Read the extract below From the River and the Source by Margaret A.Ogola and answer the questions that follow

The crowd hissed,such a thing was unheard of,Didn't a man own a woman's body and soul?Marriage was sacred and chik' saw to it that it remained that way through by a series of taboos that made it almost impossible to sever the union.However the insult had been great.To accuse someone of juok',witchcraft,even in jest was an unforgivable crime,and there had been precedents,if the woman and her people were determined enough to get separation. The people of Yimbo were a proud lot and their love for their daughter was known all round for they always came out in massive support of her at various ceremonies and functions.The only saving grace would be the high esteem in which they held their son in law ,Owour Kembo the chief.
"And where might he be?"inquired someone,so taken up had they been by Nyar Yimbo's oratory that they had failed to notice his absence."He went to a friends's funeral the day before yesterday and is due back today" Meanwhile i will teach that she wolf a lesson"This from Otieno her brother in law.She looked at him straight in the eye and hissed" just you dare!"He retreated at the pure venom in her eyes.Besides,he was afraid of his brother who had added scandal to all his other sins by falling to ever lay a finger on his wife.
She left without further ado and her children,forgotten in the confusion ran after her.This would never do.She turned and gently but firmly ordered them to go back and await their father's return.
"But mother......"started the argumentative Obura."No buts!just go back and do as i tell you."She left them and went swiftly on her way.The crowd stood mesmerized for a while before departing also.

Questions
a)Place this extract in its immediate context(4 marks)

b)Who are the two characters that Akoko accuses for her marital problems (2 marks)

c)From this extract illustrate one character trait of:
i)Akoko ii)Otieno (4 marks)

d)Identify and explain any one feature of style in this extract.(2marks)

e)What does this passage tell us about the place of marriage in this society?(4 marks)

f)Identify and illustrate any one theme in this passage(2 marks)

g)Explain the meaning of the following as used in the passage;
i)jest ii)a proud lot iii)just you dare ( 3marks)

h)comment on the prevailing mood in this extract
i)"and where might he be?"inquired someone .
(rewrite in reported speech) 1mark

Answers

1.a)Before
-Akoko addresses a gathering outside her house on accusations leveled against her
-That she's not borne thirty children despite the thirty head of cattle paid for her bride price -she decides to depart to go back to her fathers house

After
-Chief Owour Kembo returns to find an empty house
-Angry Chief almost strikes his mother and throttles his brother half to death.
-He locks himself in his 'simba' for a day

b)Nyar Asembo her mother in law
Otieno Kembo her brother in law

c)Akoko:Resolute/decisive-she decides to go to her fathers house and she is unchanged
Otieno:Cowardly-he retreats back at the pure venom in Akoko's eyes.

d)Dialogue between Akoko and her children-"But mother......"
"No buts!just go back and do as i tell you....."

e)It is sacred-A series of taboos made it almost impossible to sever the union.However,there were precedents,if the woman and her people were determined to get a separation.

f)Tradition,Chick dictates that marriage remains sacred by series of taboos Akoko accused of juok -witchcraft

g)i)jokingly ii)full of themselves iii)try

h)Tense/angry 'the crowd hissed'
'just you dare'

i)someone inquired where he (chief Owour) could have been.

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marto answered the question on June 14, 2017 at 06:24

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