Explanation

There are several significant ways in which Ajumobi is portrayed in the novel. He is presented as an accpmplished hunter, an adorable husband, an industrious farmer, and a sociable man in the community. Ajumobi is the late husband of Yaremi. As an accomplished hunter, he lives the most part of his life among animals in the forest. It is held that every pregnancy of a hunter's wife results in the birth of a child that looks like an animal: long-necked like the giraffe, large-eyed like the buffalo, or scaly-skinned like the crocodile. Consequently, Yaremi is warned of the inherent dan-ger in contemplating marriage with Ajumobi. So, during their courtship, the people of Kufi and Adeyipo keep close watch over Yaremi and Ajumobi, and conclude that their marriage will never stand the test of time. However, the people of Kufi are proved wrong. Their (Yaremi and Ajumobi's) marriage works out pretty well. Yaremi gives birth to beautiful children, male and female, who have no blemish whatsoever. They even get a grandchild, Woye. Indeed Ajumobi becomes Yaremi 's reliable partner in life, (`silent shadow in life'). His presence comforts and protects her as he is lively (hen boasting, funny when joking, and exciting when stammering.

That Ajumobi distinguishes himself as a husband, leaves an indelible impression on Yaremi as she reminisces on the happy days that she has with him. She swears never to stop loving him, though he is dead. He will always remain her best - a lovable creature dwelling in her innermost part of her heart, sweeping her off her feet. As a hunter of great repute, Ajumobi brings home all types of bush meat for his wife, Yaremi: antelope, impala and buffalo. Thus, Yaremi can differentiate the varieties in the taste of game. like the different tastes in the mouth: of sugar cane, coconut, ripe banana and honey. Being sociable, Ajumobi gets very well with his friends. They drink palmwine, gallop like frightened giraffes, rent the air with fickle slogans and jive wildly to the beat of sakara music together. As a part-time farmer, Ajumobi has a cocoa plantation, containing banana, Kolanut and palm trees. He also has a cassava farm, and a garden in his backyard. He is known to have competed with his brother, Dayo, on who had the strength to make eight hundred heaps in one day during their youthful days. In her confidential moment with Segi, her daughter and first child, Yaremi tells her that Ajumobi, her late father, distinguishes himself as a hundred since he was to her like the mighty baobab, king of the savannah, towering above ten thousand lesser trees around, protecting me under its cool shade, and taking good care of all you, my children. These recollections make Yaremi refuse to pick a cap during the cap-picking ceremony which would have made her remarry and settle down with another husband. Her defiance of the cap-picking ceremony is a testament to Ajumobi's greatness and her undying love for him, as to her, no other man can lift the candle to Ajumobi.

Points to Note:

1) The belief about offspring of hunters resembling animals, which is disproved.

2) Ajumobi as husband and family man

3) Ajumobi as a distinguished hunter

4) Ajumobi's death culminating in Yaremi's defiance of the widowhood rite.

5) Ajumobi as an industrious farmer

6) Ajumobi as a sociable man in society.

Explanation

There are many instances of conflict in the novel. One of the major conflicts emanates from marital relationships Nnu Ego's marriage to Amatokwu is fraught with conflict brought on by her childlessness. She is treated with contempt by her husband and his family because she cannot have a child. At the end, she is disgracefully thrown out of her matrimonial home. Conflict also arises from the practice of polygamy.

The relationship between Nnaife and Nnu-Ego, though it had its problems, is relatively cordial until the introduction of another woman into the household. The moment Adaku comes into the home the relationship between Nnaife and Nnu Ego degenerates. The women immediately become enemies and attempt to hurt each other.

There is also a conflict in the Ona-Agbadi relationship. Agbadi's insensitively to the feelings of his other wives as hE makes love to his mistress, Ona, breeds resentment in his wives and ultimately results in Agunwa's death. Ethnic conflict: is manifested in the relationship between the Ibo-Nnaife family and their proposed Yoruba suitors. This results in a near fatal machete attack which sees Nnaife ending up in jail.

There is a further conflict between the parents expectation of the male children's commitment to their families anc the realities of the situation. While Nnaife and Nnu-Ego expect Oshia and Adim to support them financially after the have gone overseas, the reality is that the children ignore them completely. This leads to resentment on the part of thE parents and an almost complete severance of family ties.

Correct Answer: D. attending a feast uninvited

Correct Answer: C. iambic

Correct Answer: D. The Concubine

Correct Answer: A. Islamic and modern traditions

Correct Answer: C. Hamlet

Explanation

The poem is about the clash of cultures and the major symbols are the drums, on the one hand, and the piano on the other. Each represents the African and the Western culture respectively. The minor symbols are drawn from flora and fauna. The persona recalls the 'jungle drums telegraphing the mystic rhythm" to symbolise the simplicity, not only of rural life, but also of authentic African culture.

It is the sound of these drums that excites in hint nostalgic feelings of the good old days in the "mother's laps a suckling". The sound also evokes memories of the rustic village life of that time and age as captured by the pastoral image of the hunters crouching "with spears poised". The animal image of "the leopard snarling about to leap" and the floral image of "green leaves and wild flowers" evoke fear and beauty.

The sound of the drums also enables the persona to recall the simplicity of that era when "paths with no innovations" were "fashioned" with the "naked/warmth of hurrying feet". The language associated with this drum symbol has warmth, vivacity and vitality, which reveals the persona's bias towards African culture. The other major symbol is the piano — "the wailing piano" — which stands for the new complex and alien culture and its mechanical sophistication.

Phrases used to describe this are "tear-furrowed concerto", "coaxing diminuendo, counterpoint and crescendo".The language associated with this symbol of the piano is doeful e.g. wailing piano, and one the persona is unable to identify with. Nevertheless, the two symbols — the 'jungle drums" and the "wailing piano" —forge a new consciousness that the persona is unable to deal with. That is his labyrinth.

Points to note:

(1) Symbolism is representation of an abstract idea or thing by concrete objects. Piano and Drums are the key symbols.

(2) The images associated with the drums are evoking, idyllic/pastoral setting.

(3) The images associated with the piano invoking artificiality, sophistication and even sorrow.

(4) The poet's complex attitude towards both symbols.

Correct Answer: C. personification

Correct Answer: B. poetry