Blackout

SUMMARY
This short story is about a white American woman's encounter with a black man on the street of
an unnamed island in the Caribbean. The story opens with the young lady waiting at a bus stop
on the night of a blackout. She encounters a young man who approaches her and politely asks for
a light (for his cigarette). She explains that she does not have a light, but he points out that she is
smoking a cigarette. She grudgingly acquiesces to give him a light from her cigarette. She holds
her arm out for him to take her cigarette and light his, but instead, as is the case with many
smokers, he bends over the offered arm and lights his cigarette. He looks up to thank her and
realizes that she has discarded her cigarette. An ongoing internal monologue occurs, where it is
revealed that the white woman is racist. The black male proceeds to educate her on the
differences in race relations in the Caribbean versus America. The situation remains unresolved
as the woman boards the bus and goes on her way and the man remains at the bus stop, where he
picks her half smoked cigarette out of the gutter.
SETTING

An unnamed island in the Caribbean.

The story occurred around the time of World War II.

CHARACTERS
American Woman (White)

Took pride in the fact that she was an American young woman who did not scare easily.

Considered herself to be superior to the young man.

Caribbean Man (Black)

Had a sense of pride about being black.

Did not consider himself to be inferior to the American woman.

THEME
Racism
This is a strong theme in this short story. The simple act of asking for a light becomes a tension
filled moment in time where two individual's honestly confront each other about their beliefs.

The fact that the woman feels that she is superior to the man, based on race, is highlighted when
she expresses the following views:
1. 'She could snub him quietly, the way she should have properly done from the start" (Mais,
p.10)
2. 'In America they lynched them for less than that' (Mais, p.10)
3. 'Do you really think that all men are created equal?' (Mais p.10)
The young man's reaction to her rejection of him is to be quietly contemptuous, a reaction that
she categorizes as insolence, proving that she believes herself to be superior to him. Her reaction
implies that he should be accepting of whatever she 'dishes out' to him. She boards her bus,
shaken, but still holding on to her beliefs, as seen in her refusal to take a last look at him.
However, the young black males show of strength is, ironically, lessened by the fact that he picks
her cigarette out of the gutter.

Berry
SUMMARY
Berry is about a young black man called Millberry Jones who is employee at Dr. Renfield's
Home for Crippled Children. He was reluctantly employed by Mrs. Osborn, the housekeeper,
because the Scandinavian kitchen boy had left without notice, leaving her no choice in hiring
Berry. Her reluctance to hire Berry stemmed from his race, initiating questions like where he
would sleep? How would the other servants react to the presence of a Negro? She had a meeting
with Dr. Renfield and they decided to hire Millberry on a reduced salary. He was overworked
and underpaid, but took solace in the children, whom he loved. An unfortunate incident occurred,
however, where a child fell from his wheel chair while in the care of Berry. The result was that
Berry was fired and given no salary for the week that he had worked.
SETTING

Dr. Renfiled's Home for Crippled Children

New Jersey coast

CHARACTERS
Millbury Jones (Berry)

A Black male, approximately 20 years old.

Described as good natured and strong.

Poor and uneducated.

Very observant and intuitive about people and places.

Very good with children due to his gentleness.

Mrs. Osborn

The housekeeper at the children's home.

Rumoured to be in love with Dr. Renfield.

Very high handed with her staff, but docile with Dr. Renfield.

Displays racist characteristics in subtle forms.

Dr. Renfield

Rumoured to have romantic affairs with his female staff.

Berry observes that the Home is 'Doc Renfield's own private gyp game' (Hughes, p. 162),
meaning that he runs his establishment for his own profit, instead of a desire to take
genuine care of the children.

He is blatantly racist.

THEMES
Racism
This theme is apparent when Berry was being considered for employment at the Home. Mrs.
Osborn was concerned about where Berry would sleep, implying that he could not sleep with the
white servants because he was considered to be beneath them. His salary was also cut due to his
race, and he was overworked, with no discussions of days off, 'everybody was imposing on him
in that taken-for-granted way white folks do with Negro help.' (Hughes, 162). Even more
importantly, when the unfortunate accident occurred with the child, there was no attempt at
discerning what had occurred that led to the incident, but blame was laid on the obvious person Berry. As a result, he was relieved of his job a hail of racist slurs.

Shabine
SUMMARY
'Shabine' is the story of Justene, a mixed race woman who is constantly mocked for being poor,
of mixed heritage, and presumably promiscuous. She was taunted with the words jamette and
shabine (half white, or of mixed heritage) on the streets. The story opens with the narrator
explaining that she had a fiery temper, which she unleashed on her tormentors when provoked.
Her two sons, Gold and Silver, were subjected to similar taunts, with Silver reacting in the same
way as his mother, while Gold tried to do damage control. The reader then learns that Justene
had lived with her mother, who was a maid in Justene's father's house. It is implied, by the
narrator, that her mother invited white sailors surreptitiously into her house to sleep with Justene.
The rest of the story is filled with the narrator's regret for what could have existed between him
and Justene.
SETTING

The name of the Caribbean island is not mentioned.

The story is set around the time of WWII, when American troops were prevalent in the
Caribbean.

MAJOR CHARACTERS
Justene (Shabine)

She is described as having 'pale, reddish skin colour, the mass of coarsish red hair that
resembled the wool of sheep, the grey eyes ... the chocolate freckles.' (SimmondsMcDonald, p.14).

She is very coy and provocative, as can be seen in her response to the narrator.

She does not fear her taunters, but boldly defends herself.

She is fiercely protective of her children, as can be seen when she defends them.

She is a proud woman who does not want her children to stoop to the level of their
taunters.

Narrator

He is male.

He seems to be completey enthralled by Justene, as is seen with the token of fruit,

paradise plum, that he ritualistically left for her on the gate post.

He mourns the loss of the possibility of a future that he might have had with Justene.

MINOR CHARACTERS
Gold - Justene's son. He had thick wooly red curls, red bushy eyebrows, a freckled face and grey
eyes.
Silver - Justene's son. He was sort of blond, he had straight close cropped, sun bleached white
hair and he was fearless.
Mr. Cazaubon - Justene's mother's employer. He is also Justene's father, but he does not
acknowledge her.
Mrs. Cazaubon - Wife to Mr. Cazaubon. She is aware of Justene's parentage, and treats mother
and child in a contemptuous manner.
Shabine's mother - Mrs. Cazaubon's maid. It is rumoured that she died from 'too much rum and
grief because Misie Cazaubon had never kept his promise to her to acknowledge Justene as his
daughter and to send her to Convent School.' (Simmonds-McDonald, p.13).
THEMES
Love and Family Relationship
This theme is brought out by Justene and her two children. She protects them by dispersing her
children's tormentors in a hale of her own words and stones. She then told them that they should
not respond to their tormentors because they would become like them. This is the hallmark of a
loving mother. She defends and protects her children, yet teaches them the value of maintaining
their pride. This is in contrast with the very vague details surrounding the relationship with her
mother.
Whereas the reader sees Justene hugging and comforting her children, there is only the
implication that Justene's mother allowed white sailors to 'visit' her home, implying that Justene

might have been the lure, or the mother herself. The narrator also implies that he had good
intentions towards Justene through his shy, patient and consistent courting, however, Justene's
mother discourages this: 'Justene's mother had come to complain about his giving of paradise
plums and putting ideas in Justene's head and upsetting her life' (Simmonds-McDonald, p.14 ).
The narrator implies that she robbed her daughter of a future that was close to 'paradise' as
Justene would have gotten. She is not a totally bad mother, however, because she stands up for
her child when Mrs. Cazaubon attempted to treat her like a servant.
Women in Society
This short story highlights the fact that women, in general, have very few choices. Justene's
mother has a child by her employer and remains under his roof. Many people would argue that
she had a choice to leave with her child, but that is easier said than done. Raising a child takes a
village, so it is difficult for anyone to decide to leave a space of financial security. The argument
is the same for Mrs. Cazaubon. She stays with a man who has fathered a child, in her own home,
with their maid. What is even worse is that the maid and the child, the evidence of her husband's
indiscretion, remains in her home. Her impotence, concerning the situation and her life, is seen in
her treatment of Justene and her mother, as well as her quarrels, or rather, abusive monologues,
with Mr. Cazaubon. Both women are tied to this man based on the fact that he provides financial
security in a world that can be even more cruel to women who lack this.
The severe hypocrasy in the society, as it concerns the sexual indiscretions between men and
women, is also highlighted in this short story. Justene and Mr. Cazaubon are treated very
differently for their sexual indiscretions. Mr. Cazaubon remains a respected gentleman, despite
fathering a child with the maid, and having them reside under the same roof with his wife, while
Justene is stoned and castigated in the streets for keeping company with white sailors, as implied
by the narrator. Society appears to have different rules for women and men in the sexual arena.
SYMBOL
Paradise Plums
Paradise plums represent the alternate life that Justene could have had. The fact that this candy/
'sweety' was used to court Justene in such a shy, innocent and consistent manner, implies that her
life with the narrator could have been very pleasant and healthy.

Septimus
SUMMARY
The short story 'Septimus' is set in Barbados. It is told from the perspective of an adult and opens
in the present. Mama is crying over a letter that she has received from Septimus. The last
sentence of the letter makes Mama cry at last I can have a whole apple for Christmas. A
flashback occurs at this point. Septimus family resides in the Gap and the reader learns that the
seven children have claimed the place and its residents. The story really begins one Christmas
Eve when Mama sent the girls on an errand to Aunt Bless house. She had recently returned
from shopping in town and Septimus saw three shiny apples on the top of the shopping bag. He
ran off with one because he wanted it for himself. He was told that this was impossible because
the three apples had to be shared among the nine members of the family. Septimus was not
pleased, but he was appeased by Aunt Bless, who later gave him an apple for himself. When he
returned home, he sliced the apple in nine pieces and offered it to his mother.
SETTING
The story is set in Barbados.
CHARACTERS
Mama:

Gentle and caring.

Strict with her children, for example, the girls thought that Septimus would get in trouble
for accepting the apple.

Septimus:

The seventh child out of six.

The only boy and the youngest child.

6 years old at the beginning of the story with a childish selfishness.

Performs a caring and beautiful thing by sharing his apple.

Aunt Bless:

Real name is Letitia.

Given the nick name by Septimus because of her habit to greet people with a blessing.

Loves all the children.

Septimus is her favourite of the seven children.

Old Bostic:

A watch maker.

A very grumpy man who tolerates the children.

THEMES
Poverty:
The family is very poor, as seen in the description of where they live, the Christmas gifts that
Mama bought and the sharing of three apples among nine people. The narrator herself confirms
that the family is poor, the principle had to be established that what we had which was not
much had to be shared p. 107.
Happiness:
Despite their physical state of being poor, the seven children were very happy. A major part of
this happiness was their ownership of the Gap and the people in it, they had a sense of belonging.
Innocence:
Septimus defines this through his youth, as well as his actions based on his youth. He is
perturbed by the concept of sharing, initially, but once he got pass this feeling, he embraced the
concept with the vivacity of innocence and youth.
SYMBOL
Apple:

The apple represent knowledge and a loss of innocence because a six year old child is forced to
face the reality of being poor. He cannot have a whole apple for himself. The child is no longer
innocent after he is faced with this reality because he learns that life is not fair because he cannot
always get what he wants. The apple also represents growth as well because Septimus is able to
accept his situation by voluntarily sharing his apple.

The Man of the House

SUMMARY
This short story is about a little boy called Sullivan who has a sick mother. Sullivan is initially
unconcerned about his mothers illness, and mildly pleased, because he got to stay home and
play at being the man of the house. However, his initial delight changes to concern on the
second day due to his fear that his mother has pneumonia. The second night and the third day are
even more frightening because he had to fetch the doctor and travel to the North Dispensary to
get her medication. At the dispensary he meets a young girl who tricks him into drinking, and
sharing the medicine, with the result being an empty bottle to take home to his mother. Sullivan
suffers extreme guilt as a result of this and goes home crying. His mother consoles him and
forgives his childish misdemeanor.
SETTING

A town called Cork, in England.

CHARACTERS
Sullivan

A very responsible little boy.

Enjoys playing at being a man by taking care of his mother and the household chores.

Mother

A sickly lady.

She feels guilty that her son has to display such maturity by taking care of her.

Displays what a loving mother she is by understanding that Dooley is an innocent boy
that succumbed to peer pressure.

She also takes excellent care of her son when she is able to do so.

Minni Ryan

She is a family friend who advises Dooly during the course of his mothers illness.

A middle aged woman who is very knowledgeable.

Very pious and gossipy; according to Dooly.

Doctor

He was a fat, loud voiced man.

He was the cleverest doctor in Cork.

THEME
Love & family relationship
This is shown in the relationship between the mother and her son. Sullivan is frightened that his
mother will die of pneumonia, so, despite his fear, he enters a public house (pub) in order to
ensure that she gets her home-made remedy, and travels to an unsavory neighbourhood in order
to get her medicine. The mother is equally devoted to her son, as seen in her guilt over the fact

that he has to take care of her. She is also very understanding when he succumbs to the peer
pressure of drinking her medicine. She understands that one cannot expect a child to be a man,
no matter how well he does at playing at being a man. Her love for her child is also manifested in
the pride she feels when he displays the level of maturity akin to an adult.
Innocence
The fact that Sullivan does not recognize that his new friend is using him for a taste of his cough
syrup proves that he is still an innocent young man, at least in relation to the ways of the world.
Despite playing at being a man, he is still an innocent child. His reaction, after realizing that he
was used, also points to his innocence. He reacts in the manner that any child would, he ran
home crying.

