Read the following narrative and answer the questions that follow.
The Black and the Red God
Once there were two gods, the black god and the red god. The black god was very humble, kind and loving, while the red god was malevolent and did not care about the people at all. These gods lived together away up in heaven but the black god lived below the red god, therefore closer to the people on the earth. One day, famine spread allover the world. Cattle could find neither grass to eat nor water to drink and they were almost dying of starvation. Then the black god spoke to the red god and said, “ Let us give people water for they are about to starve to death.” The red god was reluctant to let the people have water, for he hard no liking for them, but after much pleading from the black god, he relented. It was then agreed that water was to be released from heaven to earth. When this was done, it rained very hard or many days. After sometimes, the red god said to the black god.” You can now hold back the water, for the people have had enough.” The black god answered; “ let us leave it for a few more days for the earth has been parched dry”. This was done, and when the red god again told the black god to hold back the water, he did so and the rain stopped falling. A few more days elapsed and the black god now asked the red god to release some more water for the people. The red god refused; and there ensued an argument between them, with the red god threatening to wipe out all the people, whom he described as having been spoilt, and the black god struggling to prevent him from doing so. And so, upto this day, when one hears loud thunder, it is the red god tying to get past the black god to wipe out the people of the earth. But when the sound of thunder is not very loud ,it is the black god who is trying to prevent the red god from killing the people. Questions
a) Classify this narrative. (2mks)
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..… b) Describe one character trait of each god. (4mks) (i) The red god …………………………………………………………………………………………………. (ii) The black god ………………………………………………………………………………………… c) Discuss the effectiveness of any two literary devices. (4mks) ………………………………………………………………………………………… d) Identify any three features of oral narratives in this story.(3mks) ……………………………………………… e) What economic activity is practiced by the people described in this story? (2mks) ………………………………………………… f) What moral lesson can be learn from this story. (2mks) …………………………………………………………………………………………………. g) What do you infer from the fact that the black god lived below the red god? (3mks) …………………………………………………………………………… Answers
(a)It is an explanatory/aetiological narrative
-It expresses why we have loud and some times not very loud thunder -It is a myth-It shows the origin of thunder and the divine activities of gods (b (i)The red god Malevolent/cruel/harsh/selfish -He was reluctant to let people have water -Says that the people have been spoilt -Always wants to destroy/wipe out the people (ii)The black god Humble/kind/loving -Suggested that they give water to the people for they were starving to death -Always prevents the red God from killing the people (c) (i)Contrast-the two characters are contracted as their traits differ from each other -In every society we have these two groups of people (ii)Symbolism-Black colour represents or symbolizes goodness or mercy while red colour symbolizes danger or destruction -Thunder can be associated with rain which is a blessing or fire and destruction (iii)Dialogue-The two gods engage in dialogue as they discuss whether or not to give water to the people -This breaks monotony of narration and helps us to come face to face with each god through what they say to each other (d)(i) Opening formula-‘Once there were two gods……..’ -Sets the story in the past or state timelessness (ii)Personification-both gods are described in human terms-being kind, humble, loving and malevolent (iii)The chronological sequence of events in the story (iv)The closing formula-shows the purpose of the story to explain why there is thunder …………..And so, up to this day………….” (e) Cattle keeping “Cattle could find neither grass to eat nor water to drink……………..” (f) We should be considerate of others welfare (g) -The red god is proud and hates the people (of the earth) -The black god is humble and loves the people, lives closer to them and hence understanding their problems more than the red god. Related Searches
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AuthorMAURICE A NYAMOTI |
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