NABTEB Literature in English Questions and Answers

NABTEB Literature in English questions are designed to assess students’ understanding of literary works, analysis skills, and ability to articulate ideas coherently. 

This examination covers a range of topics, including the study of literary genres, themes, characters, and the broader cultural and historical contexts of literary works.

Let’s see the past NABTEB Literature in English Questions and Answers!

NABTEB Literature in English Questions

Section A

Answer one question from this section.

JOHN K. KARGBO: Let Me Die Alone

1. Queen Yoko’s insatiable quest for leadership is the cause of her downfall in Kargbo’s Let Me Die Alone, Discuss.

2. Comment on the effectiveness of the cultural nuances to the thematic development in Kargbo’s Let Me Die Alone.

WOLE SOYINKA: The Lion and the Jewel

3. Comment on Soyinka’s portrayal of colonial legacies in The Lion and the Jewel.

4. Critically examine the conflict arising from the clash of cultures in Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel.

Answer one question from this section.

Section B – NON-AFRICAN DRAMA

Answer one question from this section.

JOHN OSBORNE: Look Back in Anger

5. Discuss the themes of anger and frustration in Osborne’s Look Back in Anger.

6. Critically examine Osborne’s use of symbols in Look Back in Anger.

AUGUST WILSON: Fences

7. Troy in Wilson’s Fences is a victim of fate or the creator of his problems. Comment.

8. Write short notes on the following characters:

(i) Troy 

(ii) Rose

(iii) Cony

(iv) Maxson

Section C – AFRICAN POETRY

Answer one question from this section.

9. Comment on the theme of self-destruction in Worsormi’s “Raider of the Treasure Trove.” 

10. Discuss Onu’s use of situational irony in “A Government driver on his retirement.”

Section D – NON-AFRICAN POETRY

Answer one question from this section.

11. Comment on the celebration of love in Donne’s “Good Morrow”

12. Discuss the literary devices used in Eliot’s “The Journey of the Magi”

Answers to NABTEB Literature in English Questions

1. Queen Yoko’s Insatiable Quest for Leadership (Section A)

The play is about the theme of having power and control, which results in Madam Yoko’s tragic death.

Gbanya is on the quest to become the chief because of his greedy ambition for power which ultimately makes him the chief and triggers a series of events that eventually lead to Yoko’s downfall.

At first, Yoko’s hard-headed demand that Gbanya fulfill his promise of handing the chieftaincy over to her after his death is met with resistance by Lamboi and Musa.

The resistance of them to Yoko’s accession to power leads to an unstable situation.

In an attempt to be the master of Senehun, Yoko makes a great sacrifice by deciding not to have children and becoming a mother.

The Governor, Rowe’s, interference also provides another angle to the fight for supremacy.

Despite the affection and the gifts that the people of Senehun showed to Rowe, he disturbs Gbanya’s reign, humiliating him and manipulating the boundaries.

Rowe represents colonial domination, and he succeeds in exerting his power over Yoko contributing to her despair and suicide.

The power struggle even reaches the characters of Lamboi and Musa who are against Yoko’s elevation as the next Chief of Senehun.

Lamboi resorts to trickery and tries to eliminate Gbanya so that Yoko will not be in power.

Although the plan worked and he killed Gbanya, Lamboi didn’t get the throne.

Afterward, their plan takes a turn as they plot Jeneba’s death, aiming to deceive the people into thinking that Yoko sacrificed her to gain more power and control over the Governor.

4. Clash of Cultures in the Lion and the Jewel (Bonus Answer)

The play explores the clash between African and European cultures, focusing on the conflict between traditional and modern ways in the village of Ilunjunle.

At the center of this clash is Baroka, who strongly supports the traditional ways. 

He works hard to protect the village of Ilunjunle from the coming influence of Western ways and foreign values.

Baroka, driven by selfish motives, bribes a surveyor to redirect the railway away from Ilunjunle, blocking potential progress for the village.

This cultural collision is further exemplified by the arrival of a stranger from Lagos, a Photo Journalist representing the epitome of Western civilization. 

During his visit to Ilunjunle, he manages to disrupt the indigenous culture, with the locals labeling his camera as a “one-eyed box” and his motor car as “the devil’s horse.” 

Seeing her pictures in Lagos Man’s Magazine starts to influence Sidi, making her more focused on her fame and almost causing her to forget about her upcoming marriage to Baroka.

Surprisingly, the main problem in the play changes from the clash between tradition and modernity to a closer look at personal beliefs and individuality. 

Baroka introduces a strange stamp-making machine that appears useless but cleverly captures Sidi’s attention, leading to a seduction attempt to win her over.

Baroka promises Sidi that the stamp will soon make her picture, aiming to improve Ilunjunle’s image and protect it from being mocked by people from the city.

In the end, African values win, especially when Baroka cleverly uses his tactics to successfully win and marry Sidi, the beloved jewel of Ilunjunle.

