Government Keypoints

This aims at discussing the topics vital in the subject government in terms of government Keypoints. 

• Government is a machinery through which the will of the state is formulated and attained. As an art, it is a body vested with the power and authority for maintaining security, peace, and stability by making and enforcing laws of the state. As an academic field, it is the study of agencies, political institutions and dynamics of the state. Its attributes are law, revenue, public supports, welfare services, political power. It performs the functions of law making, defence, administration of justice, maintaining internal and external relationships, economic and political responsibilities.

 

• IMPORTANCE OR WHY WE STUDY GOVERNMENT
• STATE AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF STATE
• Power is the ability to control the actions of others through the possession of means of sanctions.  The types or forms of power are political, military, economic and physical power. It can be acquired through charismatic acts, coercion, political authority, inheritance or constitution.
• Authority is the power or right to give orders and enforce obedience. It therefore gives one the right to command others to obey as a duty. The types or forms of authority are political, coercion, charismatic, delegation, technical, traditional, positional, or constitutional. Political authority can be acquired via legal, charismatic, or traditional means.
•  Legitimacy is a situation of being lawful or the general acceptance of the political system as the most appropriate and being in line with the laws of the land. There are some factors that affect legitimacy such as existence of good governance, popular support by the citizens, foreign diplomacy adopted by the government, political participation (pressure groups, political parties, etc)
• Sovereignty is the absolute power of the state to exercise supreme legal authority over its own affairs within its territory without any form of external control. The types or forms of sovereignty are legal, political, internal, external, de facto, de jure. The features of sovereignty are absoluteness, indivisibility, inalienability, comprehensiveness, permanence, absence of foreign control. Sovereignty suffer the following limitations; external help, coup d’etat, international laws, influence of pressure groups, customs and traditions, supremacy of the constitution, membership of international organisations, influence of powerful nations
• Political culture is the attitudes, sentiments, beliefs, ideas and norms that guide the behaviour of the people in a political system. Its components or features are cognitive orientation (people’s knowledge about the political system), affective orientation (people’s feelings towards the political system), evaluative orientation (people’s level of assessment of the political system).
• Political Socialization is a process in which the citizens are educated on the values, attitudes and beliefs of the political system. There are agents of political socialization which are the family, the school, the peer group, political parties, the mass media, religious group, pressure groups.
• Democracy is a system of government in which all qualified adult citizens share the supreme power directly or through their elected representatives. It is also defined as government of the people, by the people and for the people. Types of democracy are direct democracy (where all citizens are able to participate) indirect democracy which is also called representative democracy (through election, representatives are chosen). The functions of democracy are periodic elections, majority vole rules the country, the press has freedom, existence of separation of power, free and fair election, equality before the law, party system, independence of the judiciary, maintenance of the rule of law, reliable fundamental human rights, opposition government, no intimidation of the voters during election, etc.
• Oligarchy is the system of government where power of governance is with few privileged people.  It comes in form of aristocracy, plutocracy, theocracy or even military rule.
• Communism is an economic system where the means of production and distribution is totally controlled by government. It is characterized with classless society, the use of force, one party dominance, authoritarian rule, forceful acquisition of private properties, central planned economy, attainment of communism is mostly via revolution.
• Totalitarianism is a form of government where one supreme authority controls everything with no form of opposition. It is characterized by absence of opposition, one party dominance, limitation of the press, use of force, absence of rule of law, existence of single ideology and philosophy, suppression of initiatives, censorship of information.

 

