African Elegy

Question 1

Elegy

Answer 1

A noun
It’s a poem that has serious reflection, typically a lament or mournful (expression of sorrow) for the dead. It has no rhyme scheme. It’s written in three stages

Grief
Sorrow
Praise

Question 2

Themes

Answer 2

Hope
Miracles
Poverty
Pain
Destiny

One who forgets their suffering no longer suffers

Question 3

Okris poem is not mournful

Answer 3

It’s reflective and thoughtful
He is speaking about his African culture - we and our which refers to the people in Africa.

Question 4

What does the speaker ask

Answer 4

The unique African spirit for answers to life’s paradoxes. He explores the miracle of what being an African means to him: the endurance of suffering, the ability to find joy and beauty in the midst of pain, a spiritual union with nature’s bounty and an irrepressible sense of optimism despite all indicators pointing in the opposite direction

Question 5

The speaker seems to believe

Answer 5

That the tendency to hope and the sensitivity to recognize wonder is a shared trait of Africa’s people.

Question 6

Stanza 1

Answer 6

God created humans so that we could face good and bad times

We are innocent people whose suffering will one day change for something good.

‘precious’: if they are precious, why are they suffering. The tone in this stanza is bitter but optimistic.

Question 7

Stanza 2

Answer 7

things that burn me now’ : suffering/ pain/ leaves scars

‘Which turn golden’ : rare/ memorable/ precious

‘sing and dream sweet things’: there is still hope through all the pain and suffering

Question 8

Stanza 3

Answer 8

They don’t take things for granted. They cherish all the things they have.

‘never curse the air when it is warm’ → sensory imagery: they picture and feel the positive things they have in life.

‘We bless things even in our pain’ → Contrast (Bless/ pain): believing even though it is difficult.

Question 9

Stanza 4

Answer 9

It makes the air remember’ / ‘I too have heard the dead singing’ → Personification ‘Time’ → capitalised → metaphor

Question 10

Stanza 5

Answer 10

Live life happily despite the situations you encounter. Then there will always be something to look forward to in the future.

‘fire’ → live life with passion, warmth and hope, even during the bad times.

Question 11

Tone

Answer 11

satisfying / friendly / hopeful / optimistic

Question 12

Form and structure

Answer 12

Okri has made use of a structure where each stanza is of equal five line length, giving the form of regularity and a distinct pattern.
There are a variety of line lengths within each stanza; the short lines are somewhat isolated from the enclosing lines, and for this reason they tend to ‘stand out’ for being short.
The line breaks add an additional dimension to the interpretation of the poem as this promotes multiple interpretations.

Question 13

Poetic language devices

Answer 13

The poet’s diction reflects his interest in African mysticism. He uses words that have religious undertones, such as ‘miracles’ (lines 1 and 18), ‘mystery’ (line 8) and ‘bless’ (lines 14 and 15). He implies that all Africans are able to bear poverty and hardship because they ‘are the miracles that God made’ (line 1).
‘taste the bitter fruit of time’ → metaphor: this includes sensory imagery and symbolism that points to the trials and hardships of life.

Question 14

Sound devices

Answer 14

This is a poem that demands to be read aloud. The pauses, bound by the punctuation and line breaks, create a rhythm that contributes significantly to the reader’s appreciation and understanding of the poem.

Question 15

Miracles

Answer 15

Acts of God

Question 16

Destiny

Answer 16

Inescapable fate

Question 17

The positive things about Africa and being African

Answer 17

Here are the positive aspects Ben Okri associates with Africa and being African in “African Elegy”, ranked from 1 to 10 for emphasis:

1. Resilience (still we rise, still we sing) - 9/10
2. Cultural Heritage (songs of hope, hymns of love) - 8.5/10
3. Beauty (Africa’s beauty, defiled but still present) - 8/10
4. Strength (riches, natural resources) - 7.5/10
5. Ancestral Connection (our blood, shared ancestry) - 7/10
6. Hope (unborn futures, unwritten scripts) - 6.5/10
7. Dignity (despite being trampled) - 6/10
8. Nurturing Spirit (Africa, our mother) - 5.5/10
9. Shared Identity (our heart, Africa as core being) - 5/10
10. Potential (untapped possibilities) - 4.5/10

Please note that these rankings are subjective and interpretive.

Would you like:

1. Clarification on rankings
2. Further analysis
3. Comparison with other poems
4. Discussion on African literature

Question 18

We are precious meaning

Answer 18

When the speaker says “We are precious” in line 3 of Ben Okri’s “African Elegy”, it likely means:

1. Value and worth: Africans are valuable and worthy of respect, dignity, and love.
2. Self-affirmation: Despite historical exploitation, oppression, and marginalization, Africans affirm their inherent worth.
3. Cultural significance: African cultures, traditions, and identities are precious and deserving of preservation.
4. Resilience: Africans have endured suffering, yet remain strong and resilient.
5. Hope: Africans hold onto hope for a brighter future.

