Introduction
We would expect that those close to us would be the ones to help us out in our time of need. However, many a time, they are the reason for our suffering. For example, a close friend may spread rumours about you and make people hate you. In Blossoms of the Savannah, various characters have gotten in trouble due to the misdeeds of their relatives, friends or acquaintances.
Body
Resian suffers a lot because of her father’s greed. Ole Kaelo seeks to marry off Resian to Oloisudori against her will. He in effect trades her for money given to him by Oloisudori who wants to marry her in exchange for the money he lent Ole Kaelo to establish himself in Nasila. As a result, She runs away from home and even contemplates suicide. She lands in the hands of Olarinkoi who puts her through a lot of physical and emotional pain.
Olarinkoi subjects Resian to a lot of pain. Olarinkoi lies to Resian that he will take her to Emankererei and she feels grateful to him. However, it turns out that he has different plans. He makes her ride on the back of a pickup where she has to deal with the cold and insects. As if that is not enough, he imprisons her in very deplorable conditions. He also attempts to rape her.
Olaisudori makes Ole kaelo suffer due to his demand that he marries Resian. The two had a business arrangement but Oloisudori demands Resian instead of getting money he had loaned him back. This causes Ole Kaelo a lot of sleepless nights and eventually he loses her as she goes to live with Emakererei.
Mama Milanoi hands over Taiyo to the circumcisor. Her mother is expected to safeguard her interests but instead hands her over to be circumcised. This subjects her to physical and emotional pain. Also, Taito loses Joseph as he dies when attempting to rescue her
Conclusion
From the above illustrations, it is clear that those close to us can cause us a lot of physical and emotional pain. We should be careful around our friends and relatives.
marto answered the question on September 11, 2019 at 10:38
- Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow. (Solved)
Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.
Helmer: Miserable creature – what have you done?
Nora: Let me go. You shall not suffer for my sake. You shall not take it upon yourself.
Helmer: No tragic airs, please.(Locks the hall door.) Here you shall stay and give me an explanation. Do you understand what you have done? Answer me! Do you understand what you have done?
Nora: (Looks steadily at him and says with a growing look of coldness in her face) Yes, now I am beginning to understand thoroughly.
Helmer: (walking about the room) What a horrible awakening! All these eight years- she who was my joy and pride- a hypocrite, a liar – worse, worse – a criminal! The unutterable ugliness of it all! – For shame! For shame! (NORA is silent and looks steadily at him. He stops in front of her.) I ought to have suspected that something of the sort would happen. I ought to have foreseen it. All your father’s want of principle – be silent! - all your father’s want of principle has come out in you. No religion, no morality, no sense of duty -. How I am punished for having winked at what he did! I did it for your sake, and this is how you repay me.
Nora: Yes, that’s just it.
Helmer: Now you have destroyed all my happiness. You have ruined all my future. It is horrible to think of! I am in the power of an unscrupulous man; he can do what he likes with me, ask anything he likes of me, give me any orders he please - I dare not refuse. And I must sink to such miserable depths because of a thoughtless woman!
Nora: When I am out of the way, you will be free.
a) Explain what has happened immediately before this excerpt
b) What does Nora mean by saying, "You shall not suffer for my sake."? Explain.
c) How is Helmer’s attitude towards Nora in this extract different from earlier in the book? Explain.
d) What thematic concern is addressed in this excerpt?
e) "I am in the power of an unscrupulous man; he can do what he likes with me, ask anything he likes of me, give me any orders he pleases - I dare not refuse." Who is Helmer talking about and why does he make such comments about the person?
f) Discuss any style evident in the excerpt.
g) Identify and illustrate the prevalent mood in the excerpt
h) "Here you shall stay and give me an explanation."Rewrite beginning: You....
i) "When I am out of the way, you will be free." Give two meanings of Nora’s words from the rest of the play
j) Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the extract.
i. Take it upon yourself....................
ii. No tragic airs.................
iii. Your father’s want of principle ...................
iv. Unscrupulous man .....................
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- John Steinbeck, The Pearl
'Fortune can sometimes lead us to calamities and bad omens.' Discuss this statement with reference to THE PEARL by John Steinbeck.
(Solved)
John Steinbeck, The Pearl
'Fortune can sometimes lead us to calamities and bad omens.' Discuss this statement with reference to THE PEARL by John Steinbeck.
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- David Mulwa, Inheritance
With illustrations from David Mulwa’s INHERITANCE write an essay showing how Neo-slavery manifests itself in African countries.