• Fascism is an aggressive control through an anti-communist dictatorship. It is characterized by anti-communist movement, aggressive nationalism, avoidance of capitalism and socialism, motivation for war, absence of rule of law, absence of democracy, absence of popular view, absence of religious principles, total control of industrial activities.
• Feudalism is a system of government based on hierarchical order of ownership of land. Its features are leadership based on land ownership, lands are very vital, bond between landlord and serfs, existence of fief, feudal duties are performed in order to have access to land benefits.
• Communalism is a system of collective ownership among members of a community. Its features are collective ownership, strong co-operation, existence of communal societies, absence of private land ownership, absence of individual ambitions, high degree of cohesion, presence of common cultural belief, etc.
• Unitarianism is a system of government where the power is concentrated in the hand of a single authority or central government. It has its features as centralized power, use of unitary constitution, central interference into regional affairs, lack of constitutional division of power, the constitution is not supreme, presence of power delegation, lack of local legislative assemblies, parliamentary supremacy, etc. The reasons for Unitarianism are lack of tribal differences, political expediency, lack of minority groups, no fear of dominance, single language and culture, no economic inequality. Unitarianism has the following merits; stable government, low cost of management, quick decision making, unity persists, simplicity in operation, less bureaucratic, lack of human and material resources, no double loyalty. Unitarianism has the following demerits; encouragement of dictatorship, lack of local initiatives, it does not suit large territories, it does not encourage expansion, it keeps the government away from the people, it may lead to the central government bearing huge burdens.
• Federalism is a government system that shares power between all arms of the government and each arm is legally and constitutionally independent and autonomous. The features of federalism are rigidity of constitution, supremacy of constitution, bicameral legislature, constitutional repudiation of secession, regions possess residual power, central government is supreme, existence of written constitution, power comes according to constitution, matters in exclusive lists are reserved to the central government. The reasons for federalism are tribal difference, size of the country, absence of marked inequalities, possible expansion of the markets, fear of dominance, desire for union, protection of the interest of minority groups. The merit of federalism are rapid development, enjoyment of economies of scale, greater political strength, more employment opportunity, lack of emergency of dictator, existence of checks and balances, guaranteed human rights, the local dwellers are cared for, room for experimentation, greater participation of the people in government, etc. The demerits of federalism are inter-state friction, fear of dominance, unhealthy rivalry, enthronement of mediocrity, causes dual loyalty, disparity in the level of development, too expensive to manage, problem of wealth sharing, it also create a weak centre.
• Confederation is a political arrangement in which autonomous or sovereign states or republics come together to form a union in which almost the major functions of government are reserved exclusively for the component states with a weak centre. Its features are autonomous states, power is with component states, weak centre, constitution empowers the component states, right to secede, less politically stable, flexible constitution, and citizens have to obey only one government. The merit of confederation are growth encouragement, component states has the ability to make diverse laws, caters for local differences, enjoyment of economies of scale, bridge the gap between strong and weak states, prevents one state riding over another, no fear of dominance. The demerits of confederation are lack of even development, flexible government, power resides in the component states, it doesn’t assure political unity, and component states have their own armed force.
• Presidential system of government is when power of the state is vested on the president as the executive and legislature are separate arms. The presidential system is characterized with the rule of law, supremacy of the constitution, judicial review and interpretation, limited term of rule, checks and balances, executive power is performed by the president, president and his ministers are not members of the parliament. The merits are checks and balances, fixed tenure of office, separation of power, void of dictatorship, independence of the president, absence of collective responsibility, political stability, democracy, absence of conflict, effective executive arm, absence of official opposition party. The demerits are arbitrary dismissal by the president, long impeachment process, corruption, absence of official opposition, too expensive to manage, frequent frictions occur between executive and legislature.
• Duties and Responsibilities of the President
• Parliamentary system of government where the Head of State is different from Head of Government executive and legislature are somewhat similar. Characteristics are lack of strict separation of power, prime minister and cabinet ministers are members of legislature, prime minister is the head of government while president or queen is the head of state, executive arm gets authority from legislature, prime minister and cabinet minister are chosen from the legislative arm. Advantages of cabinet system of government are cooperation, discipline, stable government, efficiency of the executive, reduction of dictatorial tendencies, absence of frequent friction, collective responsibility and there is free flow of information. Disadvantages are frequent changes in government and policies, treat of coalition government, encouragement of arbitrary dismissal, no personal accountability, less democratic, and the fusion of powers does not encourage specialization.

 

• Duties and Responsibilities of the Prime Minister
• Collective Responsibilitymeans that all members of the cabinet are collectively accountable or responsible for all decisions and actions taken by the cabinet.
• Monarchy is a form of government under the rule of a king, queen or emperor known as the monarch. There is an absolute monarchy which possesses unlimited powers and does not derive power from the constitution and rules by divine rights. The other form is constitutional monarchy where the power is limited to the constitutional provisions.
• Republican is that which the Head of State is elected by the people of the state. The features are the Head of State known as the president is elected, rule of law, political and legal equality, officials perform government functions, politically independent, popular sovereignty, and the republican constitution is entirely home-made.

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Brief Overview of the WASSCE 2026-2030 Literature-In-English Texts

 Introduction 

This post aims at a brief overview of 2026 - 2030 WAEC, NECO, UTME Recommended Literature in English Texts; by reveal quite briefly the genres, types, contexts and themes, etc. 

It must be noted that a click can take you to the Comprehensive 15000 Words of Analyzed 2026 - 2030 Literature in English available online. 

This post will be useful to teachers, parents, students or online people searching for 2026 - 2030 literature in english syllabus, Waec 2026 - 2030 literature in english syllabus, 2026 new scheme of work – literature-in-english sss classes, WASSCE Literature syllabus pdf, Recommended Literature text for SS1 PDF free, etc. 

The Brief Overview

Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare is recommended in the 2026 - 2030 O-level Literature-In-English syllabus to be part of the excerpt literary appreciation within the objective questions (Paper 1). 

"Antony and Cleopatra" is a tragic drama about the relationship between Mark Antony (a Roman general) and Cleopatra (the Queen of Egypt) against a backdrop of politics and power struggles with the theme of detrayal, clash of culture, etc.

So the Path Does Not Die by Pede Hollist is a fictive prose to be categorized under bildunroman because it narrated the growth of a certain main character named Finaba Marah while pointing at some vital subjects such as cultural clash, gender relevance, female circumcision, etc. 

