FORM THREE PAPERS 3

ENGLISH MARKING SCHEME

1. IMAGINATIVE COMPOSITION
Marking scheme
a) - it must be a story.
- If not a story deduct up to 4 marks AD
- The story must be the candidate‘s own perspective and the circumstances that lead
to the different in parent‘s upbringing.
- Give credit for good use of language
b) Expect an explanatory essay.
If not explanatory deduct up to 4 marks AD
The points should be explained as clearly as possible
Give credit for good use of language

Consider the following points:

- ban on harmful traditional practices like ‗disco matanga‘ among the Kilifi
residents
- guidance and counseling
- creating awareness on dangers of engaging in teenage sex
- encourage parents and religious leaders to set time for educating the young on
sexual relationships
- introduction of sex education in schools
- heavy penalties on those found guilty of defiling minors
- establish a strong learning culture in schools
- minimize on school holidays
MARKING NORMAL SCRIPTS
a) Decide on the degree of communication achieved A-D
b) After underlining decide on the mark category
c) Allocate a numerical mark to each essay
PROBLEM SCRIPTS
All problem scripts must be marked by the examiner and then sent to the team leader with
comments.
IRRELEVANCY
a) Consistent distortion of questions, writing on a totally different subject with a clumsy attempt
at connecting the essay to the subject given, inclusion of memorized passage etc.
b) The question is given an unacceptable or questionable interpretation.
c) Essays contain long, semi-relevant digressions or lack of coherence.

This question is intended to test the candidate‘s ability to communicate in writing.

Communication is established at different levels of intelligibility, correctness, accuracy, fluency,
pleasantness and originality within the constraints set by each question. It is the linguistic
competence shown by the candidate that should carry most of the marks.
Examiners should not hesitate to use the full range of marks for each essay. It is important to
determine first how each essay communicates and in which category A, B, C or D it fits.
D CLASS
The candidate does not communicate at all 01-05 or his language ability is so minimal that the
examiner practically has to guess what the candidates want to say. The candidate fails to fit the

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 English words he knows into meaningful sentences. The subject is glanced at or distorted.
Practically no valid punctuation. All kind of errors ―Broken English‖
D-(01-02)
Chaotic, little meaning whatsoever. Question paper or some words from it simply copied.
D (03)
Flow of thought almost impossible to follow the errors is continuous
D+ (04-05)
Although the English is then broken and the essay is full of errors of all types we can at least
guess what the candidate wants to say.
C CLASS (06-07)
The candidate communicates understandably but only more or less clearly. He is not confident
with his language. The subject is often undeveloped. There may be some digression. Unnecessary
repetitions are frequent. The arrangement is weak and the flow jerky. There is no economy of
language mother tongue influence is felt. Watch for repetition for emphasis.
C – (06-07)
The candidate obviously finds it difficult to communicate his ideas. He is seriously ham petered
by his very limited knowledge of structure and vocabulary. This results in many gross errors of
agreement and sentence construction.
C 08
The candidate communicates but not with consistent clarity. His linguistic abilities being very
limited, he cannot avoid frequent errors in sentence structure. There is little variety or originality.
Very bookish English links are week, incorrect, repeated at times.
C+(09-10)
The candidate communicates clearly but in flat and uncertain manner. Simple concepts sentence
forms ate often strained. There may be an overuse of clichés unsuitable idioms, proverbs are
misquoted or misinterpreted. The flow is still jerky. There are some errors of agreement, tenses
and spelling can have some merit ticks.
B CLASS (11-15)
This class is characterized by greater fluency and ease of expression. The candidate demonstrates
that he can use English or normal ay of expressing himself. Sentences are varied and usually well
constructed. Some candidates become illogicality ambitious and even over ambitious. There may
be items of merit of one word or one expression type. Many essays in this category may be just
and clean an unassuming but they still show that the candidate is at ease with the language. There
may be a tendency to under mark such essays. Give credit for tone.
B-(11-12)
The candidate communicates fairly and with some fluency. There may be little variety in
sentence structure. Gross errors are still found occasionally, but this must not be over punished
by t examiner.
B13
The sentences are varied but rather simple and straight forward. The candidate does not himself
in an effort impress. There is a fair range of vocabulary and idiom. Natural and effortless. Some
items of merit, economy of language.
B+ (14-15)
The candidate communicates his ideas pleasantly and without strain. There are errors and slips.
Tenses, spelling and punctuation are quite good. A number of items of merit of the ―whole
sentence‖ or the ―whole expression‖ type merit ticks, phrasal verbs, inversions, idioms etc variety
of sentences, correct vocabulary.
A CLASS
The candidate communicates not only fluently but attractively, with originality and efficiency.
He has the ability to make us share his deep feelings, emotions, enthusiasms. He expresses