(Solved)
David Mulwa, Inheritance
With illustrations from David Mulwa’s INHERITANCE write an essay showing how Neo-slavery manifests itself in African countries.
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Chris Wanjala (Ed) Memories we lost
'A strong desire to accumulate more wealth can lead one to making imprudent decisions' Using the short...(Solved)
Chris Wanjala (Ed) Memories we lost
'A strong desire to accumulate more wealth can lead one to making imprudent decisions' Using the short story HOW MUCH LAND DOES MAN NEED by Leo Tolstoy, write an essay to justify the above proposition
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Henry Ole Kulet, BLOSSOMS OF THE Savannah
'For Oloisudori and Olarinkoi there is no lesser evil.' With illustrations from Henry Ole Kulet’s,...(Solved)
Henry Ole Kulet, BLOSSOMS OF THE Savannah
'For Oloisudori and Olarinkoi there is no lesser evil.' With illustrations from Henry Ole Kulet’s, BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH write an essay illustrating the truth of this statement.
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- THE NOVEL; THE PEARL.
Appearances can be deceptive.
Using examples from the novel, write an essay in support of this statement.
(Solved)
THE NOVEL; THE PEARL.
Appearances can be deceptive.
Using examples from the novel, write an essay in support of this statement.
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- David Mulwa, INHERITANCE
When you have conflict it means there are truths that have to be addressed on each side of the conflict. 'Drawing your...(Solved)
David Mulwa, INHERITANCE
When you have conflict it means there are truths that have to be addressed on each side of the conflict. 'Drawing your illustrations from the play INHERITANCE, write an essay to show validity of this statement'.
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- MEMORIES WE LOST AND OTHER STORIES.
In life’s confinement, it is positive thinking and hope that creates comfort and ultimate success. Write an essay to show...(Solved)
MEMORIES WE LOST AND OTHER STORIES.
In life’s confinement, it is positive thinking and hope that creates comfort and ultimate success. Write an essay to show the validity of the statement. Base your argument on the short story; 'Umbrella man'
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.
A DOLL’S HOUSE
Nora: But it was absolutely necessary that he should not know! My goodness cant you
Understand that? It was necessary he should have no idea what a dangerous condition he
Was in. It was to me that the doctors came and said that his life was in danger, and that the
only thing to save him was to live in the south. Do you suppose I didn’t try, first of all, to get
what I wanted as if it were for myself? I told him how much I should love to travel abroad
like other young wives; I tried tears and entreaties with him; I told him that he ought to
remember the condition I was in, and that he ought to be kind and indulgent to me ; I even
hinted that he might raise a loan. That nearly made him angry , Christine. He said I was
thoughtless, and that it was his duty as my husband not to indulge me in my whims and
caprices- as I believe he called them. Verywell, I thought you must be saved-and that was
how I came to devise a way out of difficulty-
Mrs. Linde: And did your husband never get to know from your father that the money had come
from him?
Nora:No, never. Papa died just at that time. I had meant to let him into the secret and beg him
never to reveal it. But he was so ill then –alas, there was never was any need to tell him.
Mrs. Linde : Good heavens, no! How could you think so? A man who has such strong opinion about
these things! And besides how painful and humiliating it would be for Torvald, with his
manly independence, to know that he owed me anything! It would upset our mutual
relations altogether; our beautiful happy home would no longer be what it is now
Mrs. LInde: Do you mean never to tell about it?
Nora:(meditatively and with a half-smile) Yes –someday perhaps, after many years, when I am no
longer as nice-looking as I am now. Don’t laugh at me! I mean, of course, when Torvald is no
longer as devoted to me as he is now; when my dancing and dressing –up and reciting have
paled on him; then it may be a good thing to have something in reserve-(breaking off)What
nonsense! That time will never come. Now what do you think of my greatest secret, Christine?
Do you still think I am of no use? I can tell you , too, that this affair has caused me a lot of
worry. It has been by no means easy for me to meet my engagements punctually. I may tell you
that there is something that is called in business, quarterly interest and another thing called
payment in installments and it is always so dreadfully difficult to manage them. I have not been
able to put a side much from housekeeping money for Torvald must have a good table. I could not
let my children be shabbily dressed; I have felt obliged to use up all he gave me for them, the sweet little darlings.