Redemption Road by Elma Shaw is under the Africa Prose section of the syllabus. The prose is about the recovery process gone through by Liberians to escape the post war traumatic experience they found themselves. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores issues of racial injustice, tolerance, and the loss of innocence in a small Alabama town during the 1930s. The story is told through the eyes of Scout Finch, whose father, Atticus, defended a wrongly accused Black man in a deeply prejudiced community.

[READ ALSO 50 Vital Points About To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee]

Pact of Lucas: the Journey he Endured by Susanne Bellefeuille is a non-fictive biographical narration of a family trauma, trials and tribulations. 

Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua is placed under the African Drama section of the syllabus. It is a tragic drama about greed and hunger for power. 

[ READ: Analysis of Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua ]

The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland is a play by Efua Sutherland that draws on Ghanaian folklore and the trickster character Ananse.The play exposed the themes of love, tradition, and social commentary within a Ghanaian cultural context.

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley is a play that critiques social responsibility and class distinctions in a post-World War II British setting. The story revolves around the Birling family, whose secrets are revealed by a mysterious inspector, leading to a deeper exploration of morality and accountability.

A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt is a play about Sir Thomas More, who opposes King Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church. The play explores themes of integrity, loyalty, and the conflict between personal conscience and political power.

Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara is a poem sectioned under the African poetry in the WAEC syllabus. It used the instrument of juxtaposition to reflect on the complexities of identity, nostalgia, and the beauty of innocence or naivety. 

The poem's themes are authenticity and the search for one's true self amidst cultural shifts.

New Tongue by Elizabeth L.A. Kamara is about the abandonment of the true African culture and ways of life for modern western civilization.

[ READ: Analysis of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara ] 

Night by Wole Soyinka is one of the recommended 2026 WASSCE Literature-in-English syllabus. It's under the genre of poetry which could be categorized under nature and ode. 

"Night" could be referred to as a poetic work of art reflecting on the superiority of night time over human existence and its fearful effects on the poem's speaker.

Not My Business by Niyi Osundare is a poem that critiques societal indifference to injustice and oppression.The poem emphasizes the importance of taking a stand against injustices affecting others.

[READ: Analysis of Not My Business by Niyi Osundare ].

Hearty Garlands by Soh Afriye-Vidza is a poem that celebrates old age and what lies ahead. The poet used the 85th birthday as the yardstick to embodied all that had happened in terms of toils, achievement, health, etc 

A Breast of the Sea by Syl Cheney Coker is Poem that employed the use of allusion to speak about experience of slavery and sea pollution as a result of such occurrence. 

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron is recommended by the O-level examination board as one of the Non African poetry to by studied by candidates. 

"She Walks in Beauty" is a poem by Lord Byron that describes a woman's beauty in a serene and admiring tone by exploring the themes such as beauty, contrast.

[READ: Analysis of She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron ].

 

The Nun's Priest's Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the Canterbury Tales in the 1390s. It's an epic poem based on the lengthy number of over 600 lines written in form of fable to teach a moral lesson urging the reader to be careful of flattery. 

Digging by Seamus Heaney is a poem about how a sudden feeling of reminiscing struck the poet to recollect his family legacy of farming which he didn't follow. 

It explored the themes of identity, heritage, and the connection to land through the act of digging.

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is one of the Non African poetry recommended by WAEC. It focuses on triumphant and resilience admist oppression. 

The voice of the poem exhorts his or her ability to rise above adversity, embodying themes of strength and empowerment.

The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock; this poem is a 6 stanza dramatic monologue. It examined the matters relating to the emotional feeling attached with receiving news of a sudden fortune. 

The Stone by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson is 89 lines narrative poem about a lady who died few days after the death of her lover due to the emotional pain and shock she suffered for receiving the quary work accident that happened to her lover. 

Conclusion

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Station 19 Season 5 Episode 13 Review: Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire

Can we please resolve the Beckett situation before he gets himself or someone else killed?!

The Beckett debacle on Station 19 Season 5 Episode 13 made their latest emergency call stressful, and it also highlighted the sexism that Maya faces compared to her colleagues and peers.

The hour also marked the end of Station 23 and the custody battle between Bailey and Warren and Dean's parents.

We've been waiting for so long for some movement or something akin to closure with Maya's quest to become captain again, and they delivered it in on fell swoop, crushing Maya's hopes in the blink of an eye.

From pep talks to Sullivan cheering her on, she thought she'd have a nice sit down with Ross, and she could make her case against the demotion, but Ross got straight to the point.

It's not not my fault that 23 got shut down.

Andy

• Permalink: It's not not my fault that 23 got shut down.
• Added: March 24, 2022

Ross is a former Marine, so she has a strict sense of duty and following orders. The notion that Maya got into this position that few women are in and chose insubordination doesn't sit well with Ross.