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 himself freely and without any visible constraint. The script gives evidence of maturity, good
planning and often humour. Many items of merit which indicate that the candidate has complete
command of the language. There is no strain, just pleasantness, clever arrangement, felicity of
expression.
A-(16-17)
The candidate shows competence and fluency in using the language. He may lack imagination or
originality which usually provides the ―spark‖ in such essay. Vocabulary, idioms, sentence
structure links variety are impressive. Gross errors are very rare.
A 18
Positive ability. A few errors that are felt to the slips. The story or argument has a definite
impact. No grammar – problem variety of structures. A definite spark many margin ticks.
A+ (19-20)
The candidate communicates not only information and meaning, but also and especially the
candidate‘s whole self, his feelings, tastes, points of view, youth, culture.
This ability to communicate is deep self may express itself in many ways wide range of effective
vocabulary, original approach, vivid and sustained account in the case of a debate or discussion.
Errors and slips should not deprive the candidate of the full marks he deserves. A very definite
spark.

Marking symbols
i) The main signs indicate three degree of seriousness of error.
a) Gross Error Omission For construction of margin

b) Minor Error Omission For construction Error

c) Minor for possible Error Minor construction Error

This sign in the margin is used only when a construction error effects more than one line.
The following signs/symbols may also be used.
Faulty paragraphing

Repetition (of words) a circle around the word (redundancy) (of ideas)

R usually in the margin

Illegibility
Vagueness Obscure/vague (in margin)
Wrong word order –Underline once and write
W.O in margin.
Illogical or contradictory ILL (in margin)
Broken English: When the candidate fails to communicate BR in margin.
Brackets ( ): Indicate a part of a D script that communicates.
(VW) marking scheme-English 3
Use an asterisk to indicate an item or a sentence that the rubrics indicate should be used.
ii) To indicate an item of merit use a tick ( ) either above a word or in the margin for the
whole sentence.
Gross Errors
a) Almost any error of agreement
b) Serious tense error
c) Error of elementary vocabulary; spelling and misuse
d) Punctuation errors or missing punctuation which cause serious lack of communication.

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 e) Elementary errors of sentence construction.
f) Ridiculous use of idiom that affects communication.
g) Misuse of common prepositions.
h) Misuse of capital letters –use CAPS underline the first page and use CAPS on subsequent
pages where the mistake persists.

2. Fathers of the Nation by Paul B. Vitta

In most cases when we suffer at the hands of other, we resort to get even with them. However, this
leaves one with more pain. Eng. Tahir Seif gets one eyes out after trying to revenge toward Rhama‘s
assumed love decline in Paul B. Vitta‗s novel Fathers of the Nations.

