 |
AOL811S - AFRICAN ORAL LITERATURE - 2ND OPP - JULY 2024 |
|
|
1 Page 1 |
▲back to top |
n Am I 8 I A Un IVE RS ITV
OF SCIEn CE Ano TECHn OLOGY
FACULTY OF COMMERCE, HUMAN SCIENCES,AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGES
QUALIFICATION: BACHELOR OF ENGLISH AND LINGUISTICS (HONOURS)
QUALIFICATION CODE: (08BAEN)
COURSE CODE: AOL811S
LEVEL: 8
COURSENAME: AFRICAN ORAL LITERATURE
SESSION: JULY 2024
DURATION: 3H00
PAPER: Theory
MARKS: 75
EXAMINER(S)
SECOND OPPORTUNITY EXAMINATION QUESTION PAPER
Dr. A. M. Hautemo
MODERATOR: Dr. L. Namaseb
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read all the questions carefully before answering.
2. Number the answers clearly
3. Give essay-type responses where necessary
4. Use blue or black ink only
THIS MEMORANDUM CONSISTS OF 6 PAGES (Including this front page)
1
|
|
2 Page 2 |
▲back to top |
SECTION A COMPULSORY QUESTION
25 MARKS
QUESTION 1
25 MARKS
Read the folktale below and discuss the characteristics of oral literature in depth. Support
your analysis with examples from the text.
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
An African Tale
A long time ago, in a certain place in Africa, a small village lay across a river and half a day's
journey from a city where a great king lived. A man named Mufaro lived in this village with
his two daughters, who were called Manyara and Nyasha. Everyone agrees that Manyara
and Nyasha are very beautiful. Manyara was almost always in a bad temper. She teased
her sister whenever their father's back was turned, and she had been heard to say,
"Someday, Nyasha, I will be queen, and you will be a servant in my household. "If that
should come to pass," Nyasha responded, "I will be pleased to serve you. But why do you
say such things? You are very clever and strong and beautiful. Why are you so unhappy?"
"Because everyone talks about how kind you are, and they praise everything you do,"
Manyara replied. "I'm certain that Father loves you best. But when I am a queen, everyone
will know that your silly kindness is only weakness." Nyasha was sad that Manyara felt his
way, but he ignored her sister's words and went about her chores. Nyasha kept a small
plot of land, on which she grew millet, sunflowers, yams, and vegetables.
She always sang as she worked, and some said it was her singing that made her crops more
beautiful than anyone else's. One day, Nyasha noticed a small garden snake resting beneath
a yam vine. "Good day, little Nyoka," she called to him. "You are welcome here. You will
keep away any creatures who might spoil my vegetables." She bent forward, gave the little
snake a loving pat on the head, and then returned to her work. From that day on, Nyoka
was always at Nyasha's side when she tended her garden. It was said that she sang all the
more sweetly when he was there.
Mufaro knew nothing of how Manyara treated Nyasha. Nyasha was too considerate of her
gather's feelings to complain, and Manyara was always careful to behave herself when
Mufaro was around. Early one morning, a messenger from the city arrived. The Great King
wanted a wife. "The Most Worthy and Beautiful Daughters in the Land are invited to
appear before the King, and he will choose one to become Queen!" the messenger
proclaimed.
2
|
|
3 Page 3 |
▲back to top |
Mufaro called Manyara and Nyasha to him. "It would be a great honor to have one of you
chosen," he said. "Prepare yourselves to journey to the city. I will call together all our
friends to make a wedding party. We will leave tomorrow as the sun rises." "But, my
father," Manyara said sweetly, it would be painful for either of us to leave you, even to be
wife to the king. I know Nyasha would grieve to death if she were parted from you. I am
strong. Send me to the city, and let poor Nyasha be happy here with you." Mufaro beamed
with pride. "The king has asked for the worthiest and most beautiful. No, Manyara, I
cannot send you alone. Only a king can choose between two such worthy daughters. Both
of you must go!"