To Dah-Duh in Memoriam
SUMMARY
This short story is about a young girl's visit, from New York, to the island of Barbados. The
protagonist, along with her sister and mother, visit Dah-Duh. The visit is an interesting one in
which Dah-Duh and the protagonist develop a caring, yet competitive, relationship. Dah-Duh
introduces her to the riches of Barbados (nature), while the protagonist introduces her

grandmother to the steel and concrete world of New York (industrialism). There is a competitive
edge to their conversations because they each try to outdo each other on the merits of their
separate homes. Dah-Duh, however, is dealt a blow when she learns of the existence of the
Empire State building, which was many stories taller than the highest thing she had ever laid her
eyes on Bissex Hill. She lost a little bit of her spark that day and was not given a chance to
rebound because the protagonist left for New York shortly after. The story progresses with the
death of Dah-Duh during the famous 37 strike. She had refused to leave her home and was later
found dead, on a Berbice chair, by her window. The protagonist spent a brief period in penance,
living as an artist and painting landscapes that were reminiscent of Barbados.
SETTING

The story is set in Barbados, in the 1930's.

CHARACTERS
Dah-Duh:

A small and purposeful old woman.

Had a painfully erect figure.

Over eighty (80) years old.

She moved quickly at all times.

She had a very unattractive face, which was stark and fleshless as a death mask
(Marshall, p.178).

Her eyes were alive with life.

Competitive spirit.

Had a special relationship with the protagonist.

Protagonist:

A thin little girl.

Nine (9) years old.

A strong personality.

Competitive in nature.

Had a special relationship with Dah-Duh.

THEMES
Race:
This theme is apparent when Dah-Duh and the protagonist discuss the fact that she beat up a
white girl in her class. Dah-Duh is quiet shocked at this and exclaims that the world has changed
so much that she cannot recognize it. This highlights their contrasting experiences of race. DahDuhs experience of race relations is viewing the white massa as superior, as well as viewing all
things white as best. This is corroborated at the beginning of the story when it was revealed that
Dah-Duh liked her grandchildren to be white, and in fact had grandchildren from the illegitimate
children of white estate managers. Therefore, a white person was some-one to be respected,
while for the protagonist, white people were an integral part of her world, and she viewed herself
as their equal.
Love and family relationship:
This story highlights the strong familial ties that exists among people of the Caribbean, both in
the islands and abroad (diaspora). The fact that the persona and her family left New York to visit
the matriarch of the family, in Barbados, highlights this tie. The respect accorded to Dah-Duh by
the mother also shows her place, or status, in the family. The protagonist states that in the
presence of Dah-Duh, her formidable mother became a child again.
Gender Issues:
This is a minor theme in this short story. It is highlighted when it is mentioned that Dah-Duh
liked her grandchildren to be boys. This is ironic because the qualities that are stereotypically
found in boys - assertive, strong willed, competitive - are found in her grand daughter. An
example of this is the manner in which the protagonist / narrator was able to win the staring
match when she first met Dah-Duh, this proved her dominance and strength.
SYMBOL
Empire State Building
This building represents power and progress. It is in the midst of the cold glass and steel of New
York city and, therefore, deforms Dah-Duhs symbol of power; Bissex Hill. It is not by accident
that the knowledge of this building shakes Dah-Duhs confidence. Steel and iron, the symbol of
progress, is what shakes the nature loving Dah-Duh. It can, therefore, be said that her response to
the knowledge of the existence of the Empire State Building defeat is a foreshadowing of her
death. This is the case because it is metal, in the form of the planes, that rattled her trees and
flatten[ed] the young canes in her field. (Marshall. p.186). This is a physical echo of her
emotional response to the knowledge of the existence of the Empire State building. The fact that
she is found dead after this incident is not a surprise to the reader.

The Day the World Almost Came To An End

SUMMARY
This short story was told from the perspective of an adult and chronicles the events behind a
childs (the adult narrator) belief that the world was about to end. The story is set on a plantation
in Louisiana in 1936, where the church was the axis around which plantation life revolved.
Despite this fact, the narrator was holding on to being a sinner because she believed that she
could not live upright. One day, while she was playing, her cousin Rena informed her that the
world was coming to an end. This was based on a conversation that Rena overheard, and
misunderstood, about the eclipse. The hellfire sermons in church did not help to stem the
narrators mounting panic and she worried herself into a frazzle as a result. She had a
conversation with her father about this issue and he tried to quell her fears, but unfortunately, he
only managed to increase it with his statement that the world could come to an end at any time.
The narrator spent the night conjuring images of dooms day, which led to her overreaction to
hearing the rumblings of an old airplane. She ran out of her house screaming that the world was
coming to an end. Her father caught her on the road and calmed her down. She appreciated life a
lot more after that and lived her life to the fullest.
SETTING
The story occurs on a plantation in Louisiana in 1936.
CHARACTERS
Daddy:

Understanding

Has a good relationship with his daughter

1st person narrator:

Imaginative

Bold

Naive

Rena:

Naive

THEMES
Religion:
This is the central theme in this short story. Plantation life was centered on religion to the extent

that even the narrators father was a deacon. Religious fervor, in the form of hellfire preaching, is
also the fuel for the panic that overtakes the narrator/protagonist in this short story.
Love & Family Relationship:
The love and trust between father and daughter is glaring. When the narrator/protagonist was
worried about the world coming to an end, the first person that she thought to consult on this
issue was her father. His response to her childish fears, in turn, highlights the easy relationship
between the two. Daddy's care in covering his daughter after her mad dash through the turnrow is
also an indication of the love that he has for his child.

The Boy Who Loved Ice Cream

SUMMARY
This short story is about a little boy's obsession with ice-cream. Benjy is a little boy who lives in
rural Jamaica. His family is extremely poor and the most important, and festive, day for them is
the Harvest Festival. It is an even more important event for Benjy because this is the only place
that he can access the coveted ice cream. Benjy has never tasted ice-cream, but he relishes the
very thought of it through the second hand description that is passed on to him by his sister. The
story opens with the family's preparations to attend the festival and their scenic journey down the
hill. Benjy's obsession with ice-cream becomes evident at this point because he cannot enjoy
himself due to his anxiety surrounding when the ice-cream will be forthcoming. This mirrors his
father's obsession with scouting out the man whom he believes to be his wife's lover and Benjy's
father. The obsessions collide when Benjy finally gets his ice cream and it falls out of his hand
because his father sees a male talking to his wife and drags Benjy along to confront him. The
story, therefore, ends in disappointment for Benjy.
SETTING

The story occurs in the small town of Springville in rural Jamaica.

The family is from an even smaller town called One Eye, located in the mountains of
Springville.

CHARACTERS
Benjy

The second youngest child.

He is a really intense child in terms of achieving his desires.

Elsa

Benjy's older sister.

She takes care of Benjy when his mother is busy.

She introduces Benjy to the foggy concept of ice cream.

Mother

She was very progressive and forward thinking.

She was a very sociable and friendly person.

Always eager to go or do something different.

Papa

He was a farmer.

The short story reveals that he was wedded to the soil.

He did not like to go out.

He preferred a predictable lifestyle.

He was very jealous.

THEME
Jealousy:
Papa is irrationally jealous about his wife's activities. It is revealed that he believes that she
cheated on him when she spent three weeks away from him in Springville, where she was
attending to her dying mother. He watches her like a hawk at the Harvest Festival, thereby
getting very little enjoyment out of the fair. This jealousy has serious implications for his
relationship with his son Benjy. He does not believe that Benjy is his biological child, but a
product of his wife's 'affair' in Springville. Benjy, therefore, is not treated well by his father, but
viewed with suspicion and slight contempt. The narrator tells us that Benjy is in a state of
constant suspense in terms of what his father's response to him will be.
SYMBOL
Ice cream:
Ice cream, in this short story, is the symbol for anything that is intensely desired, anything that is
anticipated to bring great pleasure.

Emma
SUMMARY
This short story is told from the first person perspective of a little girl called Dorian York. The
focus of her thoughts is her mother; the games that they play together, and the games that she
plays with her friend, that revolve around her mother. The first person perspective of the
narrative gives the reader an intimate view of how the little girl sees her mother, as well as how
she feels about her. We are also able to garner information about the people around her from her
innocent narrative, innocent because the little girl does not understand many of the things that
she reports. The audience learns that Emma and Mr. York have a volatile relationship that is
seemingly caused by his infidelity. This infidelity is initially implied by Emmas constant
watching of the clock and waiting for her husband to return home, as well as the fight that
Dorian reported. Grandfathers visit brings a happy atmosphere to the family unit because daddy
starts to do things with the family, and they seem more like a conventional happy family. The
audience is given the impression that things go back to normal after grandfather leaves, however,
due to the spectral presence of the lady at the train station, as well as Mrs. Robinsons pointed
discussion about Mr. Yorks status as a player. The narrative climaxes with the death of Emma
at the train station. She saw her husband with the mysterious lady and runs away, followed
closely by Dorian and Jack. Unfortunately, when Jack caught her by the arm, she ran into the
path of an oncoming vehicle and was killed. Jack and Mrs. Robinson then get romantically
involved, and they send both Maria and Dorian to St. Agnus, a boarding school, in the country.
SETTING

The story occurs in three places; the York residence, an unnamed mall and the old train
station.

The mood of the story fluctuates from happiness to sadness.

CHARACTERS
Jack York (Daddy)

He is Dorans father and Emmas husband.

He is characterized as a player by Mrs. Robinson.

He is not faithful to his wife.

He was not ready for the arrival of his daughter, Dorian, and does not seem to have a
close relationship with her.

Emma York

She is Dorians mother and Jacks wife.

She is a good mother who plays with her child and treats her well.

She is a good wife who loves her husband (as seen in how she greets him when he gets
home) and is considerate of his feelings; as seen in her reasons for not having another
baby.

She is a very smart and polished lady who can handle herself with people who are coy
and critical of her; as seen in her argument with Mrs. Robinson in the mall.

Dorian York

A very innocent little girl who is the first person narrator of the story.

She is younger than her friend Maria, who is nine (9) years old.

She adores her mother and her grandfather.

She is often puzzled by the content of adult discussion.

Grandaddy

Emmas father.

Brought joy into the family because daddy stayed home, came home early, and spent
quality time with the family, due to grandaddy's implied interference.

Loved her grandfather because he seemed to do what her dad didnt spent time with her
and her first person perspective of him reflected her love.

Ruby Robinson

She is Emmas friend and Marias mother.

She is not a good friend to Emma because she is both critical and jealous of her.

She gets romantically involved with Jack after Emma dies.

Shes very impatient with both girls.

She sends Maria and Dorian to boarding school in order to enact her plan to keep the
player.

Maria Robinson

She is the nine (9) year old daughter of Ruby Robinson.

She is Dorians playmate.

She filters and explains a lot of the adult conversations that Dorian does not understand.

THEMES
Innocence
This theme is epitomized by Dorian York. The story is told from her perspective, therefore, the
reader gets a firsthand view of the innocence behind her misunderstanding of adult conversation
and situations. She senses emotions, but misses a lot of the innuendo, as is seen when she tells
the audience about the fight that her parents had. Her innocence is also seen in her expectation
that her mother would come home after the accident, but instead, she finds Mrs. Robinson in her
mot hers bed. Her growth, or advancement into maturity, is highlighted in the end of the short
story when Dorian reassures Maria that everything will be ok, they will play adult games better.
Love and family relationship
There are two types of families in this short story, the nuclear family and the single family unit.
Dorians family is the nuclear family, consisting of mother, father and child. This family is a
troubled one because the father is seemingly more absent than present due to an implied other
woman, who is later confirmed as very real. He also seems uncomfortable around his only child,
as is confirmed by Emma, who decides to forgoe having another child because Jack wasnt
ready for Dori (Cole, p.53). Emma, on the other hand, seems to live to please both her child and
husband. She is very affectionate with Dorian, and this love is returned ten fold, as seen in the
adoration that imbues the tone of the narrator. She is the same with her husband, but the
reception is less enthusiastic. It would be unfair to say that the family is dysfunctional, because
one parent is at least invested in the emotional happiness of the child, but the family has issues
because the head of the households concentration lies elsewhere.
Mrs. Robinson is a single mother, parenting her only child; Maria. She does not appear to be
particularly liked by both girls because no-one wants to play at being her. She aggravates her
child constantly and appears to be unhappy with her life. This family structure can be seen as
dysfunctional because the parent does not seem to devote her energies toward making her child
feel loved and comfortable, which is one of the primary aims of any family structure.
Friendship
There are two contrasting friendships in this short story. There is the friendship between Dorian
and Maria, which is characterized by play, conversations and support of each other. Then there is
the friendship between the adults, Emma and Mrs. Robinson, which is contrastingly

characterized by cattiness and jealousy; mostly on Mrs. Robinsons part.

MOTIF
Play
The motif of play appears to be a strong one in this short story, perhaps due to the fact that the
narrator is a young child. The children play at being adults, immitating and fighting over
their favourite adult. They also literally see the life of adults as play. Dorian confirms this at the
end of the story when she reassures Maria that I learned a lot about this game. When its our
turn to play, well play smarter. (Cole, p.58).
SYMBOL
Deck of cards
The deck of cards that Emma carries around in her purse is a powerful symbol for life. In any
card game that is being played, every-one has a chance at success, or failure, depending on how
they play the game. Mrs. Robinson gives Emma an alternate way to play the game of life, with
success being the joy of keeping her player husband. Emma, however, chooses to play the
game in an another way, one in which she attempts to satisfy the needs of both Dorian and Jack.
Emma is the loser in the game, however, because she dies with the joker in her hand. This
signifies that her future could have gone in any direction because the joker introduces the
element of chance to the game; it can be a bonus, a penalty, or both, depending on how it is used
in the game. In the game of life, Emma lost because she chose to take a chance with pleasing
both members of her family, instead of concentrating soley on her husband, as Mrs. Robinson
suggested. The game of life gives every-one chances however, just like a card game, and Mrs.
Robinson was given a chance to bag her rich man with Emmas exit from the game.

