JAMB UTME - Literature In English - 1992

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Akọwa Nkọwa

The statement "Out, out, brief candle!" was made by Macbeth upon hearing of his wife's death in Act 5, Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. It is a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life, as a candle burns for only a brief time before it is extinguished. In this context, Macbeth reflects on the brevity and transience of life, and how all human beings are inevitably subject to death, regardless of their station or accomplishments in life.

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In Ayi Kwei Armah's 'The Beautyful Ones are Not Yet Born', the character likened to the chichidodo bird is the man. The chichidodo is a bird that hates excrement but only feeds on maggots, which thrive inside lavatories. Similarly, the man detests the corruption and decay he sees around him but cannot resist becoming involved in it, as he sees it as the only way to get ahead in life. He becomes trapped in a cycle of corruption, much like the chichidodo is trapped feeding on maggots.

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The lines "And when He looks at the grimy coating, Caking off your emaciated skin" from Richard Ntiru's poem 'The Pauper' describe the poverty and dirt the pauper is experiencing. The word "grimy" suggests that the pauper's skin is dirty and covered with grime, while "emaciated" indicates that the pauper is extremely thin and malnourished. The use of "He" suggests that the speaker is referring to God, who is observing the pauper's suffering. Overall, these lines emphasize the miserable and impoverished conditions in which the pauper is living.

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The simile in the excerpt presents a graphic description of the morning mist and chimney smoke in White City Jabavu, comparing it to thick yellow pus oozing from a gigantic sore. The simile creates a vivid image in the reader's mind and helps to emphasize the decay and neglect in the area. Therefore, the answer is a graphic description.

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The lines from "The Bastard" by B.S. Tibenderana depict a picture of squalor. The description of the character being "dumped on the ground" and spending "horrid nights among the steaming pots of food and walking rats" highlights the miserable and filthy living conditions the character is subjected to, indicating squalor. The poem conveys the theme of poverty, injustice, and neglect through the use of vivid imagery and a poignant tone.

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In literature, the word 'image' is associated with abstraction. An image is a representation of a sensory experience that can be visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, or gustatory, and it is created through the use of figurative language like metaphors, similes, and personification. An image is an abstract representation of something concrete, and it is used to create a vivid and memorable description of a scene, character, or event in a work of literature.

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The figure of speech used in the given excerpt is zeugma. Zeugma is a rhetorical device in which a single word is used in different senses at different places in a sentence. In this excerpt, the word "Or" is used to connect multiple phrases in the sentence, and the word "break" and "receive" are both used with different meanings with "law" and "frail China jar," respectively. This creates a sense of economy in language and adds a layer of complexity and sophistication to the writing.

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In D.H. Lawrence's poem 'Snake', the poet's confusion arises from his feelings of both fascination and fear towards the snake. On the one hand, he is fascinated by the beauty of the snake and its primal, wild nature. On the other hand, he is afraid of the snake and the danger it represents, as well as his own internalized fears and prejudices about snakes. This inner conflict leads to the poet's confusion about how to respond to the snake, whether to kill it or let it go. Ultimately, he decides to let it go, but the experience leaves him with a sense of regret and a questioning of his own values and beliefs.

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At the end of Ovonramwen's discussion with Gallway and Hutton, one can conclude that Ovonramwen is suspicious about their real intentions. This is evident from his refusal to sign the trade treaty presented to him by Gallway and Hutton. He asks them to leave and come back when they are ready to negotiate with him as a king, not as a servant. This shows that Ovonramwen is aware of the possibility that the British might have ulterior motives for their visit and he is not willing to be taken advantage of.

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The most fitting moral lesson that can be derived from the play "Macbeth" is that it is not good to be over-ambitious. This is evident in the tragic story of Macbeth, who was initially portrayed as a loyal and courageous soldier but allowed his overwhelming ambition to get the better of him. Macbeth's insatiable desire for power drove him to commit terrible crimes, causing his own downfall and bringing chaos to Scotland. The play illustrates how the quest for power can lead to moral decay, destruction, and tragedy. It serves as a warning against excessive ambition and the dangers of blindly pursuing power at all costs.

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The literary device being described in the question is an allegory. An allegory is a form of symbolism where an abstract concept or idea is represented through a character, event, or object in a story, poem, or artwork. In an allegory, every element is symbolic and has a hidden meaning that contributes to the overall message or theme of the work.

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An exaggeration or overstatement in literature is called a hyperbole. It is a figure of speech that is used to create emphasis and to make a point more strongly. Hyperbole involves using language that exaggerates the actual meaning of a statement, for example, "I am so hungry, I could eat a horse." Hyperbole is a common literary device used in both poetry and prose.

