Hare and the Hyena
One day, a long time ago when there was a famine in a certain part of Africa, Hare met Hyena.
“How thin you are looking,” said Hare. “You look as though you would not say ‘no’ to a good meal either,” replied Hyena. The two animals continued on the road together until they came to a farmer, who was grumbling because all his servants had left him. “We’ll work for you if you will feed us,” suggested Hare. The farmer willingly agreed, and, giving the two animals a pot of beans to cook, showed them the part of his farm where to weed. First they made a fire, and fetching three large stones, they rested the pot on them to cook their meal while they set to work. When the sun was high in the sky and it was time for the mid-day rest, Hyena told Hare to keep an eye on the cooking-pot while he himself went down to the river to wash. Hare sat by the pot, stirring it with a stick and longing to begin his meal, while Hyena, as soon as he was out of sight of Hare, stripped off his skin. He looked the most horrible spectacle, and ran back to Hare uttering strange cries. Poor Hare was terrified. “Help!Help!”Hare squealed, as he ran for his life. “Never have I seen such a terrible creature! It must be very bad juju.” Hyena quickly sat down and ate all the food, which was scarcely enough for one in any case, and then he went back to the river, found his skin and put it on again. He strolled slowly up the bank to the place where the cooking pot stood, and found Hare returning cautiously. “O Hyena!” gasped Hare “Did you see it too?” “See what?” asked the deceitful animal. “That terrible demon,” explained Hare. “I saw nothing. But come, let us now eat,” said Hyena calmly, as he walked towards the cooking pot and looked inside it. “Where is it? Where is my food? What happened to it?” cried Hyena, pretending to be in a fine range. Hare looked at the empty pot. “It was that terrible demon,” he explained. “It frightened me away so that it could eat our food.” “Rubbish! You ate it yourself while I was washing at the river!” shouted Hyena, and no amount of protestations by poor Hare had any effect. “Well,” said Hare. “I know what I shall do. I shall make a fine bow and arrow and if the creature comes again, I shall shoot it.” The next day the farmer again gave them a pot of beans, but instead of working while it cooked, Hare took a supple branch and began to make himself a bow. The cunning Hyena watched him as he shaped the wood with his knife, and when it was almost finished, he said: “Give me your bow, Hare. My father taught me a special way of cutting bows to make them better than any others. I’ll finish that for you.” The unsuspecting Hare gave up his bow and knife and Hyena began cutting it in a special way, making it so weak in one place that it was bound to break as soon as it was used. “There you are! Keep this beside you while I go and wash, in case the creature comes again,” said Hyena, as he bounded off to the river, to remove his skin once more. Hare, waiting beside the pot of food, was just considering whether he could take a mouthful, so great was his hunger, when once again the most repulsive looking animal he had ever seen bounded towards him. Seizing his bow, he put an arrow in it and pulled. Snap! It broke in his hands, and as the horrible creature came closer and closer, Hare fled. So of course, Hyena had all the food once more, and then went back to the river to put on his skin. He returned to accuse Hare of stealing the beans. Hare denied having even had a taste of food, but looking closely at Hyena he thought he saw a little piece of bean stuck in his teeth as he spoke. “Aha!” Said Hare to himself.” If that’s the way it is, I shall be ready for you tomorrow, my friend. That night when Hyena was sleeping, Hare made another bow. It was a good strong bow with no weak spot at all, and had three sharp arrows to go with it. Hare, feeling ravenous by now, crept to the pot where they cooked their food, hid the bow and arrows in some nearby long grass and, returning to find Hyena still asleep, lay down close. The next day, everything happened as Hare had expected. The two animals worked hard all the morning while the cooking pot boiled nearby, and at mid-day, Hyena went to the river to wash. Hare waited, his new bow in his hand. Presently, the loath-some-looking creature came towards him. He raised bow and shot. Straight into creature’s heart went the arrow and Hyena fell dead on the ground. Hare bent over the body and was not surprised when he saw it really was Hyena. “Well,” he remarked as he ate the first good meal he had had for days, “My mother always told me that greed did not pay, and now I know she was right,” QUESTIONS
a) What common need brought Hare and Hyena together? (1Mark)
…………………………………………… b) What deal did the farmer and the animals strike? (2 Marks) ………………………………………………………… c) Explain one character trait of the farmer. (2 Marks) ………………………………………………………………………… d) Using illustrations describe Hyena’s character. (2 Marks) ………………………………………………………………………………… e) Identify and explain two examples of sarcasm used in the story. (4 Marks) ………………………………………………… f) What is ironical about Hyena’s offer to cut the bow for Hare? (4 Marks) ………………………………………………… g) What is the meaning of the following words as used in the passage (3 Marks) i) Juju…………… ii) Fine……………… iii)Ravenous………………… “Help! Help!” Hare squealed. “Never have I seen such a terrible creature.” Change into reported speech. (2 Marks) …………………………… ANSWERS
a)Hunger
b)That if they worked for him on his farm he would in turn give them food c)Mean = gave them too little food that was “scarcely enough for one” d)Greedy – ate all the food day after day while his friend starved Selfish – Has no regard / feelings for his friend who is starved Cunning – managed to fool his friend severally e)i) “You look as though you would not say no to a good meal either,” It is sarcastic answer Hyena gave to Hare ii) “I shall be ready for you tomorrow my friend” ‘my friend’ is said sarcastically; Hyena has not been behaving as a real friend f)Although Hyena says he will make it better, his intension is to weaken it. Hare doesn’t know that the Juju / creature he’s intending to kill Hyena g)Juju – witchcraft Fine – terrible Ravenous – very hungry / famished h) Hare cried / begged for help exclaiming that he had never seen such a terrible creature Related Searches
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AuthorMAURICE A NYAMOTI |
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