The Lion and The Jewel (Exam Tips and Literary Devices )

Comedy

a)      Of language- puns/malapropisms/irony

Parody of particular accent/style of speech

b)      Of situation- dramatic irony

c)       Of character- comic personality traits

Example: 

·         Blunder lack of knowledge

·         Blunder lack of self-knowledge

·         caricature

d)      comedy of spectacle- funny costumes, make up

e)      happy or comic atmosphere created by sounds

f)       comic action- farce, slapstick

g)      happy outcome- positive ending of the play

Comic elements range from intellectual wordplay – to physical slapstick or farce

Bathos- shift from sublime to ridiculous

Slapstick- song of Lost Traveler

Farce- mummers acting out Baroka’s (impotence)

Sexual innuendos- humorous, e.g. Sadiku boasting about her lovers Okiki

Appropriateness of Title

Can a Lion appreciate a Jewel?

	Ironic Comment
Baroka – “Lion” of Jungle Sidi- “Jewel” beautiful	Lion on England’s coat of arms Nigeria beautiful

Lion uses deceit

Props/Setting/Costumes

Functions-

·         convey/develop themes

·         develop characters

·         create mood/manipulates audience

Dramatic irony-

²  Sidi goes boldly to Baroka’s bedroom because she thinks he’s impotent. Sidi conceit that she is clever leads to her being deceived.

²  Sadiku’s dance becomes ironic (victory of females over males) she too is deceived

²  The greater Sadiku’s glee over Baroka’s humiliation, the deeper the dramatic irony

²  Lakunle’s courtship is dramatically ironic as he thinks Sidi is a fallen woman but she is proud of herself.

Function of Irony-

a)      Makes audience think about issues presented

b)      Think about significance of Sidi’s choice and it’s symbolic implications for the community

c)       Lakunle’s choice (western ways)/ attitude to African culture

Caricatures-

·         amusing exaggerations

·         what types do Lakunle and Baroka represent

Issues examined

·         bribery

·         self-indulgence

·         sexism

·         manipulation

What are the implications of the END of the play?

·         African wins over Europe

·         Sexism over Feminism

Does keeping indigenous culture require rejecting progress? Technology?

EXAM TIPS

·         Answer in essay format

·         Write an introductory paragraph

·         Write a concluding paragraph

·         Pay attention to mark scheme

Time yourself 35min only

o   write in paragraphs

o   make point

o   give supporting evidence