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When a story is told in a song and passed down by word of mouth, it is called a ballad. Ballads are narrative poems or songs that tell a story in a simple and direct way. They often have a refrain and are characterized by their musical quality and their use of repetition and rhyme. They are often associated with folk culture and were traditionally passed down orally from generation to generation.

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The setting of T.S. Eliot's 'Journey of the Magi' is characterized by coldness. In the poem, the Magi describe their journey to Bethlehem, which is set in winter, and they speak of the harsh weather they faced during their travels, such as the "sudden fierce frost" and the "worst time of the year." The coldness of the setting is used to reinforce the difficult and challenging nature of the journey that the Magi undertake in order to witness the birth of Jesus.

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Macbeth spoke these words in William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. This speech, commonly referred to as the "bloody hands" speech, occurs after Macbeth has ordered the murder of his friend Banquo and the attempted murder of Banquo's son, Fleance. Macbeth realizes that he has become so deeply involved in his own bloodshed that there is no turning back, and that it is easier to continue committing violent acts than to try to stop.

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In the poem 'For Christopher Okigbo,' the mood of the poet is that of grief. The poet expresses deep sorrow and a sense of loss at the death of his friend, Christopher Okigbo. The poem is filled with lamentations and the speaker talks about the void left by Okigbo's death. The overall tone of the poem is sorrowful and mournful, suggesting that the poet is grieving the loss of his friend.

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The writer suggests that there is very little hope for genuine change by the coup which takes place towards the end of the novel. The coup signifies a change in government, but it does not necessarily bring about positive change. Rather, it is merely a transfer of power from one corrupt group to another, as evidenced by the actions of the new military government. This suggests that the underlying structures and systems that allow for corruption and exploitation are still in place, and therefore true change is unlikely to occur without a fundamental transformation of society.

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The character in William Golding's Lord of the Flies who best symbolizes man's pride in his ability to reason is Piggy. Piggy is a highly intelligent boy who relies on reason, logic, and scientific principles to understand the situation they are in and to suggest ways of improving it. He is often ridiculed and marginalized by the other boys who value physical strength and prowess over intelligence and reason. Piggy's glasses also serve as a symbol of his intellectual capabilities, which the other boys eventually destroy in an act of savagery, representing the triumph of irrationality and the rejection of reason.

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The above statement "I think our country sinks beneath the yoke; It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash is added to her wounds" was made by Malcolm to Macduff in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In this scene, Malcolm, who is the eldest son of the murdered King Duncan, has fled to England to avoid being killed by Macbeth. Macduff comes to England to persuade Malcolm to return to Scotland and overthrow Macbeth. At first, Malcolm pretends to be an unfit ruler, but later reveals that he was testing Macduff's loyalty. The quote is part of Malcolm's speech where he expresses his sorrow for the suffering that Scotland is currently experiencing under Macbeth's tyrannical rule. He uses vivid imagery to describe the state of the country and to emphasize the urgency of their mission to save Scotland from Macbeth's tyranny.

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The dominant mood in 'Ode to a Nightingale' is melancholy. In the poem, the speaker is listening to a nightingale's song and is struck by how beautiful it is. However, the speaker is also aware that the nightingale's song is temporary and will eventually come to an end. This awareness of the transience of beauty and the inevitability of death creates a sense of melancholy throughout the poem. The speaker longs to escape from the world of mortality and enter into the timeless world of the nightingale's song.

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The poem Sunset Sonata proposes defiance and protest. The poem is a reflection on the effects of colonialism and how it has disrupted the peaceful co-existence of the African people. The speaker is defiant and protests against the oppression and exploitation of his people by the colonizers. The poem suggests that the African people should stand up for themselves and resist the colonizers' attempts to subjugate them. The use of words like "freedom," "resistance," and "liberation" shows the poet's call for defiance and protest against colonialism.

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The parcel that Gallway unties contains a framed portrait of Queen Victoria. This can be inferred from the fact that Gallway greets Ovonramwen and mentions that he has a gift from Queen Victoria. He then proceeds to untie the parcel, which suggests that the gift is inside the parcel. Finally, he presents Ovonramwen with the gift, which is revealed to be a framed portrait of Queen Victoria.

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The statement above refers to Koomson's disgust with the ''whitemen'' who are apes. The narrator is describing Koomson's reaction to the politics of betrayal that he sees around him. He believes that those in positions of power, whether they are "whitemen" or "Party men," are corrupt and care only about their own interests, rather than the needs of the people they are supposed to serve. Koomson sees these people as no different from apes, who act on their base instincts without regard for others. Thus, the statement highlights Koomson's disillusionment and frustration with the state of society around him.