That night, when everyone was asleep, Manyara stole quietly out of the village. She had
never been in the forest at night before, and she was frightened, but her greed to be the
first to appear before the king drove her on. In her hurry, she almost stumbled over a small
boy who suddenly appeared, standing in the path. "Please," said the boy, I am hungry. Will
you give me something to eat?" "I have brought only enough food for myself," Manyra
replied. "But, please!" said the boy. "I am so very hungry." "Out of my way, boy! Tomorrow
I will become your queen. How dare you stand in my path?"
After traveling for what seemed to be a great distance, Manyara came to a small clearing.
There, silhouetted against the moonlight, was an old woman seated on a large stone. The
old woman spoke, "I will give you some advice, Manyara. Soon after you pass the place
where two paths cross, you will see a grove of trees. They will laugh at you. You must not
laugh in return. Later, you will meet a man with his head under his arm. You must be polite
to him." "How do you know my name? How dare you advise your future queen? Stand
aside, you ugly old woman!" Manyara scolded, and then rushed on her way without looking
back.
Just as the old woman had foretold, Manyara came to a grove of trees, and they did indeed
seem to be laughing at her. "I must be calm," Manyara thought. "I will not be frightened."
She looked up at the trees and laughed out loud. "I laugh at you, trees!" she shouted, and
she hurried on. It was not yet dawn when Manyara heard the sound of rushing water. "The
river must be up ahead," she thought. "The great city is just on the other side." But there,
on the rise, she saw a man with his head tucked under his arm. Manyara ran past him
without speaking. "A queen acknowledges only those who please her," she said to herself.
"I will be queen. I will be queen," she chanted, as she hurried on toward the city. Nyasha
woke at the first light of dawn. As she put on her finest garments, she thought how her life
might be changed forever beyond this day. "I'd much prefer to live here," she admitted to
herself. "I'd hate to leave this village and never see my father or sing to little Nyoka again."
Her thoughts were interrupted by loud shouts and a commotion from the wedding party
assembled outside. Manyara was missing! Everyone bustled out, searching and calling for
3
|
|
4 Page 4 |
▲back to top |
her. When they found her footprints on the path that led to the city, they decided to go on
as planned. As the wedding party moved through the forest, brightly plumbed birds darted
about in the cool green shadows beneath the trees. Though anxious about her sister,
Nyasha was soon filled with excitement about all there was to see.
They were deep in the forest when she was the small boy standing by the side of the path.
"You must be hungry," she said, and handed him a yam she had brought for her lunch. The
boy smiled and disappeared as quietly as he had come. Later, as they were approaching the
place where the two paths crossed, the old woman appeared and silently pointed the way
to the city. Nyasha thanked her and gave her a small pouch filled with sunflower seeds. The
sun was high in the sky when the party came to the grove of towering trees. Their
uppermost branches seemed to bow down to Nyasha as she passed beneath them. At last,
someone announced that they were near their destination.
Nyasha ran ahead and topped the rise before the others could catch up with her. She stood
transfixed at her first sight of the city. "Oh, my father," she called. "A great spirit must
stand guard here! Just look at what lies before us. I never in all my life dreamed there could
be anything so beautiful!" Arm in arm, Nyasha and her father descended the hill crossed
the river, and approached the city gate. Just as they entered through the great doors, the
air was rent by piercing cries, and Manyara ran wildly out of a chamber at the center of the
enclosure. When she was Nyasha, she fell upon her, sobbing. "Do not go to the King, my
sister. Oh, please, Father do not let her go!" she cried hysterically. "There's a great monster
there, a snake with five heads! He said that he knew all my faults and that I displeased him.
He would have swallowed me alive if I had not run. Oh, my sister, please do not go inside
that place." It frightened Nyasha to see her sister so upset. But, leaving her father to
comfort Manyara, she bravely made her way to the chamber and opened the door.
