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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer

(1)
The arrival of the Governor in Let Me Die Alone marks a profound moment of disruption in the chiefdom, revealing the vulnerabilities of traditional authority under colonial power and the resulting socio-political disarray. The visit is not merely ceremonial but becomes a tool of humiliation and subjugation for the people and their leaders.

Initially, the Governor’s visit exposes the insecurity and fear embedded within the traditional leadership. Chief Gbanya’s actions which includes ordering warriors to silence the drumming women, instructing his wives to look presentable, and presenting five fat cows to the Governor, reflect not just a desire to show hospitality but a deep fear of colonial displeasure. This fear-driven preparation uncovers the level of psychological control the colonial system has over indigenous rulers, who go to extreme lengths to avoid punishment or loss of favour.

In addition, the Governor’s presence reveals cracks within the unity of the chiefdom’s leadership. The discussions and disagreements among the leaders regarding the nature and quantity of gifts to the Governor highlight conflicting values within the chiefdom. Some see appeasement as a survival tactic, while others feel it is a betrayal of their dignity and resources. These divisions weaken the collective strength of the leadership and open the door for the colonial powers to manipulate and control them further.

The spiritual undertone of the Governor’s visit is also significant. Yoko, with her spiritual insight, senses doom in the Governor’s visit, warning that it would not bring blessings to the people. Her sense of foreboding becomes a prophetic voice within the play, indicating that the colonial presence, masked in diplomatic gestures, is a strategy to suppress and destabilize the chiefdom while maintaining a facade of peace.

Furthermore, the visit becomes a moment of economic exploitation. The Governor accuses Gbanya of siding with rebels and imposes a severe fine payable in rice and cattle, draining the resources of the chiefdom. This not only diminishes the economic stability of the people but also enforces a system of dependency and financial submission to the colonial administration, stripping the chiefdom of its autonomy.

A defining moment of disgrace occurs when the Governor’s soldiers publicly assault Gbanya, laying him on the ground in the view of his subjects. This act of violence symbolizes the collapse of the chief’s authority and the humiliation of the entire chiefdom. Lamboi’s frantic effort to shield Gbanya from public view reveals the shame and helplessness felt by those who still respect the traditional structures but are powerless under the colonial regime.

The aftermath of the Governor’s visit is a shattered sense of confidence within the chiefdom. The people lose faith in their leaders, seeing them as weak and unable to protect their interests against external forces. This event also plants seeds of fear and resentment, eroding the communal spirit and pride of the people while leaving behind psychological wounds that deepen the effects of colonial oppression.

The Governor’s visit in Let Me Die Alone is a pivotal event that demonstrates the destructive impact of colonial interference on African societies. It exposes the fear and insecurity within traditional leadership, reveals internal divisions, and underscores the economic and psychological oppression that colonial authorities impose on the people. The visit leaves the chiefdom weakened, humiliated, and stripped of its autonomy, capturing the broader tragedy of colonial rule and its lasting damage on indigenous systems of governance and pride.

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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
(2)
Betrayal is one of the most important things that happen in Let Me Die Alone by John Kargbo. It means when someone turns against another person that trusts them. This happens many times in the play and it causes a lot of pain, confusion, and even death. Most of the people who betray others in this play are close to them, like friends and family. Because of betrayal, there is no peace in the chiefdom, and many people suffer. The three main examples of betrayal in the play are the poisoning of Chief Gbanya, the killing of Jeneba, and the disappointment Madam Yoko suffers from the Governor.

The first betrayal in the play is when Chief Gbanya is poisoned by Lamboi and Musa. Chief Gbanya is the ruler of the Mende land and is trying to prepare his land to welcome the colonial Governor. After the Governor arrives, he humiliates Gbanya by ordering him to be flogged in front of his own people. The chief becomes weak and ashamed. That is when Lamboi and Musa, who are supposed to be his close people, decide to kill him. They do this because they are afraid he will give the throne to Madam Yoko, his favorite wife. They believe that a woman should not be a leader. So they mix poison and give it to the chief, pretending to help him feel better. Gbanya realizes too late that he has been betrayed, and he dies. This is a big betrayal because it comes from people he trusted.