5. Anger and Frustration Themes in Look Back in Anger (Section B)

Jimmy Porter, an angry young man, focuses his wrath on British institutions like church, monarchy, government, and the upper class, even though he buys expensive Sunday papers.

Remarkably, he hates upper-class manners but marries Alison, who is from the class he despises.

This class hatred makes Jimmy abuse Alison verbally and physically during the whole play, as she represents everything he hates.

Jimmy’s verbal aggression towards Alison is seen when he asks her about the newspaper article, to which she replies that she has not read it yet.

He ridicules and verbally abuses Alison and her brother, Nigel.

In contrast, Alison opts to be silent, maybe seeing it as a form of protection against Jimmy’s attacks, knowing that any reaction would only make him more aggressive.

Jimmy’s aggressiveness is not limited to Alison but extends to her family and friends as well.

He calls Alison’s parents “militant, arrogant, and full of malice,” and her friends as “sycophantic,” “phlegmatic,” and “pusillanimous.”

Even Alison’s mother is a victim of his outburst, referred to as “an old bitch” for her middle-class values and suspicion of Jimmy, which makes her hire a detective to watch him.

Jimmy calls Alison a “Judas” for being influenced by Helena to go to church and Helena a “Saint in Dior’s Clothing.”

The source of Jimmy’s anger may be traced back to his hard childhood that was full of deaths, loneliness, and pain.

He lost his father at the age of ten and this experience made him weak and insecure.

Jimmy’s frustration is further exacerbated by his belief that Alison does not understand loss or helplessness.

Additionally, Jimmy feels insecure in his marriage to Alison because he thinks she is from above his social class.

6. Use of Symbolism (Bonus Answer)

(i) Bear and Squirrel Game

The “bear and squirrel game” allows Alison and Jimmy to escape from the unpleasantness of life and their failing marriage.

It’s like a moment of reprieve for them, and at the end of the play, it brings the couple back together.

The bear stands for Jimmy, while the squirrel is Alison.

Having animals in their apartment reveals that they are not able to keep the childish innocence in their marriage.

(ii) Church Bells

The bells of the church represent a middle-class morality which Jimmy hates and refuses to accept.

Jimmy is different from Helena, who admires the separation of right and wrong. To him, this moral view is oppressive.

The sound of the church bells makes his stomach churn and pours more fuel on the fire.

When he hears them, he curses and yells showing his anger at the world order.

(iii) Trumpet

Jazz, the originally rebellious genre, is linked to the working class, and therefore, it is the voice of the resistance in society.

It is also a depiction of loneliness and alienation in Jimmy’s world.

(iv) Newspapers

In Acts 1 and 3, the newspapers reading by Jimmy and Cliff symbolize the education of Jimmy, an imitation of the behavior of the upper-class, university-educated elite.

These essays are the means for Jimmy to disparage the intellects of Cliff and Alison.

Jimmy’s relationship with the newspapers reflects his conflicting stance on his educational status. 

Admitting to feeling ignorant, Jimmy also mocks “posh” papers, seeing them as disconnected from the real concerns of working-class men like him.

(v) Jimmy’s Pipe

Jimmy uses a pipe, usually seen as something for rich people, to act like he’s upper class, not working class like he is. 

In the play, pipes are connected to smart, old university professors. 

Jimmy uses his pipe to get noticed, taking control and showing he’s rebellious against the upper class.

8. Short Notes on Characters (Bonus Answer)

(i) Troy

Troy is the main character in August Wilson’s play, Fences.

He’s a hardworking, disciplined father to Lyons and Cory and the husband of Rose. 

By profession, he’s a garbage collector, but he used to play baseball in the Negro leagues. 

Unfortunately, racial barriers prevented him from joining the major leagues.

Troy is a strong and imaginative storyteller, often sharing tales about death. 

Despite his efforts at work, he feels demoralized by the meager progress he makes. 

As the family’s breadwinner, he struggles to provide the love and support his family needs. 

However, his narrow-minded views and conflicts with others arise from his rigid philosophy on life.

Troy rules his household with an iron hand, disagreeing strongly with Lyons’ musical aspirations, Cory’s football dreams, and Rose’s habit of playing the numbers. 

His life is a mix of hope and disappointment, having once been a successful baseball player but ending up as a garbage collector. 

Despite preaching certain values, Troy hides his extramarital affairs with Alberta, who tragically dies during childbirth.

(ii) Rose

Rose is the devoted wife of Troy and the mother of his second son, Cory.

At forty-three, she is an African American housewife who is also active in church activities.

Troy is ten years older than she, and her commitment to him begins with the realization that he brings a positive change to her life.

Rose is a woman with a strong spirit and wisdom.

She can see the good in Troy despite his shortcomings, which she is willing to accept as well.

The need for Troy and Cory to build a fence in their small backyard is an indication that she wants to keep her loved ones close with warm care.

Even though she is striving to keep her family together, Troy’s actions are unfortunately destroying their hopes and aspirations.

(iii) Cory

Cory’s and Troy’s teenage son, who is Rose’s son, is an ambitious boy and dreams of becoming a footballer.

