Question 24
WAEC_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1
•
2024
•
LITERATURE_IN_ENGLISH
•
objective
Both Chinua Achebe's ‘Things Fall Apart' and Wole Soyinka's ‘The Lion and the Jewel' feature the motif of fire. Identify the symbolic meaning of fire in each work and explain how the differing meanings reflect the authors' contrasting views on cultural change. Provide a concise comparative analysis in three sentences.
Answer Options
Correct Answer
A.
In ‘Things Fall Apart' fire symbolizes destructive change and the collapse of tradition, reflecting Achebe's warning about cultural loss; in ‘The Lion and the Jewel' fire represents the sustaining warmth of communal tradition, showing Soyinka's belief in the resilience of culture. The opposing symbols illustrate Achebe's pessimistic view of colonial impact versus Soyinka's more optimistic celebration of tradition.
B.
In "Things Fall Apart" fire symbolizes the bright hope of progress, showing Achebe's optimism about cultural adaptation; in "The Lion and the Jewel" fire represents chaotic destruction, reflecting Soyinka's critique of tradition. The contrasting symbols highlight Achebe's positive view of change versus Soyinka's negative stance.
C.
In "Things Fall Apart" fire denotes the spiritual enlightenment of the characters, suggesting Achebe's belief in cultural synthesis; in "The Lion and the Jewel" fire is a metaphor for the coldness of modernity, indicating Soyinka's fear of losing warmth. The symbols therefore reverse the authors' actual positions on change.
D.
In "Things Fall Accident" fire stands for the literal cooking fires of the village, with no symbolic weight; in "The Lion and the Jewel" fire is merely a stage prop, indicating neither cultural change nor tradition. This shows both authors treat fire as a neutral element.
Correct Answer
A
Correct Option:
In ‘Things Fall Apart' fire symbolizes destructive change and the collapse of tradition, reflecting Achebe's warning about cultural loss; in ‘The Lion and the Jewel' fire represents the sustaining warmth of communal tradition, showing Soyinka's belief in the resilience of culture. The opposing symbols illustrate Achebe's pessimistic view of colonial impact versus Soyinka's more optimistic celebration of tradition.
About This Question
This is
Waec Model Questions Vol1
2024
Literature In English
Question 24.
It is one of the
objective
questions from the
2024
Waec Model Questions Vol1
Literature In English
examination.
Difficulty level:
Hard
.