WAEC SSCE - Literature In English - 2018 (Objective)

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The metrical beat in the line "The splendor falls on castle walls" is iambic. This means that the line consists of iambs, which are metrical feet made up of two syllables, with the stress on the second syllable. In the case of this line, the first syllable "The" is unstressed, and the second syllable "sple-" is stressed, followed by an unstressed syllable "n-", and a stressed syllable "-dor". The next three syllables follow the same pattern with the stress on the second syllable. The iambic meter is commonly used in English poetry and is often used to create a regular and rhythmic flow in the lines of a poem. The other options listed - anapaestic, dactylic, and trochaic - are other types of metrical feet that follow different patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.

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The mood of the persona in the poem is despondency. The poem uses a somber tone and melancholic language to convey the persona's sense of loss and disappointment. The persona speaks of their dream as being unattainable and locked away, which suggests a feeling of hopelessness or resignation. The use of words like "wretch" and "flightless and tottering" create a sense of sadness and despair, while the idea of a "song-filled air pocket of serenades" adds a touch of nostalgia and longing. Overall, the poem conveys a mood of sadness and disappointment, highlighting the persona's sense of loss and unfulfilled desires.

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In Shakespeare's play "Othello," Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing his daughter. Brabantio believes that Othello has used witchcraft or some other means to seduce and elope with his daughter, Desdemona, without his consent. Brabantio accuses Othello of being a "foul thief," and calls on the authorities to punish him for his crime. This accusation is significant because it sets the stage for the conflicts that unfold throughout the play, particularly those related to race, jealousy, and betrayal. It also highlights the patriarchal and racist attitudes of the society in which the play is set, and the difficulties that Othello, as a black man in a white-dominated society, must face in order to assert his dignity and honor. Overall, Brabantio's accusation of theft is a key moment in the play that sets the plot in motion and reveals the complex dynamics of power, race, and gender that underlie the story.

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Hamartia, in a literary work, refers to a hero's tragic flaw. This is a defect or weakness in a character that leads to their downfall or tragic end. The concept of hamartia is often used in tragic plays, such as those written by ancient Greek playwrights like Sophocles and Euripides. In these plays, the tragic hero is usually a character who possesses great strengths and virtues, but who also has a fatal flaw or weakness that leads to their undoing. This flaw can be a character trait such as pride, ambition, or jealousy, or a physical or mental limitation that prevents them from achieving their goals. The hero's hamartia ultimately leads to their tragic end, often causing them to suffer greatly along the way.

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The predominant figure of speech in the extract is personification. Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to non-human things or abstract ideas. In this extract, the earth is described as if it were a tired person who suddenly moved, causing destruction. The use of the words "she" and "moved suddenly" to describe the earth personifies it, giving it human-like characteristics.

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The line "Remove your thought, It doth abuse your bosom" means that if someone thinks that a woman is not honest without any good reason, they are hurting themselves and their own reputation by having such a thought. The speaker is urging the listener to reconsider their unjustified suspicion and to trust that the woman in question is honest unless there is concrete evidence to the contrary. Therefore, the best paraphrase of this line is "You demean yourself by thinking so".

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In the given quote from Shakespeare's play "Othello," the speaker is the Duke. The Duke is speaking to the Senators of Venice and proposing a plan to help Desdemona and Othello reconcile after their elopement. The Duke suggests that they send Othello to Cyprus to lead the Venetian forces there, and that Desdemona should accompany him, with her father's permission. The Duke hopes that by separating Desdemona from her father and by giving Othello an opportunity to prove himself, the couple will be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of their happiness. The Duke's speech is significant because it shows his concern for the welfare of his subjects, and his willingness to take action to solve their problems. It also foreshadows the events that unfold in the rest of the play, particularly those related to Othello's military career and his relationship with Desdemona. Overall, the Duke's speech is an important moment in the play that sets the stage for the conflicts and resolutions that follow.

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The last line "Now my dream is a locked-up serenade" illustrates a metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two different things without using the words "like" or "as". In this case, the author is comparing their dream to a "locked-up serenade", which means that the dream is now unattainable or out of reach. The metaphor helps to convey the idea that the author's dream is no longer achievable and has been lost or locked away.

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A Sonnet has a final couplet when it has two lines at the end of the poem that rhyme with each other. These two lines usually serve to summarize or conclude the theme of the poem. Out of the given options, an octave refers to the first eight lines of a sonnet, while a sestet refers to the last six lines. Three quatrains are a type of sonnet that has three stanzas of four lines each, but it doesn't have a final couplet. Therefore, only the option that includes a final couplet is correct, which is the one that mentions the final two lines of the sonnet.

