The Caucasian Chalk circle 2015 KCSE Mocks Extract - Part Three

The Caucasian Chalk circle 2015 KCSE Mocks Extract - Part Three

9. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.    (25 marks)
 GRUSHA: Noon time is meal time. Now we’ll sit hopefully in the grass, while the good Grusha (to the CHILD): goes and buys a little pitcher of milk. (She lays the CHILD down and knocks at the cottage door.
 OLD MAN: Milk? We have no milk. The soldiers from the city have our goats. Go to the soldiers if you want milk.
 GRUSHA: But grandfather, you must have a little pitcher of milk for baby?
 OLD MAN: And for a God-bless-you, eh?
 GRUSHA: Who said anything about a God-bless-you? (She shows her purse.) We’ll pay like princes. “Head in the clouds, back-side in the water.” (The peasant goes off, grumbling, for milk). How much for the milk?
OLD MAN: Three piasters. Milk has gone up.
GRUSHA: Three piasters for this little drop? (Without a word he old man shuts the door in face). Michael, did you hear that? Three piasters! We can’t afford it! (She goes back, sits down again, and gives the CHILD her breast). Suck. Think of the three piasters. There’s nothing there, but you think you’re drinking, and that’s something. (Shaking her head, she sees that the child isn’t sucking any more. She gets up, walks back to the door, and knocks again). Open grandfather, we’ll pay. (softly). May lightning strike you! (When the OLD MAN appears). I thought it would be half a piaster. But the baby must be fed. How about one piaster for that little drop?
OLD MAN: Two
GRUSHA: Don’t shut the door again. (She fishes a long time in her bag). Here are two piasters. The milk better be good. I still have two days’ journey ahead of me. It’s a murderous business you have here – and sinful, too!
OLD MAN: Kill the soldiers if you wan milk.
GRUSHA: (giving the CHILD some milk): This is an expensive joke. Take a sip, Michael; it’s a week’s pay. Around here they think we earned our money just sitting on our behinds. Oh, Michael, Michael. You’re a nice little load for a girl to take on! (Uneasy, she gets up, puts the CHILD on her back, and walks on.
The OLD MAN, grumbling, picks up the pitcher and looks after her unmoved).
SINGER: As Grusha Vashnadze went northward The Princes’ Ironshirts went after her.
CHORUS: How will the barefoot girl escape the Ironshirts, The bloodhounds, the trap-setters? They hunt even by night. Pursuers never tire. Butchers sleep little.
Questions
(a) Explain what happens immediately before this excerpt?      (3 marks)
(b) As Grusha’s Vashnadze went Northwards, the princes Iron shirts went after her.
Using the excerpt and elsewhere from the text, explain the importance of this mission to the soldiers. (3 marks)
(c) What is the attitude of the Old man towards the soldiers?  (2 marks)
(d) Explain two character traits of Grusha as brought out in the excerpt.   (4 marks)
(e) What is the significance of the song in the excerpt?   (2 marks)
(f) Identify and explain two stylistic devices used in the excerpt.    (4 marks)
(g) It is a murderous business you have here and sinful too. (Add a question tag).  (1 mark)
(h) Identify and illustrate two themes evidently brought out in the excerpt.  (3 marks)
(i) Give the meaning of the following statements as used in the passage.   (3 marks)
(i) This is an expensive joke
(ii) And for a God-bless-you, eh!
(iii)Blood hounds.

Q9. Answers
a) Circumstances that lead the speaker to say these words: “am accused of instigating war?”
This is said by Azdak who is role playing the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke has been accused by the princess of instigating the war. In the play within a play the Iron Shirts have decided to put Bizergan Kazbeki who has been proposed by Arsen Kabeki as he next judge through a rehearsal to test his ability as a judge. What follows then is the mock trial.
b) Why the nephew is reluctant to try the case.
Since he obviously does not have what it takes to be a judge / or probably because he knows the role the princes, and particularly his uncle played in causing Grusinia to lose the war. (2 x 1 = 2mks) \
c) Who is responsible for instigating the war.
The princes are responsible for instigating the war. Azdak says that the war was started on the advice of patriot’s like uncle Kazbeki (who is a prince). The nephew supports this when he says one can’t be arraigned for declaring a war.
(d) At least two dominant themes in this extract.
(i) Abuse of power – officers flog soldiers only on command. Land owners sleep with peasant’s wives only on the strictest command.
(ii) Irresponsibility – Azdak accuses the princess of having failed in the responsibility because they sent sick horses to war and during attack they were drinking in whore houses.
(iii) Greed and materialism – The princess are also said to have embezzled funds. The princes are also said to have benefited in he war because they got 3,863,000 piasters for horses not delivered and 8,240,000 piasters for food supplies not produced. NB: Any 2 well developed themes. (4mks)
e) Two character traits of Arsen Kazbek as brought out in this extract.
− Contemptuous – seems to have no respect for Azdak.
He refers to him as madcap which would mean a lunatic, also refers to him as a carpet weaver.
− Manipulative – He seems to manipulate the nephew so that he can achieve his goals. He tells him “answer him my little fox, I am with you.”
− Irrational / emotional – Even before the nephew can pass the verdict, he has already started shouting that Azdak should be hanged.
− Cunning / sly – He keeps referring to the nephew as ‘Little fox.’ He also cunningly wants the nephew installed as the Judge to serve his own purpose. (4mks)
(f) Two stylistic devices and comment on their effectiveness.
(i) Imagery – simile – “cannot be watchdog if you howl like wolf – meaning the nephew can’t be judge, if he is irrational. To be judge you need to be level headed. This draws the attention of the audience to the fact that the prices are as guilty as the Duke. This man talks like a carpet weaver – shows the contempt Kazbeki has for Azdak.
(ii) Metaphors – ‘my little fox’ – Kazbeki refers to his nephew thus bringing in the cunning nature of the nephew and in equal measure that of the Fat Prince. Just as the fox is cunning, so is the nephew.
(iii)Play within a play – Azdak role plays the Grand Duke who has been accused of instigating the war and causing Grusinia to lose the war. (6mks)
(g) Ironic twist that takes place in this extract.
Immediately after this, the Fat Prince says that the rehearsal is enough and asks the Iron Shirts to ratify the new judge’s appointment. Obviously he thinks that the Iron shirts will settle on his nephew as the new judge, but ironically the Ironshirts declare Azdak as the new judge.
 NB: For a candidate to score, the Irony must be brought out. (2mks)

10. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.                 (25 marks)
 
OLD MAN: Milk? We have no milk. The soldiers from the city have our goats. Go to the soldiers if you want milk.
 
GRUSHA: But grandfather, you must have a little pitcher of milk for baby?
 
OLD MAN: And for a God-bless-you, eh?
 
GRUSHA: Who said anything about a God-bless-you? (She shows her purse.) We’ll pay like princes. “Head in the clouds, back-side in the water.” (The peasant goes off, grumbling, for milk). How much for the milk?
 
 OLD MAN: Three piasters. Milk has gone up.
 
GRUSHA: Three piasters for this little drop? (Without a word the old man shuts the door in her face). Michael, did you hear that? Three piasters! We can’t afford it! (She goes back, sits down again, and gives the CHILD her breast). Suck. Think of the three piasters. There’s nothing there, but you think you’re drinking, and that’s something. (Shaking her head, she sees that the child isn’t sucking any more. She gets up, walks back to the door, and knocks again). Open grandfather, we’ll pay. (softly). May lightning strike you! (When the OLD MAN appears). I thought it would be half a piaster. But the baby must be fed. How about one piaster for that little drop?
 
OLD MAN: Two!
 
 GRUSHA: Don’t shut the door again. (She fishes a long time in her bag). Here are two piasters. The milk better be good. I still have two days’ journey ahead of me. It’s a murderous business you have here – and sinful, too!
 
 OLD MAN: Kill the soldiers if you want milk.
 
 GRUSHA: (giving the CHILD some milk): This is an expensive joke. Take a sip, Michael, it’s a week’s pay. Around here they think we earned our money just sitting on our behinds. Oh, Michael, Michael. You’re a nice little load for a girl to take on! (Uneasy, she gets up, puts the CHILD on her back, and walks on. The OLD MAN, grumbling, picks up the pitcher and looks after her unmoved).
 
 SINGER: As Grusha Vashnadze went northward The Princes’ Ironshirts went after her.
 
CHORUS: How will the barefoot girl escape the Iron shirts, The bloodhounds, the trap-setters? They hunt even by night. Pursuers never tire. Butchers sleep little.
Questions
(a) Explain what happens immediately before this excerpt?                                     (3mks)
(b) From the above extract, what are the effects of war?     (3mks)
(c) “Michael you are a nice little load for a girl to take on!” Give a brief explanation of an earlier incident in the play when Grusha took up the responsibility Michael.   (4mks)
(d) “And for a God-bless you, eh?” What does the old man mean by this?   (2mks)
(e) “How will the barefoot girl escape the ironshirts,. The bloodhounds and the trap setters?”
From the background of this story, explain why it so crucial for the soldiers to capture Michael?     (4mks)
(f) Identify and illustrate one character trait of Grusha and of the Old man as brought out in this extract. (4mks)
(g) Identify and explain any two figures of speech used in this extract.  (4mks)
(h) The princes’ Ironshirts went after her. (Change into an interrogative statement).  (1mk)
(i) They hunt even by night. (Add a question tag).   (1mk)

Q10. Answers
 (a)
 The singer highlights Grusha’s escape to the Northern Mountain. How she sang a song, bought some milk and carried the baby in a sack.
(b)
Grusha had Michael who is the governor’s heir. He is supposed to automatically take over as governor, a situation that jeopardizes Kazbeki’s current position. For Kazbeki to be assured of his seat, Michael had to be killed.
(c)
− Hateful / spiteful / contemptuous – says “kill the soldiers if you want milk.
− Critical – old man says the soldiers from city have our goats.
 (d)
− Loving / motherly – she flees to the Northern mountains to protect the baby from the Iron shirts. Sacrifices a week’s wages.
− Determined to protect the boy no matter what.
− Insolent – says to old man – ‘may lightning strike you.’
− Selfless – sacrifices a week’s pay to buy milk. (e) Reveals the Ironshirts as determined and Grusha as enduring and vulnerable.
(f)
− Sarcasm – old man tells Grusha to kill the soldiers if she wants milk.
− Rhetoric questions – Three piasters for this little drop?
− Metaphor – Bloodhounds, butchers. (any two) (g) It is a murderous business you have here and sinful too, isn’t it?
(h)
− Materialism – old man sells milk expensively.
− Selflessness – Grusha buys milk expensively. (i)
− This is an expensive joke – Refers to the milk that is too little yet exorbitantly bought.
− And for a God-bless-you eh? - For free of charge.
− Blood hounds – A large dog used for finding where someone is or has been.