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In this section, there are contextual questions set on the following poems:
- ‘The Sea and the Eagle’ by Sydney David Clouts
- ‘A Sleeping Black Boy’ by Mongane Wally Serote
NOTE: Answer the questions set on BOTH poems, i.e. QUESTION 5.1 AND
5.1.1 Complete the following sentence by filling in the missing words. Write
only the word next to the question number (5.1.1) in the ANSWER
BOOK.
In this poem the poet describes man’s desire to …
A be like the thunder.
B be powerful like the sea.
C gain self-knowledge.
D fly like an eagle. (1)
5.1.2 Quote ONE word from Stanza 1 to prove that the following statement
is TRUE.
The sea and the eagle have isolation in common. (1)
5.1.3 Refer to line 4. (‘Devour their continents.’)
Explain what the poet means by using the words in this line. (2)
5.1.4 Refer to lines 5−8. (‘Bird, where are … up and upwards?’)
(a) Identify the tone in these lines. (1)
(b) Why is the tone appropriate in these lines? (1)
5.1.5 Refer to line 11. (‘Your beak has worried the bones of earth’)
(a) Identify the figure of speech in this line. (1)
(b) Explain why the figure of speech is appropriate. (2)
5.1.6 Refer to lines 15. (‘We have given you both a mystery.’)
Using your OWN words explain what is mysterious about the sea and
the eagle. (1)
5.1.7 Refer to line 18. (‘Terribly like a swoop of water.’)
Discuss the significance of ‘a swoop of water’. (2)
5.1.8 Discuss the theme of similarity in this poem. (3)
5.1.9 Discuss the suitability of the title of the poem, ‘The Sea and the Eagle’. (3)
AND
5.2 Read the poem carefully and then answer the questions which follow. The
number of marks allocated to each question serves as a guide to the expected
length of your answer
5.2.1 What is the setting of this poem? (1)
5.2.2 Quote FIVE consecutive words to prove that the following statement is
FALSE.
The boy has a home. (1)
5.2.3 Refer to line 3. (‘the huge jacket … onto his ears’)
Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence.
‘The huge jacket’ is a symbol of the boy being …
A neglected.
B snazzy.
C fashionable.
D negligent. (1)
5.2.4 Refer to line 5. (‘the dirt screams … a rotten smell’)
What does the poet mean by saying ‘the dirt screams from his
flesh’? Mention TWO points. (2)
5.2.5 Refer to line 6. (‘he is pinned … footsteps passing by’)
(a) In what way do the footsteps pin the boy down? (1)
(b) Explain in your own words ‘footsteps passing by’. (1)
5.2.6 Refer to lines 7−8. (‘his lullaby is … roaring steel river’)
Fully explain why the poet refers to a ‘lullaby’. (2)
5.2.7 Refer to lines 11−12. (‘this small boy … glue he smokes’)
(a) Identify the tone in these lines. (1)
(b) Why is the tone appropriate at this stage of the poem? (2)
5.2.8 Explain the irony in the title of the poem. (2)
5.2.9 Do you think the South African society is doing enough to take care
of street children? Discuss your view. (3)
[35]
TOTAL SECTION D: 35
GRAND TOTAL: 70