Literature-In-English Paper 3 Jan/Feb.2021

Question 9

 

How does the poet portray the beauty of the African woman in the poem Black Woman?

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Observation

 

The poem extols the beauty of a black woman and, by extension the beauty of Africa.  The several aspects of this beauty are portrayed in the four stanzas. However, most responses lack textual references.
Candidates were expected to discuss the following:

  • Identification the theme
  • Stanza 1 addresses the striking nature of Black Woman’s beauty as seen in her stark nakedness and blackness
  • Stanza 3 raises her beauty unto a pedestal where nothing else compares
  • Stanza 5 is the poet’ appreciation
  • Therefore, the poem is his song that keeps the beauty of black woman immortal.

Candidates’ performance in the question was fair.

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