Die nuwe kind - Pieter Strauss Flashcards
Verse 1
Ons oë pen jou in jou spore vas:
die nuwe kind hier in ons klas.
In óns skooldrag, langs óns meneer,
jou hare volgens die reëls geskeer.
- Our eyes pin you in your tracks:
- the new child here in our class
- in our school uniform, with our teacher,
- your hair cut according to the rules.
Verse 2
“Hector Sobukwe,” hoor ons jou naam,
“’n koningskind” – al is jy skaam.
Bedees knik jy, asof jy óns bedank
en gaan sit dan stil in jou bank.
- Hector Sobukwe,” we hear your name,
- “a royal child” – even though you’re shy.
- timidly you nod, as if you’re thanking us
- and then sit quietly at your desk.
Verse 3
Uit ‘n Tupperware-bakkie, soos dit hoort,
eet jy pouses jou snytjies brood.
maar eenkant, alleen, onder ‘n boom
gaan staan jy dan en droom.
- From a Tupperware container, as it should be,
- you eat your slices of bread at break.
- but under a tree, alone
- you then go and stand and dream.
Verse 4
In die kunsklas word jou pen ‘n mas,
hys jy prentjieseile uit jou ribbekas,
vaar jy weg oor wit papier
die toekoms in, nog ver van hier . . .
In the art class your pen becomes a mast,
14. you hoist picture sails from your ribcage,
15. you sail over white paper
16. into the future, still far from here…
What is the first verse about
The new student is being scrutinized by the other kids. They are observing every detail about this new child, from his uniform to his appearance, making him feel like an outsider. The emphasis on “our” highlights a sense of belonging or ownership that the new child doesn’t share yet. It also shows how different the new child feels in this new space where everything is unfamiliar.
What is the second verse about
The new student’s name is Hector Sobukwe. The poem gives us a clue that the child might be from a special or noble background (“‘n koningskind” meaning “a royal child”), though he is shy and reserved. He nods in acknowledgment but doesn’t say much, quietly blending into the background. This could represent the difficulty of being new, where you’re noticed but don’t quite know how to respond.
What is the third verse about?
Uit ‘n Tupperware-bakkie, soos dit hoort,
eet jy pouses jou snytjies brood.
maar eenkant, alleen, onder ‘n boom
gaan staan jy dan en droom.
This stanza paints a picture of isolation. Hector, the new student, sticks to the rules (“as is proper”) and eats alone. He doesn’t fit into any social groups yet, and instead of joining others, he stands under a tree and dreams. The tree can symbolize a place of refuge or imagination where he escapes into his own thoughts, away from the pressures of fitting in.
What is the fourth/last verse about
This is where the poem gets quite creative and symbolic. In art class, Hector’s creativity takes over. The pen becomes the mast of a ship, and from within him (his ribcage), he hoists sails that carry him far away on paper. This can symbolize his imagination and his potential, taking him on a journey far beyond the classroom, perhaps into a hopeful future where he finds a place for himself.
Summary of this poem
The poem is about a new student who feels out of place but has a rich inner world. Despite his isolation, he uses his creativity and imagination to transport himself beyond the limits of his immediate situation. The theme revolves around feeling like an outsider, the struggles of fitting in, and finding solace in imagination.
What is “TEMA”
Theme
STEMMING: (Mood/Tone):
Stemming: Die gevoel in die gedig is eers een van ongemak en alleenheid. Die nuwe kind word deur sy klasmaats dopgehou en voel uitgesluit. Later verander die stemming na iets meer dromerig en positief, want die kind gebruik sy verbeelding in die kunsklas om aan die werklikheid te ontsnap.
The mood in the poem starts with feelings of discomfort and loneliness. The new child is being watched by the classmates and feels excluded. Later, the mood changes to something more dreamy and positive, as the child uses his imagination in art class to escape reality.
