WAEC QUESTIONS: THE PERSONIFICATION OF RAGE IN RAIDER OF THE TREASURE TROVE AND HOW AFRICA SUFFERED AND SURVIVES STILL IN THE GRIEVED LANDS

THE PERSONIFICATION OF RAGE IN THE POEM, RAIDER OF THE TREASURE TROVE:

The Theme of the adverse effects of unchecked Rage on human virtues like joy, compassion and love. In the poem, Rage symbolizes all the negatives of life. Ascribing human qualities to non-human things in the poem, Rage is seen as some entity or person capable of disturbing or even ruining one’s peace of mind, if invited in. The ground is prepared in stanza 1 which asks: ‘What is worthy of your life?’ And advises us to ‘strive to fly flags of joy and sail up streams/powered by the breeze of love....” The sole aim of Rage is to undo this happiness. Breach your sail...and (b) “.....drag rags after you”  “Become enemy of your equanimity” (d) Spread “toxic fumes and every scene”  Rage is “sole cause of your perception of Storms/ Breaking around” Rage takes its birth from people’s feelings “As you think, so you feel” Rage is capable of setting sail and unleashing. “the perception of storms...”  Rage is the companion of ruin. 

The poet speaker advises to “... watch your mind” and think of positive things like love, compassion and “joy, As you think, so you feel”. He enjoins  restore “laughter, charity, sweetness and light”  and live a life in which you “fling roses...” Aim for a taste of the heavenly life: “My destination is Heaven-on-earth”. 

HOW AFRICA SUFFERED AND SURVIVES STILL IN THE POEM, THE GRIEVED LANDS

This poem is about suffering and survival. The title, “The grieved lands” is a personification of Africa in grief. Yet its peoples are able to overcome various forms of deprivation. The poem shows that the period extends from colonial to modern times. The grieving is due to colonialism and slavery. “ In the tearful woes of ancient and modern slave of other seas’ (stanza |). It is also due to seduction “In the infamous sensation of the stunning perfume of the flower” (stanza 2) as well as the violence meted out “By the wickedness of iron and fire. The psychological effects of grief on Africans include the aborting of dreams ‘...the dream soon undone in the jingling of goalers’. (stanza 3) the loss of self worth “... in the stifled laughter and victorious voice laments” bottled up feelings *.... in the unconscious brilliance of hidden sensations’

 African’s means of survival is through resilience. The never-dying spirits that ..bubble up in dreams. Decked with dance by the baobab....” (stanza 4). (it) through alliance with kindred souls “In the perpetual alliance of everything that lives’.  and through the sacrifices of the dead “They shout out the sound of life. Shout it’  

Africa’s hope for the future lies in coming together/forming a union: “In the harmonious sound of consciences” (stanza 6) it also lies in the exercise of integrity “..honest blood of men’ it lies in observance of universal justice “ In the pure and simple rightness of the stars’ existence’ (stanza 6)  And in the continuance of the African race “Because we are living. And are imperishable particles of the grieved lands of Africa’.