THE literature component is tested in Section D of the SPM English paper and carries a substantial 25 marks. You are required to study six poems, five short stories and one of three prescribed novels.
You will be tested on one poem (Question 32), one short story (Question 33) and the novel you have studied (Question 34).
Five marks are allocated for the questions on the poem, five for the short story and 15 for the novel. As such, you cannot choose to ignore any of the prescribed texts, especially the poems and short stories.
It is difficult to pinpoint which text will be tested, so I would advise you not to try and spot the texts, or aspects of the texts, that may come out.
There is no reason why you should not do well in this section as you are given two years to study the prescribed texts – one year for the poems and short stories, and another to study the novel.
While going through the texts, you should focus on the following aspects, as highlighted in the curriculum specifications:
To be able to do the above, you must read and understand the texts, and engage with them on a personal level.
You should be able to respond to the text by bringing in your own knowledge and experiences of the world, testing these against those of the writer to see whether they conform to each other, or whether the writer’s ideas and thoughts have reshaped yours.
Do bear in mind that no two people will have exactly the same interpretations. This should be seen as an advantage because it allows the exchange of ideas.
Too often, students do not want to, or are not encouraged to make their own interpretations.
They are happy to take – lock, stock and barrel – whatever is marketed by textbook/workbook writers.
As one of the reasons for the introduction of the literature component is to stimulate language learning, it is important that you pay close attention to the language used by the writer to convey his ideas and thoughts.
You can be tested on language although the questions will only be at the interpretation level.
Guidelines for tackling poems and short stories
Read and understand all the six poems and five short stories as you do not know which poem or short story will be tested. Do not try to spot texts.
With short stories, make sure you know the plot well. You should also be clear about the setting and how it contributes to the overall meaning of the story.
Other aspects to focus on include character study, themes, values and messages conveyed by the writer. If possible, try to make links between the texts to enhance your understanding or interpretation.
For instance, in the poem The Road Not Taken, the persona dwells on the idea of making choices or decisions.
This theme is also found in the The Necklace, where Mathilde actually had a choice – to tell the truth or buy a replacement necklace. She made the wrong decision and, as a result, suffered for 10 years.
This idea is also exploited in the novel The Pearl, where Kino had to choose between giving up the pearl and fulfilling his dreams. He opted for the latter with dire consequences.
Similarly, you can compare the harsh environmental conditions in The Drover’s Wife and Looking for a Rain God and see how the characters respond to these conditions – one (the drover’s wife) is used to things and tackles each day as it comes, while the others (Mokgobja, Ramadi and the women) try to find a way out, albeit in the wrong manner.
With the poems, make sure you understand the literal/denotative meaning as well as the figurative/connotative meaning. The former is the dictionary meaning while the latter is the inferred or implied meaning.
There is no harm in knowing some of the common literary devices (metaphors, similes, personification, onomatopoeia) employed in the short stories and poems.
Remember, the answers to the first three questions on the poem and short story can be found in the extract given.
The fourth question is usually a personal response question and the answer is teased out of candidates. This means you need to know the poem or story well in order to tackle this question.
Let us look at some sample questions.
Poems
If you can keep your head when all about you,
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired of waiting,
Or being lied about don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise...
a. Which phrase in the stanza above means to remain calm and rational?
Keep your head. (This is a question on language.)
b. What value is suggested in the line “If you can wait and not be tired of waiting”?
Patience. (This is a question on moral values or message conveyed by the writer and has to be inferred from the line cited.)
c. What does the father advise his son to do when others lie to him?
He should not lie. (This is an interpretation question as you have to paraphrase the idea conveyed in the phrase “don’t deal in lies”.)
d. Do you think the advice given by the father in the stanza above is relevant today? Give a reason for your answer.
Yes, we still need to adopt values like patience and honesty because these are the hallmarks of a morally sound person.
Or,
Yes, the values preached by the father are still relevant today because such values can help us live in a peaceful and harmonious environment. (This is a personal response question and requires your personal engagement with and interpretation of the text. Remember that a structure beginning with “Do you agree?” requires a “Yes” or “No” answer.)
There’s been a death in the opposite house
As lately as today.
I know it by the numb look
Such houses have always.
The neighbours rustle in and out,
The doctor drives away.
A window opens like a pod,
Abrupt, mechanically.
a. Where has the death occurred?
In the opposite house.
b. What does the phrase “numb look” suggest about the occupants of the house?
They are feeling sad and mournful.
c. What does the word “rustle” tell you about the movements of the neighbours?
They are moving about quietly, trying not to make any noise.
d. Would you visit a grieving family when someone in your neighbourhood passes away? Give a reason for your answer.
Yes, I would pay them a visit to offer my condolences and share their grief.
Or,
No, I wouldn’t because I do not know what to say or how to deal with people in such circumstances.
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