Mom Luby and the Social Worker

SUMMARY
This short story is about an elderly woman, fondly called Mom Luby, who fosters two small
children. The story opens with her visit to the Social Welfare office, in order to obtain monetary
assistance in taking care of the children. She then returns home to find people waiting to get let
in to the speakeasy that she runs in her back room. There is a knock on the door, but instead of
the police - coming to collect money - it is a social worker. The social worker, Miss Rushmore,
visits in order to investigate the living conditions of the children. She is skeptical about some of
the answers that Mom Luby gives, but gives her information about the many forms, along with
lengthy directions, regarding the acquisition of clothes and shoes for the children. Mom Luby is
astonished, yet slightly amused, about the length of time it could take to obtain clothes and shoes
for the children. She responds by stating that she simply did not have enough time because she
had a long list of chores to attend to. Miss. Rushmore volunteers to go along with Mom Luby,
expressing her disbelief that she could accomplish so much in such a short time. They both return
from completing the chores, with Miss Rushmore looking very bedraggled. She states that Mom
Luby does not need her help because she got more things done in two hours, than Miss
Rushmore has managed to complete in two years. The great irony of the situation is revealed
when Mom Luby comments that the Social Welfare office should consider hiring her, but Miss
Rushmore comments that that is not possible because Mom Luby is not qualified.
SETTING

The United States of America.

Between 1920-1933, the time of the Prohibition in the United States.

CHARACTERS
Mom Luby

An elderly woman who is as strong as any young woman.

She has white hair and false teeth.

She runs a speakeasy in the back room of her house.

She fosters two young children.

She is a midwife, herb doctor and ordained minister of the Gospel.

She's a very productive woman who helps the people in her community.

She is very proud.

Miss Rushmore

She works at the Department of Child Welfare, Bureau of Family Assistance.

She is very thorough in her investigation of Mom Luby.

She is awed by Mom Luby's productivity.

Elijah (narrator) & Puddin' - The two young children that Mom Luby fosters.
THEME
Love and Family Relationship
The love that Mom Luby has for her two young charges is apparent by her simple act of fostering
them. She is a poor, older woman who runs a speakeasy to survive, this is not the profile of
someone who should be willing to take care of two young children, as well as a whole
community. The act of visiting the Social Security Office is a testament to her commitment to
taking care of the two children. The great irony in this short story is that a poor, older lady, is
able to take better care of two little children than the State agency that is assigned to do so. This
is because she can get more accomplished in two hours, to benefit them, than the agency can
accomplish in two years with their most motivated agent.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

(William Shakespeare)
SUMMARY
This play is a love story that is split between four sets of lovers; Hippolyta and Theseus, Hermia
and Lysander, Helena and Demetrius and Titania and Oberon. The story begins with a distraught
father, Egeus, asking the Duke, Thesus, to bring the law upon his daughter, Hermias head. His
request is made because he wants her to marry Demetrius and she has disobeyed him by seeing
Lysander in secret. The Duke gives Hermia up to the day of his wedding to decide to obey her
father or suffer the consequence of consignment to a nunnery if she chooses to oppose him. This
decision spurs Hermia and Lysander to meet in the woods to facilitate their elopement. Things
get interesting at this point because Puck, a fairy, carries out Oberons request to meddle in the
lovers lives. Mistaken identity occurs with hilarious consequences. The tale of Titania, Oberon
and Bottom intersect as a subplot, as well as the play within the play. The play ends with all the
lovers being wed.
SETTING

The play is set in Athens

Some scenes occur within the palace walls

While others occur in the wood, outside of Athens

CHARACTERS
Puck

Puck, also known as Robin Goodfellow, is a mischievous fairy who delights in playing
pranks on mortals.

His antics are responsible for many of the complications that propel the other main plots

He mistakes the young Athenians, applying the love potion to Lysander instead of
Demetrius, thereby causing chaos within the group of young lovers

He also transforms Bottoms head into that of an ass.

Oberon

The king of the fairies, Oberon is initially at odds with his wife, Titania, because she
refuses to give him a young Indian prince.

Oberons desire for revenge on Titania leads him to send Puck to obtain the lovepotion
flower (love in idleness) that creates so much of the plays confusion.

Titania

Titania is very stubborn because she resists her husbands attempts, Oberon to obtain the
child.

She has a brief, potioninduced love for Nick Bottom, whose head Puck has transformed
into that of an ass.

Lysander

A young man of Athens who is in love with Hermia.

Lysanders relationship with Hermia highlights the theme of loves difficulty

He cannot marry Hermia openly because Egeus, her father, wishes her to wed Demetrius

He becomes the victim of misapplied magic and wakes up in love with Helena.

Demetrius

A young man of Athens who is initially in love with Hermia

He ends up, ultimately, falling in love with Helena.

Hermia

Egeus daughter.

A young woman of Athens.

Hermia is in love with Lysander and is a childhood friend of Helena.

She is in love with Lysander

She is left without a lover when both Lysander and Demetrius suddenly fall in love with
Helena.

She ends up marrying Lysander

Helena

A young woman of Athens.

She is in love with Demetrius.

Demetrius and Helena were once courted, but when Demetrius met Helenas friend
Hermia, he fell in love with her and abandoned Helena.

Lacking confidence in her looks, Helena thinks that Demetrius and Lysander are mocking
her when the fairies mischief causes them to fall in love with her.

Egeus

Hermias father, who brings a complaint against his daughter to Theseus:

Egeus has given Demetrius permission to marry Hermia, but Hermia, in love with
Lysander, refuses to marry Demetrius.

Egeuss severe insistence that Hermia either respect his wishes or be held accountable to
Athenian law places him squarely outside the whimsical dream realm of the forest.

Theseus

He is the duke of Athens.

He is engaged to Hippolyta.

Theseus represents power and order throughout the play.

He appears only at the beginning and end of the story, he is therefore removed from the
dreamlike events of the forest.

Hippolyta

The queen of the Amazons.

She is engaged to Theseus.

Like Theseus, she symbolizes order.

Nick Bottom

The overconfident weaver chosen to play Pyramus in the craftsmens play for Theseuss
marriage celebration.

He is full of advice and selfconfidence.

He frequently makes silly mistakes and misuses language.

He is the comic relief in the play because of he is unaware that he possessed an ass head.

Peter Quince

A carpenter.

The leader of the craftsmens attempt to put on a play for Theseuss marriage
celebration.

Quince is often ignored by the overly confident Bottom.

He plays the Prologue in the play within the play.

Francis Flute

The bellowsmender.

He is chosen to play Thisbe in the play within the play.

Forced to play a young girl in love.

Robin Starveling

The tailor.

He was to chosen to play Thisbes mother in the play within the play

He ends up playing the part of Moonshine.

Tom Snout

The tinker.

He is chosen to play Pyramuss father in the play within the play.

He ends up playing the part of Wall, dividing the two lovers.

Snug

The joiner.

He is chosen to play the lion in the play within the play.

Snug worries that his roaring will frighten the ladies in the audience.

Philostrate

Theseuss Master of the Revels.

He isresponsible for organizing the entertainment for the dukes marriage celebration.

Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Mote, and Mustardseed

The fairies ordered by Titania to attend to Bottom after she falls in love with him.

SUMMARY
Act 1
Scene 1
Theseus and Hippolyta are ecstatic about their wedding day. The scene continues with Egeus,
who wants his daughter, Hermia, to marry Demetrius instead of Lysander. Egeus visits the duke
of Athens, Theseus, to request the enforcing of the old Athenian law which states that a
disobedient daughter may be sent to her death by her father. Hermia could accept the death
sentence, marry Demetrius, or join the nunnery. The chapter ends with Lysander and Hermia
planning their elopement, and telling Helena, Hermias childhood friend, of their plans.
Scene 2
Quince, Snug, Bottom, Flute, Snout and Starveling meet to discuss a play that they will enact on
the Dukes wedding night. Quince is the main organizer and Bottom appears to be the person that

wants to play everyones part. Quince gives everyone their roles and asks them to meet the
following night in the palace woods.
Act 2
Scene 1
This scene opens with the fairy and Puck conversing. Both Oberon and Titania enter and start
arguing. The audience learns that nature is being affected negatively by this and Oberon suggests
that she should just give him the changeling boy to end it all. She refuses, and Oberon retaliates
by plotting, with Puck, to acquire the flower, loveinidleness, to let her fall in love with the
first creature that she sees. This scene continues with Demetrius blatant rejection of Helena in
the woods. The scene continues with Oberon informing Puck that he is going to drop the love
juice on Titanias eyelids. He instructs Puck to do the same to Demetrius.
Scene 2
Titania enters the wood and instructs her fairies to sing her to sleep. Oberon then arrives and
places the love juice on her eyelids. As a result, Titania falls in love with Bottom, the first
creature that she sees. Lysander and Hermia then make their entrance in the woods, where
Hermia suggests that Lysander sleep further away from her, for the sake of propriety. After this
scene, Puck enters and mistakenly anoints the Lysander, instead of Demetrius, with the love
juice. Lysander awakes to see Helena and declares his love for her. Helena believes that he is
mocking her and storms off angrily, with Lysander in tow. Hermia then awakes from a bad dream
finding herself alone.
Act 3
Scene 1
The craftsmen met in the woods to rehearse the play. They discuss, and decide, on changes that
are to be made to the play and the rehearsal begins. During the rehearsals, Puck is watching and
sees Bottom leave the scene. Puck follows him and, without his knowledge, transforms Bottoms
head into that of an ass. Most of the artisans flee in terror. Bottom suspects that his companions
are trying to make an ass of him and decides to sing to himself. The song awakens Titania, who
immediately sees Bottom and falls in love with him. Titania asks him to remain with her in the
woods; she will have him attended to and cared for by her fairies. She summons Peaseblossom,
Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed, and tells them to lead Bottom to her bower.
Scene 2
Puck speaks to Oberon about the mischief that has occurred. He reports that Titania has fallen in
love with Bottom. Hermia and Demetrius enter, with Hermia accusing Demetrius of killing her
beloved Lysander, who has vanished. The argument reveals no truths so Hermia departs in search
of Lysander, leaving Demetrius to sleep. At this point, Puck and Oberon realized that a mistake
has been made and Puck is sent in search of Helena while Oberon enchants the sleeping
Demetrius. They unintentionally wake Demetrius who immediately falls in love with Helena
because she is the first person that he sees. Helena now thinks that Demetrius is a part of the
prank because of his sudden change of heart. The situation escalates when Hermia enters.
Lysander and Demetrius fight over Helena, while Helena starts a fight with Hermia. Helena
thinks Hermia is also a part of the prank. Oberon rushes to retrieve the Indian boy from Titania,
while Puck leads the lovers away from each other before a life is lost. They get lost in a fog and

fall asleep to wake up in love.

ACT 4
Scene 1
Titania and Bottom get acquainted, with Titania being completely enamored with Bottom. She
offers him the services of her fairies and they both fall asleep. Oberon decides to take the spell
from Titania's eyes, after she consents to giving up the Indian boy. After Puck removes the asses
head from Bottom, the fairies leave the wood. Theseus and his followers then arrive for a
celebration in the wood. They meet upon the lovers and awaken them. After a conversation with
the pairs of lovers, Theseus declares that both pairs of lovers should marry, along with himself
and Hyppolyta, in the palace. They all leave, then Bottom wakes up and makes his way to
Athens.
Scene 2
The actors are worried about the missing Bottom, and about whether or not the play can go on
without him. He then makes a dramatic entrance.
ACT 5
Scene 1
Theseus and Hyppolyta are back at the palace discussing the experiences that the lovers
described. All the couples choose Bottom's play for the evening's entertainment.The play
progresses, the actors leave, and then Puck gives a closing speech.
THEMES
Romantic love
Infatuation
Power and authority
Magic vs. reality
Women in society
Class

SUMMARY
The book is about Eva and Bee Dorcas, members of the Spiritual Baptist Church. It is about their
experiences of being persecuted for their religious affiliation and the faith that they have in Ivan
Morton to change their situation. The character Bolo is also at the forefront of this story because
he embodies the result of not being able to be a man in a society that does not view being Black
as valuable.
SETTING
Time / Place:

The story is set over a 20 year time period, 1932 1951

Set in a small, remote village in Trinidad called Bonasse

Political structure:

Trinidad was still a colony under the British Empire

Trinidad was ruled under the Crown Colony system Head of State in England governed
the island via the Governor, who was his or her representative

Political power, therefore, lay in the governor, assisted by a Council

Universal adult suffrage (right of all adults to vote) did not occur to Trinidad until 1946.

Power still lay in the hands of those who owned plantations and these people, in turn,
controlled the instruments of power; the legislature, the courts and the police.

Economy:

The economy was still predominantly agricultural; sugar, cocoa, coffee, coconuts and
citrus.

The petroleum industry was just beginning to make an impact.

Subsistence farming (production of foodstuff for domestic use) was the norm

World War II led to the establishment of American bases, which introduced opportunity
to earn money

WW II also introduced a consumer attitude to life in Bonasse

Social structure:

Trinidad boasted a very diverse Creole society populated by a variety of ethnic groups
(Indian, Black, Chinese, White), each with its own cultural and religious practices.

Trinidad was still a series of small villages connected by a network of tiny roads, hence,
travel between villages was infrequent

Religion:

The protagonists in the novel are Spiritual Baptists/ Shouter Baptists

This religion arose out of a fusion of Protestant Christianity and African Orisha elements

The religion was outlawed in 1917 on the grounds that they disturbed the peace with their
bell ringing, loud singing and highly expressive behavior during worship.

See video clip of Spiritual Baptist in Grenada at the bottom of this page.