Questions
1. Briefly describe what happens before the events in this extract.
2. State and explain any two aspects of style used in this extract
3. How is Mrs. Linde depicted in this extract?
4. What is the attitude of Mrs. Linde towards Nora? Explain
5. Explain how the 'imprudence' of Nora later complicates the events of the play.
6. Who is a shadow character in a play? In this extract identify one shadow character. What is his\her significance in the play
7. Add a question tag:
A wife cannot borrow money without her husband’s consent
8. Explain the meaning of the following words.
i) Indulgent
ii) Thoughtless
iii) Caprices
iv) Devoted
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Grusha deserved Michael more than Natella. Write an essay in support of this statement citing clear examples from the play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle.(Solved)
Grusha deserved Michael more than Natella. Write an essay in support of this statement citing clear examples from the play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle.
Date posted: September 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the excerpt below and answer questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the excerpt below and answer questions that follow.
Mrs. Linde: Nora-it was Krogstad who lent you the money!
Nora: Yes, and now Torvald will know all about it.
Mrs. Linde: Believe me, Nora, that’s the best thing for both of you.
Nora: You don’t know all. I forged a name.
Mrs. Linde: Good heavens-!
Nora: I only want to say this to you, Christine- you must be my witness.
Mrs. Linde: Your witness? What do you mean? What am I to -?
Nora: If I should go out of my mind-and it might easily happenMrs. Linde: Nora!
Mrs. Linde: Nora! Nora! You are quite out of your mind.
Nora: And if it should happen that there were someone who wanted to take all the responsibility,
all the blame, you understandMrs. Linde: Yes, yes- but how can you suppose-?
Nora: Then you must be my witness, that it is not true, Christine. I am not out of my mind at all; I
am in my right senses now, and I tell you no one else has known anything about it; I and I alone,
did the whole thing. Remember that.
Mrs. Linde: I will, indeed. But o don’t understand all this.
Nora: Or if anything else should happen to me- anything, for instance, that might prevent my being here-
Questions
i) Briefly explain what has happened before this extract.
ii) 'Nora- it was Krogstad who lent you the money!' Explain the tone in Christine’s
words.
iii) 'Believe me Nora, that’s the best thing for both of you.' From later in the play which reason does Mrs. Linde give to support what she says now?
v) Discuss one character trait of Nora evident in this extract.
v) Discuss one social theme raised in this extract.
vi) 'Nora! Nora! You are quite out of your mind.' Add a question tag.
vii) Discuss one aspect of style in this extract.
viii)Nora says that a wonderful thing is going to happen. From the rest of the play, explain what she means by that.
ix)Explain the meaning of the following phrases as used in the extract.
a) Go out of mind
b) I forged a name
c) You will be my witness
Date posted: September 3, 2019. Answers (1)
- John Steinbeck, The Pearl
Write an essay to show the truth of the saying ‘What you see is not always what you get’.
Use illustrations from John...(Solved)
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Use illustrations from John Steinbeck’s ‘The Pearl’
Date posted: August 27, 2019. Answers (1)
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- Memories we lost and other stories by Chris Wanjala.
Courage in the face of adversity helps the narrator to overcome cancer. Write an essay to...(Solved)
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Date posted: August 27, 2019. Answers (1)
- Mariatu Kamara, Memories We Lost and Other Stories
'Painful experiences need not lead one to hopelessness.' With illustrations from the story, 'Mr....(Solved)
Mariatu Kamara, Memories We Lost and Other Stories
'Painful experiences need not lead one to hopelessness.' With illustrations from the story, 'Mr. President,' by Mariatu Kamara, show the validity of this statements
Date posted: August 27, 2019. Answers (1)
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Every man suddenly became related to Kino's pearl.' Write an essay to demonstrate how this becomes true, basing your answers on...(Solved)
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- David Mulwa: Inheritance
The play Inheritance satirizes leaders who thrive at the expense of their subjects. Discuss.
(Solved)
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Date posted: August 27, 2019. Answers (1)
- Wanjala Chris (Ed): Memories We Lost and other stories.
'Civilians are the greatest losers where there is a civil war.' Drawing illustrations from Mariatu Kamara's...(Solved)
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- H.R. Ole Kulet: Blossoms of the Savannah
'Ole Kaelo's high-handedness leads to the disintegration of his family.' Show the truth of this statement basing your...(Solved)
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'Ole Kaelo's high-handedness leads to the disintegration of his family.' Show the truth of this statement basing your arguments on Ole Kulet's Blossoms of the Savannah.
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'Kino changes from a loving man to an unreasonable and violent person.' To what extent do you agree with this statement?...(Solved)
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Date posted: August 27, 2019. Answers (1)