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Read the narrative below and answer the questions that follow.

      

Read the narrative below and answer the questions that follow.

HOW CIRCUMCISION CAME TO BUKUSULAND

At Mwiala wa Mango, there was a great man-eating snake. The snake usually crawled out of his dwelling place among the hills and roamed about the countryside in search of human beings. The local people did not know what to do to get rid of this menace that claimed more and more victims as days went by. Then, in their greatest hour of need, a savior in the person of Mango came.
Mango of Mwiala had by his first marriage two sons whom he greatly loved. Early one morning the boys set out to graze their father’s cattle at the riverside. While the cattle were pushing and fighting over the salt lick, the boys settled down to molding calf bulls. They had barely finished making their first two bulls when they heard a tremendous stampede from the salt lick. Cows, bulls, oxen and calves with raised tails came galloping out of the salt lick holes. The boys hastily picked up their chindare sticks and made for the nearest anthill in order to see the cause of this pandemonium. And there, below them, was the monster casually looking around. It stared at them hard and its many tongues shot out. With a cry and a leap, the boys ran for their lives but it was too late. Mango lost his loved ones to the murderous monster.
He sharpened and resharpened his embalu as tears of bitter sorrow rolled down his cheeks. “I must follow the way my beloved ones took to the ancestors.” Day came and Mango started for the hills. The sun was in the centre of the sky when he came to the lonely and forbidding hills. He looked around the cave and newly overturned pebbles showed that the beast was out seeking human flesh. Armed only with embalu and a tree stump, he crawled into the cave. At the mouth of the cave, he put the tree stump and started his long unnerving watch.
In the meantime, news of what Mango was set on doing had spread through the neighbourhood. People from far and wide had come to his home and were anxiously waiting for him. The sun slowly crept towards the west. Its gentle rays fell upon his glittering embalu and he mumbled, ‘It is the light of ghosts already.’ Suddenly, he heard the sound of stones and pebbles knocking against each other. His hand muscles stood out like twisted cords as he tightened his grip on the embalu. He spat on his palm and adjusted his grip. Raising his embalu above his head, he spat upon his chest asking for his ancestors’ protection. The cave became dark as the monsters head rested upon the tree stump. The raised hand came down swiftly and to the mark. A spout of blood told the rest of the story. At his feet lay the headless beast.
His embalu dripping with blood, he rushed to the nearest rock and gave a piercing cry into the gathering darkness. It was a cry of triumph and those who heard it jumped up for joy. He was carried shoulder high amid singing and dancing.
His heroism was acknowledged by the neighbouring Barua tribe, who offered him a beautiful bride. But he had to be circumcised first before he could take his bride. This was the custom of the Barua. Thus, Mango became the father of circumcision in Bukusuland.

a) Classify the above narrative.

b) Describe the character of the following.

i) Mango

ii) The Barua

c) How did Mango become the savior of the people?

d) Identify the socio-economic activities of the community from which the narrative taken.

e) Comment on the following.

i) The sun slowly crept towards the west.

ii) It is the light of ghosts already.

f) Explain how suspense is created in this narrative.

g) Identify FOUR features that show this is an oral narrative.

h) What do we learn from this narrative?

  

Answers


Martin
a) It is a legend – it describes the adventures of a historical figure or hero

b)
i) Mango is:

- Loving
- Brave/courageous/Daring

ii. The Barua

- Appreciative – they gave mango a bride
- Conservative/Traditionalist – Mango had to be circumcised as per their customs

c) The local people did not know what to do to get of the menace that claimed more and more victims as days went by. So when Mango killed the snake people were relieved.

d) The socio-economic activities include:
- Marriage/ circumcision ceremony – social activities
- Livestock keeping

e)
-It was dusk/darkness was approaching
- It was becoming scary/insecure

f) Suspense is created through use of repetitionv1 and Mango’s waiting for the return of the snake at the door

g) Features of oral narratives:
- Direct translation
- Local words/vernacular words
- Fantasy
- Moral lesson
- Closing formula

h) We learn the following:
-A friend in need is a friend indeed
- A stitch in time saves nine
- We should be brave to save our families from calamities
- Courage is rewarded.
marto answered the question on September 24, 2019 at 06:51


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