Another betrayal in the play is the killing of Jeneba, the daughter of Ndapi and Jilo. Jeneba is a small girl who always visits the palace and is loved by many people. While Madam Yoko travels to visit the Governor, Lamboi and Musa kidnap Jeneba and kill her. They cut out some of her body parts and bury her in the bush. After doing this evil act, they go around telling lies that Yoko used Jeneba for rituals to keep her power. The villagers believe them and start calling Yoko names like “witch” and “murderer”. Even Jeneba’s father, Ndapi, turns against Yoko. This is a wicked and heartless betrayal because it causes the whole village to hate Yoko for something she did not do. It is only later that Jeneba’s dead body is found, and the truth comes out that Yoko was innocent.

A third betrayal is the one done to Madam Yoko by the colonial Governor. After becoming chief, Yoko works very hard to rule the land wisely. She wins many battles and even expands the chiefdom more than her husband. She is respected by the Queen of England and praised by many people. But after all her loyalty, the Governor sends a message that Yoko should hand over the lands she captured and stop ruling. This makes Yoko feel sad and used. She thought the Governor would continue to support her. Instead, he turns his back on her. Yoko becomes so heartbroken that she drinks poison and dies. This betrayal shows that the colonial leaders were not truly loyal to their African friends, and they only cared about their own interests.

These three betrayals show how the people in the play suffer because of those who are selfish and power-hungry. Chief Gbanya is killed by his own men, an innocent girl is murdered just to bring another person down, and Madam Yoko is abandoned by the people she served. All these betrayals bring sorrow and loss to the land. They make the people suffer, and the chiefdom becomes full of confusion and fighting.

Betrayal in the play does not just happen once. It keeps repeating itself in different ways. What makes the betrayal more painful is that it comes from people who are close, not from strangers. The ones that Chief Gbanya trusted were the ones that killed him. The ones that Yoko tried to protect were the ones that turned against her. The Governor, who praised Yoko, is the one that later dumped her. These acts of betrayal show that people can be dangerous, especially when power and jealousy are involved.

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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer

(3)
Sidi is one of the most important characters in The Lion and the Jewel. She is referred to as “The Jewel” of Ilujinle because of her exceptional beauty. From the beginning of the play, she is admired by many men, especially Lakunle, the village schoolteacher; Baroka, the old village chief; and even the stranger, the foreign photographer who takes pictures of her. Sidi represents youth, beauty, pride, and the modern African woman who is caught between tradition and change. Her role in the play is central, and her actions affect the major events that unfold.

Sidi’s beauty gives her confidence, but it also makes her proud. When she sees her pictures in a foreign magazine, she becomes vain and proud, believing she is now more important than everyone else in the village. She begins to see herself as even more valuable than Baroka, the powerful chief, and Lakunle, the educated teacher. She is very excited that her photographs were printed in Lagos and displayed on glossy pages, and this increases her pride. She boasts about her fame and even mocks Baroka, calling him an old man whose picture appears beside the village latrine in the same magazine. This shows how her pride begins to blind her.

Sidi is also a symbol of modern African girls who are trying to make their own decisions, but she is still influenced by traditional values. At first, she is willing to marry Lakunle, but only if he pays her bride price, as required by tradition. Lakunle refuses, calling bride price a “barbaric custom”, and tries to force his modern ideas on her. This annoys Sidi, and she begins to see him as childish and unserious. Although Lakunle claims to love her, he never respects her beliefs, and that makes Sidi reject him. She wants love, but she also wants her culture and womanhood respected.

Later in the play, Baroka sends Sadiku to propose marriage to Sidi. She boldly rejects the offer, saying she cannot marry an old man. She even joins Sadiku in mocking Baroka when Sadiku returns to tell her that the chief is now impotent. Unknown to them, Baroka faked the story to trick Sidi. Sidi, now overconfident, goes to confront him and ends up falling for his sweet words and clever tricks. Baroka uses wisdom, flattery, and cunning to seduce her and take her virginity. Sidi, who once boasted that she was too special for Baroka, now ends up accepting him.