The Wine of Astonishment

MAJOR CHARACTERS
Eva Dorcas:

The wife of Bee Dorcas and mother to 5 children

She is the emotional support for her husband

She is a strong Christian

The story is told through her eyes (1st person narrator)

She is patient and long suffering

Bee Dorcas:

Evas husband and father of her 5 children

Pastor of the Shouter Baptist church in the text

He is a strong Christian

He is considered to be the pillar of the community

He is very wise, patient and long suffering

He is very persistent, as seen in his lobbying for Ivan Morton

Shoulders his responsibilities well and does not view them as a burden

Bolo:

Local stick fighting champion

Initially beloved and admired by the community, seen as a hero/warrior figure

Was imprisoned for 3 years for defending his mother, and the church, during a police raid
of the Shouter Baptist church

Later becomes the terror of the community because of how he bullied every-one after his
return from prison

A brave, yet simple character that was crushed by the realities of life as a black man in
Trinidad

Ivan Morton:

Local boy who was considered to be the pride of the community because he was bright

Failed his college Exhibition examination twice

He eventually became a teacher within the community

He married a light skinned girl from Tunapuna, and abandoned Eulalie and their
illegitimate baby

The community chose him to represent them on the Council and he became a true
politician; talk without action

MINOR CHARACTERS
Clyde:

Ivan Mortons driver

A lot of second hand information about Ivan is gleaned from this character, via Joyce

Eventually marries Joyce

Mr. Buntin:

Black owner of the local shop

He believed in Black empowerment

He was not a good businessman; a lot of people owed him and his shop was virtually
empty by the end of the book

He enjoyed the company of his patrons

Mitchel:

Carpenter on the American Base

Money-lender and contact man

Owner of the local shop that eventually competes with Buntins shop

An example of some-one who has profited from the American presence in Trinidad

Bolo destroys his establishment

He campaigns for Ivan Morton during his bid for re-election to the council

Clem:

The polar opposite of Bolo

Calm and able to go with the flow

A musician who eventual leaves Bonasse to become the successful Lord Trafalgar

He got along with everyone

Eulalie:

The most attractive girl in Bonasse

Widely believed that she would eventually marry Bolo

She dated Ivan Morton instead

She became pregnant by Ivan and was abandoned by him

She eventually went to live in the United States

Corporal Prince:

He was tall and stocky

Enforced the law at all costs

Arrested and brutally beat Bolo, 1st time

Raided the Shouter Baptist church

He was unsympathetic to the Shouter Baptists

Primus:

Quiet and gentle resident of Bonasse

He tried to be friendly with every-one

Bolo kidnapped his two daughters

Winston:

Oldest of the Dorcas children

19 years old at the beginning of the story

Leaves Bonasse to become a police

Taffy:

16 years old at the beginning of the story

The most troubled of the Dorcas children

He got in trouble with the law and had to flee to Port of Spain

Also the most charming of the children

Joyce:

15 years old at the beginning of the story

Reader gets all the second hand news about Ivan Morton from her, via Clyde

Dated, then eventually got married to Clyde

At the end of the book, she is pregnant with her first child

Reggie:

8 years at the beginning of the text

A very intelligent young man

Preparing to take the college Exhibition exam in the middle of the text

Gets caught up with talk of black empowerment at Buntins shop

gains a place in high school on his own initiative, at the beginning of the text

Gem:

4 years old

Youngest child

Playful and very bright

CHAPTER SUMMARIES
Chapter 1:
The readers are introduced to the narrator, Eva, and her husband Bee, along with three of their
children: Joyce, Gem and Reggie. Reggie has failed his examination and the couple debates
whether or not to ask Ivan Morton for help. It becomes apparent that the hope of the community
rests on this young politicians shoulders. He disappoints the community, however, when he does
not support the Shouter Baptists. The reader is introduced to the budding relationship between
Joyce and Clyde, as well as Bolos disappointment in the churchs apathy. The chapter ends with
Reggie being placed in a high school after previously applying without his parents knowledge.
Chapter 2:
This chapter charts the changes in Bonasse and how it affects Bolo and Clem. Clem accepted and
went with the flow, while Bolo just could not accept change and became disruptive. The banning
of carnival, hence stick fighting, became a reality, and the change that Americans had on the

cultural identity of the people was emphasized throughout this chapter.

Chapter 3:
The church plays a vital role in this chapter. The pride that is felt about its existence and
perseverance is expressed by Eva. However, a law is passed that makes the church illegal,
thereby forcing the members to plot to keep the church alive. The formulated a plan to be quiet
in the way they worship and to try to put a man in the Council. Other things that occur in the
chapter are: the tragic tale of Eulalie/Ivan/Bolo, Bolo losing his temper and its tragic results, and
the coming of Prince. In the end, Bee decides to break the law because the church is slowly
dying.
Chapter 4:
In this chapter, the reader learns about Bees children, as well as their response to his talk of
breaking the law. Winston wants to become a police and Taffy wants to leave Trinidad. Bolo
sits in church as a question mark and eventually leaves, while Bee finally breaks the law.
Chapter 5:
Bee breaks the law continuously until the church is raided. Everyone is dragged to jail, but Bolo
intercedes on behalf of his mother. He is beaten and subsequently imprisoned for three years with
hard labour. Bee was left with no choice but to sell his cow to avoid going to jail. Buntins shop
becomes black empowerment central, attracting all the youngsters, including Reggie, to join the
discussions. Taffy stabs a boy and runs off to stay with his uncle in Port of Spain, while the
Winston leaves Bonasse in order to become a police.
Chapter 6:
This chapter is all about the campaign trail and how diligently Bee worked to get Ivan elected.
An air of freedom and joy pervades this chapter. It ends, however, with Evas observation of the
changes that Ivan makes in his life, in accordance with his new position, as well as her views on
the implications behind Ivan Mortons procurement of the house on the hill.
Chapter 7:
This is a very dramatic chapter that highlights Bolos release from jail and the extent to which
things had changed during his incarceration. He tried to get land and did not succeed, he tried to
stick fight and faced cowards. The chapter ends with the destruction that he wrought on the
drums in order to express his anger and frustration.
Chapter 8:
This chronicles Bolos descent into a mode of destructive behavior: (a) obtaining a job and (b)
extorting products from the market vendors, rum shop and gambling shop. Bolos fame extends
outside Bonasse in this chapter, thereby highlighting the severity of his anger.

Chapter 9:
Joyce, the Dorcas only daughter, gets married, while Bolo kidnaps Primus two daughters. Bee
tries to get men to challenge' Bolo, since that is what he wants, but he barely succeeds at this.
The police intercede and Bolo, as well as Primus youngest daughter, gets killed.
Chapter 10:
Election time and Ivan is on the trail. The reader is not made aware of whether or not he is reelected, but what is known is that the Shouter Baptists were legalized. The irony at the end of the
book, however, is that on the cusp of their great victory, the spirit left the church. Despite this
tragedy, Eva hears it in the music that the boys play on the steel pan.
THEMES
Racism
Women in society
Religion
Education vs. religion
Change
Power and authority
Violence

Songs of Silence

SUMMARY
The book is about the recollections of a female narrator called Marlene (Nice). Her recollections
are dispersed chronologically, and appear to have no rational order, but many of the same
characters can be found in most of the 'stories', which occur in and around the same district.
SETTING

Rural Jamaica.

Recollections/ stories are set in the 1960's.

MAJOR CHARACTERS: Marlene, Effita, No Name, Nathan, Miss Minnie,

Raymond, Ionie, Maas Barber, Long Man, Cudjoe Man, Dolly, Minna, Mr.
Papacita.
RECOLLECTIONS/ STORIES
1. 'EFFITA'
This is a recollection of the Sunday ritual of taking food to Aunt Sare. Her habit of praying for
the carrier of the food is explored in great detail. The comedic telling of Effie's death
announcements is another detail that is explored. We learn what happens when she gives a wrong
announcement for Melwyn, and no announcement for Son Son. This recollection ends with
Effie's death in 1995, with the implication that few people attended her funeral, despite the fact
that most of the people in the district were related.
SETTING: Green Town, Maaga Bay, Lucea, Montego Bay.
CHARACTERS:
Marlene/ Nice - the protagonist and narrator.
Effita - the person who did informal death announcements for the district.
Son Son - the narrator's male schoolmate who died, also Effie's nephew.
Melwyn - Marlene's cousin who was shot by Chisel Bwoy, then given an incorrect death
announcement by Effie.
Aunt Sare - the elderly lady who was a mid-wife. She would pray for every child that delivered
food for her.
Ionie - Marlene's mother.
Chisel Bwoy - the police constable who shot Melwyn.
Miss Zeta - the shop owner.

Maas Levi - the only person in the district with a car, an old Chevrolet that the villagers called
'May Reach'.
Mass Rat - the carpenter and coffin maker.
Miss Herfa - Man Teacher's wife and a teacher herself.
Man Teacher - the principal of the local school.

THEMES
Death,
Old age
2. 'A STORY WITH NO NAME'
This is the story of a lady with no name. It is reputed that she was abandoned by her wealthy
family. She is an anomaly in the district because she is high coloured, did not speak, was very
expressive in church before her silence, and was reclusive. She put her reclusive nature on pause
once a month, when she went to town in order to visit the post office to collect packages. The
story gets interesting when she got pregnant and no-one knew the father. The child became her
life, and she shared him with no one, but kept him to herself. He turned out to be even more
silent than his mother. It was, however, rumoured that Maas Barber, Marlene's father, was the
child's father. In between the telling of this story, is Marlene's explanation of her own silence.
SETTING: Tam Briscoe Hill, Baltree District,
CHARACTERS
Marlene/ Nice - the protagonist and narrator.
No Name - the light skinned lady who was related to the Briscoes (rich landowners in the
district)Ionie - Marlene's mother.
Maas Barber - Marlene's father
Magsie - Marlene's sister.
Long Man - a traveler who used to pass through the district and stay at the narrator's house.
Luce Blagrove - the person who spread the rumour that Paul was Maas Barber's child.
Miss Clemmy - the lady who ran the post office.

Paul - No Name's son.

Evert Briscoe - He was the only member of the Briscoe family who came home sometimes, he
owned the piece of hill and the land that Maas Barber oversaw.

THEMES
Racism
Alienation
Women in Society
Silence
3. 'NATHAN'
This is the story of Nathan, Marlene's brother. They were two years apart and were different from
their other siblings because they were companions silence. Details are told of Nathan's extreme
'tightness', or thriftiness, versus his sister's need to give everything away. He eventually married a
woman whom he adored, despite the fact that she was very loud, and had three children. Marlene
describes Nathan as a very stubborn man. She reports a particular incident with an MP where he
won a substantial settlement due to his stubbornness. Marlene maintains that they still have a
good relationship. Great details are given about Marlene's silence, along with her struggle to
accept her brothers when/ while they were going through puberty.
SETTING: Baltree District
CHARACTERS
Marlene - The narrator.
Nathan - Marlene's brother who was stubborn and very quiet.
Everette - Marlene's sister who likes to go to court to listen to the cases. Marlene heard the story
of Nathan's altercation with the MP from her.
Tony -Marlene's older brother.
MP - The person that Nathan got in a fight with and received a settlement.
THEMES: Love and family relationship, silence.
4. 'THE IDIOT'
This recollection speaks about school and education. It begins with the story of Ionie's pride
taking a beating when she had to ask some-one, whom she had previously snobbed, for help. The
story continues with Marlene explaining why she liked school. She speaks of her two scholastic

rivals, Ezekiel and Wellesley, as well as the class dunce, Bas. She explains the phenomena of
partially going to school due to farming responsibilities. We then learn that, in high school, she
was the only person that would grudgingly speak to Ezekiel, who eventually dropped out of
school. He ended up being very successful and Marlene felt bad because she did not treat him
well.
SETTING: Maggoty, Black Shop, St. James, St. Andrew.
CHARACTERS
Marlene - The narrator, extremely bright, was placed above her age range, in the class, due to
her strong scholastic ability.
Magsie - Marlene's older sister.
Bathsheba Watkiss - Ezekiel Watkiss' sister and a teacher.
Miss Herfa - A teacher and Man Teacher's wife.
Man Teacher - The principal.
Pa Brown - The man who Ionie snubbed, and he had to help her to cross the river.
Ezekiel Watkiss (Hog) - A student in the class who was her scholastic rival, despite not going to
school consistently.
Miss Celine - A teacher.
Bas - the duncest boy in the class, did not attend school consistently.
Wellesley Black (Goggleeye) - Another scholastic rival at school, he attended school regularly
and was the correct age for the class.
Nerissa Black - Wellesley's sister and a pupil teacher who taught the lower grades.

THEMES
Childhood lessons
Education and society
Silence.
5. 'MISS MINNIE'
This is the story of Raymond and Miss Minnie. Miss Minnie got married to Lester after his
girlfriend deserted him, as well as their young son Raymond. Miss Minnie was an extremely

good mother to Raymond, making him the centre of her life, especially after Lester died.
Raymond became a successful individual and took Miss Minnie with him to live in Kingston.
Great changes occurred in Kingston because he met his mother and brothers, which created
waves in the relationship between himself and Miss Minnie. She was eventually diagnosed with
depression and low self esteem. This created another change in their relationship, to the point
where Raymond would not allow another woman to get between him and Miss Minnie. Marlene
declares that, based on this fact, she cannot wait on him because he will never marry as long as
Miss Minnie is alive.
SETTING: Baltree District, Lucea, Kingston.
CHARACTERS:
Marlene - The narrator, she was in a romantic relationship with Raymond.
Miss Minna - Raymond's step mother who made him her life, she sells in the market, went to
live
with Raymond in Kingston in order to take care of him.
Lester - Raymond's father. He is very quiet and died while Raymond was still young, he was a
shoe maker.
Maas Baada - He read the newspaper to the men in the shoe shop and was affectionate towards
Raymond, where his father was not.
Raymond's mother - Rumoured that she was a go-go dancer, she left when Raymond was a
young child, instigated a meeting with him when he was a successful adult, attempted to become
a part of his life.
Sam & Nichol - Raymond's half brothers, from his mother's side.

THEME
Love and family relationship
Silence.
6. 'Morris Hole'
This is the story of how Marlene lost the river. She explains what the river meant to her through
her visual description of Morris Hole, as well as the activities that use to occur there. She lost the
river when her mother abruptly told her that she could not use it, without any explanation. She
then recounts her white ancestry, as well as the traumatic experiences associated with her
paternal great grandparents.

SETTING - Baltree District, Morris Hole.

