An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley (Act 1 Summary)

Introduction

Let's do the summary of the act one of the drama book "An Inspector Calls by B. J. Priestley". This summary will be useful to the fans of literature, the teachers, the students and WAEC, NECO, UTME candidates.

Actually, the drama book shares resemblance with a certain movie titled "Nine Dead" which was released in 2009.

Act 1:

The celebration of Sheila Birling's engagement to Gerald Croft in Mr and Mrs Birling's living room. At the dinner table Mr Authur Birling, Mrs Sybil Birling, Sheila Birling, Eric Birling and Gerald Croft ate the delicious meal prepared by Edna (the maid)_ they wined and dined; Gerald Croft presented Sheila a very gorgeous engagement ring and the whole table toast to the love birds' engagement. 

After Sybil and Sheila left the room, Mr Authur Birling advised Eric and Gerald to be optimistic about the future rather than worry that war might soon break out. He also told them to mind their business and put themselves first in everything they do in life.

A knock on the door, Inspector Goole was welcome to the house by Edna. The police inspector was investigating the suicidal death of a young who died that day at the Infirmary after swallowing some disinfectant.

Inspector Goole showed Mr. Authur Birling a picture while preventing Eric and Gerald from seeing the picture he showed him. Mr Authur Birling recognized the lady as Eva Smith; a hard-working lady who was sacked at Birling and Company in 1910 (two years ago) after she was one of those who stirred a strike after Mr Authur Birling refused to give them a pay raise.

According to the drama book "An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley", Mr Authur Birling contributed to Eva Smith's death by:

"INSPECTOR: Yes, she was out of work for the next two months. Both her parents were dead, so that she'd no home to go back to. And she hadn't been able to save much out of what Birling and Company had paid her. So that after two months, with no work, no money coming in, and living in lodgings, with no relatives to help her, few friends, lonely, half-stanced, she was feeling desperate."

The inspector also noted that all others would be interrogated. When Sheila entered the living room, she inquired what was going on. Goole showed her a picture while preventing others to see who was in the picture, she was bittered because she knew who was in the picture.

Inspector told her how she contributed to the death of Eva Smith because she made the management of Milwards Shop sacked her as a shop attendant for laughing at her:

"INSPECTOR: And so you used the power you had, as a daughter of a good customer and also of a man well known in the town, to punish the girl just because she made you feel like that?"

Inspector Goole further revealed that after Eva Smith was sacked at Milwards Shop, she changed her name to Daisy Renton; Gerald was very shocked and his emotions changed because she recognized a certain lady he referred to as Lady "D".

Names that appeared in Act 1 are Authur Birling, Sybil Birling, Sheila Birling, Eric Birling, Gerald Croft, George Croft, Inspector Goole, Edna, Eva Smith, Daisy Renton, Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wellses, Colonel Roberts (chief constable).

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An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley (Synopsis)

Characters: (1) Arthur Birling (2) Sybil Birling_ his wife (3) Sheila Birling_ his daughter (4) Eric Birling_ his son (5) Edna_ the maid (6) Gerald Croft (7) Inspector Goole.

The Synopsis

All 3 Acts which are continuous, take place in the dining room of the Birling's house in Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlands. It is an evening in spring 1912.

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley, is a play that revolves around the suicide of a young woman called Eva Smith. In the play, the unsuspecting Birling family are visited by the mysterious Inspector Goole. He arrives just as they are celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft.

"Birling: That was the police. A girl has just died_ on her way to the Infirmary_ after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his way here_ to ask some_ question_ _ _"

The Author

John Boynton Priestley (3 September 1894 – 14 August 1984) was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and social commentator.

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Theme of African Culture in the Drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan

Introduction

One of the O-level examinations conducted just asked candidate to "Examine the theme of African Culture in the drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan". I have therefore taken it upon myself to answer the question for the benefit of candidates who might encounter similar question in the future.

Theme of African Culture in the drama Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan

 In the drama, there are many cultures affiliated with Africa_ most especially the Yoruba culture. Few of those are the African form of coronation, African way of primitive courtship, etc.

This enlightening work of art by Bosede Afolayan, showed how courting was been done in the time past within an African setting. A case study to point to is Odekunle and Desola. They were lovers; they always rendezvous in the bush, path to the streams and under farm trees. Whenever they meet, they chat romantically while discussing their wedding plans and blah blah blah.