After the incident, Sidi feels ashamed and cries. She runs back to Sadiku and Lakunle. When Lakunle hears what has happened, he no longer shows the same love. Instead, he says he can now marry her since he won’t have to pay the bride price anymore. But Sidi surprises everyone by rejecting Lakunle completely. She announces her decision to marry Baroka instead. She says she has felt his strength and would rather marry a man like him than a weak, bookish man like Lakunle. This decision shows how Sidi moves from youthful pride to maturity, choosing tradition over empty modern talk.

In the final part of the play, Sadiku prepares Sidi to enter Baroka’s household as one of his wives. Sidi finally throws away the glossy magazine that once made her feel proud and better than others. This action is very symbolic. It shows that she has now given up her earlier pride and false modern beliefs. She has accepted her role in the traditional society, even though it was not what she planned at the beginning. Through Sidi’s journey, the playwright shows how beauty alone is not enough, and how tradition can sometimes be stronger than youthful pride or Western influence.

Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
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(4)
In The Lion and the Jewel, Wole Soyinka vividly portrays change as an inevitable force that, while constant, is not easily embraced within traditional societies. The play explores the tension between tradition and modernity, illustrating how individuals and communities navigate this shift while attempting to maintain their identity and values.

To begin with, the play uses characters like Lakunle and Baroka to symbolize opposing forces in the conflict between modernity and tradition. Lakunle, the schoolteacher, embodies the ideals of modernization influenced by Western education and culture. He dreams of transforming Ilujinle into a modern society where women are treated as equals, polygamy is abandoned, and bride price is abolished. Lakunle’s disdain for the bride price reflects his belief that it reduces women to property, which he sees as a barrier to progress and gender equality in the community.

Additionally, Lakunle’s vision for Ilujinle is driven by his admiration for Western lifestyles, particularly those in Lagos. He envisions a future where the village mirrors the modernity of Lagos, with cars, paved roads, and educated citizens adopting new ways of life. However, his ideals often clash with the cultural expectations of the villagers, who view his behavior as odd and disconnected from their realities. Lakunle’s struggle represents the challenges faced by change agents within traditional societies, highlighting how deeply rooted customs can resist even the most enthusiastic calls for progress.

In contrast, Baroka, the Bale of Ilujinle, symbolizes the enduring strength of tradition and the strategic adaptability necessary for its survival. Baroka practices polygamy, upholds customary marriage practices, and resists foreign interventions, such as the proposed railway project, which he perceives as a threat to the community’s traditional way of life. However, Baroka is not portrayed as entirely rigid; he demonstrates a willingness to engage with elements of modernity when it suits his interests, as seen in his plan to acquire a stamp-making machine to place Ilujinle on the map without losing its cultural essence.

Furthermore, Baroka’s cunning nature allows him to manipulate change to preserve tradition. His victory over Lakunle in the contest for Sidi’s hand in marriage is symbolic of tradition’s resilience in the face of modernity. Baroka’s approach to change reflects a nuanced understanding that for tradition to remain relevant, it must accommodate certain aspects of modernity without losing its core values. This balance enables Baroka to maintain his authority and uphold cultural practices while subtly engaging with new developments that do not threaten his position.

The character of Sidi further illustrates the complexities of embracing change. Initially, Sidi is drawn to the fame brought by her photographs in a modern magazine, which fuels her pride and makes her temporarily align with Lakunle’s modern ideals. However, Sidi’s eventual decision to marry Baroka demonstrates a reversion to tradition, emphasizing that individuals often return to familiar cultural values when faced with the uncertainties of change. Her journey highlights the tension between the allure of modernity and the comfort of tradition, showing that change, while appealing, requires a readiness that not everyone possesses.

Moreover, the presence of the photojournalist and the modern magazine introduces external influences that challenge traditional perceptions of identity and status. The magazine elevates Sidi’s sense of self-worth, demonstrating how Western culture can impact local communities and redefine societal values. However, despite this external influence, the play concludes with Baroka’s triumph, symbolizing the resilience of tradition amidst the inevitable tide of change.