CHARACTERS
Marlene - The narrator, she is entering puberty in this recollection.
Miss Retinella Martin - Marlene's aunt.
Munchie - Marlene's cousin.
Ionie - Marlene's mother, she is grappling with her daughter entering puberty.
Miss Clemmy, Miss Nellie - part of the group of Seventh Day Adventist women who wash by
the river on Sunday mornings.
Sister Sis - Marlene's great grandmother who did not know the father of her child, and therefore
named Gussie Bugess.
Maas Gussie Burgess - a very pretty man, tall and brown with nice hair, who lived in Maaga
Bay, named as grandpa Eric's father.
Granpa Eric - The 'supposed' product of a union between Maas Gussie and Sister Sis.
Puppa & Mummah - Maas Barber's grandparents and his children's great grandparents, they are
white.
Maas Barber - Marlene's father.

THEME
Race
Loss of innocence
7. 'TRAVELLERS, OR FATHERS, OR LITTLE FOOL-FOOL'
This is the story of different kinds of love. There is parental love, as represented by Cudjoe Man
and Dolly. Cudjoe Man is admired throughout the district for his devotion to his mentally
challenged daughter. He combs her hair, dresses her, provides for her every need and is
extremely protective of her. He even disregards his attraction to Minna, a possible love match, in
order to concentrate on his child. We also learn of a contrasting relationship between Minna and
Samson. The romantic love between theses two people is polluted by physical abuse. This abuse
is whispered throughout the district, but things come to a head when Samson beats Minna with
such strength and aggression that she is hospitalized. This beating occurred because Minna got in
a fight with Dottie over Cudjoe Man. This confirmed Samson's paranoia about Minnie cheating
on him, and the result was beating her senseless, and then being attacked by Cudjoe-Man.

Cudjoe Man ended up in jail and Dottie stayed with a family in the district until relatives from
Kingston came to get her.
SETTING: Baltree district, St. Ann, Green Town, Grant Ridge, Somerset St James
CHARACTERS:
Uncle Cuthbert (Cuttiie) - A traveller in his young days who told the children stories of his
journeys.
Cudjoe Man - A traveller who decided to stay in Baltree district and a devoted father to Dottie.
Dolly (Fool-Fool/ Doll-Doll) - Cudjoe Man's mentally challenged daughter.
Pappa Lazzy - The gentleman who gave Cudjoe-Man a place to rest before he decided to stay in
Baltree district.
Long Man - A consistent visitor/ traveller to Marlene's family.
Lobie - He was famous in the district for his womanizing, began 'noticing' Dottie.
Big Man Cassels - Lobie's father, it was rumoured that he made inappropriate comments about
Cudjoe Man and his daughter's relationship.
Linval - Marlene's brother
Miss Herfa - A teacher, Man Teacher's wife.
Minna - Samson's girlfriend, flirted with Cudjoe Man, brutally beaten by Samson after the fight.
Dottie - Cudjoe Man's girlfriend, fought with Minna when she heard of the flirting incident
between Minna and Cudjoe Man.

THEMES:
Love
Love and family relationship
Women in society
8. 'SO FEW AND SUCH MORNING SONGS'
Mr. Papacita's story tells of the great love that he has for his wife. They played together and were
very romantic with each other. The story also highlights Mr. Papacita's beautiful voice, how he
charmed everyone with it, how he lost it when his wife died, and regained it - to an extent - when

he found the church. Mr. Papacita was a happy and carefree man when his wife was alive, but
when she died, he became self destructive. He was always drunk, and literally passed out in the
road when he was on one of his drunken tirades. He spent three weeks in the hospital and came
out a changed man. He became very quiet, and one day he surprised everyone by going to
church, becoming baptized and regaining a bit of his beautiful voice.
SETTING - Baltree district.
CHARACTERS
Mr. Papacita - Miss Aita's husband, he had a beautiful voice, lost himself to grieve initially, but
eventually found the church.
Miss Aita - Mr. Papacita's wife, she died of cancer.
Miss Nellie - Town gossip.
Maas Levi - Owner of the Chevrolet, the only car in the district.
Maas Don - The taylor
THEMES: Love, religion
9. 'EPILOGUE: A BEGINNING'
This epilogue takes the reader to the point at which Marlene is leaving the district to attend
teachers' college in Kingston. She was afraid, excited and glad - all at the same time - at the
prospect of leaving her home. She reflects that all the characters in her reflections are a part of
her.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Ackee - A yellow fruit that, when cooked, looks like scrambled eggs.
Blue Boot - Your best clothes.
Bruk dung - Dilapidated.
Bulla cake - A round, flat cake, that has the texture of a hard cookie.
Bauxite - A reddish brown rock that was mined in Jamaica.
Congotay - Deceitful or deceiver.

Coolie royal hair - Hair type that is a cross between Indian and Black, leaning more towards
Black, wild in nature.
Cotta - A circular and twisted cloth that is placed on the head to cushion a load.
Cry cree - To beg for mercy, usually used when people are playing.
Cucumaka stick - A stick that comes from a tree, of the same name, that is believed to help in
abortions, despite no scientific evidence to prove this.
Dulcimina - A big, old fashioned looking suitcase.
Duppy - A ghost
Faas with - To trouble someone or get in their personal business.
Facety - Describes a person that is rude, or behaviour that is rude.
Four eye - Word for some-one who is clairvoyant.
Hootiah - A person who has not been well brought up.
Jacket/ give jacket - To name a man as the father of a child when he is not, the child is the
'jacket' that the man is given.
kibber - to keep your mouth shut, not talk.
Peenie-wallie - A firefly.
Pickni - A small child.
Gleaner - A local Jamaican newspaper.
Maas - Mr./ Mister.
Mirasmi - Malnutrition.
Mouthamassy - someone who talks too much and gossips a lot.
MP - Member of Parliament

Pocomania - A religious cult that blends Christianity and African beliefs. It carries the stigma of
obeah and is not widely accepted.
Tegereg - A boisterous and uncouth person.
UC - University of the West Indies Hospital.
Yaws - A sore that has persisted for so long that it has become infected.

Old Story Time

SUMMARY
This play is about a mother who wants the best for her child. As a result, she isolates him from
the children in the neighbourhood and forcibly encourages him to study. The result of her
'encouragement' is that he obtains a scholarship to go to University in England, travels the world,
obtains a PhD, and gets an excellent job in the banking sector in Kingston,Jamaica. Alongside
her encouragement, regarding education, however, is her castigation of the Black race. She tells
her son that Black is not good, therefore, he must try to court Margaret, the reverend's daughter
who, it is implied, is white. He attempted to accommodate his mother and was brutally
humiliated. This incident, however, led to him meeting his future wife, the dark skinned Lois.
Mama does not react well to their marriage and maintains the belief that Lois has worked obeah
on her son in order to obtain and keep him. We learn that Lois is, in fact, dedicated to Len. So
much so that she embezels the bank's money in order to support Len while he was away at
University. She paid for it at that time because her then boss, George McFarlane, blackmailed
her. Her former boss re-enters her life when Len investigates George's financial activities in
order to ascertain whether or not he has scammed Mama in a housing deal. George tries to use
her former fraudulent activities against her, but it backfires on him because Len uses the same
bank slip, that George had kept as evidence of Lois embezzlement of bank funds, to trap him.
The story culminates with Mama working obeah on Lois in order to get her out of Len's life.
Discovering that she was wrong in her treatment, and attitude, towards Lois over the years, she
apologizes to Lois. Lois, Len and Pa Ben place her in a prayer circle in order to ensure that the
boomerang does not catch her. All is forgiven by the end of the play. This story is narrated by Pa
Ben, who is integral to keeping the peace, as well as keeping the lines of communication open
between family.
SETTING

The first half of the play is predominantly set in an unamed parish in rural Jamaica.

The last half of the play is predominantly set in Kingston, Jamaica.

The story line is set between the 1960's to 1980.

CHARACTERS
Pa Ben

He is the narrator and story teller.

He keeps the peace between Mama and Len.

He keeps the lines of communication open between Mama and Len, and Len and Lois.

He loves Len like a son, and treats him like one.

Mama is his best friend.

He loves to drink his white rum.

Mama (Miss Aggie/ Miss G.)

Len's mother.

She is a market lady.

She is very invested in her child's education.

She is very proud.

She believes that whites and near whites, are superior to Black people.

She is very witty.

Pearl

Len's childhood friend.

She is constantly pregnant

By the middle of the play she had 11 children and is pregnant with another.

She dies in childbirth near the end of the play.

Miss Margaret

She is the white daughter of the minister.

She attends Munroe College with Len and George.

Mama wants Len to marry her because she represents advancement.

She shows Len's love letter to her, from George, and enables the plan to humiliate Len.

She marries George, they have a child together, and that child attends Munroe College.

Miss Lois

Len's dark skinned wife.

Mama does not, initially, accept her based on her skin colour.

She, and her father, take care of Len after his humiliating experience with George and his
friends.

She sends money to George while he attended University.

She is blackmailed by George, twice, because she embezzled money from the bank.

She loves her husband and yearns for his attention.

George McFarlane

Len's school mate at Munroe College.

He treated Len very badly and was the mastermind behind Len's ultimate humiliation.

He was very dunce at school, but was offered a place ate the bank.

He eventually becomes the bank manager, where he embezels money and is caught and
fired.

The owner of the fraudulent ABC Homes, the company that scams Mama.

He was Margaret's boyfriend in high school, and eventually marries her.

Len

Mama's son.

He was extremely bright and did very well in school.

Attended Munroe College, earned a scholarship to University in England and travelled

the world.

He eventually obtained an excellent job in the banking sector, despite job issues after
high school.

Courted and married Lois, despite knowing that his mother would not approve.

Loves his mother and tries to be patient with her.

Loves his wife because he defies his mother by secretly dating her, then marrying her.

CHAPTER SUMMARIES
Act 1
This act is about Mama's aspirations for Len. She encourages her only son to study hard and
leave the company of girls like Pearl, but instead, to set his sights on Margaret, the pastor's near
white daughter (her race is implied in the play). We learn that, as he grows up, he goes against
his mother's desires and secretly dates a dark skinned girl (Lois), with Pa Ben as his coconspirator. He soon leaves Jamaica to attend University in England. He communicates very
little with Mama, initially, until Pa Ben wrote him a letter explaining how this absence of
communication affects Mama, and could possibly affect him. Over time they learn that Len has
visited many countries around the world, obtained a PhD, and has married Lois. Mama is pleased
and proud about all his achievements, with the exception being his marriage to Lois. He returns
home, without Mama's knowledge, and pays her an unexpected visit. Mama is pleased and
proud, but takes him into her house to talk to him about her disappointment in his marriage to
Lois. He also finds out that Mama has been scammed by George McFarlane and invites him to
his home, in Kingston, for a meeting. They discuss a business deal, but George makes a speedy
retreat when he discovers Len's identity, and his possible knowledge of the scam. We also
discover that Lois is frustrated in her marriage because she wants attention from her husband,
and that Mama treats Lois with open disdain.
Act 2, Scene 1
This scene outlines the manner in which Len was terrorized and bullied in school. It also

highlights the fact that, despite his high scholastic achievement, Len cannot get a job at the bank.
In contrast, however, George McFarlane, aka Duncey Mongoose, was offered a job in the bank,
where he quickly advanced to the position of bank manager. Unfortunately, he took advantage of
his position and embezzled the bank's money. He was fired as a result, and invested a lot of time
and effort in ABC Housing, where he started scamming people like Mama. We then see Len
explaining to Lois how he found George, by baiting him with the rumour that he would be open
to 'under the table' deals. He asks Lois if she knows George, since they worked together at the
same bank, but she denies it. The audience's curiosity is piqued, however, by how familiar
George behaves with Lois, especially when he calls Lois to enquire about her mother in law's last
name. When Lois hangs up on him, the scene ends with George trying to locate Mama on his
own.
Act 2, Scene 2
Len is amusing himself with George's documents and Mama shows up. She wants Len to help
George but Len refuses. They have a terrible fight in which Mama calls Len ungrateful and he
reacts by raising a chair to hit her. She blames his actions on his 'Black Sambo' wife whom she
believes has 'obeahed' him. She leaves with the statement that she must set him free, implying
that she is going to set 'obeah' on Lois, to get her out of Len's life.
Act 2, Scene 3
Len pays a visit to Pa Ben, hoping to get the address of an obeah woman in order to protect Lois
from the obeah that he is sure that Mama intends to work on her. Pa Ben tries to disuade him, but
Len does not relent. Pa Ben finally gives him a name of an obeah woman in Kingston. Len then
asks Pa Ben to visit her for him because he has a reputation to maintain. Mama arrives, Len
leaves, and Pa tries to get information from Mama regarding her threat to Lois. He is
unsuccessful in his attempts to glean information from Mama and decides to play sick in the
morning in order to stall her.
Act 2, Scene 4
This is a hilarious scene where Len attempts to follow the directions of the fraudulent obeah
woman that Pa Ben recommended.
Act 2, Scene 5
Mama pays George a visit and tries to console him. She tells him that Lois controls Len and is
preventing him from lending George the money. She tells him that she will take care of Lois.
Act 2, Scene 6
George arrives at Lois' house and blackmails her. Len comes home and she reveals the story of
how she embezzled the banks money and got caught and blackmailed by George. Len supports
his wife and, in turn, blackmails George into silence regarding Lois' embezelment. Len then
shares the traumatic story of Margaret's love letter with his family, Mama reacts by attacking

George, who makes a speedy retreat. Pa Ben, Len and Lois then pray for Mama's deliverance
from the boomerang.
THEMES - click here for ADDITIONAL NOTES
Racial and class discrimination
Religion and Obeah
Education vs. progress
Dreams and Aspirations
Love
Love and family relationship
Power and authority
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Batter batter - To knock about aimlessly.
Breed - To get pregnant.
'Burn a candle on his head' - To work obeah on him.
Drudge - To constantly wear something.
Duppy - A ghost.
Hold Dog - Literally means to 'hold the dog'
Kirrout - To literally 'clear out', or get away.
Lawd - An exclamation meaning 'Lord'.
Malice - To deliberately not speak to someone for an extended period of time.
Primps - To show off.
Tot - A little of something.