She doesn't care about why Maya did what she did, saving a life against the orders of her superior, or standing up against the man's inherent bigotry. In Ross' mind, Maya's demotion was one that's well-deserved.

We still don't know enough about Ross to understand if this is her true thought process or if she's working ulterior motives. She's hard to read that way, and the flashbacks of her and Sullivan's time in the military didn't do much to fill in some of the blanks with her character.

They showed us how focused and driven she is, and we saw how their relationship developed. It also gave us an inkling as to where Sullivan's PSTD stems. My heart broke for him when he had to take that shot and kill the man in front of his children.

Sullivan and Ross have chemistry and history, but they're still shrouded in uncertainty. It also feels like there is still something below the surface whenever he and Andy interact with each other.

But back to Ross and Maya.

Maya has done some things in her tenure as captain and she has earned some consequences for them. She's not a perfect person by any means, and she's had her moments. But she's not wrong about the double standards that she faces compared to others.

We've seen it with Jack and Sullivan. And we're definitely getting a glimpse of that with Beckett.

Beckett is unraveling before our eyes, and he's consistently putting the team at risk, and it's shocking that Sullivan is the only one who is noticing this, and he spent this much time giving the man the benefit of the doubt instead of telling Ross the truth right out of the gate.

Their job isn't something where you can afford to give someone the benefit of the doubt. If he had alcohol in his cabinet at work, and he's hungover while there, that's reason enough to expect the worst and be concerned.

The candy factory was a prime example of Beckett jeopardizing his team and the people they were there to save. He got the map wrong and sent them in the wrong way, and they wasted precious time there. They weren't even in the right spot to save the pregnant woman.

The call could've gone wrong a dozen different ways because of Beckett's error. We saw how dangerous it was when Duval and Andy's boots were melting on the floor, and they had to tear themselves away from their initial mission to tend to the woman.

A candy factor like that was a certified powder keg.

Beckett is so resistant to any form of help, too, and he hasn't taken the hand that Sullivans has lent him. You have someone like Maya, a good, capable captain who had to essentially do Beckett's job in the field.

We have Andy, whose arc at Station 23 has primed her for the role of  Station 19's captain, too. And that's where this will head, yes? Now that the other station is shutting down, Andy will probably get the role, which will be another blow to Maya.

In many ways, it feels like they've been more consistent in showing that Andy is ready for this than they have in addressing how Maya got screwed, and that's unfortunate.

But it's no doubt that Andy will return to Station 19, and she'll get the coveted spot if Ross acts accordingly and releases Beckett. I wonder who else will accompany her there? Hopefully, Theo, but do you see anyone else?

Vic lamented the idea of working alongside Theo at the same station because she knows it never ends well. She's not exactly wrong about that, but they've been through hell and back as a couple. By now, I'm confident that they're in an idealistic place and can manage.

The abortion has brought the two of them together, and it's the first time in a while that Vic seems genuinely happy. Hell, they started as a pairing that warranted a level of indifference, and now, they're probably one of the strongest ones there. It's remarkable growth for them.

One thing is for sure; they aren't together out of some fear of being alone, so they're nothing like poor Alan who died in his apartment without anyone noticing an eternity later.

Can we just pretend like all that never happened? I forgive you. I really, really forgive you.

Emmett

• Permalink: Can we just pretend like all that never happened? I forgive you. I really, really forgive you.
• Added: March 24, 2022

From that experience, Travis concluded that his issue is that he doesn't want to be alone, and that's what he's been avoiding while with Emmett. He also had the epiphany that he's never been in love with Emmett, he only wanted to avoid loneliness, and that his behavior makes him exactly like his father.

I'm glad that Travis is having these freaking epiphanies in his free time while working cases, but unless he goes to gosh damn therapy or something to unpack all of this further and actively do something about it, he can miss me with all of this.

The merry-go-round with this man who tricks himself, his boyfriends, and viewers into thinking he's capable of loving another person and moving on from Michael only to pull the rug from beneath our feet has gotten old. The message that he's incapable or somehow allergic to happiness is unhealthy.

It's such a disappointing development in that there is none for him at all based on this arc. When does Travis grow and evolve? When does he make some headway in his personal life?

Why is he frustratingly stagnant and perpetually broken? If one didn't know any better, they'd consider him the Meredith Grey of Station 19, but hell, even she isn't that bad and we at least saw her era of real love and some growth amid her dark and twistiness.

Travis had this grand epiphany, but Emmett, once again putting himself out there, coming to Travis, showed up at his doorstep to extend his forgiveness because Emmett likely genuinely loves Travis and/or he doesn't want to be alone either.

Emmett deserves so much better than this, and it sucks that Travis has become this unlikable because of his treatment of Emmett.

Meanwhile, things don't always look the prettiest with Carina and Maya, but at least there are marks of growth.

Carina is a kind, loving, supportive soul. They're beautiful attributes of hers, but Maya is a bit darker, and sometimes she requires different things.

