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 Question: Compare and contrast The Lift and The Accident. Answer: The stories, The Lift and The Accident are set in colonial-era Rhodesia, and they provide insights into the complex social dynamics and racial tensions of the time. These settings play a significant role in shaping the narratives  In both stories, there is a clear exploration of racial tensions between African and European populations. The Accident highlights the indifference and apathy of many European and African bystanders towards an accident involving a European driver and an African victim, In The Lift , the guard's actions and the differential treatment of African job seekers compared to . European individuals underscore the racial discrimination and inequality of the colonial society.  Both stories touch on social injustice. In The Accident , there's a focus on the injustices experienced by the African population due to colonial rule. These include biased justice system. In The Lift , the ...

SUMMARY OF THINGS FALL APART To what extent should we cling tenaciously onto what we esteem and hold dear? At what point really should we ditch what we deeply believe in in the face of the ever-changing circumstances around us? Or, what does it take to accept reality and learn to live with the new norm? Accepting change isn't that easy, more so if you are that kind of a person who's rigid. What can better demonstrate this point than China Achebe's Things Fall Apart? If you have been looking for a clear example of a static character, look no further. Things Fall Apart provides you with a lucid example through the protagonist - Okonkow. Character Analysis in Literature: Okonkwo's Complexity The demise of Okonkwo leaves many readers with ambivalent attitudes. Some readers praise him for his valour and patriotism. However, other readers celebrate his fall as they consider him to be too obsolete to continue existing in a system that has radically changed. Besides, some ...

The Struggle for Freedom in 'The Window that Watched Pru'

THE CROW "The Crow" is a story that explores childhood curiosity and senseless destruction resulting from a lack of agency and rational thinking. The two young protagonists embark on a mission to prove their heroism, but ultimately, they are defeated by a crow that refuses to die despite their relentless efforts to destroy it. As a result, their egos are crushed, leading them to abruptly abandon their expedition, casting away their catapults while crying bitterly. The title "The Crow" is fitting because the story centres around the crow's triumph over the boys' unjust pursuit of ending its life.  By extension, the story reflects the exploitative relationship between the whites and the blacks during colonial Rhodesia. The story, thus celebrates the victory that came as a result of the collective struggle of the Africans who fought against colonisers. While the story can be interpreted as a simple childhood adventure, the author also highlights the conseque...

 SHADOWS ON THE WALL The story begins with a motif of shadows. This device runs through the story. This establishes a gloomy atmosphere characterised by hopelessness and dejection of the child narrator. It also emphasises the neglect and emptiness the narrator is experiencing. Even in the presence of his parents, the child feels abandoned. The family is so dysfunctional that the child finds solace in the shadows instead of the real parents. The "wall" symbolises a barrier to freedom and happiness. It represents the depressing effects of the narrator's  parents' tempestuous relationship.  The narrator has lost sense of reality after failing to find love and protection from the parents especially from the father who is abusive and callous. The real world exposes the narrator to cruelty and abuse hence the fascination on the shadows.  Through their sitting location in the hut, a huge social distance between the father and the child is reflected. The father is sitting n...

Table of Contents ACING PAPER 1: COMMENT AND APPRECIATION When faced with the task of tackling an unseen passage, particularly in the exam, some candidates get gripped by terror and end up panicking and doing the unthinkable. Yet there is no need to allow your fears to rule you to the extent of ruining your academic success. First Things First Assuming you have made a decision on which question(s) to tackle, what then should be the first thing to do? Undoubtedly, careful close reading. You want to establish what the writer is communicating to the readers (you in particular) at the same time taking note of the means which have been employed to convey those thoughts. Remember, the subject and the means are not far from each other; they work together to create impressions on the reader. So, as you read along, you should identify interesting points about both and annotate the text accordingly.  Plan Having identified the main points in relation to the question, ...

WHY CAN'T I UNDERSTAND SPOKEN ENGLISH? PART 2 To be able to understand spoken English, it is important for you to learn how competent English speakers pronounce words.  In why can't I hear English Part 1 , I discussed briefly the inconsistency of English pronunciation, based on the fact that English is not a phonetic language. In this article, I will discus more examples of letters and letter combinations that are pronounced differently in different words.  More often than not, learners of English get confused when they hear a  different  sound than they expected to hear. The combination th  occurs in several words in English language. However, the pronunciation of this letter combination is not uniform. For example, the first parts [th]of the words thing and this do not sound the same. The sounds represented by the combination th in the word thing and the word this  appear differently on the IPA chart. These sounds, although distinct units, hav...