A Contemplation Upon Flowers

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
Brave flowers, 1.that I could 5.gallant it like you, and be as little vain;
You come abroad and make a 6.harmless show,
And to your beds of earth again;
You are not proud, you know your birth,
For your embroidered garments are from earth.
You do obey your months and times, but I would have it ever spring;
My fate would know no winter, never die, nor think of such a thing;
Oh that I could 2.my bed of earth but view, 1.and smile and look as cheerfully as you.
Oh teach me to see death and not to fear,
But rather to take truce;
3.How often have I seen you at a 6.bier,
And there look fresh and spruce;
You fragrant flowers then 7.teach me that my breath like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.

Berry, J. 'A Contemplation Upon Flowers' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds M

Stanza 2, line 14: This is another comparison between the persona and the plant. The
persona wishes that he could look death in the face and be cheerful, like the plant. Again,
this emphasizes that he lacks.

2. EUPHEMISM
This phrase is a replacement for the word death. It softens death and makes it appear
welcoming and pleasant.
3. IRONY
It is ironic that the flowers look so fresh and alive when it is facing its very mortality, on the
top of a casket. Death is a sad affair, and the flowers are at their best when ushering people
back to the earth.
4. PERSONIFICATION

The persona is speaking directly to flowers and giving them human qualities, therefore, the
whole poem is an example of the use of personification at it's best. He even goes as far as to
ask the flower to teach him things that will make him be like it.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
5. 'galant'
This word literally means brave or heroic. The word, however, also brings to mind adjectives
such as charming and attentive, like a knight would be in olden days. So the plants are not
simply brave in their acceptance of death, but they are also gracious.
6. 'harmless show'
The word harmless sticks out in this phrase because it implies that the flowers are demure
and quiet in their beauty.
7. 'bier'
This is a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation, or
on which they are carried to the grave.
8. 'teach me that my breath like yours may sweeten and perfume my death'
This implies that if death is not feared, then the person will go into deaths arms joyfully,
without any sorrow, remorse or bitterness.
TONE
The tone of the poem is admiration, because the persona literally admires the flowers for its
accepting attitude towards death.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood, or atmosphere of the poem is a pensive one. The persona is thinking about death,
how he relates to it versus how others relate to it.
CONTRAST
A contrast in this poem is the persona's fear of death, versus the flowers'acceptance of it.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Nature
Death

A Stone's Throw

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.

5.We shouted out

'We've got her! Here she is!
It's her all right '.
We caught her.
There she was 1.A decent-looking woman, you'd have said,
(6.They often are)
Beautiful, but 7.dead scared,
8.Tousled - we roughed her up
A little, 9.nothing much
And not the first time
By any means
She'd felt men's hands
Greedy over her body 10.But ours were virtuous,
Of course.
And if our fingers bruised
Her shuddering skin,
These were love-bites, compared
To the 2.hail of kisses of stone,
The last assault
And 11.battery, frigid rape,
3.To come
12.Of right.
For justice must be done
Specially when
It 13.tastes so good.
And then - 14.this guru,
Preacher, God-merchant, God-knows-what Spoilt the whole thing,
Speaking to her
15.(Should never speak to them)
Squatting on the ground - her level,
Writing in the dust
Something we couldn't read.
16.And saw in her
Something we couldn't see
At least until

17.He turned his eyes on us,

Her eyes on us,
Our eyes upon ourselves.
18.We walked away
Still holding stones
That we may throw
Another day
Given the urge.

Mitchel, E. 'A Stone's Throw' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. P

Line 23: There is a play on the word 'come'. The persona is telling us that the crowd is
planning to rape the lady, this act is to come, or occur, in the near future. Come, in this
context, also means to ejaculate, the culmination of the act of sex. The rapists in the
crowd also plan to 'come'.

4. ALLUSION (biblical)
The content of the poem alludes to the story of Mary Magdalene in the Christian Bible. See John
8 v 5-7.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
5. 'we'
This immediately tells the reader that the persona is in a crowd, which highlights to us that the
mob mentality exists in this context. The crowd acts as one entity.
6. 'they'
The use of this word immediately alienates the lady and places her in the scornful realm of the
'other'.
7. 'dead scared'
The use of the term 'dead' to describe the lady's emotional state of fearfulness implies that she is
extremely frightened, it is beyond regular fear.
8. 'tousled'
This words mean to be handled roughly and, as a result, to look disorderly and disheveled. It is
the perfect word to use in this context because it adds to the sexual innuendo that exists
throughout the poem.
9. 'nothing much'
The persona disregards the damage that they have done to the lady. He admits to the rough
treatment, but tries to make himself, and the crowd, look good despite their wrong doing.
10. 'But ours were virtuous, Of course'

This is almost like a tongue in cheek admittance that their touch was actually the opposite of
virtuous. The use of the term 'of course' highlights this interpretation.
11. 'battery'
In the Caribbean context, battery refers to the slang term for the rape of an individual, conducted
by several people in succession. Therefore, the persona is pointing out the intent of the crowd, or
some people in the crowd.
12. 'Of right'
This is a clear indication from the persona that he believes that he and the mob are in the right.
13. 'tastes so good'
'Taste', to a lot of individuals, is one of the higher senses. Therefore, when the persona uses this
word, he is highlighting the intense pleasure that he anticipates from meting out this 'justice'.
14. 'this guru, Preacher, God-merchant, God-knows-what'
The persona's annoyance at this individual for disrupting his fun comes out in this statement. The
persona is deliberately being disrespectful.
15. '(Should never speak to them)'
This particular line speaks to the alienation that the lady faces. She is grouped scornfully as
'them'.
16. 'And saw in her something we couldn't see'
The intruder saw value in the lady, something that the crowd did not see.
17. 'He turned his eyes on us, Her eyes on us, Her eyes upon ourselves.'
This speaks to the fact that the preacher and the lady judge the crowd, and, more importantly, the
crowd judges itself. The preacher's act of kindness sheds light on the cruelty that is inflicted on
the lady by the crowd.

18. 'We walked away Still holding stones'

This implies that the crowd still plans to keep judging, and acting on their judgments, as they
see fit.
TONE
The tone of the poem is mixed. At times it is almost braggadocious, then it becomes
sarcastic, moving to scornful.

THEMATIC CATEGORY
Religion
Survival
Hypocrasy
Oppression
Alienation
Discrimination

Dreaming Black Boy

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
1.I wish my teacher's eyes wouldn't
go past me today. Wish he'd know
it's okay to hug me when I kick
a goal.1.Wish I myself wouldn't
hold back when an answer comes.
2.I'm no woodchopper now
like all ancestor's.
1.I wish I could be educated

to the best of tune up, and earn

good money and 3.not sink to lick
boots.1.I wish I could go on every
crisscross way of the globe
and no persons or powers or
hotel keepers would make it a waste.
1.I wish life wouldn't spend me out
opposing.1.Wish same way creation
would have me stand it would have me stretch, and hold high, 2.my voice
Paul Robeson's, my 4.inside eye
a sun. Nobody wants to say
hello to nasty answers.
1.I wish 2.torch throwers of night
would burn lights for decent times.
1.Wish 2.plotters in pyjamas would pray
for themselves. Wish people wouldn't
talk as if I dropped from Mars
1.I wish only boys were scared
behind bravados, for I could suffer.
I could suffer a big big lot.
1.I wish nobody would want to earn
the terrible burden I can suffer.

King, H. 'Dreaming Black Boy' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmond-McDonald. P

Stanza 3, lines 19 to 20, alludes to Paul Robeson, a black intellectual, who attained
success despite difficult circumstances. The persona yearns to be like this person. He
wants room to stretch intellectually.

Stanza 4, lines 22 to 25, alludes to the klu klux klan. Burning lights refers to the burning
crosses and the pyjamas alludes to their white outfits that look like pyjamas. The persona
wants them to leave him alone, find something else to do other than make his life
difficult, as well as contributing to his wishes remaining a dream.

IMPORTANT WORDS / PHRASE

3.'not sink to lick boots'
This refers to the concept of being subservient. To have no choice but to kowtow to people in
order to get ahead.


4. 'Inside eye a sun'
This refers to the persona's mind. He wants to show how intelligent he is without fear. He
wants his mind to be a sun. Sun represents brightness and light, that is how he wants his
intelligence to shine.
TONE
The tone/mood of the poem is one of sadness. The persona is thinking about how he is
treated and he reacts to this in a sad way. He keeps wishing that things were different.

THEMATIC CATEGORY:
Survival
Oppression
Desire/dreams
Racism

God's Grandeur

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
The world is 7.charged with the 8.grandeur of God.
1.It will flame out, like shining from shook foil:
1.It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. 2.Why do men then now not reck 3.his rod?
4.Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
9.And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
5.And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil
is bare now, 10.nor can foot feel, being shod.
And for all this, nature is never spent;
5.There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, 5.at the brown brink eastward, springs -

Because the 11.Holy Ghost over the bent

6.World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

Hopkins, G.M 'God's Grandeur' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald

2. RHETORICAL QUESTION
The persona questions why men do not care about God's wrath. He implies that this wrath is sure
because the Earth is charged, or commanded with the grandeur of God.
3. ALLUSION (biblical)
This 'rod' refers to the rod of correction that is found in the Christian Bible. See 2 Samuel 7:14.
This line implies that God will punish man for being reckless with the world.
4. REPETITION
This device highlights the damage that man has done to the world. Trodding implies that one
walks, or tramples, in order to crush or injure.
5. ALLITERATION

Lines 10-11: This device emphasizes the impact that man has had on his environment. He
has impacted every crevice of the world in some negative way, as implied by words such
as 'smudge'.

Lines 14-15: This device clarifies that the Earth is resilient, no matter what man does to
harm it, it will bounce back.

Lines 18-19: This device simply re-iterates the resilience of the Earth, we can actually
visualize the sun rising.

6. PERSONIFICATION
When one broods, they are pondering on something. Therefore, the world ponders, but in a
positive way, with warm breasts. This implies that it feels good because it has persevered despite
of man's interference.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
7. 'charged'
This word implies intensity, impassioned. Therefore, the world has been gifted with intensity of
the greatness of God.
8. 'grandeur'
This implies that something is awesome, or awe inspiring. Therefore, the world is infused with
the 'greatness' of God.

9. 'And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;

Everything in the world is tainted and influenced by man's presence.
10. 'nor can foot feel, being shod'
This means that man is blind to the damage that he has caused. If one is wearing shoes, it
protects them from stones etc, therefore, man's consciousness is deadened by his inability to see
the damage that he has caused.

11. 'Holy Ghost over the bent'

This can be interpreted to mean that salvation is on its way, it also implies that salvation is
sure because when one is bent on something, it implies a strong determination.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is pensive because the persona is reflecting on man's influence on the
world.
TONE
The tone of the poem is one of confidence and formality.

THEMATIC CATEGORY
Religion
Nature

Forgive My Guilt

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.

Not always sure what things called sins may be, I am sure of one sin I have done.
It was years ago, and I was a boy,
I lay in the 1.frost flowers with a gun,
2.the air ran blue as the flowers; I held my breath, 2.two birds on golden legs slim as dream things 2.ran like qui
With 1.jagged ivory bones where wings should be. For days I heard them when I walked that headland, crying o
time cannot 6.drown them, 1.Those slender flutes of sorrow never cease, 3.Two airy things forever denied the ai
Airy, and beautiful will forgive my guilt.

Coffin, R.P.T. 'Forgive My Guilt' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald

Line 8: The sand is being compared to gold, the colour. It is emphasizing how beautiful
the setting was.

Line 12: This metaphor emphasizes the injuries that the birds sustained. The bones are
compared to jagged ivory, which is a direct contrast to the smooth feathers that existed
before the injury.

Lines 20-21: The birds are compared to a flute, an instrument that plays beautiful music.
This emphasizes the sadness that is related to their death.

2. SIMILE

Line 5: The air and the flowers are being compared, both are blue.

Lines 6-7: This simile offers a beautiful visual image of the birds. Dreams are beautiful,
and the birds are compared to this.

Line 7: The speed of the birds is being highlighted, while also maintaining that beautiful
visual imagery.

3. PUN
The pun is between the words 'airy' and 'air'. 'Airy' means light and beautiful, while 'air' refers to
the sky and flying. The poet is lamenting that these light and beautiful things can no longer fly
and feel the pleasure of air rushing past them.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
4. 'the blue'
This literally translates to the sky. The birds were crying out to the other birds that were flying
away.
5. 'in war or peace'
This phrase highlights the fact that the persona feels extremely guilty about killing the birds, so
much so that he thinks about it all the time. Their cries went out for literally one day, but he
thinks about the birds all the time.
6. 'drown'
It is important that the poet chooses to use the word drown, because it means death. He cannot
get rid of the sounds of sorrow that the birds made while they were dying.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is nostalgia and guilt.
TONE
The tone of the poem is sad. The poet's response to his guilt is sadness.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Childhood experiences
Nature
Guilt
Loss of innocence
Desire/dreams
Death

It is the Constant Image of your Face

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
It is the 3.constant image of your face
framed in my hands as you knelt before my chair
the 4.grave attention of 1.your eyes
surveying me amid my 5.world of knives
that stays with me, 1.perennially accuses
and convicts me of 2.heart's-treachery:
and neither you nor I can plead excuses
for you, you know, can claim no loyalty my land takes precedence of all my loves.
Yet I beg mitigation, pleading guilty
for you, my dear, accomplice of my heart
made, without words, 6.such blackmail with your beauty
and proffered me such dear protectiveness
that I confess without remorse or shame
my still-fresh treason to1.my country
and hope that she, my other, dearest love
will pardon freely, not attaching blame
being your mistress (or your match) in tenderness.