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In "The Casualties," J.P. Clark discusses the suffering of soldiers and civilians during a war. The poem describes the devastation caused by war and the immense loss of life that it brings. It also explores the emotional impact of war, including the pain and trauma experienced by those who survive. Overall, the poem highlights the tragic consequences of war and the toll it takes on individuals and societies.

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In Ayi Kwei Armah's 'The Beautyful Ones are Not Yet Born', the use of the word 'salt' is suggestive of an instrument of decay and cleansing. Salt is used as a metaphor throughout the novel to represent the corrosive effect of corruption on Ghanaian society, as well as the need for a purifying force to cleanse the country of its moral decay. The salt is both a symbol of the destruction of social values and an agent of cleansing, representing the hope for a better future. Through this imagery, Armah emphasizes the corrosive and transformative power of corruption, as well as the need for moral renewal and restoration.

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In William Golding's Lord of the Flies, Jack painting his face can be interpreted to mean regression into savagery. The act of painting his face is symbolic of Jack's descent into savagery and his detachment from the civilised world. The mask that he creates by painting his face allows him to behave in a way that he would not normally behave, thus giving him the freedom to indulge in his most primitive desires. It also marks a physical transformation in Jack's character as he becomes more and more savage throughout the course of the novel.

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A quatrain is a stanza consisting of four lines. It is a common form in poetry and can be found in many different types of poems. The four lines of a quatrain can follow a variety of rhyme schemes and can be written in different meters. Often, quatrains are used to develop a specific theme or idea in a poem, and multiple quatrains can be used to build a longer poem.

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Based on the given excerpt, the writer's attitude towards urban life can be described as optimistic. The character in the passage, Garba, yearns to return to civilization, which suggests that he believes that urban life offers greater opportunities and a better standard of living. Faku is also excited at the prospect of leaving the village, which implies that she shares Garba's positive outlook. Therefore, the writer seems to view urban life as a desirable and attractive option.

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Comic relief refers to the technique used by playwrights to include humorous characters, speeches, or scenes in a serious or tragic work to provide a temporary relief from tension or emotional intensity. The purpose of comic relief is to break the monotony of the serious plot and give the audience a chance to relax and enjoy some lighter moments. It can also serve to deepen the impact of the tragic or serious plot by providing a contrast between the lighter and heavier moments. Therefore, is the correct answer.

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In the context of the given quote, the word "artificer" means a skilled craftsman or a creator. It refers to someone who is skilled in making or creating something with their hands, such as a skilled artisan or a master craftsman. In this case, the speaker is addressing his father, asking him to support him with his creative endeavors and to be a source of inspiration and guidance. The word "artificer" emphasizes the importance of skill and craftsmanship in the speaker's life.

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In Ayi Kwei Armah's 'The Beautyful Ones are Not Yet Born', Kofi Billy's right leg was cut off by a machine because he had been playing at work with the steel ropes. The incident happened when the young Englishman loaded too much tension into the steel ropes, causing them to snap and hit Kofi Billy's leg. The accident left him with a permanent disability, forcing him to wear a wooden leg.

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In literature, the purging or purification of emotions of pity and fear in tragedy is called "catharsis". This concept was introduced by Aristotle in his "Poetics". According to him, the aim of tragedy is to produce a cathartic effect on the audience, which means that they are able to experience a release or purification of these emotions through witnessing the tragic events on stage. In this way, the audience is able to achieve a sense of emotional balance and clarity, leading to a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them.

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The dialogue presented is an example of a laconic dialogue. A laconic dialogue is one that is brief and to the point, usually with a lot of the details left unsaid. In this dialogue from "The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born," the characters are having a short, terse conversation where they are not revealing a lot of information to each other. Their responses are short and direct, and they don't elaborate on their answers or provide much context. This creates a sense of tension and mystery in the dialogue, as the reader is left wondering about the characters' motivations and the situation they find themselves in.

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The stylistic device that uses the name of one thing to describe another is called a 'metonym'. It is a figure of speech that substitutes the name of one object or concept for that of another to which it is related or with which it is associated. For example, "The White House declared" instead of "The President declared." In this example, 'White House' is a metonym for the President and the administration. Metonyms are commonly used in literature to add depth and layers of meaning to a text.

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The island in William Golding's Lord of the Flies is a symbol of innocence. At the beginning of the novel, the island is described as a paradise with beautiful scenery and an abundance of food and resources. It is also a place of freedom for the boys, who are able to escape the constraints of society and adult supervision. However, as the boys' behavior becomes more savage and violent, the island begins to lose its innocence and becomes a dark and dangerous place. Thus, the island serves as a powerful symbol of the loss of innocence and the corrupting influence of power.