NECO LITERATURE IV QUESTIONS & neco 2024 physics
(AFRICAN AND NON-AFRICAN PROSE)
Answer one question from each section Each question carries 30 marks.
SECTION I
(AFRICAN PROSE)
Buchi Emecheta: Second Class Citizen
- How does Adah’s fight for the dignity of womanhood contribute to the development of the novel?
- With adequate textual illustrations, discuss the challenges faced by immigrants as portrayed in the text
Alex Agyel-Agyiri: Unexpected Joy at Dawn
- Discuss the role played by security personnel in the novel
- With adequate textual references, discuss the use of irony in the novel
SECTION II
(NON-AFRICAN PROSE)
Ralph Elison: The Invisible Man
- Discuss the theme of identity crisis in the text.
- Write on the character and role of the Narrator in the text
Emily Brontë: Wuthering Heights
- Write on the theme of love in the novel
- Give a detailed account of Nelly’s role in Linton’s tragedy.
NECO 2024 LITERATURE SOLUTION
SECTION I: AFRICAN PROSE
NUMBER 2
“Second Class Citizen” by Buchi Emecheta vividly portrays the struggles of Adah, a Nigerian woman, who moves to the United Kingdom in search of a better life. The challenges she faces are multifaceted, reflecting both personal and systemic obstacles that immigrants encounter.
1.Racism and Discrimination:
Adah faces blatant racism and discrimination upon her arrival in the UK. She is constantly reminded of her outsider status and treated as a second-class citizen. The narrative illustrates how she is marginalized in various social and professional settings, highlighting the pervasive nature of racial prejudice in her new environment.
2.Economic Hardship:
Economic struggles are a significant aspect of Adah’s immigrant experience. Despite her qualifications and determination, she finds it difficult to secure well-paying jobs due to racial discrimination. The jobs she does manage to get are low-paying and exploitative, exacerbating her financial difficulties and making it hard to support her family.
3.Isolation and Alienation:
Adah’s sense of isolation is palpable throughout the novel. She is cut off from her cultural roots and struggles to assimilate into British society. This cultural dislocation is compounded by the lack of a support network, making her feel alone and disconnected from both her homeland and her new country.
4.Gender Inequality:
As a woman, Adah faces additional challenges. Her struggles are not just against racial prejudice but also against patriarchal norms. Her husband, Francis, embodies the oppressive traditional gender roles, often belittling and abusing her. This domestic conflict illustrates the intersection of gender and racial oppression in Adah’s life.
5.Legal and Bureaucratic Hurdles:
The novel also touches on the bureaucratic challenges that immigrants face, such as obtaining legal residency, work permits, and dealing with an often indifferent or hostile immigration system. These hurdles further complicate Adah’s efforts to establish a stable life in the UK.
NUMBER 3
“Unexpected Joy at Dawn” by Alex Agyei-Agyiri deals with the plight of immigrants in West Africa, particularly those facing deportation and the challenges of seeking refuge. Security personnel play a significant role in the narrative, often embodying the oppressive forces that the characters must navigate.
1.Enforcers of Deportation Policies:
Security personnel in the novel are depicted as the enforcers of harsh deportation policies. Their actions often lack compassion, focusing on the rigid implementation of laws rather than the humanitarian aspects of the immigrants’ plight. This creates a climate of fear and uncertainty among the immigrant population, who are constantly at risk of being forcibly removed from the country.
2.Corruption and Exploitation:
The novel also portrays instances of corruption among security personnel. Some officers exploit their power, demanding bribes and exploiting the vulnerability of immigrants. This corruption exacerbates the difficulties faced by immigrants, as they must navigate not only legal challenges but also the moral corruption of those in authority.
3.Violence and Intimidation:
Instances of violence and intimidation by security personnel are highlighted in the narrative. These actions serve to dehumanize immigrants, portraying them as threats rather than individuals seeking safety and better opportunities. The use of force and intimidation by security forces underscores the harsh realities faced by immigrants in their struggle for survival and stability.
4.Gatekeepers of Opportunity:
Despite their generally oppressive role, security personnel also act as gatekeepers to opportunities. Their decisions can mean the difference between deportation and the chance to build a new life. This gatekeeping role underscores the immense power they hold over the lives of immigrants, highlighting the precariousness of the immigrant experience.
NECO LITERATURE IV ANSWERS
(7)
In “Wuthering Heights,” love is a central theme, portrayed as both romantic and brotherly, rather than erotic. Every relationship in the novel experiences strain at some point, highlighting the tension between good and evil, or love and hate. The most significant relationship is between Heathcliff and Catherine, whose love transcends earthly bounds and is spiritual in nature.