In this context, “precious” serves as:

1. A declaration of self-worth
2. A rejection of colonialism’s dehumanizing effects
3. A celebration of African identity

The speaker reaffirms African value and dignity, contrasting with the poem’s later descriptions of suffering and exploitation.

Would you like:

1. Further analysis of the poem
2. Contextualization within African literature
3. Discussion of themes and symbolism
4. Comparison with other poems

Question 19

Wgat makes you think the speaker respects the dead

Answer 19

In Ben Okri’s “African Elegy”, several elements suggest the speaker respects the dead:

1. Mourning tone: The poem’s somber, reflective tone indicates sorrow and loss.
2. Elegiac genre: As an elegy, the poem follows a tradition of mourning and honoring the deceased.
3. Honoring ancestors: Lines like “Africa, our mother” and “our blood” show reverence for ancestral heritage.
4. Acknowledging suffering: The speaker acknowledges the dead’s struggles and pain.
5. Memorializing: The poem serves as a memorial, preserving memories and experiences.

Specific lines indicating respect:

• “When dawn breaks over Africa, / And darkness fades, and the pain / Of yesterday remains” (acknowledging past suffering)
• “O Africa, your children are scattered” (expressing sorrow for lost lives)
• “Our tears, our sorrow, our blood” (honoring sacrifices)

The speaker’s respectful attitude toward the dead:

1. Humanizes victims of colonialism and oppression
2. Preserves cultural heritage and memory
3. Honors resilience and survival

Would you like:

1. Further analysis of elegies
2. Discussion of mourning in literature
3. Contextualization within African diasporic literature
4. Comparison with other elegies

Question 20

In Ben Okri’s “African Elegy”, the speaker connects negative aspects with positive ones through:

1. Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting ideas together.

Examples:

• “When dawn breaks over Africa, / And darkness fades, and the pain / Of yesterday remains” (pain & hope)
• “O Africa, your children are scattered, / Your riches plundered… / Still we rise, still we sing” (suffering & resilience)

1. Transformation: Turning negative experiences into positive outcomes.

Examples:

• “The pain of yesterday” becomes “songs of hope” and “hymns of love”
• “Scattered children” become “still we rise”, emphasizing survival

1. Redemption: Finding redemption in suffering.

Examples:

• “Our tears, our sorrow, our blood” (sacrifices) lead to “unborn futures” and “unwritten scripts” (hope)

1. Resilience: Emphasizing survival despite adversity.

Examples:

• “Still we rise” (despite scattering and plunder)
• “Still we sing” (despite suffering)

By connecting negative aspects with positive ones, the speaker:

Answer 20

In Ben Okri’s “African Elegy”, the speaker connects negative aspects with positive ones through:

1. Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting ideas together.

Examples:

• “When dawn breaks over Africa, / And darkness fades, and the pain / Of yesterday remains” (pain & hope)
• “O Africa, your children are scattered, / Your riches plundered… / Still we rise, still we sing” (suffering & resilience)

1. Transformation: Turning negative experiences into positive outcomes.

Examples:

• “The pain of yesterday” becomes “songs of hope” and “hymns of love”
• “Scattered children” become “still we rise”, emphasizing survival

1. Redemption: Finding redemption in suffering.

Examples:

• “Our tears, our sorrow, our blood” (sacrifices) lead to “unborn futures” and “unwritten scripts” (hope)

1. Resilience: Emphasizing survival despite adversity.

Examples:

• “Still we rise” (despite scattering and plunder)
• “Still we sing” (despite suffering)

By connecting negative aspects with positive ones, the speaker:

1. Highlights resilience and survival
2. Transforms suffering into hope
3. Finds redemption in pain
4. Creates a nuanced, complex portrayal of Africa’s experiences

This technique:

1. Acknowledges difficulties without being overwhelmed
2. Offers a message of hope and empowerment
3. Celebrates African strength and resilience

Would you like:

1. Further analysis of poetic devices
2. Discussion of themes in African literature
3. Comparison with other poems
4. Writing guidance on juxtaposition

Question 21

Explain how one can live fire gently

Answer 21

Living gently with fire means embracing and balancing one’s emotions, passions, and creativity with self-awareness, mindfulness, and compassion.

Question 22

Do you think he’s idealistic or do you agree with him

Answer 22

Ben Okri’s “African Elegy” strikes a balance between realism and idealism, offering a hopeful vision of Africa’s resilience and potential, tempered by acknowledgment of its complex historical and contemporary challenges.

Okri’s poem presents a hopeful and realistic view of Africa’s struggles and potential.

(You can consider this answer worthy of 3 marks as it):

1. Acknowledges Okri’s hopeful tone
2. Recognizes the realistic portrayal of struggles
3. Concisely summarizes the poem’s overall perspective