Carina's love language is damn near all of them, words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts -- she does the works when she's showing Maya how much she loves and supports her. But to someone like Maya, it can be suffocating, and sometimes you need to sit in your anger and devastation for a bit before you focus on the positivity.

Fortunately, Maya is at a place where she can communicate her needs to Carina in a way that doesn't attack Carina or come across as her closing herself off or pulling away.

She isn't running away from her or shutting her out right now. She's taking her moment, and she reassured Carina that it's not a reflection on their relationship or future. And thankfully, Carina received that.

Even with Marina and Vic and Theo, Ben and Miranda remain the most solid couple of them all.

Similar to how they ripped the band-aid off with Maya's investigation leading nowhere, we got an unexpected end to the custody battle with the Millers.

Did anyone anticipate them giving Pru over because of health reasons?

They're such a stubborn pair, that you'd have expected them to rely on nannies or enlist the help of Dean's sister or some other family rather than turn Pru over to Ben and Bailey.

They still tried it, though. The stipulation that they wanted all of the holidays and some of the summer was excessive, and they should've known that Bailey would flip out over that.

After that long process, I'm not sure I would've fought them on it. Sure, offering to spend the holidays together is the most sensible, but if they got her for the rest of the year, they could've managed without the holidays.

Bailey is ruthless when she's fighting for hers, so her putting them on blast and implying that she knew someone was sick and she'd take it to the judge was within the realm of something she'd do.

But her compassion and her instinct as a healer kicked in too, so it's pleasing that she's arranging for Mrs. Miller to consult with Maggie about her heart condition.

She should be with you. It's what's best for her.

Mrs. Miller

• Permalink: She should be with you. It's what's best for her.
• Added: March 24, 2022

And they still left things out there in the open when Mrs. Miller insisted that Ben's job was too dangerous and implied that he needs to quit it if he wants Pru.

Over to you, Station 19 Fanatics. Are you devastated for Maya? Do you think Andy will get Captain at Station 19? Are you happy the custody battle is over? Hit the comments!

You can watch Station 19 online here via TV Fanatic.

source https://www.tvfanatic.com/2022/03/station-19-season-5-episode-13-review-cold-blue-steel-and-sweet/

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Rivian hikes the base price of its quad-motor R1T pickup by $12,000

Rivian has raised the original $67,500 base price of its quad-motor R1T electric pickup with large battery packs to $79,500 (sans destination charges). That's a whopping $12,000 increase that will apply to most reservation holders except for those in the very final stages of purchase. The price of the R1S SUV (below) is also being hiked by $12,000 from $72,500 to $84,500.

"Like most manufacturers, Rivian is being confronted with inflationary pressure, increasing component costs, and unprecedented supply chain shortages and delays for parts (including semiconductor chips)," said Rivian's chief growth officer Jiten Behl.

Rivian

If you were still hoping to pay the lower prices, there is another option. Rivian has introduced dual-motor versions of the R1T and R1S EVs, with both starting at the original $67,500 and $72,500 prices. You also have the option of equipping the dual-motor vehicles with the large battery packs, priced at $73,500 for the R1T and $78,500 for the R1S. 

However, neither of those vehicles will be available until 2024, and both will have smaller "standard" battery packs that deliver less range than the large packs (260 miles instead of 310 miles). So you'll be getting quite a lot less vehicle for the same money. 

The dual-motor variants (one at each axle) will have motors designed, engineered and manufactured by Rivian. They'll deliver 600 HP and 600 pound-feet of torque, according to Rivian, delivering a 4.0-second 0-60 mph time. That's about a second slower than the fastest quad-motor R1T (835 HP and 908 pound-feet of torque), but still pretty darn fast.

source https://www.engadget.com/rivian-hikes-the-price-of-its-quad-motor-pickup-by-12000-065521100.html?src=rss

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Analysis of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara

Introduction 

Based on those messages sent to me through the Tutor-Me link, inquiring about the poem titled "New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", this post will discuss the poem, the background, the theme, the settings, the structure, the poetic devices, the mood, the tone, etc. 

This post will be very useful for students, teachers, and anyone who seek following questions such as "what are the themes of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara", "summary of New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", "lesson note for New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara", "can I get the pdf review of New Tongue by Elizabeth Kamara", etc. 

Elizabeth L. A. Kamara

She is an author, poet and teacher of English language literature. Born and bred in Sierra Leone. 

New Tongue 

The poem titled "New Tongue" by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara is poem that indirectly decried Africans foolishness for neglecting their own culture and norms for borrowed modernisation; the poem also examined few of the flaws associated with the new culture or lifestyle adopted. 

Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is worrisome and lamentation in order to create the mood for awareness and reflection.

Diction

The choice of words by the poet, aligns with a layman's understanding. Therefore, making the message easy to comprehend.

Third Person Point of View 

New Tongue by Elizabeth LA kamara has a third person plural narrative technique. By employing words, "they", "their", "family", "bonds", "minds"; it gave the readers a sense of general phenomenon in term of the change accepted. 