The Lion and the Jewel affirms that change is an unavoidable force within society, but the way it is embraced or resisted depends on cultural values and individual choices. Soyinka does not present a simplistic rejection of modernity or tradition but shows that the negotiation between the two is complex, requiring wit, adaptability, and cultural awareness. Through the characters of Lakunle, Baroka, and Sidi, the play demonstrates that while change may be constant, its adoption is often shaped by the resilience of tradition and the willingness of a society to balance progress with cultural preservation.
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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
(5)
One of the major themes in John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger is betrayal. The play shows how different characters betray each other’s trust, loyalty and love in different ways. The theme is connected to Jimmy Porter’s anger and bitterness towards people around him and society in general.

Firstly, Jimmy himself feels betrayed by society and the older generation. He believes that the older generation enjoyed the glory of the British Empire but left nothing for his own generation. He complains that his father fought in the Spanish Civil War for good causes but died disappointed. Now, Jimmy feels his own generation has no good cause to fight for. This betrayal by the society fuels his anger and frustration.

In his personal life, betrayal appears in Jimmy’s marriage to Alison. Alison betrays Jimmy by not standing up to her family. Even though she marries Jimmy against her family’s wishes, she still allows her family, especially her father Colonel Redfern, to interfere in their marriage. This weakens their bond and makes Jimmy feel betrayed by Alison’s lack of loyalty to him alone.
Another strong example of betrayal is between Alison and Helena. Helena is Alison’s best friend, but when she comes to stay with the Porters, she betrays Alison by having an affair with Jimmy. Although Helena acts like she wants to protect Alison from Jimmy’s abuse, she ends up doing the very thing that hurts Alison most. This betrayal is a big turning point in the play because it destroys Alison’s trust in her friend.

Jimmy also betrays Alison’s trust by starting a relationship with Helena so soon after Alison leaves him. This act shows how far Jimmy is ready to go to hurt Alison and make her feel the pain he always talks about. Ironically, when Alison loses her child, she finally feels that pain of loss and betrayal that Jimmy always wanted her to feel.

The theme of betrayal is powerful because it shows how the characters fail each other emotionally and morally. Jimmy’s anger and bitterness are partly because he feels betrayed by everyone — his friend Hugh Tanner who abandoned him, the society that gave him education but no future, and Alison who leaves him when he needs her. This constant cycle of betrayal leaves the characters broken and lonely.

Osborne uses betrayal to show the emptiness and disappointment in human relationships in post-war Britain. The betrayals in the play make the characters suffer but also force them to face the reality of their lives. Through betrayal, Osborne reveals the weaknesses of love, friendship and loyalty in a society where everyone feels lost and disappointed.

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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer

(6)
The relationship between Alison and Helena in Look Back in Anger is very important in the development of the play because it affects the actions of other characters, especially Jimmy. At the beginning of the play, Alison and Helena are close friends who trust each other. Helena comes to visit Alison because she is worried about her friend’s unhappy marriage with Jimmy.

At first, Helena appears to be a caring and protective friend. She notices how Jimmy abuses Alison emotionally and verbally. Helena believes that Jimmy’s anger and cruelty are too much for Alison to bear, so she decides to intervene. She convinces Alison to leave Jimmy and return to her parents’ house for her own safety and peace of mind.

However, Helena’s actions later show that her friendship with Alison is not as strong as it seems. After Alison leaves Jimmy, Helena stays behind in the flat. Instead of leaving too, she betrays Alison’s trust by starting a romantic affair with Jimmy. This act surprises the audience because Helena earlier claimed to be a moral person who disapproved of Jimmy’s behavior.

Helena’s betrayal hurts Alison deeply. While Alison is at home trying to recover from her suffering and the loss of her pregnancy, Helena replaces her in the flat and in Jimmy’s life. This betrayal shows how selfish desires can destroy true friendship. It also makes Helena look like a hypocrite because she condemned Alison’s marriage to Jimmy but ends up doing the same thing.

