WAEC Literature in English Past Questions

In Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart', Okonkwo is banished from Umuofia for seven years after accidentally killing Ezeudu's son. Considering his actions following his banishment and the societal structure of Umuofia, which thematic concern is most clearly highlighted by his exile?

1. a.The tension between individual ambition and communal tradition
2. b.The inevitability of fate over human effort
3. c.The superiority of the warrior over the priestly class
4. d.The loss of cultural identity due to colonialism

In Wole Soyinka’s play 'The Lion and the Jewel', Lakunle insists that Sidi should not accept the bride-price, stating, 'To pay the price would be to buy a heifer off the market stall.' Considering the play’s exploration of tradition and modernity, what does this metaphor most reveal about Lakunle’s worldview?

1. a.He sees traditional customs as degrading to women and prefers Western ideas about marriage equality.
2. b.He intends to ridicule Sidi's family for asking for payment before marriage.
3. c.He believes that paying the bride-price will make Sidi too proud among her peers.
4. d.He fears that the villagers will view him as weak if he follows tradition.

In Wole Soyinka’s play 'The Lion and the Jewel', Lakunle often insists that Sidi should wear shoes and change her traditional attire. What does Lakunle’s attitude towards Sidi’s clothing reveal about his character?

1. a.He is sincerely concerned for Sidi’s well-being and comfort.
2. b.He wants to impose modern values on others without understanding or respecting their culture.
3. c.He plans to secretly embarrass Sidi in front of the villagers.
4. d.He is submissive to the traditions of his village, despite his education.

In Wole Soyinka's play 'The Lion and the Jewel', which action by Lakunle best demonstrates his opposition to traditional customs, and what does this reveal about his character?

1. a.He refuses to pay Sidi's bride price, showing his commitment to modern values over tradition.
2. b.He mocks Baroka in public, revealing his jealousy and insecurity.
3. c.He participates in the village festival, highlighting his acceptance of old customs.
4. d.He challenges the leadership of Baroka by organizing a rebellion against him.

In Achebe’s 'Things Fall Apart', Okonkwo’s reaction to the arrival of the Christian missionaries is best illustrated when he burns down the missionary church. Which of the following best explains Okonkwo’s primary motivation for this action?

1. a.He wishes to provoke an open conflict that will unite his people against the intruders.
2. b.He believes the church’s presence is an insult to his ancestors and traditions.
3. c.He thinks destroying the church will force the missionaries to leave Umuofia immediately.
4. d.He acts impulsively out of embarrassment after his son’s conversion to Christianity.

Read the following extract from a novel: "Adebola stood at the edge of the creek, watching the palm trees sway as the evening wind returned. The load in his chest felt heavier than the sack on his back. Home was just across the water, its lights blurry with tears and distance." Which literary device is MOST significant in conveying Adebola's emotional state in this passage?

1. a.Imagery, because sensory details describe both the setting and Adebola’s feelings.
2. b.Metaphor, because the 'load in his chest' compares his emotions to a physical burden.
3. c.Irony, because his home is near yet seems unreachable.
4. d.Allusion, because the palm trees reference a larger cultural context.

In Chinua Achebe’s 'Things Fall Apart', after Okonkwo’s return from exile, he finds Umuofia changed by the presence of the white missionaries. Which incident best illustrates the shift in community values among the Igbo people as a result of colonial influence?

1. a.The villagers hesitate to support Okonkwo’s call for war against the white men.
2. b.Nwoye joins the Christian church and leaves his family.
3. c.The egwugwu are unmasked by Enoch during a village festival.
4. d.Obierika repeatedly visits Okonkwo during his exile.

Read the following extract from Sefi Atta’s 'Everything Good Will Come': "Sometimes, I imagine my mother as a girl, tall and restless, staring at her reflection in a store window, glasses perched on her nose, her hand uncertain at her side. When she turns, she walks away from me." Which interpretation best links this imagery to the wider theme of generational conflict in the novel?

1. a.The mother's uncertain gesture reflects her resignation to traditional roles, distancing herself emotionally from her daughter.
2. b.The mother’s tall, restless posture hints at her longing for independence, which strains her relationship with her daughter.
3. c.The reflection and subsequent walking away symbolize the physical ageing process separating the two generations.
4. d.The image of glasses and uncertainty indicates the mother’s struggle with illiteracy, which becomes a barrier with her daughter.