Stanza

The poem is of 5 stanza of uneven count of lines per stanza. (Stanza 1) they have adopted a new culture and language they so much cherished to the extent that the old is now a mere dream_ which has affected the ties that used to exist between family and friends. (Stanza 2) the new generation doesn't give a damn about the bond that comes from sticking to the norms of family, traditions, and heritage. (Stanza 3) they are now against gerontocracy_ or simply the principle of elders first. (Stanza 4) they glorify their new way of life which prioritizes the boring self-centered attitude. (Stanza 5) they hung on to the borrowed culture and decided to never look back. 

Lines

New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara is poem with the total of 46 lines void of planned rythmns_ which makes poem a free verse. 

Flow

The poet hit on her concern in the first stanza, then expressed the negative impacts or effects of her concern in stanza two, three, four while she noted in the final stanza that there might never be any solution to the damage already done. In a nutshell, New Tongue by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara possessed a downward or climactic flow. 

Change

The theme of change is obvious if we consider the title of the poem and the context of the poem as well. "New Tongue" denotes transformation or change while the repetition of the word "new" and "borrowed" tell the readers that were once old and unborrowed lifestyle. 

Clash of Culture

Let's quickly shed a floodlight on  the theme of cultural clash in the poem. Besides the fact that the poem gave the readers literal and societal sense of the clash between African culture and westernisation or perhaps modernisation or synonymously called civilisation , the poet sends a message of clash between the old and the new; the past, the present and the future, not excluding the clash between the heritage and the borrowed, the loss and the found, 

Take a look at line 1 - 7 quoted below and you see the evidence of cultural clash I have explained: 

"They speak in a new tongue 

And dance new dances 

Minds battered into new modes and shapes 

Their eyes revel in the wonder of the new 

Embraced and bound to hearts with impregnable chains 

The old songs as disregarded dreams 

Remnants of a past."

Disunity and Disrespect 

The theme of disunity and disrespect exposed in the poem are addressed as part of the negative effects of the borrowed culture as opposed to the African culture and beliefs. All over the poem, there are complaints about how the new generation now lack family unity because they have disunited or disconnected with their tradition and their cultural heritage. An instance is shown below from stanza 2 of the poem:

"A new generation 

Careless of bonds 

Of family 

Of tradition 

Of heritage 

They care not 

Nor revere the old 

Their minds turn inwards 

Only inwards 

Like the insides of clothes 

That marry the bodies of mankind" 

Even the stanza 3 further complained about the disrespect the new generation bestow elders and the position that should be reserved for elders in their scheme of activities. 

Allusion 

In line 43 of the poem, there is a biblical allusion "their borrowed minds parted the red sea long time ago", which alluded to the fact that among the borrowed culture in terms of religion is Christianity. The allusion reminds the readers of the Moses and the Israelite's captivity story in the Bible. 

Symbolism 

Let's point out some symbolism in the poem are "minds" in line 3 and 43 which symbolizes a belief system or lifestyle. "dances" in line 2 and "shoes" in line 42 both symbolize mode of entertainment. "tongue" in line 1 and 30 symbolizes language. 

Alliteration 

Some glaring alliteration in the poem are "and dance new dances" [line 2], "last lock"[line 44], "coldness descending like snow covered mountain"[line 35], "bathing at the back of the house"[line 36], etc. 

Simile

Elizabeth injected like three similes in the Poem, as seen in line 6 [the old songs as disregarded dreams], seen in line 35 [a strange coldness descending like snow covered mountain], and also in line 36 [or like bathing at the back of the house]. 

Imagery 

Here are some imageries in the poem_ "new tongue", "new dances", "new modes and shapes", "impreganable chains", "the old songs as disregarded dreams", "a strange coldness descending like snow covered mountain", "on a rainy July day", "last lock on their culture", "without a backward glance", etc. 

Metaphor 

Few metaphor existed in line 25 "Not even on the edge of their minds" and "Ties of family and friendship/ Loosened, broken, burnt/ The ashes strewn into the bottomless sea" seen in lines 8 and 9 is a metaphor or maybe an extented metaphor at that.

Closing the Curtain 

I feel like drawing the post to a close at this juncture. Hopefully, you should find it easier to comprehend the poem as regards the connotation, denotation and the figuratives.

You can as well contribute to the discussion via the comment box and be kind enough to share this post to social media platforms. 

Feel free to motivate the writer of this post by clicking on BuyMeACoffee

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Ode To A Poet's Curtain

Ode to a Poets curtain

Eh,what a screen with a heavenly picture !
Picturing an artistic fixture.
Turning my bedroom to a museum of culture
That handsomely showcases the native of passion
With the exhibition of heavenly creatures;

Hi,you scattered lightening of illumination!
I embarrassingly cherish your illustration;          
What a great explanation!
For illuminating heaven's innovation;

Ho,you banana shaped fluorescence of harmony!
Harmonizing damsels as the heavenly legacy                
I marvel at such melody
Because he speak from memory ;

Hello,you specially carved image of passion!
Sitting on the harmonious banana fluorescence
With a crownlike beret of assertion ,
Wearing an angelic gown of emergence
Ribbonly embellished  for fashion ;
Miss passion,your comely face of continence
That never conceals emotion
By reproducing an alluring smile,
Romanticizing my soul with affection
From this curtain-screen.