The relationship between Alison and Helena is very significant because it drives the plot forward. It causes major changes in Jimmy’s life. When Helena leaves Jimmy at the end, Jimmy is left broken again. Her affair with Jimmy proves to Alison that the people closest to her can easily turn against her. This makes Alison stronger because she finally faces Jimmy alone and reconciles with him not through Helena but through her own painful experience.

The relationship between Alison and Helena reveals the theme of betrayal and moral conflict in the play. It also shows the weakness of human emotions and how people sometimes act against their own principles. Osborne uses their friendship and betrayal to expose the emptiness of relationships in a changing British society. Without Helena’s actions, the play would not reach its dramatic turning point that forces Jimmy and Alison to face each other honestly at the end.

Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
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(7)
In Fences, August Wilson skillfully explores the theme of lost opportunities, revealing how deferred dreams and systemic limitations shape personal identities, relationships, and generational legacies. The characters’ struggles with unfulfilled aspirations highlight the emotional and psychological costs of dreams deferred, illustrating how missed chances become barriers to progress and connection within families.

At the forefront, Troy Maxson’s life is defined by the pain of lost opportunities. A gifted baseball player during his youth, Troy’s ambitions to play in the Major Leagues are crushed by the racial segregation of his time. Even as barriers begin to break, Troy’s age and accumulated bitterness prevent him from grasping new possibilities, leaving him trapped in disappointment. This sense of wasted potential shapes Troy’s identity, turning him into a man who feels cheated by society. His inability to move past these lost opportunities results in rigid control over his household, as he projects his frustrations onto his family, especially his son, Cory. His insistence on maintaining authority reflects his desperate attempt to reclaim power in a world where he feels his potential was stifled.

Moreover, Rose, Troy’s wife, experiences her own form of lost opportunity, though less visible than Troy’s. Her dream revolves around creating a stable, loving home and maintaining a united family. However, this vision is shattered when Troy confesses to his infidelity, a betrayal that results in the birth of Raynell. Rose’s hope for a wholesome family is disrupted, forcing her to redefine her role and expectations within the family. Instead of abandoning her family, Rose accepts the responsibility of raising Raynell, reflecting her strength and resilience in the face of her broken dreams. Through Rose, Wilson demonstrates how women often absorb the consequences of others’ lost opportunities while sacrificing their personal desires for the sake of family stability.

Cory’s experience further underscores the generational impact of lost opportunities within the play. Aspiring to earn a college scholarship through football, Cory sees sports as a path to a brighter future, free from the economic struggles faced by his parents. However, Troy, haunted by his own failed dreams, prevents Cory from pursuing his passion, projecting his fears onto his son and denying him the chance to explore his potential. This suppression of Cory’s ambitions becomes a source of conflict, damaging their father-son relationship and driving Cory to leave home. Cory’s decision to join the Marines represents a departure from his initial dream, illustrating how parental fears rooted in past failures can hinder a child’s aspirations, perpetuating cycles of lost opportunities across generations.

Additionally, Lyons, Troy’s son from a previous relationship, embodies artistic aspirations unmet by financial stability. His dream of becoming a jazz musician clashes with the economic realities of his life, forcing him to rely on borrowed money from Troy and the support of his girlfriend. Despite his commitment to his art, Lyons faces societal and financial obstacles that limit his progress, and his eventual imprisonment for fraud highlights the harsh realities faced by individuals pursuing unconventional dreams in a world demanding economic survival.

In the long run, Fences presents lost opportunities as a powerful force shaping the emotional and relational dynamics within families. Troy’s bitterness from missed chances in sports drives his need for control and affects his relationships with Rose, Cory, and Lyons. Rose’s compromised dream of family unity and her quiet sacrifices demonstrate the quiet pain of deferred dreams in domestic life. Cory and Lyons represent the younger generation’s attempts to carve their paths, only to encounter barriers influenced by the limitations of their parents’ past.

