ANTICIPATION BY Mabel Dove Danquah (A Literary Criticism)

 Course: ENGL 15- Afro- Asian Literature

Section: BSED III                                                   

Rating:

ANTICIPATION BY Mabel Dove Danquah

(A Literary Criticism)

THE ELEMENTS

           

Ø  CHARACTERS       

·         Nana Adaku II- the Omanhene of Akwasin, and was celebrating the twentieth anniversary of his accession to the stool of Akwasin, the man who has 40 wives.

·         Effua- One of the 40 wives of Omanhene

·         Linguist- the trusted person of the Omanhene

·         Men of Akwasin- are wearing tokota sandals on their feet and rich multi-colored velvet and gorgeous, hand-woden .

·         Women of Akwasin with golden ear-rings dangling, with golden chains and bracelets. Looking dignified in their colorful native Attire.

           

Ø  SETTING(S)

·         Nkwabi, the capital of Akwasin.

Ø  Conflict

Man vs. Society- the character in this story became the victim of its own society, of its own tradition.

Ø  POINT OF VIEW

Third Person Point of View- it is being told or narrated by a person who doesn’t have an actual participation in the story.

THE THEME

Sometimes the things that we anticipate are already there. It’s just that we fail to appreciate them and only see them when we don't have any options or when we simply got bored.

THE PLOT DEVELOPMENT

Ø  Exposition

The Omanhene was celebrating the 20^th anniversary of his accession to stool of Akwasin. He then arrived in a palanquin in the state park where the Odwina was to be staged. As the drum beats on the women performed the Adowa dance. One dancer capture his attention because of its beauty, he then threw a handful of loose cash into the crowd of dancers. The particular dancer mad no sign but instead keeps on dancing.

Ø  Rising Action

Realizing that he was neglected by the dancer, he turned to his trusted linguist. He told him to get fifty pounds from the cashier and gave it to the dancer’s relatives. The linguist then starts his investigation about the woman.

Ø  Climax

Nana went back to his place. He then fell asleep after he had taken a bath.  When he woke up the young woman was kneeling by his feet. There he gave the remaining 50 gold sovereigns to Effua to complete the offer of 100. After receiving the amount the woman gave it to his parents and went back to the Omanhene.

Ø  Falling action

There they talk casually inside the Omanhene’s room. Omanhene appreciated the beauty and charm of Effua while he was playing the ivory beads lying so snugly on her bosom.

Ø  Denouement

Effua stands and look in the mirror.  As she came back and sit, she then revealed that they were already married two years ago, that he also paid her 50 pounds before.

THE CRITICAL INSIGHTS

I think the best approach to this literature is Sociological Approach. This story shows concrete details on how the culture, economic, and political context affects the flow or the outcome, character’s actions, and the story as a whole. Perhaps these three aspects indeed play a vital role in the story.

In the story the society views marriage as an assurance for a better life.  This is evident on how the women are being portrayed. They are marrying a rich or noble man, to the extent that they disregard the fact that the man is already been married on the first place. This action that we consider deviant has been tolerated by the culture and the society in the story. The economic status also has something to do with this practice. Nana Adaku is an Omanhene in his town. Here we can deduce that he is rich and powerful, giving him the rights to practice this polygamous act, since the only ground for it is that the man should have the capability or as long as the man can support his wives and his families.

REFLECTION

The ending of the story is unpredictable, it is not what I expected it to be. I can tell that the author did not fail to amuse her readers. The story is quite good, unpredictable, unusual, humorous, and most importantly not boring. The only thing that left me hanging is the ending of the story. I was left wondering what will happen next after that revelation, on how Nana Adaku reacted. Did he realize his stupidity? Did he laugh out of it? Did he learn to love and valued Effua or his wives? But again, as I said the story is unusual. If this is what author’s main intention, then I can say that he indeed succeeded on her intention.

In this story I have learned the importance of valuing and to value my loved ones.  Those who loved me unconditionally, (my mom, siblings and friends) who’s been willing to help, build me up whenever I'm down and motivates me to strive harder, to continue living a meaningful life, a life with purpose. 

AFRICA BY DAVID DIOP(A LITERARY CRITICISM)

Course: English 15- Afro-Asian Literature

Sectio: BSED III                                                     

Rating:

AFRICA BY DAVID DIOP

(A Literary Criticism)

The Persona

            The persona in the poem “Africa” is a person from Africa (a black one) but is living in another country. This can be seen in the lines; “Africa my Africa, I have never known you but your blood flows in my veins”. You can sense how much he misses his homeland by his stress on the word Africa, and he continues to call it "My Africa" to emphasize that it is his land and his feelings of patriotism towards it.  I have also known the authors biography, stating that he is of West African descent and he lived in France throughout his childhood and only visited Africa in the 1950s. His choice of word “distant” from the line “On the banks of a distant river” again symbolize how far he is from his country. In some lines in the poem we may be able to know that the persona is a young one (maybe in his teens or early 20’s), from the verses “Africa whom my grandmother sings” As he stress that he did not know Africa until he heard it from his grandmother songs (his grandmother maybe telling him a story from Africa to satisfy his cleverness since for me he is a child), and “Impetuous child that tree, young and strong”.

The Theme

            The theme for me would be “patriotism”, again understanding the poem in biographical perspectives most of the authors poems highlighted the problems of Africa brought about by the colonialism. In this poem he gave a message to African people to urge and bring about the change & freedom in verses; “Is this your back that is unbent, this back that never breaks under the weights of humiliation, This back trembling w/ red scars and saying yes to the whip of under the midday sun”. These lines encourage the African people to stand up to the pain and humiliation that they are experiencing in their own land. He then reminds them of the strength and pride they have in them, despite of the suffering he urges them to remain unbent and must not this break them despite the weight of their suffering.

                    

Critical Insights

            I think the best approach we could use is the Historical Approach. To better understand the poem we do have to dig deeper to the history of the Africa during the colonial era, where the author came from, and whom the poem is addressed. Based on the country’s history the African people suffer and experienced slavery and forced labor brought about by colonialism. With this we may be able to understand why the author wrote some lines of anger and accusatory; “Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields, the blood of your sweat, the sweat of your work, the work of your slavery”. There he stresses that it is the blood and sweat of his people that irrigates the fields for the benefit of other people (the colonialist). He is pointing fingers to the colonialist who exploited the black people and used them as slaves to profit from their hard labor.

Reflection

            It is indeed a very nice poem. For me this serves as a wake-up call, not just to the African but also for everyone who continues to live in oppression. I admire the fact that it does not encourage the oppressed people to pursue the act of violence in order attain freedom. There he stressed the importance of patience, and suggest everyone to be calm and be wise enough. Like the old adage saying that it is better to wait, prepare and be ready before going into a battle, rather than fought a fight in a hurry and experience defeat in the end (simply because you are not ready). Another thing I admire in this poem is that it encourages us especially the Africans to be an optimistic person. That slavery, problems and challenges are only a path to better enjoy the sweet and sour taste of success and freedom.