Best Literature-In-English Past WAEC Questions | Read Online
Below Are Waec Past Questions For Literature-In-English.
Further observation: The playwright employs a number of dramatic techniques to convey the oppressive conditions of the black South Africans in the play. These include - the use of flashback, the use of a few characters, the use of the dramatic monologue, the use of symbols, the use of irony, mimicry and the absence of dramatic features like acts and scenes. Candidates were expected to define the techniques mentioned and cite copious examples from the text to illustrate the techniques. Some candidates mentioned the dramatic techniques without references to the text.
Question 2: Discuss the use of symbols in the play.
Further observation: The photographic studio symbolizes the temporary refuge for blacks who are crippled economically, socially and who also indulge their fantasy in photographs. Buntu's house symbolizes a rehabilitation refuge centre while Buntu, the rehabilitation officer. In the same vein, Sizwe Bansi is used as an asylum seeker. Other symbols are cockraches symbolise the oppressive white settlers. Doom symbolises all ineffective actions taken by the black to free themselves from racial discrimination. Passbook is a symbol used to highlight the evil of apartheid Death - symbolises rest and peace for the oppressed blacks.
Candidates are expected to explain the meaning of each symbol with references to the text. Some candidates did justice to the question. Any three symbols discussed with details from the text earned candidates credit mark.
Question 3: Examine the major conflicts in the play.
Further observation: James Ofosu believes it is his responsibility to choose a career for his children and having chosen for the first two children, he considers it as an act of disobedience for Aaron and Maanan not to accept his choice of career for them. It takes A were's success in painting and Lawyer Bonu' s betrayal of trust for James to accept the children's choices. There is also domestic conflicts between Hannah Ofosu and Aunt Fasuwa, also Hannaah and James are at logger-heads over his friendship with Lawyer Bonu. The question was popular among the candidates; they were able to identify the conflicts. The candidates' performance was good.
Question 4: Compare and contrast the roles of Hannah and Fosuwa in the play.
Further observation: Hannah and Fosuwa are women living together as wife and sister to James Ofosu. In attitude, roles and disposition, Hannah and aunt Fosuwa are poles apart. Hannah shows tolerance and understanding in all situations in the play while aunt Fosuwa has no self discipline in attitude to marriage and children. Most candidates merely narrated the story line without showing the comparison and contrast in the duo. Candidates' performance was fair.
Question 5: Compare the characters of Mayor and Anna Andreyerna.
Further observation: This question required the candidates to show the aspects the couple share in common. Mayor and Anna are married couple and they share a lot in common. They are both ambitious. As the Mayor dreams of becoming a general, Anna dreams of living in the city. They both lack scruples. Mayor suggests to the other civil servants that the Inspector's visit notwithstanding the status quo (corruption) should be maintained. Anna also lacks scruples as she competes with her daughter for Hlestakov's attention. The Mayor and his wife Anna are greedy, corrupt and foolish. Some candidates only identified their individual characters and did not compare their peculiar attributes.
Question 6: Examine three comic scenes in the play
Further observation: There are many comic scenes in the play but the question requires only three. One of such scenes occurs where Hlestatkov has no money to pay for his accumulated bills in the inn but still threatens the landlord and waiter to attend to him properly. The scene where Bob and Dob attempt to report the arrival of the expected Government Inspector and in their foolish eagerness they misrepresent Hlestatkor as the expected Government Inspector. The last scene in the play, after the interception of Hlestatkov's letter by the Postmaster is also comic, here all the characters count their losses as they confess their stupidity in allowing Hlestatkov to dupe them. Most candidates shunned this question and few that attempted it only narrated the story-line.
Question 7: Examine the players a conflict between King Henry's desires and More's principles.
Further observation: The emphasis should be on More's strict adherence to his moral and religious principles, that he will not sell his conscience and consent to the King's wishes, inspite of all persuasions from friends and family members. This is against the King's desire to marry another young lady and divorce his queen who is a widow of his late brother and who is unable to bear the King a son. To settle the matter, the King wants Thomas More'S support as his Counselor to annul his marriage with the queen. The resolution of the conflict leads to More's execution by the King. Few candidates attempted the question but narrated the story-line without bringing out the conflict between the two characters.
Question 8: Examine the characters of Sir Thomas More and Master Cromwell.
Further observation: Sir Thomas More and Master Cromwell are poles apart. Both are friends, legal scholars and important public officers. More is a principled and God fearing man, he tries to improve other people's moral and career development. While Cromwell has no moral scruples and will do anything for position and money. More lives and dies for his own material comfort which he pursues vengefully.
Few candidates attempted the question by narrating the story, saying more of Thomas More than Master Cromwell.
Question 9: Examine the Poet's use of images in "Songs of Sorrow " I and II
Further observation: Implicit meanings in the poem are conveyed through several important images like "sun and rain", that signifies suffering, desolation, destruction chameleon faeces (stigma) 'The sharp stumps', 'the failing trees' (death of Agosu) 'the wilderness', 'the broken fences', 'the snake', the 'crow' and the 'vulture' (destructive creatures) etc. Some candidates simply gave an account of the poem without identifying the use of images. The good candidates did justice to the question.
Question 10: Discuss the characteristics and effects of the storm in "An African Thunderstorm"
Further observation: There are two aspects in the poem demanded by the question from the candidates, the characteristics of the storm and the effects of the storm. The storm is a natural phenomenon which is quite fearsome and destructive. The 'wind' that blows in its wake "tosses up things in its tails/like a madman chasing nothing". The 'pregnant clouds' gather to 'pinch on hills'. It affects the social activities of the children, women and babies. Cloths tom apart, not even the trees which 'bend' to let it pass or women running helter-skelter with dangling breasts.
Question 11: How effective is Housman's use of imagery in 'To An Athelete Dying Young'?
Further observation: The main focus of the question is the effectiveness of Housman's use of imagery. The poem use imageries to put across his message to the readers. "Challenge cup" (lures athletes into limelight) "The market place", (world of the living) 'retire' and 'smart lad' 'Road where runners come' (death) 'stiller town'. 'Home' suggests finality (death). Candidates performed poorly in this question as they could not identify the imagery and its effective usage.
Question 12: Examine the theme of rejected love in Marvel's "To His Coy Mistress"
Further Observation: The theme of rejected love is more implied than stated in the poem. From the persona's tone and tone of language use as he pleads, coaxes and threatens which suggest a rejection of his love by his mistress. The persona conjures so many images to ease his mistress's tears by suggesting that time and distance are not of the essence in their love relationship. The mistress does not appear to be moved. He invokes the specter of death to make mistress accept his advances. Candidates performed below expectations i.e very poor.