Fences portrays lost opportunities not as isolated regrets but as influences that shape identities, relationships, and the legacy left within families. Through Troy’s disillusionment, Rose’s sacrifice, Cory’s suppressed ambitions, and Lyons’ struggles, Wilson emphasizes how dreams deferred can imprison individuals in cycles of bitterness, conflict, and resignation while showing that resilience and adaptation are often the only paths left to reclaim purpose amid lost potential.
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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer

ANOTHER SOLUTION
SECTION I: AFRICAN DRAMA

(1)
The Governor’s Visit and Its Effects on the Chiefdom
The Governor’s visit in John K. Kargbo’s “Let Me Die Alone” serves as a pivotal moment that highlights the political dynamics and social tensions within the chiefdom. The visit symbolizes colonial authority and the imposition of external governance on local traditions. The effects of this visit are multifaceted: it exposes the fragility of the chief’s power, as he must navigate the expectations of both the colonial government and his own people. The visit also ignites a sense of disillusionment among the villagers, who feel marginalized and voiceless in the face of colonial rule. Ultimately, the Governor’s presence serves to deepen the rift between the chief and his subjects, leading to a crisis of leadership and identity within the chiefdom.
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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer

(2) Instances of Betrayal in the Play

In “Let Me Die Alone,” betrayal manifests in various forms:

(i) Betrayal of Trust: The chief’s closest advisors may betray him by aligning with colonial interests, undermining his authority and traditional leadership.
(ii) Family Betrayal: Personal relationships are strained as family members may choose self-preservation over loyalty to the chief, revealing the complexities of familial bonds in times of crisis.
(iii) Cultural Betrayal: The community’s elders may betray their cultural heritage by compromising their values to appease the colonial powers, leading to a loss of identity and tradition.
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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
(3)
The Character and Role of Sidi
Sidi, the titular “jewel” of the play, is a complex character who embodies both beauty and strength. Initially, she is portrayed as a traditional village girl who is aware of her attractiveness and the power it holds. Sidi’s role is crucial as she becomes the object of desire for both Baroka, the Bale (chief), and Lakunle, the modern schoolteacher. Her character challenges traditional gender roles; while she is admired for her beauty, she also asserts her independence and agency. Sidi’s eventual choice to marry Baroka, despite his age and traditional values, signifies a blend of modernity and tradition, illustrating the play’s exploration of cultural change and the negotiation of female identity.
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(4)
“Change is Inevitable”

The assertion that “change is inevitable” is central to “The Lion and the Jewel.” The play illustrates this through the contrasting characters of Baroka and Lakunle. Baroka represents traditional values and the established order, while Lakunle embodies modernity and progressive ideas. The tension between these two characters highlights the inevitable clash between tradition and change. Sidi’s journey also reflects this theme; her choices signify a shift in societal norms regarding women’s roles. The play ultimately suggests that while change may be resisted, it is an inescapable part of life, shaping identities and relationships within the community.

 

Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
*SECTION II*

*NON — AFRICAN DRAMA SOLUTION*

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

SECTION II: NON-AFRICAN DRAMA

(5) The Theme of Betrayal in “Look Back In Anger”
In John Osborne’s “Look Back In Anger,” betrayal is a pervasive theme that manifests in various relationships. The protagonist, Jimmy Porter, feels betrayed by society, his wife Alison, and his friends. His disillusionment with the world around him leads to emotional and verbal abuse, particularly towards Alison, whom he perceives as a symbol of his failures. The betrayal is not only personal but also societal, as Jimmy grapples with the post-war disillusionment of the working class. This theme underscores the fragility of human connections and the impact of unfulfilled expectations on relationships.
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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer

(6)
The Relationship Between Alison and Helena

The relationship between Alison and Helena in “Look Back In Anger” is complex and significant to the play’s development. Initially, Helena is a friend and confidante to Alison, but as the play progresses, she becomes a source of tension. Helena’s attraction to Jimmy and her eventual involvement with him represent a betrayal of Alison’s trust. This dynamic highlights the themes of loyalty, jealousy, and the struggle for identity within the confines of societal expectations. The conflict between the two women ultimately serves to deepen the emotional turmoil in the play, illustrating how personal relationships can be irrevocably altered by betrayal and desire.
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(7) The Theme of Lost Opportunities

In “Fences,” the theme of lost opportunities is central to the character of Troy Maxson. Troy’s past as a talented baseball player is overshadowed by the racial barriers he faced, leading to a life filled with regret and unfulfilled dreams. His inability to seize opportunities for advancement, both in sports and in his personal life, creates a cycle of bitterness that affects his relationships with his family. The play poignantly explores how societal limitations and personal choices can lead to a sense of entrapment, ultimately illustrating the broader theme of the African American experience in the face of systemic racism.