On the seat of the great chief's stool lay the little garden snake. Nyasha laughed with relief
and joy. "My little friend!" she exclaimed. "It's such a pleasure to see you, but why are you
here?" "I am the king," Nyoka replied. And there, before Nyasha's eyes, the garden snake
changed shape. "I am the king. I am also the hungry boy with whom you shared a yam in
the forest and the old woman to whom you made a gift of sunflower seeds. But you know
me best as Nyoka. Because I have been all of these, I know you to be the Worthiest and
Most Beautiful Daughters of the Land. It would make me very happy if you would be my
wife."
And so it was that, a long time ago, Nyasha agreed to be married. The king's mother and
sisters took Nyasha to their house, and the wedding preparations began. The best weavers
in the land laid out their finest cloth for her wedding garments. Villagers from all around
were invited to the celebration, and a great feast was held. Nyasha prepared the bread for
4
|
|
5 Page 5 |
▲back to top |
the wedding feast from millet that had been brought from her village. Mufaro proclaimed
to all who would hear him that he was the happiest father in all the land, for he was blessed
with two beautiful and worthy daughters - Nyasha the queen; and Manyara, a servant in
the queen's household.
SECTION B ELECTIVE QUESTIONS
SO MARKS
Answer any TWO questions from this section.
QUESTION 2
25 MARKS
The following extract from one of the many praises of the famous Zulu King, Shaka, illustrates
the use of allusion, metaphor, and praise names which are combined with some narrative to
convey the bravery and fearsomeness of the King as he defeated his enemy Zwide.
Discussthe validity of this statement with reference to the poem below. Illustrate with
examples from the poem to support your ideas.
Shaka!
His spear is terrible.
The Ever-ready-to-meet-any-challenge!
The first-born sons of their mothers who were called for many years!
He is like the cluster of stones of Nkandhla,
5. Which sheltered the elephants when it had rained.
The hawk which I saw sweeping down from Mangcengeza;
When he came to Pungashe he disappeared.
He invades, the forests echo, saying, in echoing,
He paid a fine of the duiker and the doe.
10. He is seen by the hunters who trap the flying ants;
He was hindered by a cock in front,
By the people of Ntombazi and Langa [mother and father of Zwide!
He devoured Nomahlanjana son of Zwide;
He devoured Mdandalazi son of Gaqa of the amaPela;
15. He was lop-eared.
He devoured Mdandalazi son of Gaqa of the amaPela;
He was lop-eared.
The Driver-away of the old man born of Langa'sdaughter!
The Ever-ready-to-meet-any-challenge!
5
|
|
6 Page 6 |
▲back to top |
r
20. Shaka!
The first-born sons of their mothers who were called for many years!
He is like the cluster of stones of Nkandhla,
Which sheltered elephants when it had rained ...
The Eagle-which-beats-its-wings-where-herds-graze!
25. He drove away Zwide son of Langa,
Until he caused him to disappear in the Ubani;
Until he crossed above Johannesburg and disappeared;
He crossed the Limpopo where it was rocky;
Eventhough he left Pretoria with tears.
30. He killed the snake, he did not kill it in summer,
He killed it when the winter had come.
(Grant 1927, p. 211-3)
QUESTION 3
Write short notes on any TWO of the following (250-300 words each).
2.1 Tzvetan Todorov
2.2 Vladimir Propp
2.3 Greimas's model of folktales
25 MARKS
QUESTION 4
25 MARKS
Using the examples of riddles given below, give an exhaustive definition of riddles, discuss
their social functions and analyse their physical structure.
a) When the man in our house goes out, he is wearing a red hat but when he comes
back, he is wearing a black hat. (a matchstick).
b) I am upside down, but I do not spill, what am I? (cow's breast)
c) When our grandmother wakes up, she walks on four legs, during the day she walks
on two and in the evening, she walks on three legs. (a person growing from
childhood to old age)
i. A cart full of eggs. (mouth plus teeth)
ii. What finishes all the grass but does not grow? (feet)
6