Cory’s father, though, believes that racism is a factor that hinders his success in sports and that is why Cory is always respectful and compassionate, especially towards his uncle Gabriel who is handicapped.

Aspiring to be a football player, Cory seeks his father’s help so that he can turn his dreams into reality.

Nevertheless, Troy, who questions the value of education due to racism, proposes alternative options that include reading for job promotions or learning trades like car fixing or building houses.

Troy feels Cory’s ambitions are unrealistic because he thinks they are not in touch with the tough realities of a sports world that is full of racial challenges.

(iv) Maxson

Maxson Gabriel is Troy’s brother who faced mental challenges due to injuries from World War II, leading to a metal plate in his head. 

The government supports him with a disability check, which Troy uses to buy the Maxson family home, where the play unfolds.

Gabriel walks around the neighborhood with a basket, singing. He thinks he’s the angel Gabriel, supposed to open heaven’s gates with his trumpet for Saint Peter on Judgment Day.

Before the play’s events, Gabriel moves out to live with a woman named Miss Pearl. 

To prevent losing Gabe’s disability check, Troy decides to have him admitted to a mental hospital while still receiving half of Gabe’s payment.

10. Irony in the Poem “A Government Driver on His Retirement” (Section C)

The poem “A Government Driver on His Retirement” by Onu illustrates the use of situational irony to bring out how the story of the retired driver takes a different twist.

Following thirty-five years of service to his country, the driver faces a sad ending, although he is rewarded by the government and celebrates his retirement.

The irony is that the very skills that earned him praise were the same skills that made him crash.

The careful and disciplined driver, who had never violated any rules, is now drinking too much during the celebration, something he managed to avoid for years.

This unexpected turn of events contradicts the diligent life he led during his years of service.

Despite the joyous celebration and a new car for his retirement, the driver’s tragic turn comes from an unexpected choice: drinking, which he’d never had before.

It is at variance with his disciplined life and becomes the reason for his failure.

The poem cautions against losing sight of one’s moral compass when one becomes successful.

The irony is evident in the poem which juxtaposes the driver’s perfect record of no accidents in over thirty years with the tragic end of his life due to reckless choices.

It is a sad and ironic situation, demonstrating the negative consequences of giving up principles and becoming careless after years of diligent service.

12. Literary Devices Used in Eliot’s “The Journey of the Magi” (Section D)

a. Diction

The poem uses simple language, making it accessible to the average reader. 

It’s presented in a mix of prose and verse, with a simple prose style. 

Although the middle part has some complex syntax and word choices, overall, the poem is narrative and descriptive. 

It’s important to note that the plural form of “Magi” is “the Magi.”

b. Personification

The poem brings inanimate objects to life by attributing human qualities to them.

(i) “With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness”

   – The water-mill is described as “beating the darkness,” giving it human-like action.

(ii) “And three trees on the low sky”

   – The three trees are personified by being on the “low sky,” suggesting a human-like positioning.

(iii) “The cities were hostile, the towns unfriendly.”

   – Hostility and unfriendliness are ascribed to cities and towns, humanizing them.

These instances of personification enhance the portrayal of the Magi’s experiences in the poem.

c. Symbolism

Several metaphorical representations in the poem carry symbolic significance.

(i) “The three trees” symbolize the biblical trinity of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

(ii) “Pieces of Silver” represents the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas Iscariot for betraying Jesus Christ.

(iii) “The white horse” symbolizes purity and is associated with Christ.

(iv) “Sloppy topography” signifies the sinful and corrupt life of the people before redemption.

(v) “The running stream” symbolizes baptism and purification.

(iv) “Sloppy topography” refers to the sinful and corrupt ways of life of people before redemption.

(v) “The running stream” stands for baptism and cleansing.

(vi) “Tavern” corresponds to the house of Herod in the Bible.

(vii) “The journey of the Magi” metaphorically represents the biblical three wise men.

(d) Simile

The persona vividly describes the hardships of their journey by using a simile: “We, too, are dying, just as hard and bitter as death.”

This analogy is what helps the reader get the intensity of their struggles, comparing it to the deep suffering that comes with death.

(e) Paradox

The poem opens with a paradox, saying, “Birth and death / But they thought that they were different and the beginning of life is the way to the grave.”

The paradox suggests that, though they are separate events, birth and death are related, and thus the beginning of life is a path that leads to the end.

(f) Irony

The poem uses verbal irony with the phrase, “I should be glad of another death.”

This statement is ironic because the Magi have the willingness to face the difficulties of the journey again despite the challenges they encountered during their trip.

The irony is that they think the blessings of the voyage outweigh the pains, especially when it comes to saving their souls.

To excel in NABTEB Literature in English, you need to read widely, think critically, and speak well.

Do not forget to study and get in touch with the required readings, which will make you feel more confident about the exam.

However, remember that these details may vary from time to time, therefore, it is important to check the current curriculum and guidelines from NABTEB.