UNIT 2
AFRICA- David Diop
What do you think they are known for?
Answer: The two people are Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. Both worked selflessly for humanity in their lives. Both worked against poverty and slavery.
Comprehension :
C1.) Read the poem silently and answer the following after discussing your response with your partner.
1.) How does the poet come to know about the history of Africa?
Answer: The poet comes to know about the history of Africa from his grandmother’s songs.
2.) The poet did not spend much of his life in Africa. Pick out the line/lines that express this feeling.
Answer: Africa of whom my grandmother sings On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
The above lines express that the poet didn’t spend much of his life in Africa.
3.) Despite staying away from Africa, how is he able to describe Africa?
Answer: The poet feels very deeply for his country. He feels the pain of the people who underwent humiliation. He also describes the struggle of his people for freedom.
4.) “Red scars” – what does this term in the poem refer to?
Answer: “Red scars” are the scars caused by the masters to the slaves. The scars are from the harsh whiplashes that are used by the masters on their slaves.
5.) Pick out the lines that talk about the humiliation suffered by the Afric:
Answer: Is this you this back that is bent
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation
The above lines talk about the humiliation suffered by the Afric
6.) “That tree there in splendid loneliness” – Explain this phrase with reference to the feelings of the poet about his country.
Answer: The poet says that despite all these harassments and humiliation, Africa doesn’t stop to grow just like the tree which doesn’t stop growing.
7.) “That grows again patiently obstinately / And its fruit gradually acquires The bitter taste of liberty.”
a) What does “That” refer to?
Answer: “That” refers to the poet’s country, Africa.
b) How does it grow?
Answer: it grows gradually with keeping patience.
c) What does “bitter taste of liberty” refer to?
Answer: It takes a lot of patience, hurt and humiliation to attain freedom and when it is achieved the fruit is bitter because of all the hurt and pain.
C2. Complete the table listing the poetic devices (figures of speech) used by David Diop in the poem. Two examples are given for you.
Poetic Device Lines from the poem
Personification Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the field
Alliteration Your beautiful black blood
Metaphor Impetuous son that tree young and strong
Simile
Oxymoron The bitter taste of liberty.
C3.) Work in pairs and complete the summary of the poem given below. Use the expressions given in the box.
The poet continues to say that he has never known Africa, but despite the distance he cannot deny how much it is a part of him. The phrase beautiful black blood which flows in his veins describes his African descent and shows how much Africa is a part of him and how much he loves his country and its people. The next verses are angry and accusatory as he stresses that it is the blood and sweat of his people which is irrigating the fields for the benefit of other people. Here he is pointing a finger at the colonialists who exploited the black people and used them as slaves to profit from their hard labour.
APPRECIATION
A1.) Find the words or phrases in the poem that are used –
Africa – Description
Words and Phrases
a) beauty and strength
e.g.-beautiful black blood.
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Impetuous son that tree young and strong
In splendid loneliness amidst white and faded flowers
b) humiliations andsufferings e.g.- back that is bent.
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
Is this you this back that is bent
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun
A2.) Read the lines of the poem given in Column A and fill in Column B that depict the mood of the poet. One example is given for you.
Lines of the poem
Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
I have never known you
But your blood flows in me
Is this you this back that is bent
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation
But a grave voice answers me Impetuous son that tree young and strong
In splendid loneliness amidst white and faded flowers
That is Africa, your Africa
And its fruit gradually acquires-
¬The bitter taste of liberty
Mood/feeling
Pride for the country,patriotism
Love for the country
Pity
Strong attitude
Proud
Sadness
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