Comrade Ngombile Melusi experiences painful situations in life but all these didn‘t deter him for
having a better self assurance. It‘s in Banjul, Gambia, the congregation venue for the summit. The
summit kicks off. Being the first day of the summit, the most important event of the day is the
official opening of the summit. Key participants are the 50 heads of state. Security at the venue is
very tight. Comrade Ngobile Melusi waits in a line to be cleared, His turn finally comes. He is found
with a needle, one of the many things disallowed into the hall. There is an argument between
Comrade Melusi and the security officer but later on, he is cleared and allowed into the hall. In the
meantime, in a flashback, more details about Comrade Ngobile Melusi are divulged. Comrade
Melusi is having lunch with his visitor at Chaminuka restaurant in downtown, Harare. It‘s about 1:30
PM; the restaurant is empty except for the two: Comrade Melusi and his visitor. The Zimbabweans
did not eat in hotels anymore unless as now someone else was footing the bill. Their economy had
crushed. Lunch was the visitor‘s idea. There was a subject he wanted to discuss, he had told Melusi.
His name is Tad Longway, a Director Special Projects at AGDA: Agency for Governance and
Development in Africa. The leader of Zimbabwe and Comrade Melusi had fought Smith side by side
for years and that is why he used to call him comrade. Then Zimbabwe got her independence. A new
national anthem was sung: in English, Blessed be the land of Zimbabwe, then in Shona, the language
of Zimbabwe‘s largest ethnic group: Simudzaimureza we Zimbabwe. In Ndebele (Melusi‘s mother
tongue): Kalibusisweilizwe le Zimbabwe, national motto was ―unity, freedom and work.‖ After all
these, the new ruler did not appoint Comrade Melusi a minister after fighting for Zimbabwe together.
The ruler, a Shona, threw Melusi, a Ndebele out of government and he now deemed Melusi an
opponent. The leader of Melusi‘s group was sacked. When these news hit southern Zimbabwe where
the Ndebele live, anti-government riots erupted. People went on rampage and attacked every
government supporter foolish enough to come to their sight. Retribution against them followed.
There swooped in the area the fifth brigade, better known as GUKURUHUNDI, Shona word for
year‘s rainstorm that washes chaff off the fields so that soil tilling could start. It washed off the
Ndebele insurgents like chaff. All this happened while Melusi was still at work, in a business office
down town Bulawayo, the capital of Ndebele. Comrade Melusi‘s wife, Ziliza, was one of those
killed in the government‘s execution. The ruler, a Shona, could not trust anybody away from his
Shona tribesmen. To him, all Ndebeles, Melusi included had become rivals. The man had changed
according to Melusi because he wanted to be life president. Meanwhile, Comrade Melusi takes the
visitor to Muponda restaurant at the northern edge of Harare for he had asked for traditional food.
Melusi initiated an opposition group: The New Independence Party (NIP) and ran for president just
to irritate the ruler. The ruler got 99% of the votes while Melusi and all other candidates shared the
1% in the elections. Elections had been preceded by a drought, the worst of the time until the ruler
declared it a national disaster. Moreover, the international community clamped on Zimbabwe a
program called Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) with this they knew the ruler would flop for
everything spelt defeat, so his win was through rigging elections. Opposition leaders refused to unite
and fight the common enemy. When they all lost, for half an hour they needed to declare that
elections were a sham, they had to come together. Joint condemnation of the bungled elections led to

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disaffection. So Melusi went back to his business. Inflation eroded incomes. Melusi relocated to a
slum in a poor part of Harare. Then came Murambatsvina, Shona word for trash. Bull dozers went
from one slum to the next evicting residents by tearing their homes to the ground. All including
Comrade Melusi were expelled without notice. Murambatsvina‘s real aim to the ruler was to prevent
disease and crime. Instead, disease and crime increased. It is true the main aim was to punish the
urban poor for supporting opposition parties. A relief comes when Tad Longway cleared the hotel
bill and reached out to his side pocket for another stack of American dollars and handed it to
Comrade Melusi. Thereafter, he handed a document titled Path Alpha to him and told him that it
contained the subject matter he wanted them to discuss i.e. mobilizing discontent with Africa in its
present state into will to change it. Tad Longway asks Comrade Melusi if he would join the
movement. Comrade Melusi exclaimed would he be interested! Well of course he would be and with
the win of Path Alpha he had found hope. Truly comrade Melusi pains had paid him well enough.

Pastor Chiamaka goes through turmoil and later rejoices. Before The arrest of Pastor Chineke
Chiamaka in a flashback, the chapter introduces a reckless driver. The reckless driver is Chineke
Chiamaka. Most people hated him for this careless and reckless driving except for one person; his
brother Obinna an evening student at the University of Lagos. Chineke Chiamaka adores Lagos.
One evening after dropping off his younger brother Obinna, Chineke Chiamaka was to drive to his
office at Earth Movers Limited. Unfortunately, by taking the route he chose, he drove into trouble:
Holy Camp. Chiamaka drove against the flowing current of vehicles and rammed into a mean
machine; a fire engine, massive and unstoppable. His Mercedes flew off the road and spun in the air
several times before landing on the road again. He escaped without serious injuries. The fire engine
was nowhere. Not a single motorist stopped to check on him. That was the norm in Nigeria.
Motorists never stopped at an accident scene on Nigerian highways. Because of the many miracles
he had witnessed, he turned to religion-he became a preacher. Chiamaka with time acquired
preaching skills. He preached everywhere. One Sunday he gave a very powerful preaching
captioned, ―God is watching you.‖ The sermon was excellent. It was witty and persuasive. The
sermon for the following Sunday was totally opposite: combative. He preached about the
government‘s failure to deal with the issues bedeviling her nation. The following morning (Monday)
police picked him up and for the next two weeks he shared a rat-infested cell with smelly inmates. At
the beginning of the third week, his jailers set him free. However, his luck was limited. The police
banned him from preaching. Two years later, a deep voice called him ―Listen to good news about
Africa.‖ Good news for change. Now good news about Africa is hard to find and difficult to hear. So
listen carefully. AGDA has just come up with a fresh approach to Africa‘s development: Path Alpha.
Pastor Chineke Chiamaka did not hear more. He signed.

