Choose two of the following essay prompts. Respond to each in a paragraph. Write your answer in complete sentences. (50 pts )
Prompt I. In both "Marriage Is a Private Affair" and "A Meeting in the Dark," young men fret that their fathers will disapprove of their potential wives. Compare these two stories by looking at how the personalities of the young men and their fathers help to shape the eventual outcomes.
Prompt II. Examine how white people and black people regard each other in "No Witchcraft for Sale," "The Moment Before the Gun Went Off," and "The Prisoner Who Wore Glasses." How do they help to both teach and support each other, and how do they fail? Think about what each group is trying to protect and when it withholds something from the other.
Prompt III. A theme that runs through the poems in this unit is that a sense of pride is important to a sense of self-worth. What do you think is the connection between this theme and Africa's history of colonial rule? Support your view with details from at least two of the selections you have read.
Prompt I: In both "Marriage Is a Private Affair" and "A Meeting in the Dark," the young men's personalities and their fathers' attitudes play a significant role in shaping the outcomes of their potential marriages. In "Marriage Is a Private Affair," Nnaemeka is a traditional young man who initially fears his father's disapproval of his decision to marry Nene, a girl from a different tribe. He is torn between his love for Nene and his duty to obey his father. However, as the story progresses, Nnaemeka becomes more independent and asserts his own choices, ultimately choosing love over filial loyalty. On the other hand, in "A Meeting in the Dark," John is a rebellious and impulsive young man who disregards his father's authority and secretly engages in an illicit relationship with Wamuhu. His father disapproves of Wamuhu due to her tribe and social status. The clash between their contrasting personalities leads to tragedy, as John's arrogance and inability to compromise his desires ultimately lead to his downfall. Thus, the differing personalities of the young men and their fathers significantly shape the eventual outcomes in both stories.
Prompt III: A theme that pervades the poems in this unit is the importance of pride for a sense of self-worth. This theme is deeply connected to Africa's history of colonial rule. In both "A Far Cry from Africa" by Derek Walcott and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" by Langston Hughes, the poets present a strong sense of pride in African heritage and the resilience of black people. Walcott celebrates his dual identity as both African and European, acknowledging the complexity of his history and the pride he feels for his African roots. This pride serves as a response to the oppressive history of colonization, which sought to undermine the value and worth of African cultures. Similarly, Hughes' poem emphasizes the ancient and enduring connection of black people to the rivers of Africa, representing the rich heritage and history that cannot be erased by colonial powers. Both poems assert the importance of reclaiming one's pride and self-worth in the face of a history that attempted to denigrate African culture. Thus, the connection between the theme of pride and Africa's history of colonial rule lies in the necessity of reclaiming and asserting African identity and worth in the face of oppression.