Scribd
Upload
27 views3 pages

Blossoms Excerpts Questions For Remedial

The excerpts from 'Blossoms of the Savannah' depict the struggles of Resian, who contemplates escape from her oppressive circumstances, including an unwanted marriage proposal. Olarinkoi offers hope and a potential rescue, while the second excerpt contrasts Resian's complaints with Taiyo's acceptance of their new environment, highlighting themes of cultural adaptation and familial dynamics. The narrative explores the characters' emotional turmoil and the societal expectations they face in their community.

Uploaded by

Jackson Bore
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
27 views3 pages

Blossoms Excerpts Questions For Remedial

The excerpts from 'Blossoms of the Savannah' depict the struggles of Resian, who contemplates escape from her oppressive circumstances, including an unwanted marriage proposal. Olarinkoi offers hope and a potential rescue, while the second excerpt contrasts Resian's complaints with Taiyo's acceptance of their new environment, highlighting themes of cultural adaptation and familial dynamics. The narrative explores the characters' emotional turmoil and the societal expectations they face in their community.

Uploaded by

Jackson Bore
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

KESMARK & GOLDEN EXCERPT QUESTIONS

BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH

Excerpt 1

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow (25 marks)

Nasila River – cool, smooth and silent – swirled quietly about the boulders that were half
submerged in it. It was deep and wide. She stood at its bank for a long time, staring down, into
the water. Could the answer to her woes be in that river? Yes, it could be! Just a swift, cold
shock as she fell into the water and then there would be peace. Yes, peace all over, from her
father, from Oloisudori and from the fact that she had failed to get admission to Egerton
University. As the idea floated in her mind, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Shocker, she turned
around. It was Olarinkoi.
“What are you doing here at the river side”? he asked with little interest.
“Nothing,” Resian said nonchalantly. “I am just relaxing.”
“Don’t be foolish, little girl,” Olarinkoi said seriously. “You may not want to tell me what is
happening, but I am not foolish and I can put one and one together. Oloisudori’s men are now
looking for you everywhere. They have instructions to seize you and take you to Nakuru to be
his wife.
“Just leave me,” Resian said angrily, “Go tell them to come and find me here.”
“Listen, you stupid girl,” Olarinkoi said in his caustic language. “If you do not want to marry
Oloisudori, I can rescue you the way I rescued you from those vagabonds who had accosted you
and your sister. I know where Minik ene Enkoitoi the Emakererei lives and where she keeps girls
rescued from the situation you are now in. There is no need to despair in life. There is always
another chance.”
That could be something to consider, Resian thought, new hope rising in her heart. Yes, it would
be wonderful to be received by Emakererei. And who knows, there could still be a chance to
enroll at the Egerton University, through Emakererei.
“How could we ever get there?” asked Resian a flicker of hope lighting her heart. “I hear it is
very far from here.”
“Yes, it is far,” confirmed Olarinkoi. “But where there is hope things always work out.
The Maa people say home is never far for one who is still alive.”

Questions
a) Place this excerpt in its immediate context. (4 marks)
b) Describe the incident that Olarinkoi claims to have rescued Taiyo and her sister. (2
marks)
c) Discuss a thematic concern found in the excerpt. (2 marks)
d) What does the author imply when he says, “could the answer to her woes be in that
river?” (2 marks)
e) Explain the irony in the excerpt. (2 marks)
f) Apart from irony, comment on any other two aspects of style that the writer has used in
the excerpt. (4 marks)
g) From elsewhere in the novel, state the prophecy that Olarinkoi is trying to fulfill when he
plans to rescue Resian. (3 marks)
h) Comment on the character of Olarinkoi later in the novel. (2 marks)
i) What is the attitude of Resian towards Oloisudori’s proposal? (2 marks)
j) Give the meaning of the following words. (2 marks)
i. Nonchalantly ………………………………………………………………
ii. Put one and one together ……………………………………………………
Excerpt 2

Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow (25 marks)

Although Resian had a lot to complain and grumble about in life in their new environment, Taiyo
found it tolerable. For instance, she gladly discovered that mornings in their new home began
with a lively chatter of birds in the trees surrounding their house. That gave the home an
atmosphere of tranquility and peace.

However, one of the unpleasant aspects that the girls had to live with was the constant violation
of their privacy. In Nasila, they soon discovered, the home belonged to all the clan members. It
was not an unusual thing to get up in the morning to find the

living room full of men and women who came early, not for any tangible business, but simply to
share a sumptuous breakfast with their kith and kin. Taiyo and Resian were soon to get used to
hearing an urgent knock at the door very early in the morning.

On opening, they would invariably be met by a grinning group of men or women who would
unashamedly ask them what they were doing in bed that late in the morning. They would
proceed to take seats in the living room and order them to serve them breakfast. When they got
used to what at first, they considered negative aspects of the Nasila culture, Taiyo and Resian
adjusted accordingly and soon they began to live harmoniously with the people. Their father was
out of the homestead most of the time working at the shop and organizing other business matters.
His absence meant the absence of his irksome and corrosive remarks that always heightened
tension in the house. In his absence, the house was a continuous joy with comfort and
conveniences, and the girls found it pleasurable to keep it clean and well-arranged.

Questions

a) What happens immediately after this extract? (5 marks)


b) Where had the family been living before and why did they move? (3 marks)
c) Give the character traits of the following:
i. Taiyo (4 marks)
ii. The people of Nasila (4 marks)

d) Discuss a theme implied in the extract. (3 marks)


e) Using the rest of the book, cite and explain one cultural aspect that had a life changing effect
on the lives of the two girls (3 marks)
f) Explain a stylistic device used in the extract. (2 marks)
g) Taiyo and Resian adjusted accordingly? Add a question tag. (1 mark)

You might also like