Their love, however, stems from rebellion rather than sexual desire, and they struggle to fully comprehend it. Despite their profound connection, they betray each other by marrying others. Their bond is based on a shared perception and identity, as demonstrated by Heathcliff’s profound grief when Catherine dies, lamenting that he cannot live without his “soul.”
Contrasting love is the capacity for hate, with Heathcliff embodying this vengeance-driven emotion. His hatred targets Hindley, Edgar, and, to some extent, Catherine. This hatred fuels the novel’s major theme of revenge. The interplay of hate and revenge, coupled with selfishness, reveals conflicting emotions that drive destructive behavior. The intense bond between Catherine and Heathcliff often shifts from positive to negative, especially when threatened. Heathcliff’s response to Catherine’s death, wishing her torment, marks the beginning of his personal hell and his descent into a life of cruel revenge against those associated with Catherine or those he despises.
Heathcliff’s return to Wuthering Heights is driven by a desire for revenge, which becomes especially inhuman after Catherine’s death. His scornful love transforms into desperate hatred and revenge, devastating both the avenger and the avenged.
In contrast to the destructive love between Catherine and Heathcliff is the proper, albeit less passionate, love between Catherine and Edgar. Their relationship represents peace and comfort and is socially acceptable, but it pales in comparison to the profound connection between Catherine and Heathcliff. Cathy and Linton’s love, on the other hand, is exaggerated and founded on Linton’s weakness, with Cathy’s affection stemming from her desire to protect him.
Finally, the love between Cathy and Hareton balances the traits of other relationships in the novel. Their love combines the passion of Catherine and Heathcliff without the destructiveness, and the gentleness of Edgar and Catherine without the dullness. This relationship suggests a more hopeful and balanced form of love, in contrast to the tumultuous and often destructive loves that dominate the narrative.
NECO LITERATURE IV ANSWERS
(2)
The myriad challenges faced by immigrants are vividly depicted through Adah, the protagonist. The novel highlights pervasive racism, identity crises, and societal limitations imposed on immigrants, particularly Africans, in a foreign land. Adah’s journey encapsulates the struggles and resilience of immigrants as they navigate a society that views them as inferior.
Racial discrimination is a cornerstone of Adah’s experience in London. As a black Nigerian woman, Adah confronts the harsh realities of racism. Her first encounter with overt racial discrimination occurs when she and her family receive an eviction notice from their home on Ashdown Street, solely based on their race. Despite having no issues with their fellow tenants or the landlady, the eviction underscores how racial prejudice dictates the lives of black immigrants, limiting their housing options and subjecting them to unwarranted evictions.
Adah’s struggle to find new accommodation is compounded by pervasive racism in London. Nearly every vacant space bears the inscription, “Sorry, No colored,” highlighting widespread racial exclusion. This relentless discrimination forces Adah to adapt her behavior and identity, adopting a fake accent to sound more like a white lady in hopes of securing housing. Such measures underscore the psychological toll of racism, pushing immigrants to alter their identities to fit into a prejudiced society.
The psychological impact of racism is profound. Adah’s self-esteem and sense of worth are continuously battered, forcing her to confront the painful reality of being black in a predominantly white society. This internal struggle is exacerbated by her husband’s actions. Francis’s burning of Adah’s manuscript, “The Bride Price,” symbolizes his internalized racism and belief that literary success is reserved for whites, further diminishing Adah’s sense of self.
Adah’s immigrant experience is marked by socio-economic challenges. Despite her education and determination, she faces obstacles in securing stable employment. As the family’s breadwinner, while her husband remains unemployed, she feels economic pressures. The limited job opportunities for black immigrants force them into menial jobs, reflecting systemic barriers that hinder upward mobility. This economic marginalization traps many immigrants in poverty and dependence, making it difficult to provide a better life for their families.
Cultural isolation is another significant challenge depicted in the novel. Adah and her family are not only racially segregated but also culturally alienated from mainstream British society. This isolation is evident in their housing struggles, as they are forced to live in slums with other marginalized communities. The sense of alienation is compounded by the rejection and hostility from the broader society, which views them as outsiders.
This cultural isolation extends to the workplace and social interactions, where Adah and other immigrants are often treated with suspicion and contempt. The lack of acceptance and integration into the host society leads to a feeling of perpetual otherness, where immigrants like Adah are constantly reminded of their second-class status.