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I Still See Your Eyes

 

I STILL SEE YOUR EYES

I still see your eyes

Through teddies, through birdies, through butterflies

I still see your eyes

Through thirteen ladies that said to me hi!

I still your eyes

Through their eyes that wish me wooed them and then be their guy

I still see your eyes

Through the streamings of many streams so nigh

I still see your eyes

Like night and the break of a daylight

I still see your eyes

Through the stars of the sky of your eyes

I still see your eyes

Through the seed of love you sowed in me's why

I still see your eyes

Through our peace and our tears we cry,

I still see your eyes

Through the towns we've passed by

I still see your eyes

I still see your eyes every night I lie

And your seed of love growing in me's why

I still see your eyes.

               Copyright ©  Samuel C. Enunwa Oct. 14, 2011.

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Cervical Cancer Prevention

EARLY CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION

Of all the things of my interest

Women I take to be the first

Women are gifts, women are pets

Women are still fragile elements

It pains when pains and sudden death

Cajole cancer to take their breaths

It is very important that

Women keep taking the Pap test

For all cervical cancer that leads to death

Destroy women with irregular Pap test

So if you can see this poem Mr Japhet

Take the message to all women on earth

And if you can see this poem lady Janet

Take the message to all women on earth

Health is wealth, don't ever forget

To maintain medical checkup and treatment

I love you all with all my breadths

And wish you sound health on earth.

Copyright © Samuel Enunwa aka samueldpoetry (05-01-2013)

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Analysis Of Ambush By Gbemisola Adeoti

PURPOSE:-
This article will speak of the poet, the themes, the mood, the figures of speech, etc.

SUITABILITY:-
This article is suitable for; (a) All lovers of poetry (b) All lovers of Literature-In-English (c) Students for WASSE/WAEC, NECO, GCE, A-LEVEL, IJAMB examination (d) Students of English Language And Literature In Universities, Polythenics, Colleges of Educations, etc.

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM AMBUSH:-
Ambush is a poem written by Gbemisola Adeoti, a teacher, poet, editor, author, etc. He is a Nigerian belonging to Yoruba ethnic group. A member of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Gbemisola Adeoti works as a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Ambush has four themes: (1) the theme of hopelessness (2) the theme of helplessness (3) the theme of danger (4) the theme of deceit.

Hopelessness in a nation full of hardworking people appeared in the language of the poem speaker. With the use of symbolism, whale s
tood as the symbol of hopelessness swallowing every effort and attempt of the citizen to the extent of petering out their desires and made them return home without catching a fish.

Anothe theme of the poem is helplessness. How correct is the statement? When the sabre-toothed tiger cried "deep in the glade", the poem speaker made the readers realize that "infants shudder home" and adults that stood their grounds only did so because such troubles or tribulations were inevitable. 

Besides their helplessness towards the tiger, they also had no help against the hawk of disasters hover above them and none to redirect from the path where the land await ambush them "toward the snare of possibilities".

The theme of danger is next; and virtually all the lines of the poem exemplified it. 

The poet made it known with the use of following words like "swallows", "cries", "snatch", "tribulations", "disaster" and created dreadful agents of death like "a giant whale", "a sabre-toothed tiger", "a giant hawk" to carry out fear and danger.

The theme of deceit can be seen crystal clear at the end part of the poem where those walking toward the right direction are ambushed and misdirected.

The structure of the poem is very easy to understand since the poem does not take a rigid classic structure like that of The Pulley by George Herbert [you can view The Structure of the Pulley by George Herbert]
Ambush is a 21 lines poem that is void of specific rhythm and end rhyme pattern; not broken into verses. 

With the aid of symbolism, metaphor, imagery, etc. the poet's opinion is flatly tabled in front of the readers. "The land" which appeared many times in the poem plus the metaphorical animals reveal how the masses of a badly governed society suffer (standing at the receiving end). Each opinion of the poem speaker is further explained with the introduction of a relative pronoun "that" for instance in line 2, "that swallows the sinker" in line 9 as well, "that cries deep in the glade". 

Though Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti is not structured in a multi-stanza form but each mention of "The land" gives birth to a fresh opinion, which divides the poem into four (4) nonvisual stanzas.

The poem has a tone of sincerity and made the poem readers feel a mood of revelation, realising the evil plots of the land or in the land.

The Figures Of Speech
There symbolism in the poem where the whale symbolized hopelessness, tiger symbolized helplessness and danger, hawk and the title of the poem "ambush" both symbolized danger. 