Brutus, D. 'It is the Constant Image of your Face' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Sim
LITERARY DEVICES
1. PERSONIFICATION

Lines 4, 6-7: The love interest's eyes constantly accuses and convicts the persona. This
device highlights the extent to which the persona has hurt this person.

Lines 18-20: The persona hopes that his country, his other dearest love, will forgive him
for the treasonous act of loving another. This highlights the patriotism that defines the
persona's relationship to his country.

2. OXYMORON
The term heart's-treachery implies that the heart, something so vital and indicative of love, has
committed a terrible crime. It highlights the heartbreak that the persona has caused his love
interest.
IMPORTANT WORD/ PHRASES
3. 'constant image'
This implies that the persona constantly, or always, remembers his love interest's face. It
emphasizes the guilt he feels in relation to this person.

4. 'grave attention'
The love interest's eyes display grave attention. The word grave implies intensely serious, so this
person is truly hurt.
5. 'world of knives'
A knife inflicts pain and destroys. The persona, therefore, is identifying his world with causing
pain.
6. 'such blackmail with your beauty'
To blackmail someone is to have something over them that puts their will in your control.
The love interest's beauty has captivated the persona in such a way that he betrays his country
with this person.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective. The persona is thinking about his two loves and how he
is torn between the two.
TONE
The tone of the poem is sadness and guilt. The persona is guilt ridden over this love triangle
and sadness permeates the words that he uses to describe it.

THEMATIC CATEGORY
Guilt
Patriotism
Places
Desires/ dreams
Love

Le Loupgarou

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
A 5.curious 1.tale that threaded through town
Through greying women sewing under eaves,
Was how his greed had brought old Le Brun down, 1.greeted by slowly shutting jalouses
When he approached them in 6.white linen-linen suit,
Pink glasses, cork hat and 2.tap-tapping cane,

3.A dying man licensed to sell sick fruit,

Ruined by fiends with whom he'd made a bargain.
It seems one night, these 4.Christian witches said,
He changed himself into an 7.Alsatian hound,
A slathering lycenthrope, hot on a scent,
1.But his own watchman dealt the thing a wound
Which howled and lugged its entrails, trailing wet
With blood back to its doorstep, almost dead.

Walcott, D. 'Le Loupgarou' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pea

LITERARY DEVICES
1. ALLITERATION

Lines 1-3: This alliteration gives the reader a visual imagery of the manner in which the
gossip about Le Brun spread. A thread is thin and fine and can weave itself in any
crevice, sometimes in a very non-linear and sinuous manner. This describes the way in
which the gossip spread. It managed to touch the whole village in an almost insiduous,
and complete, manner.

Line 5: This literary device speaks to the results of the gossip. Le Brun is alienated from
the people of the town. Their fascination with him, however, is evident by the fact that
they slowly shut their jalouses/windows. The lack of speed implies that they are watching
him, while also alienating him.

Lines 17-21: This alliteration highlights the severity of the loupgarou's injuries. You can
almost see and hear the wetness of the blood, as well as see the entrails trailing wet
through the use of this device.

2. ONOMATOPOEIA
The tap-tapping cane is a part of Le Brun's physical description. He appears to stand out, in terms
of his physical appearance, down to the use of his cane.
3. PARADOX
This statement appears nonsensical at first, but actually makes sense in the long run. The
loupgarou is, in fact, a man who is leading a half life as man and beast, so he is not really 'living'.
The fact that he can pass on the 'gift' of becoming a werewolf clarifies the fact that Le Brun is
actually 'licensed to sell sick fruit', or pass on his sick 'gift'.
4. OXYMORON
The words 'Christian' and 'witches', placed together, emphasizes the dual nature of the women in
the village. They are good Christian women who mean no harm, but their fear of the 'difference'

that they sense in Le Brun (contributed by his mode of dress), leads them to react in an
unchristian manner, like witches, in dealing with him.
* IRONY
It is ironic that Le Brun's own watchman dealt him a lethal blow.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
5.curious
This word emphasizes the strangeness of the story that is circulated about Le Brun.
6.white linen-linen suit, pink glasses, cork hat (and cane)
This outfit would let anyone be seen in a crowd, or other wise. It emphasizes Le Brun's
difference , hence, one of the reasons that he would be the focus of gossip. Imagine an individual
dressed in the combination below:

7.Alsatian hound, a slathering lycenthrope

This description of Le Brun displays the distaste that is felt towards him in his animal form.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective.
TONE
The tone of the poem is calm and reflective. The persona is simply recounting a piece of gossip.
THEMATIC CATEGORIZATION
Supernatural

O'l Higue

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
You think I like this 5.stupidness! 6.gallivanting all night without skin,
1.burning myself out like cane-fire
2.to frighten the foolish?
2.And for what? A few drops of baby blood?
2.You think I wouldn't rather
take my blood seasoned in fat
black-pudding, like everyone else?
And don't even talk 'bout the pain of salt
and having to bend these old bones down

to count a thousand grains of rice!

If only babies didn't smell so nice!
And if I could only stop
hearing 3.the soft, soft call
of that 7.pure blood running in new veins,
4.singing the sweet song of life
tempting an old, dry-up woman who been
8.holding her final note for years and years,
afraid of the dying hum ...
Then again, if I didn't fly and come
to that 9.fresh pulse in the middle of the night, 2.how would you, mother,
name your ancient dread?
2.And who to blame
for the murder inside your head ...?
Believe me As long as it have women giving birth
a poor ol' higue like me can never dead.

McWatt, M. 'Ol' Higue' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearso
LITERARY DEVICES
1. SIMILE
Cane-fire has a very distinct quality. It burns very quickly and its presence is felt through it's
pungent smell. Therefore, when the Ol' Higue compares herself to cane fire in her fireball state, it
implies that she uses a lot of energy quickly, and is very visible.
2. RHETORICAL QUESTION
Stanza 1,line 4: This rhetorical question highlights the scant regard that the Higue has for the
average person. She is thoroughly annoyed that she has to literally waste her energy on them.
Stanza 1, line 5: This highlights the fact that, again, she is annoyed that she has to expend so
much energy to obtain a few drops of baby blood.
Stanza 1, lines 6-8: The Ol' Higue is emphasizing the fat that regular people ingest blood too, just
in a more palatable manner. She would not mind if she could ingest it in the same manner as
well.
Stanza 3, lines 22-23: At this point, the Ol' Higue is making excuses for her presence, claiming
that she serves an actual purpose in the scheme of life. If a child dies of unknown causes, she can
be scapegoated for it.
Stanza 3, lines 24-25: 'The murder inside your head' refers to the moments, when out of pure
frustration and tiredness, a mother might wish ill on her child. The Ol' Higue is implying that,
again, she can be used as a scapegoat if something unfortunate happens to the child. The mother
is relieved of bearing the burden of guilt.

3. REPETITION
The repetition of the word 'soft' emphasizes the fact that the call of the child's blood has captured
and beguiled the Ol' Higue'. She implies that she cannot resist that call.
4. ALLITERATION
This device emphasizes the Ol' Higue's dependence, even addiction, to the sweet blood of the
baby.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
5. 'stupidness!'
This is a distinctly Caribbean phrase that highlights frustration or scorn. Therefore, it highlights
the Ol' Higue's frustration with her lack of self control.
6. 'gallivanting'
This term refers to some one 'playing around', having fun. The Ol' Higue is being sarcastic at this
point. She is expressing displeasure at having to fly around to seek prey.
7. 'pure blood running in new veins'
Babies are often associated with purity, this is what is emphasized here. The Ol' Higue simply
cannot resist the lure of new and pure blood.
8. 'holding her final note for years and years, afraid of the dying hum ...'
This tells us that the Ol'Higue has been living this desperate existence for a long time. It also
implies that she will keep hanging on, despite her frustration. The final line confirms this
point: 'As long as it have women giving birth a poor Ol' Higue like me can never dead'
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective.
TONE
The tone of the poem is slightly bitter and resigned. She accepts that the cycle of her life cannot
change.
THEMATIC CATEGORIZATION
Supernatural

Once Upon A Time

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
3.Once upon a time, son,
they used to laugh with their hearts
and laugh with their eyes;
but now 4.they only laugh with their teeth,
while 1.their ice-block eyes
5.search behind my shadow.
There was a time indeed
they used to 6.shake hands with their hearts;
but that's gone, son.
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left 7.hands search
my empty pockets.
'Feel at home'! 'Come again' ;
they say, and when I come
again and feel
at home, once, twice

there will be no thrice for then I find doors shut on me.

So I have learnt many things, son.
2.I have learnt to wear many faces
like dresses - homeface,
officeface, streetface, hostface
cocktail face, with all their 2.conforming smiles like a fixed portrait smile.
And I have learned, too.
to laugh with only my teeth
and shake hands without my heart
I have also learnt to say, 'Goodbye',
when I mean 'Good-riddance' ;
to say 'Glad to meet you',
without being glad; and to say 'It's been
nice talking to you', after being bored.
But believe me, son.
I want to be what I used to be
when I was like you. I want
8.unlearn all these muting things.
Most of all, I want to relearn
how to laugh, for 2.my laugh in the mirror
shows only my teeth like a snake's bare fangs!
So show me, son,
how to laugh; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
3.once upon a time when I was like you.

Okara, G. 'Once Upon A Time' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. P

Stanza 6, lines 38-40 compares the persona's laugh to a snakes. When you think of a
snake, words such as sneaky and deceitful come to mind. Therefore, the implication is
that the persona is fake, just like the people he despises.

3. REPETITION
This phrase is repeated at the beginning and the end of the poem. This usually signals the
beginning of a fairy tale. Therefore, it is implied that the persona is nostalgic about the past.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
4.'they only laugh with their teeth'

This emphasizes the insincerity of the people around the persona. To laugh with your teeth
means that only the bottom half of your face is engaged, the laugh does not reach the eyes.
5. 'shake hands with their heart'
To shake hands with your heart implies a strong handshake that is sincere, this is the opposite of
what now occurs between people.
6. 'search behind my shadow'
This implies that the person cannot look the persona in the eye, they are looking everywhere but
there. Looking someone in the eye during a conversation implies that one is sincerely interested
in what you have to say. Not being able to do so implies shiftiness.
7. 'hands search my empty pockets'
People are only 'seemingly' nice to get something from you. So, they smile with you, but it is not
sincere, they are seeking to get something from you.
8. 'unlearn all these muting things'
The word mute means silence, think of what happens when you press the mute button on
the TV remote. Therefore, there is an implication that the insincere actions that the
persona describes are muting, they block, or silence, good intentions. Hence, the persona
wants to unlearn these habits.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is nostalgic. The persona is remembering how things used to be
when he was young and innocent, like his son.
TONE
The tone of the poem is sad. The poet's response to his nostalgia is sadness.

THEMATIC CATEGORIZATION
Childhood experiences
Hypocrasy
Loss of innocence
Desire/dreams
Death
* It is IRONIC that the persona is behaving in the exact way that he despises, however, and
there is an implication that things cannot go back to what he remembers, due to the influence
of societal expectations.

Orchids

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
I leave this house
3.box pieces of the five week life I've gathered.
I'll send them on
to fill spaces in my future life.
One thing is left
a spray of orchid someone gave
4.from bouquet one who
makes a ritual of flower-giving sent.
The orchids have no fragrance
but purple petals draw you
to look at the 2.purple heart.
I watered them once
when 1.the blossoms were full blown
like polished poems.
I was sure they'd wilt
and I would toss them out with the five week litter.
They were stubborn.
I starved them.
They would not die.
This morning the bud at the stalk's tip 5.unfurled.

I think I'll pluck the 6.full-blown blooms

press them between 7.pages of memory.
Perhaps in their thin dried transparency
I'll discover their 8.peculiar poetry.

Simmonds-McDonald, H. 'Orchids' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDona
2. PUN
The purple heart literally refers to the splash of color in the center of the orchid's bloom, but it
could also refer to the bravery of the flower. This is so because a purple heart, in the army, is a
medal that a soldier receives for bravery on the battle field.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
3. 'box pieces'
This phrase implies that the persona's life is literally in boxes, all her belongings are stored and
ready to be moved.
4. 'from a bouquet one who makes a ritual of flower-giving sent.'
This phrase implies that the persona places no value in the orchid because it's giver gifted it
without any sentiment attached.
5. 'unfurled'
This word literally means to open. Therefore, despite the persona's attempts at killing the orchid,
through starvation, it not only survived, but flourished.
6. 'full-blown blooms'
These full-blown blooms represent the flower at its peak, where it is most full of life, as well as
where it is most usually appreciated.
7. 'pages of memory'
This refers to the practice of placing a flower between the pages of a book, thereby drying, or
killing the flower. The purpose of this act is to keep the flower for nostalgic reasons.
8. 'peculiar poetry'
This phrase highlights the persona's desire to discover the value in the flower. It is very
IRONIC, however, that she would choose to kill it in order to achieve this goal. Usually
people place value in a living flower that can give pleasure through its beauty.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is pensive, or thoughtful. The persona is thinking about the lack of
value that she places in the orchid.
TONE

The tone of the poem is one of almost bored musing.

THEMATIC CATEGORY
Nature
Survival
Desire/ dreams
Death

Sonnet Composed Upon A Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
Earth has not anything to show more 4.fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its 5.majesty:
1.This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples Lie open upon the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
2.Never did sun more beautifully 6.steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
3.The river glideth at his own steep will:
Dear God! 4.the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

Wordsworth, W. 'Sonnet Composed Upon A Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802' in A World of Prose. Edited
LITERARY DEVICES
1. SIMILE
The persona compares the manner in which the beauty of the morning settles over the city, to that
of a garment on a body. This emphasizes the perfection of the beauty of the morning, just as a
garment flows smoothly over a body.
2. PERSONIFICATION

Lines 9-10: The sun is referred to as a male who rises sharply and beautifully. This
emphasizes the beauty of the city in the morning. The use of this personification also
helps the reader to personalize this beauty.