Engineer Seif Tahir loses his left eye. After graduating from Abdelaziz Academy in Tripoli, Libya,
Engineer Seif Tahir had left Libya and gone to study weapons development at the University of
Paris. Some skeptics scoffed at him. He returned from overseas (France) on the day the leader of
Libya was celebrating his twentieth year in power. The leader‘s opponents were not happy with these
celebrations. Engineer Tahir dismissed them as ―crackpots left alone and ignored.‖ He believed the
ruler had the right vision for Libya and so was the right person to rule it. He defended the ruler.
Engineer Tahir joined the ―Fist for Allah‖ after his return from the overseas. In a happy coincidence,
the leader of Libya adored the ―Fist of Allah.‖ He gave it all the money it asked for. Al-Qaeda struck
on the American soil. The leader of Libya knew America would retaliate and not necessarily with
bounds of reason. He scrambled for his bases to shield Libya from America‘s revenge. He even
dismantled the ―Fist of Allah‖ itself. Engineer Tahir would have learnt to live with anything but not
with the dismantling of the ―Fist of Allah.‖ This was the beginning of Tahir‘s dislike for the leader.
The dismantling of the ―Fist of Allah‖ was shirq or sacrilege, an offense so dreadful that it was
eternally unforgivable. Angry beyond words, Engineer Tahir now hated the man he had once liked.

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No more was the leader of Libya his hero. He had become a villain. Meanwhile, dismantling of the
―Fist of Allah‖ coincided with the peaking of unrelated crisis: ―the accident.‖ Engineer Tahir fell in
love with Rahma Mahmoud, a female member of the ―Fist of Allah‖ and Engineer Tahir‘s junior
staff mate at the weapons laboratory. He approached her. She did not say anything. Later, she smiled
and after sometime, she said no. Engineer Tahir misinterpreted the sweet no to a sour no and reacted
to it violently. Unwisely, he vowed to retaliate. Engineer Tahir slapped Rahma Mahmoud in the
name of administering discipline to her for shedding her head veil in public which was in violation of
the Libyan culture. But the truth was he did it to take revenge against someone who he thought had
rejected his advances. Discipline, revenge or whatever it in fact was, Rahma, did not take it lying
low. She struck back and hit his left eye and slit it open. That was ―the accident.‖ Engineer Tahir lost
his left eye. Engineer Tahir was hospitalized and discharged after a month. Turned bitter and
vengeful, Engineer Tahir to Ms. Mahmoud to court. After proceedings, the court made a ruling
basing on. Hammurabic verdict: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. With this ruling, Rahma
Mahmoud also lost her left eye through surgery. Engineer Tahir sank into deep gloom. He refused to
shake it off even after friends talking to him. When they (friends) persisted, he left Tripoli and
moved east to live alone in Benghazi. There were two reasons for Engineer Tahir‘s gloom. One was
object, forcing and lifeless. He got it after losing an eye in what he used to call ―the accident.‖ The
other was ―the effect‖, deep and weakening. This he got when he decided to have an artificial
replacement for the eye he had lost. While at Benghazi, Engineer Tahir ran into a green-eyed
stranger at a street-side café. The two got talking, mostly about the history of Libya; one such story
was that Libya was inhibited by Phoenicians and Greeks. The other man said he was a Berber. The
two had long conversations about Libya. The visitor introduced himself as Mr. Tad Longway. Mr.
Tad Longway described the mission that had brought him to Benghazi. Engineer Tahir enlisted on
the spot.