The land was personified and the land was also used as a metaphor by comparing it to a giant whale, a sabre-toothed tiger, a giant hawk, a dangerous person or an animal laying ambush. There was repetition of the following: the land, a giant, Peter, dusk, etc. Alliterations in the poem were "swallows the sinker", "Peter with Petered out desires", "the land lies". 

The poem also made use of biblical allusion of Peter fishing but could not catch any fish until Jesus Christ directed him to the right place to cast his net (John 21:3-6).

"The land lies patiently ahead" also has the "the land" personified and portrayed the land a tyrant putting the victims in a condition of hopeless.

To Narrate Ambush In Prose Form:-

The land we live is more like a giant whale that disrupts the efforts of fishermen where all achievable goals are made to be a waste of time and effort.
The land we live now treats its dwellers like prey; kids and adults live in fear of possible bestial attack.

The land we live is so full of contagious diseases that mingle with our atmosphere seen everywhere like a giant hawk hovering in the sky.
In conclusion, the land we find ourselves is such a slavery zoo. Whoever tries to escape is ambushed and brought to book.

Similarity Between Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti And The Dining Table by Gbanabom Hallowell

The tone of both poems is sad. Not only that, the speaker of both poems are victims; victim of bad governance in the poem "Ambush" by Gbemisola Adeoti but victim of civil attack in the poem "The Dining Table" by Gbanabom Hallowell. Both poems share the theme of danger and destruction: "The land is a sabre-toothed tiger/ that cries deep in the glade/ while infants shudder home/ the grizzled ones snatch their gut/ from bayonets of tribulation" (according to line 8-12 of Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti)
"The table/ that gather us in an island where guerrillas/ walk the land while crocodiles/ surf..." (according to line 9-12 of The Dining Table by Gbanabom Hallowell)

COMMON QUESTIONS:-
(1) Narrate Ambush by Gbemisola Adeoti in a prose form.
(2) Discuss how the use of poetic devices portray the feelings of the poet.
(3) Describe Ambush As Metaphor Of societal Evil
(4) From your understanding of the poem Ambush, what messages are passed across by the poet?

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Samuel C. Enunwa aka samueldpoetry
(the soaring Leo with wings in the sky)

Feel free to inform friends and fellows if you love this article

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Raphael Beniitez

 Raphael Beniitez is a man of magic

Human within his practices

Sometimes strong and sometimes weak

Raphael Beniitez is a coach of coaches

Lives within the bricks

Of humility

Maturity

And vast experiences

And placards of hate

Don't make him.freak

And haters don't make him sick

Glories have been his

As well as match loses

Raphael Beniitez authenticity

Is seen in who he is

Football to Wenger is economics

Management of little resources

Football to Mourinho is mathematics

Four plus two is equal to six

Football to Beniitez is metaphysics

Theories and myths are mixed

With tactical analysis

As the gimmicks for making magic

No matter what you think

I'm here to stick to the fact that

Other coaching managers

Do not better Raphael Beniitez.

Copyright © Samuel Enunwa aka samueldpoetry (01-03-2013)

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The Remains of Raymond Hoe (Part 1)

THE REMAINS OF RAYMOND HOE

Fellow friends and fellow foes

Wait, let me tell this tale of woe

The way I know they wait below

Below my belly where they grow

For woe is me! My friends and foes

When I heard of Raymond Hoe

I screamed, I shouted no!

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

I've known Mr. Raymond Hoe

For ten and a year below

When we met at fashion show

He was nice, you should know

He was kind, and gently goes

He rhymingly uses o

Whenever he says hello

When I say to him also

“Good evening Mr. Hoe”

He says, “Hello, Mr. Sam o

How dey go dey go dey go?

How your wife and family o?

I hope they are all fine o.”

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

He was a one man Mopo

And used to wear polo

And loved to wear chino

And used to live solo

A divorcé, you should know

With no child no, no, no

With no kin no, no, no

With no pal no, no, no

But I thought with no foe

When I heard in my bungalow

When I heard this tale of woe

When I heard of Raymond Hoe

I screamed, I shouted no!

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

The very young Raymond Hoe

Who only had seven years to

Clock forty, you should know

You should know Mr. Hoe

He was an average fellow

He wasn't a rich fellow

He wasn't a poor fellow

He lived a room not a bungalow

To hide his head from mosquitoes

And the chills that always blow

Through the night to and fro

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

Two o'clock remained ten to

And the sun was in full glow

When they entered the room of Hoe

And found him lying solo

With his head on his pillow

Listening to music of Mario

 Through his ipodlike radio

Waiting beside his pillow

The earpiece hung above his lobe

Where he lay like log solo

Through his throat blood flow

Soaking Hoe from head to toe

But why? And why Raymond Hoe?

But why this very man I know?

Like goat, someone slaughtered Hoe

In his bed, on his pillow

But the murderer, I believe so

Sooner or later, you shall all know.

     Copyright ©  Samuel C. Enunwa July 21, 2011.

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