Line 12: Like the sun, the river is personalized as well. This allows the reader to see the
river as real, instead of a thing. It comes alive and we can visualize it's movement,
gliding, as beautiful.

Line 13: When some-one is asleep, they are peaceful. Therefore, when the persona
describes the houses as sleeping, he is emphasizing the peace that exists in the city in the
morning. The inhabitants of the houses are asleep, therefore the houses are quiet and
peaceful.

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

4. 'fair'
The word fair, in this context, literally means beautiful. The persona is setting the stage for the
reader, introducing the fact that the city is beautiful.
5. 'majesty'
This word implies that the city is regal in it's splendour. Therefore, it is beyond beautiful and has
become stately.

6. 'steep'
This word describes the way in which the sun ascends into the sky, it is stressed that it does
so in beautiful manner.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is pensive, or thoughtful. The persona is expressing his thoughts, and
reaction to, the city in the morning.
TONE
The tone of the poem is one of awe.

THEMATIC CATEGORIZATION
Places
Nature

Test Match Sabina Park

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
Proudly wearing the 4.rosette of my skin
I 5.strut into Sabina
3.England boycotting excitement bravely,
6.something badly amiss.
Cricket. Not the game they play at Lords,
the crowd - 1.whoever saw a crowd
at a cricket match? - are caged
7.vociferous partisans, quick to take offence.
8.England sixty eight for none at lunch.
1.'What sort o battin dat man?
dem kaaan play cricket again,
praps dem should-a-borrow 2.Lawrence Rowe!'
And on it goes, 9.the wicket slow
as the batting and the crowd restless.
1.'Eh white bwoy, how you brudders dem
does sen we sleep so? Me a pay monies
fe watch dis foolishness? Cho!
So I try to explain in my Hampshire drawl
about conditions in Kent,
about 10.sticky wickets and muggy days
and the monsoon season in Manchester
but fail to convince even myself.
The crowd's 11.loud 'busin drives me out
12.skulking behind a tarnished rosette
somewhat frayed now but unable, quite,
to conceal a 13.blushing nationality.

Brown, S. 'Test Match Sabina Park' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDon

Stanza 3, line 10: This question represents the general frustration of the West Indians in
the crowd. They are annoyed that the cricket match is progressing so slowly, hence their
annoyance.

Stanza 4, lines 16-18: These questions imply that the West Indian crowd's level of
frustration has escalated.

2. ALLUSION
The allusion to Lawrence Rowe, a very colourful and successful West Indian cricketer,
emphasizes the fact that the match is slow and boring.
3. SARCASM
To 'boycott' is to abstain, or to stop, from doing something. Therefore, the persona is being
sarcastic because excitement is a good thing, people usually boycott for something negative.
Therefore, the persona is, again, highlighting the slow and boring pace of the cricket match.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
4.'rosette of my skin'
Rosette implies a reddish colour, or tint, to the skin, that sometimes resembles a rose. This
description immediately identifies the race of the persona as white. The persona is proud of his
race, as he enters Sabina Park.
5.'strut
'This word means to walk proudly. It emphasizes the fact that the persona is proudly walking into
Sabina Park.
6.'something badly amiss'
The persona is jolted by the fact that the match is going slowly. The word 'amiss' implies wrong,
the game should not be going so slowly.
7.'vociferous partisans'
Vociferous means to be very noisy and clamorous and patisan is a person who shows biased,
emotional allegiance. Therefore, the West Indian crowd was extremely noisy in their support of
their team. They were also very unappreciative of the slow pace of the match.
8.'England sixty eight for none at lunch'
While this is a good score, it never-the-less highlights the slowness of the match, hence the fact
that the experience, for the crowd, was far from exciting.
9.'the wicket slow'
The purpose of the wicket is to 'out' the opposing side. Therefore, no 'outing' is occurring, the
wickets are standing. Everything about the match is going slowly.
10.'sticky wickets'
This implies a sticky, or awkward situation. It highlights England's situation.
11.'loud 'busin'
The English team was being loudly abused.

12.'skulking behind a tarnished rosette'

Skulking implies hiding in shame, and tarnished means tainted. Therefore, the proud Englishman
is now embarrassed, and the rosette of his skin is making him stand out. Initially this was a very
good thing, but now it is a disadvantage.

13.'blushing nationality'.
At this point, the Englishman admits to being embarrassed for his team, as well as himself.
*There is a distinct CONTRAST between the beginning of the poem when the persona is
proud, and 'struts'. However, by the end of the poem, he is embarrassed and 'skulking'
VOICES
There are two distinct voices in this poem. The English man and the West Indian.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is tense.
TONE
The tone of the poem is one of frustration

THEMATIC CATEGORIZATION
Places
culture and sports
Discrimination

The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.
Her son was first known to her
as a sense of unease, 5.a need to cry
for little reasons and a metallic tide
rising in her mouth each morning.
Such signs made her know
that she was not alone in her body.

She carried him 6.full term

7.tight up under her heart.
1.She carried him like the poor
carry hope, hope you get a break
or a visa, hope one child go through
and remember you. He had no father.
The man she made him with had more
like him, 2.he was fair-minded
he treated all his children
with equal and unbiased indifference.
She raised him twice, once as mother
then as father, 8.set no ceiling
on what he could be doctor
earth healer, pilot take wings.
But now he tells her is working
for you, 3.that you value him so much
you give him one whole submachine gun
for him alone.
He says 1.you are like a father to him
she is wondering what kind of father
would 4.give a son hot and exploding
death, when he asks him for bread.
She went downtown and bought three
and one-third yard of black cloth
and a deep crowned and veiled hat
for the day he draw 9.his bloody salary.
She has no power over you and this
at 10.the level of earth, what she has
are prayers and a mother's tears
and at 11.knee city she uses them.
4.She says psalms for him
she reads psalms for you
she weeps for his soul
her 12.eyewater covers you.
She is throwing a 13.partner
with 4.Judas Iscariot's mother
the thief on the left hand side
of the cross, his mother is the 14.banker, 15.her draw though
is first and last for she still throwing two hands as mother and father.
She is prepared, she is done.4.Absalom.

Goodison, L. 'The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her Son' in A World of Prose. Edited by Ma
2. SARCASM
The persona appears to praise the child's father by referring to him as 'fair-minded'. She is,
however, chastising him for not only ignoring his son, but all of his other children.
3. IRONY (situational)
The son innocently tells his mother that his employer values him so much that he gave him a
whole submachine gun for himself. The irony in this situation is that if you really care about
someone, you do NOT give them a gun due to the negative results that are bound to occur.
4. ALLUSION (biblical)

Lines 28-29: This line alludes to a particular verse in the Christian Bible, Luke 11 vs 11.
The verse questions what the actions of a good father should be.

Lines 38-39: Psalms is a particular chapter in the Christian Bible. In this chapter there are
verses for protection, the mother uses those for her son, as well as verses for retribution
and rebuking. It is implied that the mother chooses those for the employer.

Lines 43-45: In the Christian Bible, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. Therefore, it does not
bode well for the mother if she is in a 'partnership' with this person because she might
also be betrayed. The banker in the 'partnership' also happens to be the thief on the left
hand side of the cross' mother. This also does not bode well for the mother if the apple
does not fall far from the tree.

Line 49: Absalom is the son of David, in the Christian Bible. Absalom betrayed his
father, which implies that the mother feels betrayed by her son because she has placed all
her hopes in him.

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

5. 'a need to cry for little reasons and a metallic tide rising in her mouth each morning.'
These two symptoms are early signs of pregnancy. The metallic tide refers to vomiting. These
signs usually occur in the first trimester of pregnancy.
6. 'full term'
This means that the mother carried her son for the full nine months that a pregnancy should last.
7. 'tight up under her heart'
This hints at the love that the mother harbours for her child. He was not simply 'close to heart',
but 'tight up' under it. It implies that the son holds a special place in her heart.

8. 'set no ceiling'
A ceiling is something that blocks you in, you cannot get past it. The mother set no limits on her
son, he could be anything he wanted to be.
9. 'his bloody salary'
This implies that the mother believes that the result of the son's 'job' will be death.
10. 'the level of earth'
The mother has no power to change her son's situation. Earth is used to emphasize her
powerlessness on this level, the realm of 'reality'.
11. 'knee city'
This refers to the fact that the mother constantly prayed for her child.
12. 'eye water covers you'
This implies that the mother cried constantly for the plight of her son. The fact that it 'covers her'
speaks to the high quantity of tears that were shed.
13. 'partner'
This is an informal saving scheme set up with a specific number of individuals for the duration
of a specific time span. Each person agrees to pay a designated figure on a monthly basis. The
'draws' are decided, meaning who gets the money first, second, third etc, on a monthly basis.The
banker then collects the money and gives the monthly pool to the person who is to receive their
'draw'. Therefore, a 'partnership' is dependent upon the honesty of the banker, who could abscond
with the money, as well as the honesty of the members of the savings scheme, who could decide
NOT to pay after they have received their draw.
14. 'banker'
The banker, or financial controller, of this partnership is the mother of a thief. This does not bode
well for the mother if the thief on the cross learnt it from his mother.

15. 'her draw though is first and last for she still throwing two hands as mother and
father'.
This statement implies that though the mother has the advantage of first draw as mother,
she loses that advantage because she also has the role of father. Mothers cannot father
sons. The fact that the son has found a father figure proves this to be true. Therefore, she
has the last draw, which carries with it the disadvantage of not receiving a full 'draw'. The
longer one waits for a draw is the most likely that dishonesty will come into play on the
part of the participants.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective. The persona is thinking about a mother's response to
her son's life choices.

TONE
The tone of the poem is pragmatic and pessimistic. The persona is telling the tale as it is,
with no positive energy.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Love
Survival
desires/ dreams
childhood experiences
Death

West Indies, U.S.A

The physical structure of this poem has been altered from the original layout in the text.

Cruising at thirty thousand feet above the endless green 1.the island seems like dice tossed on a casino's baize, so
All across the Caribbean we'd collected terminals - 1.airports are like calling cards, cultural
And now for 4.plush San Juan.
But the pilot's bland you're safe in my hands drawl crackles as we land, 'US regulations dem
electric fence around 6.'America's back yard' and claim that vaunted sanctuary ..... 3. 'give m
low above the pulsing city streets; galvanized shanties overseen by condominiums polishe
the bright cars, micro-chips. 10.It's sharp and jagged and dangerous, and belonged to som

Brown, S. 'West Indies, U.S.A' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. P

Lines 7-8: San Juan's glitter is compared to a maverick's gold ring. The word maverick
implies non-conformist, an individualist. This implies that San Juan, Puerto Rico is in the
Caribbean, but not a part of the Caribbean. It belongs to America.

Lines 10-11: Airports are compared to calling cards. This means that, like a calling card,
the quality of the airport gives you an idea of the island's status economically. The airport
is also compared to a cultural fingerprint. A fingerprint is an individual thing, therefore
the airport gives the traveler an idea of the island's cultural landscape.

Line 39: The road is compared to twisted wires. This means that the roads, from above,
look both plentiful and curvy. This does not carry a positive connotation, but implies
confusion.

2. ALLUSION

Line 5: Dallas is an oil rich state in America. Therefore, many of its inhabitants are
wealthy, and the state itself, is wealthy. By stating that San Juan is the Dallas of the West
Indies, it implies that it is a wealthy island in the West Indies.

Lines 5-7: An allusion is being made to the well known cliche; 'every cloud has a silver
lining'. It means that behind everything that is seemingly bad, there is good. In the
context of this poem, it means that the good, the silver lining, has a mark, or stamp, that
authenticates its good quality; it is hallmarked. this implies that it will always have its
silver lining showing.

3. SARCASM

Line 20: This statement means the exact opposite of what is stated. The persona is
disgusted that Uncle Sam (America) would have such a regulation. This regulation bars
anyone from stepping a toe on Puerto Rican soil, if it is not your intended destination.
You just have to remain in the air craft, no matter the waiting period, until it is time for
takeoff. The persona believes that the Americans are being blatantly discriminatory, and
are attempting to camouflage it through the use of regulations. He does not believe that
they have achieved their goal of subtlety.

Line 26: The persona implies that America is all talk and no action. They really do not
want the poor because they bar them from entering and expediently sends them on their
way when they enter their airport. The statement is sarcastic because it is loaded with an
alternate meaning, due to the contrast in statement and action.

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

4. 'plush'
This word implies soft, like a teddy bear. It also implies luxury. So San Juan is all of these things.
5.'desperate blacks might re-enslave this Island of the free'
These 'desperate blacks' to whom the persona is referring are the poor people of the Caribbean. If
they converge on the glistening San Juan, sucking up its resources, then it might become reenslaved by poverty.
6.'America's back yard'
A backyard means one of two things for people. It is a haven where you relax, therefore you
decorate it and invest time and money in it. Or, you ignore it and spend all your time indoors, not
investing any time, energy or money in it. America viewed Puerto Rico as the latter, a prize in
which it saw value. Therefore, when the persona uses this phrase,heis implying that while it is
valued, it is still at the back. Slight sarcasm is being used here.
7.'the contrasts tantalise'
When something, or someone, is tantalising, it implies that it is intriguing. The persona, by using
this phrase, is trying to draw the readers attention to to the jarring contrasts by stating that he
finds them intriguing.
8.'fierce efficiency'
The word fierce, used to describe the level of efficiency with which the people worked to get the
plane off the ground, shows the extent to which they were not wanted on the island.

9.'fools-glitter'
This implies that the flashiness of San Juan was not authentic.10.'It's sharp and jagged
and dangerous, and belonged to some-one else.'
This implies that San Juan is not safe. The cultures are not melding, but jarring against
each other. The reason for this is because it belongs to someone else.
CONTRAST
The contrast in this poem is found in stanza 5. The American cars etc, against the
pushcarts. The American culture versus the Puerto Rican culture.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is sarcastic.
TONE
The tone of the poem is slightly bitter, which is fueled by the sarcastic atmosphere.
THEMATIC CATEGORIZATION
Oppression
Places
Culture
Discrimination