Another instance of African Cultural promotion in "Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan" is the process towards the coronation of Olaniyonu (aka Ajanaku). It was noted in the drama, how Serubawon was constantly fortifying him with libations, inca Intations, and charms_ as that he could reign like a demigod.

Conclusion:

Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Afolayan is a tragic drama about greedy quest for power. The author or playwright is a Nigerian and a teacher of language.

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Stone Child and Other Poems by Syl Cheney-Coker (Synopsis)

Introduction:-

Stone Child and Other Poems by Syl Cheney-Coker is an anthology that embodies the poem "The Breast of the Sea by Syl Cheney-Coker" and many other poems of his.

As already noted, "The Breast of the Sea" is one of the forty (40) poems in the anthology titled Stone Child and Other Poems published by the poet in the year 2008 with ISBN 9789780810672.

Synopsis:-

Stone Child is about the nameless gemstone child that became such a feature in the recent history of the poet’s country. Written with compassion and moral deliberation, the poems in the first section of this volume resound with the pain and love that the poet felt as he reflected on the tumultuous politics and tragic destiny of his beautiful land. The rest of the volume is in homage to people and places around the world that have also touched the poet deeply. It is Cheney-Coker at his most humane, while he was dealing with a personal tragedy during his most recent period in exile.

The list of poems in the book are: Homage to Stone Child, New Year in Freetown, 1999, Our Lady of Diamonds, When the Dead Talk, The Meaning of Our Rivers 1, The Meaning of Our Rivers 2, This Evening, Next Morning, The Breast of the Sea, Letters from Home, The Golden Chalice, Out of the Abyss, Old Rites, New Mirrors, Las Vegas Gothic, Short Tail, On Viewing Chris Ofili’s “Holy Virgin Mary”, All His White Hairs, Olodumare’s Clay, The Birds At the Harbourfront, The Orators, Harmonies, Death in New York, Sept 11, 1973 & 2001, Oceanic Cantabile, Turkish Diptych, Iranian Diptych, The Gods of the G-8 Summit, Lake Fire, To My Wife Dying of Cancer 1, To My Wife Dying of Cancer 2, Homecoming, New Frontier, Life Sketches, A Simple Lesson, Transition, Portraits of a family, The Madman Near the British High Commission in Freetown, Profit and Loss, The Nobel Tree Woman & Elegy For the Ebola Saint, Bitter Leaves, Widow(er)hood.     

The Author:-

Syl Cheney-Coker, Sierra Leonean poet and novelist. Author of three previous volumes: Concerto for an Exile; The Graveyard Also Has Teeth; and The Blood in the Desert’s Eyes. In 1991, he was awarded the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize (Africa’s Best Book Region), for his novel The Last Harmattan of Alusine Dumbar. He has also won Commonwealth Short Story Prize. His poetry has been translated into Spanish, Dutch, Russian, French, Portuguese and Chinese.    

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Structure of Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza

Introduction

This is written to examine the structure of the poem "Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza" and few other things necessary.

The Structure of the Poem

Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie-Vidza is a 7 stanza free verse with each stanza a quintain that is beautified with epistrophe. 

The Stanza

(Stanza 1) Life is now a very beautiful experience that history of failures cannot dampen for someone who has lived long and achieved as you. 

(Stanza 2) But our envious hearts grace the felicitation arranged for you because we can't afford to be left behind and must present you a sincere birthday garlands.

(Stanza 3) Receive our blessings today, you wondrous mentor of rogues_ attaining eighty-five years is a gainful twilight or dawn of dreams and life's journey. 

(Stanza 4) Without reasons to quarrel with you anymore, hope is now in agreement with all your attained desires but while you dwell in this celebration, your heart battles with health matters.

About the Poem

Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza is a Poem written to celebrate a certain birthday while buttressing the privilege of attaining old age graced with worthy achievement. The poem also touched on challenge of ill health which might be associated with old age.

About the Poet

S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza is a Ghanaian author, poet, and teacher. The poet has crafted many insightful works of art and among them is Hearty Garlands which is on our table of discussion.

In Conclusion

I have tried my little best to view the structure of the poem "Hearty Garlands by S. O. H. Afriyie Vidza" based on my understanding.

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