Dr. Afolabi was invited to Banjul to serve as an advisor to summit of heads of state, he had
previously been guest at the Foundation for Democratic Rule in Washington to give a key note
address at the annual conference and later his wife deserts him. Dr. Afolabi was married to
Pamela from Boston, US. Dr. Afolabi‘s invitation to Washington had given the couple a chance to
visit Pamela‘s father, a widower who lived in Boston. Dr. Afolabi fondly remembers Pamela‘s dad
through a watch that could help one check pressure, memory among other things. Dr. Afolabi while
walking about Boston, he bought a razor at five dollars and twenty-three cents. Later, he rejoins his
wife at her father‘s home. Later, while in a flight out of Washington back to Nigeria, Dr. Afolabi
meets Tad Longway. Mr. Longway is the Director of special projects at the Agency for Governance
and Development in Africa (AGDA). The two exchange pleasantries and contacts. From their talk,
Tad Longway had listened to Dr. Afolabi‘s address and liked it and termed it brilliant. Mr. Longway
says Africa in its present state has two new arrivals: corruption and impunity. Tad asks Dr. Afolabi if
he would be interested in the adventure that is being sponsored by AGDA whose underlying idea is
mobilize discontent with Africa in its present state into a will to change it. Dr. Afolabi consents. Dr.
Afolabi confirms to Mr. Tad Longway that heads of state had invited him to the summit to give them
his views on Way Omega. Mr. Tad Longway introduces and proposes an alternative to Way Omega,
and that is Path Alpha which differs from the former like day and night. Whereas Way Omega is top
driven and lacks the will for implementation, Path Alpha is bottom-led and has that will; therefore he
asks Dr. Afolabi to guide four Path Alpha travelers and adherents whom AGDA is sending as
observers to the very summit he‘ll be as an advisor. Mr. Tad Longway hands Path Alpha document
to Dr. Afolabi and asks him to remain with Way Omega so that they could find a way to they could
get to the summit. Meanwhile, Dr, Afolabi and his wife, Pamela, are back in Nigeria. Their houseboy
reports that while the couples were away somebody came to their house uninvited. When questioned,
Issa, the houseboy did not give an answer. In fact he says he let the person into their bedroom. The
uninvited man surfaces. Dr. Afolabi and the man converse in Yoruba. Pamela is dismayed at the

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unfolding. She learns in utter disbelief that her husband and the man in question knew each other
very well. Femi, the uninvited guest and with a scar, is a cousin to Dr. Afolabi. The two grew up
together in Kaduna. Under instructions from the family, Femi had brought a second wife to Dr.
Afolabi without his consent because Pamela was not giving bath. Pamela was not happy. Furious and
angry Pamela runs out only to reappear with a broomstick chasing the young girl (Nimbo) she had
found in her matrimonial bed. Femi discloses that the folks back at home are the choreographers of
the whole scheme. Pamela is extremely annoyed with the scheme of having Nimbo as her co-wife.
She is worked up! She demands that the two (Femi and Nimbo) must leave her house. Dr. Afolabi
comes to their defense arguing that it‘s late at night and that if the two have to leave then that should
be in the morning. Pamela still insisted that they should leave that night. Her demands fall on deaf
ears. Enraged at her husband‘s lackluster in handling the matter, Pamela leaves that very night. A
week later, Pamela calls Dr. Afolabi from her father‘s home in Boston. She informs him that she had
filed a divorce.

