A Far cry From Africa Flashcards
What is the main theme of ‘A Far Cry from Africa’ by Derek Walcott?
Ethnic conflict and divided loyalties
The poem reflects the complexities of identity and colonialism.
What historical event does the poem reference?
The Mau Mau Uprising
A violent conflict between European settlers and the Kikuyu tribe in Kenya during the 1950s.
What happened to the Kikuyu tribe during European colonization?
They were relegated to subservience under European control
This included being forced off their lands and losing control over farmland.
How is the poem structured?
It is divided into two parts with varying stanza lengths
Stanza 1 has 21 lines and Stanza 2 has 11 lines.
What internal conflict does Walcott express in the poem?
His mixed heritage and feelings of being both an insider and outsider
His grandmothers were black and his grandfathers were white.
What was the role of the Mau Mau in the conflict?
They aimed to eliminate European influence
Some Kikuyus supported the British while others remained neutral.
True or False: Walcott fully supports the violence of the Mau Mau.
False
Walcott opposes colonialism but has reservations about the extreme violence of the Mau Mau.
What is the significance of the poem’s lack of a strict rhyme scheme?
It creates a stilted, disjointed feel that mirrors emotional conflict
This reflects the unresolved nature of both the Kenyan conflict and Walcott’s internal struggle.
Fill in the blank: The Mau Mau Uprising began in _______.
1952
The uprising aimed to combat British colonial rule in Kenya.
What does the increasing stanza length in the poem signify?
A middle ground between formal verse and free verse
This subtly challenges traditional poetic constraints.
What is the rhythm of the poem described as?
Inconsistent with varying beats in each line
This inconsistency adds to the sense of discord within the poem.
What does the poem’s free verse structure allow?
Hidden flexibility and invention of a new form
It contrasts with older conventions of traditional poetry.
Structure
metaphor for formal constraints in poetry.
This metaphor reflects the speaker’s meditation on the role of English for colonized people: English is both a
means of self-expression and an inescapable bond with the colonizers.
• The poem’s form mirrors this tension
engaging with formal poetic constraints while addressing colonial
oppression.
• At the same time
the speaker embraces English’s expressive possibilities
poem’s form.
Themes
• The language used in the poem is deeply rooted in African culture
reinforcing its connection to the African
experience
much like the speaker’s nuanced exploration of the Mau Mau Uprising.
. Colonialism and divided identity
50
OVoTE all82%
o The speaker struggles with divided loyalties due to his African and European heritage.
o The poem reflects the broader conflict faced by colonized individuals who feel alienated from both their
native culture and the colonizing power.
o The speaker’s inability to fully align with either side highlights the emotional toll of colonialism on
personal identity.
• Language as a tool of resistance and self-expression
o The speaker uses English
the colonizers’ language
o English represents both oppression and artistic freedom for the speaker.
a tool of resistance for colonized people.
Themes
o The duality of using the colonizers’ language underscores how language can be both a form of control and
• Humanity and violence
The poem examines the brutality of the Mau Mau Uprising
showcasing the dehumanizing effects of
violence on all sides.
o The speaker sympathizes with the oppressed but is horrified by the extreme violence used by the Mau
Mau.
Edit
o This theme raises moral questions about the cost of freedom and the loss of humanity through violent
resistance.
What imagery is used to describe Africa in the poem?
A wind ruffling the tawny pelt of Africa
This sets a vivid scene of the African landscape.
What does the poem suggest about the perception of colonial policies?
Statistics justify and scholars seize the salients of colonial policy
This highlights the disconnect between academic analysis and the human cost.
What does the ‘worm, colonel of carrion’ symbolize in the poem?
The inevitability of death and the futility of compassion for the dead
This suggests that the dead are often overlooked in discussions of colonialism.
Fill in the blank: The violence of beast on beast is read as _______.
[natural law]
What does the poem imply about man’s nature compared to beasts?
Upright man seeks his divinity by inflicting pain
This contrasts human actions with animal instincts.
What is the tone of the speaker regarding their identity?
Divided and conflicted
The speaker feels torn between Africa and British identity.
What metaphor is used to describe the struggle between different identities?
The gorilla wrestles with the superman
This suggests a struggle between primitive and civilized identities.
True or False: The poem expresses a clear preference for either African or British identity.
False
The speaker grapples with their divided loyalties.
What does the speaker question about their response to violence?
How can I face such slaughter and be cool?
This reflects the emotional turmoil experienced by the speaker.
Fill in the blank: The speaker feels poisoned by the blood of _______.
[both Africa and British rule]