BOU: (Structure):
Die gedig het vier strofes, elk met vier reëls. Dit het nie ‘n vaste rymskema nie, en dit lees soos ‘n storie wat begin met hoe die kind voel in die klas, en eindig met hoe hy in sy drome wegvaar deur sy kuns.
The poem has four stanzas, each with four lines. It doesn’t have a fixed rhyme scheme, and it reads like a story, starting with how the child feels in the class and ending with how he escapes into his dreams through his art.
Die tema van die gedig is vooroordele teenoor mense wat verskil, en hoe kreatiwiteit dien as ‘n ontsnapping van oordeel en isolasie.
The theme of the poem is prejudice against those who are different and how creativity serves as an escape from judgment and isolation.
Translate this question into English:
Vraag: Na wie verwys “ons” en “jou”?
Question: Who do “we” and “you” refer to?
Vraag: Na wie verwys “ons” en “jou”?
Antwoord: “Ons” is die spreker en klasmaats, en “jou” is die nuwe seun.
Answer: “We” refers to the speaker and classmates, and “you” refers to the new boy.
Translate question into English
Afrikaans Vraag: Wanneer sien die spreker vir die eerste keer die nuwe kind?
English Question: When does the speaker see the new child for the first time?
Vraag: Wanneer sien die spreker vir die eerste keer die nuwe kind?
Antwoord: Toe hy langs die onderwyser voor in die klas staan.
Answer: When he stands next to the teacher in front of the class.
Translate this question into English:
Vraag: Hoe weet die leser dat dit die eerste keer is dat hierdie leerder die skool bywoon?
Question: How does the reader know that this is the first time this student is attending the school?
Vraag: Hoe weet die leser dat dit die eerste keer is dat hierdie leerder die skool bywoon?
Antwoord: Die frase “die nuwe kind hier in ons klas” wys dit is sy eerste dag.
Answer: The phrase “the new kid here in our class” shows it’s his first day.
Translate this question into English:
Vraag: In hoeveel verskillende ruimtes speel hierdie gedig af? Noem die ruimtes.
Question: How many different places does this poem take place in? Name them.
Vraag: In hoeveel verskillende ruimtes speel hierdie gedig af? Noem die ruimtes.
Antwoord: In drie ruimtes: die klaskamer, buite op die speelgrond tydens pouse, en in die kunsklas.
Answer: Three places: the classroom, playground during break, and in the art class.
Translate this question into English:
Vraag: In versreël 1, kom daar ‘n vergelyking, metafoor of personifikasie voor?
Question: In line 1, is there a comparison, metaphor, or personification?
Vraag: In versreël 1, kom daar ‘n vergelyking, metafoor of personifikasie voor?
Antwoord: Personifikasie.
Answer: Personification.
The line:
“Ons oë pen jou in jou spore vas”
(Our eyes pin you in your tracks)
gives human eyes the ability to “pin” or “trap” someone in place, which is something only a person can do, not eyes. This creates the image that the eyes of the classmates are so intense that they physically stop the new child in his tracks, as if he is frozen by their gaze. This is an example of personification because the eyes are given the human ability to exert control or pressure over someone.
Translate this question into English:
Vraag: Hoekom word die woord “maar” in versreël 11 gebruik?
Question: Why is the word “but” used in line 11?
Vraag: Hoekom word die woord “maar” in versreël 11 gebruik?
Antwoord: **Dit wys **dat daar ‘n verandering OF ‘n dieper betekenis is.
Answer: It shows that there is a change or a deeper meaning.
Translate this question into English:
Vraag: Die spreker praat van “jou”.
(a) Praat hy direk met die persoon?
(b) Hoekom dink jy doen die spreker dit?
Question: (a) Is he talking directly to the person?
Question: (b) Why do you think the speaker does this?
Vraag: Die spreker praat van “jou”.
(a) Praat hy direk met die persoon?
(b) Hoekom dink jy doen die spreker dit?
(a) Nee (No)
(b) Om die effek te skep dat hy direk met die nuwe kind praat. / To create the effect that he’s speaking directly to the new child.