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A play that moves the audience to pity and fear is a tragedy. A tragedy is a type of play or literary work that presents a serious and somber story of human suffering and often ends in the downfall or death of the main character. The aim of a tragedy is to evoke emotions such as pity, fear, and catharsis in the audience, which can lead to a greater understanding of human nature and the human condition. Tragic plays typically feature a tragic hero, a character with a fatal flaw or error in judgment that leads to their ultimate downfall. The plot of a tragedy often involves a reversal of fortune or a moment of recognition or insight, known as anagnorisis, which contributes to the emotional impact of the play.

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The effect of the extract "But the towering earth was tired of sitting in one position. She moved suddenly and the houses crumbled, the mountains heaved horrible, and the work of a million years was lost" is conveyed through the use of climax. Climax is a literary device where the intensity of a situation or event increases gradually to reach a peak. In this extract, the tension builds as the description of the earth's movement becomes more dramatic. The use of the word "suddenly" adds to the effect, making the reader feel the abruptness of the earth's movement. The climax is reached with the phrase "the work of a million years was lost," which emphasizes the devastating effects of the earthquake.

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The theme of the poem is unrequited love. The poem describes the speaker's infatuation with someone or something that is dangerous and harmful to them, like poison ivy. The speaker describes their desire to touch and embrace this thing but is ultimately hurt and left with a dream that is now a "locked-up serenade." The imagery in the poem creates a sense of longing and unfulfilled desire, which are central themes of unrequited love. Therefore, the theme of the poem is unrequited love, where the speaker is left longing and unfulfilled in their pursuit of something or someone they desire.

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The phrase "He is my most beloved enemy" illustrates an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposing ideas, words, or phrases. In this case, "beloved" and "enemy" are two words with opposite meanings that are being used together in the same phrase. It creates a paradoxical situation where the speaker expresses affection or admiration towards someone who is supposed to be an adversary or opponent. The use of oxymoron in literature or rhetoric can create a powerful effect by highlighting the complexity of human emotions and experiences.

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Before a play is performed, it is rehearsed. Rehearsals are the process of practicing and refining the various aspects of a play such as dialogue, blocking, lighting, sound effects, and stage design. During rehearsals, the actors work on their performances and interactions with each other, the director makes adjustments to the script and the production team work on perfecting technical elements. Rehearsals are crucial to ensure that the play is as polished and professional as possible before it is presented to the audience. Without rehearsals, the performance would be much more likely to have mistakes, and the overall quality of the play would suffer.

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The expression "door hugged the couple" illustrates personification. Personification is a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is given human qualities or abilities. In this case, the door is described as "hugging" the couple, which is a human action. This description helps to create a sense of warmth and welcome, as if the door is a friendly and inviting presence. The use of personification in this sentence helps to make the writing more engaging and interesting to the reader.

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A dramatic performance with only bodily movements and no speech is a mime. Mime is a form of theater in which actors use only their bodies, facial expressions, and gestures to convey a story or message to the audience. The performers do not speak, but instead use movements and gestures to imitate actions and emotions. Mime is a visual art form that has been popular for centuries, and is often associated with silent movies and street performers. It is a form of non-verbal communication that relies on the audience's imagination to fill in the details of the story being told.

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The setting in the passage is a modern hotel. This can be inferred from the details mentioned in the text, such as the beeping metal detector at the entrance, the swinging door that welcomes them into the lobby, the receptionist who asks James to surrender valuable items, and the fact that the couple is given a key to their room. These details suggest that the couple is staying in a hotel and not at their home, an airport or a school.

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The sentence "How would he explain it to himself?" exemplifies a rhetorical question. This is because it's a question that is not meant to be answered, but to emphasize a point and engage the reader's attention. In this case, the question highlights the internal conflict and moral dilemma James is facing as he considers the consequences of his actions.

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A poem that celebrates simple country life is often referred to as a pastoral. Pastoral poetry typically presents a idyllic and idealized view of rural life, often focusing on the beauty and simplicity of nature, and the contentment and peacefulness of country living. This type of poetry often contrasts the peacefulness and harmony of the countryside with the chaos and corruption of city life. Pastoral poems often feature shepherds, farmers, and other rural characters, and they often celebrate the beauty of nature and the simple pleasures of rural life. The poems often have a nostalgic tone, longing for a simpler time and place. Overall, a pastoral poem is a type of poetry that celebrates the beauty and simplicity of country life, and presents a nostalgic view of rural life and nature.

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The character being spoken of is described as virtuous. The speaker is willing to bet his soul on her honesty and chastity, and believes that if she is not virtuous, then no one is happy and even the purest of wives are as foul as slander. Therefore, the speaker's language implies that the character being spoken of is morally upright and virtuous.

