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Questions and Answers
What is the primary subject of Derek Walcott's 1962 poem 'A Far Cry From Africa'?
What is the significance of the speaker's heritage in the poem?
What is the ultimate outcome of the speaker's exploration of colonialism in the poem?
What is the connection between Frantz Fanon's work and the Mau Mau Uprising?
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What is the significance of the Mau Mau Uprising in the context of the poem?
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What is the primary theme of the poem?
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What literary device is used when a character addresses someone or something that isn't present or cannot respond?
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What is the term for a clever and memorable statement?
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What figure of speech involves saying the opposite of what you mean, often for humorous effect?
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What is the term for a purposely wordy description?
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What literary device involves placing opposite things or ideas next to each other?
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What is the term for a mild or indirect way of saying something unpleasant?
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What figure of speech is used when a character says the opposite of what they mean, often for humorous effect?
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What literary device involves using an indirect or evasive way of saying something?
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What is the primary object of Poetry according to Samuel Taylor Coleridge?
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What is unique about Poetry as a literary genre?
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What is a figure of speech?
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What is the function of symbols in poetry?
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Which of the following figures of speech is NOT mentioned in the passage?
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What is the result of poetry on Emily Dickinson, according to her quote?
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What is poetry, according to Percy Bysshe Shelley?
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What is the significance of figures of speech in poetry?
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What literary device is used when a concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept?
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Which poetic device involves giving human qualities to non-human things?
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What is the term for a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or phrase?
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What is the term for a figure of speech in which a term for a part of something is used to refer to the whole, or vice versa?
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What literary device involves the repetition of consonant sounds right next to each other?
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What is the term for a figure of speech that uses a concept to refer to something closely associated with that concept?
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Which poetic device involves combining two opposing ideas in a single phrase?
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What is the term for a figure of speech that uses a part of something to refer to the whole, or vice versa?
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Study Notes
"A Far Cry From Africa" Poem Overview
- The poem "A Far Cry From Africa" by Derek Walcott responds to the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya, a guerrilla war fought between native Kenyans and British colonists from 1952-1960.
- The speaker, implied to be from a colony, has both African and English heritage, creating a sense of ambivalence and confusion regarding their loyalties.
Themes and Conflicts
- The speaker hates colonial rule, yet is disturbed by the gruesomeness of the rebellion.
- The poem explores the speaker's conflicted identity as a legacy of colonialism.
- The speaker expresses the deep pain and anguish caused by this legacy, rather than finding a way out of it.
Related Concepts and Historical Context
- The poem can be related to the concept of Négritude, developed by writer Aimé Césare, which contrasts with and illuminates Walcott's themes.
- The Mau Mau Uprising was a significant historical event that inspired Frantz Fanon's book "The Wretched of the Earth", which views the rebellion as an essential phase of independence.
- Fanon's work emphasizes the violence of the rebellion as a direct result of decades of violent colonial rule.
Literary Techniques
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Antithesis is a literary technique that places opposite things or ideas next to one another to draw out their contrast, e.g. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
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Apostrophe is a figure of speech where a character addresses someone or something that isn't present or cannot respond, e.g. "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"
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Circumlocution is the use of a purposely wordy description, e.g. "He Who Must Not Be Named" instead of saying "Lord Voldemort" in the Harry Potter series.
Figures of Speech
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Epigram is a clever and memorable statement, often found in speeches, poetry, and at the front of a book, e.g. "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
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Euphemism is a way to say something in an understated manner, often to avoid difficult topics, e.g. saying "kicked the bucket" instead of "died".
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Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect, e.g. a fire station burns down.
Poetry
- Poetry is the oldest of the major literary genres and has been part of human traditions through the ages.
- Poetry is characterized by the generous use of figures of speech.
- Figures of speech, like metaphor, simile, and metonymy, are found in everyday language, while others, like antithesis, circumlocution, and puns take more practice to implement in writing.
Other Literary Techniques
- Symbolism is the use of an object, person, or animal to represent something else, often operating as cultural conventions, e.g. red represents danger and passion in different contexts.
- Oxymoron is a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or phrase, e.g. "bitter-sweet memories" or "loving hate".
- Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a term for a part of something is used to refer to the whole, or vice versa, e.g. "The captain commands one hundred sails" or "All hands on deck".
- Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept, e.g. "The White House" or "Aso Rock" is often used as a metonymy for the presidential administration.
- Personification is the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human, e.g. "The flowers danced in the breeze" or "The sun smiled down on us".
- Alliteration is the repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a memorable or melodic effect, e.g. "She sells seashells by the seashore".
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Description
Explore the themes and conflicts in Derek Walcott's poem 'A Far Cry From Africa', which responds to the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya, exploring the speaker's ambivalence towards colonial rule and rebellion.
