IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIPLatiff Othman

They returned home at dawn and headed for the stove. Their clothes were soaking wet and tattered.

Their bodies were covered with scratches and wounds. Yet, they did not display any signs of being worried..

They were out in the flood the whole day and night. They were surrounded by dead animals and parts of trees that had been destroyed by the flood.

They searched desperately for their son’s albino buffalo but were unable to find it.

They were born into poverty and difficulty, but they do not complain about their suffer. Instead, they sit in the kitchen, cracking jokes while smoking cigarettes.

Language is simple and easy to understand.

The style is simple with no rhyming scheme.

Language & Style

Understanding and sympathetic

Dismal (feeling hopeless)Acceptance of situation

Tone & Mood

Theme

Stoicism in life (indifference to pain or pleasure)

Family loveAcceptance of way of life

Moral Values

1.We should learn to accept problems in life with a positive outlook.2.We must attempt to face and solve problems.3.Failure is part of growing up.Do not despair in the face of failure.

Poetic Devices

1.Imagery – Gives picture of poet’s thoughts e.g ‘soaky clothes torn’ and ‘legs full of wounds’2.Alliteration – e.g. ‘but on their brows’3.Symbols – e.g. ‘horrendous flood’ and ‘bloating carcasses’4.Diction – e.g. ‘stove’ and ‘brows‘

1. The eyes are described as the following except…..

a)Mysteriousb)Lonelyc) Cold d)kind

2. Why did the woman give in to the man’s demands?

a)She was in love with himb)She was scared of himc) She felt sorry for himd)She wanted to help him

3. The line ‘she’d free of the “hows and whys” in stanza 2 indicates that

a)The woman was at peace with herself

b)The woman’s mind was in a turmoil over her actions.

c) The woman did not do anything wrong

d)The woman felt that she had made the right decisions.

4. The main sentiment in stanza 2 is….

a)Regretb)Happinessc) Encouragementd)determination

5. What is the poet’s advice to her reader’s in the last stanza?

a)To refrain from entering into any relationship with the opposite sex.

b)To exercise caution when we enter into relationships.

c) To avoid being nice to people of the opposite sex.

d)To be nice to everyone we know.