Observation

This question requires the candidates to give a comprehensive assessment of the theme of racial discrimination in the novel.

Candidates were expected to discuss the following:

• Statement of the theme of racial discrimination.
• Explanation of racial discrimination: racial discrimination applies to an unequal relationship between whites and blacks. The prologue is pregnant with instances of racial discrimination.
• Manifestations of racial discrimination: the battle royal, in which the black boys are made to fight as a form of entertaining the whites; the narrator’s abortive valedictory speech, the visit of Mr. Norton to Trueblood, the bus ride to New York, the eviction of the old couple, the story of Trueblood.
• Implications of racial discrimination: there is so much violence in the world of the novel; the protagonist is forced to engage in criminal acts such as his battle with the Monopolated Light & Power.

Candidates performed creditably well.