*SECTION III*

*AFRICAN POETRY SOLUTION*

Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

SECTION III: AFRICAN POETRY

(9)
(i) Metaphor: In “The Leader and the Led,” Osundare employs metaphor to convey complex ideas about leadership and the relationship between leaders and their followers. For instance, leaders may be depicted as “shepherds” guiding their “flocks,” which emphasizes the responsibility of leaders to care for and protect their people. This metaphor highlights the power dynamics and the expectations placed on leaders, as well as the vulnerability of the led.

(ii) Imagery: Imagery is a powerful device used throughout the poem to evoke vivid sensory experiences. Osundare paints pictures of the struggles and aspirations of the people, using descriptive language that appeals to sight, sound, and emotion. For example, imagery related to the natural world, such as “the sun rising over the horizon,” can symbolize hope and renewal, while darker imagery may reflect despair and oppression. This use of imagery helps to create a strong emotional connection between the reader and the themes of the poem.

(iii) Alliteration: Alliteration is another device that Osundare skillfully employs to enhance the musicality and rhythm of the poem. The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words creates a lyrical quality that draws the reader in. For example, phrases like “leaders lie” or “daring dreams” not only emphasize key concepts but also contribute to the overall flow and impact of the poem. This technique reinforces the themes of the poem and makes the language more memorable.
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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
(10)
The saying “Rage is a thief of joy” encapsulates the destructive nature of anger and its ability to overshadow happiness. In Lade Wosomu’s “Raider of the Treasure Trove,” this theme is explored through the character’s internal struggles and the consequences of unchecked rage. The protagonist’s anger often leads to impulsive decisions that result in personal loss and regret.

For instance, moments of rage may cause the character to alienate loved ones or miss opportunities for joy and fulfillment. The poem illustrates how the fixation on anger can cloud one’s judgment and prevent the appreciation of life’s treasures. Ultimately, Wosomu’s work serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of managing emotions and recognizing that allowing rage to dominate one’s life can lead to a profound sense of emptiness and loss.
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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
SECTION IV: NON-AFRICAN POETRY

(11)
In “Caged Bird,” Maya Angelou poignantly explores the themes of freedom and limitation through the contrasting imagery of a free bird and a caged bird. The free bird represents the ideals of liberty, opportunity, and the ability to soar without constraints. In contrast, the caged bird symbolizes oppression, confinement, and the struggle for self-expression.

Angelou’s use of the caged bird’s song serves as a powerful metaphor for the yearning for freedom and the pain of limitation. The song reflects the caged bird’s desire to break free from its constraints, highlighting the emotional toll of captivity. Through this juxtaposition, Angelou emphasizes the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, suggesting that even in limitation, there exists a profound desire for freedom and self-actualization.
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Neco 2025 Literature in English Drama And Poetry Answer
(12)

In D.H. Lawrence’s poem “Bat,” various symbols are employed to convey deeper meanings about nature, existence, and the human condition. The bat itself serves as a central symbol, representing both the mysterious and the misunderstood aspects of life. Its nocturnal nature evokes themes of darkness, fear, and the unknown, while also symbolizing the idea of transformation and adaptation.

The bat’s flight can be interpreted as a metaphor for freedom and the instinctual drive to navigate through life’s challenges. Additionally, the imagery of the bat’s movements in the night sky may symbolize the struggle between light and darkness, knowledge and ignorance. Lawrence’s use of symbols invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and the complexities of existence, ultimately suggesting that understanding and acceptance of life’s dualities are essential for personal growth.