Question

2. A. (i) Distinguish between character and characterization

(ii) Select two (2) of the following characters and show their significant roles in the novel Weep not, Child. (a) Njoroje (b) Ngotho (c) Jacobo

B. To what extent can the drama Edufa be described as an African Tragedy?

Answer 1

A character is one whole person with all their quirks, prejudices, faults, glories, etc.

Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.

The two characters are :

Ngotho

The patriarch of Njoroge's family, and a World War I veteran. He is married to Njeri and Nyokabi, and is the father of Boro, Kori, Kamau, and Njoroge, as well as another son, Mwangi, who died in World War II. He works on Mr. Howlands's plantation, and longs for the white people to leave Kenya so he can have his family's land back.

Njoroge
Njoroge is the novel's primary protagonist, and Ngotho's youngest son. He is the first in his family to attend school, and he aspires to use his education to make Kenya a better place. Ngugi describes him as “a dreamer, a visionary who consoled himself faced by the difficulties of the moment by a look at a better day to come” (130). The challenges to his optimism in large part constitute the novel's primary arc.

Efua Sutherland (1924 -1996) was a pioneer of African theatre, prominent Ghanaian
playwright, poet, producer, children's author, teacher, research scholar, and social worker.
She is best known as a dramatist but her work is informed by a vision of a better society
which she believed could be established through imparting suitable cultural education. She is
recognised as one of Ghana’s dynamic voices in employing traditional theatre for promoting
social change. As a creative thinker and activist she used her talents and skills in educating
the future generation.