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The main character in a play or novel is typically referred to as the protagonist. This is the character who drives the plot forward and is often the hero or central figure of the story. They are usually the character who faces the main conflict or obstacle in the narrative and whose actions and decisions have the most significant impact on the outcome of the story. While the protagonist is not necessarily a "good" character, they are typically the character that the audience is meant to root for or sympathize with. In contrast, the antagonist is the character or force that opposes the protagonist, while the narrator is the voice that tells the story. The villain is a character who is typically portrayed as evil or immoral and may be an antagonist or a secondary character.

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The speaker is responding to Othello's suspicion that Cassio and Desdemona are lovers. The speaker is trying to assure Othello that Desdemona is honest, chaste and true and that any suggestions otherwise are false. The speaker is willing to stake their own soul on Desdemona's honesty.

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These lovers refers to Othello and Desdemona. Othello is a play written by William Shakespeare and it follows the story of the title character, Othello, and his relationship with his wife Desdemona. The quoted lines are spoken by a character named the Speaker, who is advising the lovers to look at the worst that could happen in their relationship, so that they can be prepared for any difficulties that may arise.

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Just before this, Iago advises Othello to go in. In this scene, Othello is speaking with Iago and others, and he asks what the news is. Iago responds by saying that he thinks the servants of the Duke and Othello's Lieutenant are approaching, and then advises Othello to go in.

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The phrase "Weeping Pillow" is an example of Pathetic Fallacy. Pathetic fallacy is a literary device where human emotions and actions are attributed to inanimate objects, nature or animals. In this case, the pillow is personified and given human emotions of sorrow and weeping. The use of Pathetic fallacy in "Weeping Pillow" creates a vivid and emotional image for the reader, as it allows them to empathize with the emotions being conveyed. The phrase suggests that someone has been crying on the pillow, and the tears have soaked into the fabric, making it appear as if the pillow itself is weeping. Overall, Pathetic Fallacy is an effective way of creating a strong emotional connection between the reader and the text.

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In the passage, "Who began this" refers to the brawl that has broken out among the characters. Othello, the speaker of the line, is asking Iago who started the fight, as he is trying to put an end to the violence and restore order. The use of the word "this" suggests that the subject of the question is something that has just happened or is currently happening, which in this case is the brawl. Therefore, the answer is "brawl", as it is the most accurate and specific interpretation of the context.

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The cast appears at the end of a play for the "curtain call". A curtain call is a theatrical tradition where the actors come out on stage at the end of a performance to take a bow and acknowledge the audience's applause. It is called a "curtain call" because traditionally a theater's stage is separated from the audience by a curtain, which is closed at the beginning and end of the performance.

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Diction is a writer's choice of words. In other words, diction refers to the vocabulary a writer uses in their writing. It includes the specific words, phrases, and tones a writer chooses to convey their message. The writer's diction can affect the tone, style, and overall meaning of the text. A writer's diction can also help to establish their voice and shape their reader's perception of the content.

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The eight-line part of a Petrarchan sonnet is called the octave. The Petrarchan sonnet is a type of sonnet that consists of 14 lines, and is named after the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch. The octave comes after the first part of the sonnet, which is a set of four lines called the quatrain. The octave is made up of two quatrains that are linked by a common rhyme scheme, usually ABBAABBA. The octave sets up a problem or dilemma that the poet explores or resolves in the final six lines of the sonnet, known as the sestet.

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The extract is about an earthquake. The sentence describes the earth suddenly moving, causing destruction such as collapsing houses and heaving mountains, which are typical effects of an earthquake.

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The speaker is addressing Othello. The speaker is expressing their confidence in the honesty and purity of a woman, and is willing to stake their own soul on it. They are urging Othello to reconsider any negative thoughts he may have about this woman, and to remove them, as they are not fair to her.

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The lines illustrate an example of an Apostrophe. An apostrophe is a literary device used to address someone or something that is not present or cannot respond. In this case, the speaker is addressing an abstract concept (spite) and the exclamation "Oh Hell" suggests they are frustrated with the situation. The use of apostrophe adds emphasis and emotional intensity to the speaker's words, which helps to convey their feelings effectively to the reader.

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A short play performed during the pause between the acts of a longer play is called an Interlude. An interlude is a brief performance, often in the form of a play, that is staged in between the acts of a larger production. It serves to entertain the audience during the break and to provide a change of pace or subject matter. Interludes were popular in the medieval and Renaissance periods, and were often used to provide comic relief or to explore a separate story or theme. Today, interludes are less common, but the term is still used to refer to any short performance that takes place during the pause between the acts of a longer play.

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