat character". This means that the character remains relatively unchanged throughout the story and does not experience any significant growth or development. Flat characters are often used as a contrast to "round characters," who are more complex and dynamic, with a greater capacity for change and growth. Flat characters may still serve an important role in a story, but they are typically less central to the plot than round characters.

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A trilogy is a series of three related novels, plays, films, or musical compositions, which may or may not be connected by characters or themes. In literature, it usually refers to a set of three novels or a series of related stories divided into three equal parts.

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Linda's words express a feeling of fear and anxiety. She calls out with trepidation upon hearing Willy outside the bedroom and immediately asks if something happened. This suggests that she is worried and anxious about what he might say next, indicating fear and anxiety.

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The type of novel that focuses on the adventures of a rogue who does not change much in the course of the story is called a picaresque novel. Picaresque novels often feature a low-born or morally ambiguous protagonist who engages in various misadventures and scrapes while navigating through society. The protagonist is often depicted as a rogue who operates outside of mainstream society and the law, and who does not undergo any significant transformation or moral development throughout the story.

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The man's reactions to the presence of the dying child, as described in the passage, show that he is compassionate. This is evident from his concern for the child's well-being, as seen in his prayer for her peace and his willingness to sacrifice his own peace for hers. The description of the child's heavy, uneven breathing and the metaphor of her carrying a weight up a long hill also suggest that she is in distress, and the man's concern for her indicates a sense of compassion and empathy.

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The dialogue above takes place in the play's opening scene, in the sea-coast of lllyria. X, a young lady named Viola, is the survivor of a shipwreck in which she believes her twin brother, Sebastian, has drowned. She is confused about where she is and what she should do next, and Y, the sea captain, informs her that she is in lllyria and offers to be her guide.

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A primary ballad is associated with rural folk. A ballad is a type of narrative poem or song that tells a story in a simple, dramatic, and often musical way. Primary ballads are traditional ballads that were created by the rural folk, passed down through generations orally, and usually tell stories of local heroes, historical events, tragedies, and love affairs. These ballads were sung or recited by ordinary people in rural areas, often accompanied by a simple musical instrument, and were an important form of entertainment and cultural expression in their communities.

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The old man's experience in Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea is a lesson in endurance and hard work. Throughout the novel, the old man faces numerous challenges and obstacles, including a long and grueling battle with a giant marlin. Despite his physical and emotional struggles, he persists in his efforts to catch the fish and bring it back to shore. His unwavering determination and perseverance in the face of adversity highlight the importance of hard work and the rewards that can come from persistence and resilience.