Professor Kimani from Kenya has lost his wife (Asiyo Omondi) to a former university colleague
now a politician by the name Newborn Walomu, his daughter — Tuni, dies in a fatal accident;
unfolds with a flashback into Prof. Kimani‘s life. Prof. Kimani joined the University of Nairobi
directly as a senior lecturer straight from the University of Oxford where he studied. A month after
his arrival, Prof. Kimani launched a noisy debate in which he demanded that the University of
Nairobi henceforth strive for being relevant to the society rather than simply focusing on delivering
excellence in work, Six months later, his clarion call prevailed. The University‘s official motto
became ―Relevance to the society.‖ After winning this first war, he wedged another one which was
even noisier. He wanted the university to be an agent of change not a mere spectator of it. In the
meantime, he married Asiya Omondi. He became a Professor and now felt complete. A global
economic recession hit Africa. Jobs and incomes shrank. To get out of the crisis, Africa had to make
changes and donors were the architects of these proposed changes. Donors demanded for change and
Africa obliged. Prof. Kimani had a daughter, Tuni, a name she owes to Tunisia, her country of
conception. Parliament staged an economic coup to improve on their remunerations. When he
started teaching, Members of Parliament (MP) earned less. what professors took home as salary.
After the coup, an MP rakes up to a hundred times the income of a professor. A family discussion is
underway between a father, mother and daughter. From the discussion, it‘s clear that the state has
failed terribly in discharging its mandate and therefore the only way is to be the agent of change
oneself. Meanwhile, Tuni shares what an instructor told her on why women are susceptible and fall
easy prey to predators as lack of awareness of where women are, a look of weakness & helplessness
and a temptation to stray. A comparison is drawn between Prof. Kimani and Newborn Walomu,
professor‘s former junior colleague and now a Member of Parliament. From the comparison, Kimani
who is stuck at the university, is doing poorly while Walomu is doing very well after joining politics
and having become an MP. Tuni, the only daughter and child to Prof. Kimani dies in a road accident.
Tuni had to use public service vehicle because his father‘s car was not in good condition. This
infuriated Asiya Omondi. Prof. Kimani and his spouse Asiya Omondi were inconsolable over their
daughter‘s death. • In the evening, Asiya drops a bombshell to her husband that she would be
leaving. She says Newborn Walomu, the MP and Professor‘s former junior colleague, had asked to
marry her. Asiya Omondi feels Tuni would be alive if Prof. Kimani had — she wouldn‘t have used
the public service vehicle a real car that caused the fatal accident. She left the following morning to
Newborn Walomu‘s place. Prof. Kimani goes for Newborn Walomu and petitions why he had
decided to take his wife. A scuffle begins at the MP‘s office. The police come in and arrest both.
Prof Kimani is charged with ―assaulting a Member of Parliament.‖ His university demotes him from
a full Professor to a senior lecturer, the point he started at when he joined the university. A six
months‘ jail term follows. He‘s a dejected man. Meanwhile, Prof. Kimani hears a knock at the door.

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A white man of about 50 is standing outside, ICs Mr. Tad Longway. After a lengthy discussion, Mr.
Longway asks Prof. Kimani to join AGDA whose mission is to question Africa‘s status quo. He
further asks him to follow Path Alpha, a strategy built on the idea that a present, public discontent
expresses itself in acts that cancel out instead of adding up. Path Alpha will correct the anomaly by
―mobilizing civic discontent into will to change.‖ Mr. Longway tells Prof. Kimani if he joins Path
Alpha he would go down for orientation at their headquarters in Cape Town and he will also attend
the next summit of Africa‘s heads of state in Banjul, Gambia. He‘s enlisted as a member of Path
Alpha the following day. The loss of his daughter, desertion by his wife, mistreatment by his
university and state had tested him hard and long. He had reached the boiling point.

Award any relevant conclusion

3 a) Short story-A Silent Song

QST I
Introduction

People can abuse their position and it can lead to their downfall
(Accept any other valid introduction)

Points of interpretation

Tayyib al-Mahdi uses his awesome power to punish the taxi driver who ignores him when he hails it.
Tayyib al-Mahdi tries to flag down the taxi but the driver ignores him He decides to shatter the taxi's
rear wheels instead. He knows that he should use his powers only for good but his anger results in his
cruelty. He stares at the taxi's rear wheels and both of them explode like a bomb. The taxi driver is
frustrated for losing two wheels at one time. As he walks by the helpless man, Tayyib al-Mahdi gives
him a meaningful look and offers to help him but his unknowing pupil glares at the hapless man,
resentful and enraged. He feels like he had taught the man a much needed lesson..

Secondly, Tayyib al-Mahdi hastily punishes the radio announcer only because he is annoyed by his
views. The announcer was expounding on promising developments expected in the future.He
commands him to talk about what has been accomplished not the future. Tayyib al-Mahdi is
overcome with fury and thoughtlessly punishes the man with a bout of incessant sneezing. He makes
the man to sneeze massively without warning. Then he sneezes abruptly - more emphatically. He
sneezes uncontrollably until he could not complete a full sentence. Sneezes keep waylaying him so
he chooses to play a recorded song ―Walk Around and See‖. Al-Mahdi plans to censor mass media
by stopping any talk that annoys him. He would make speakers that displease him to sneeze
spontaneously, emit shrill cries like women at a wedding, or suffer uncontrollable diarrhoea..

Tayyib al-Mahdi also misuses his awesome power when he uses it to charm the gorgeous woman at
the zoo. However, he instead uses it to seduce a gorgeous and enticing woman that catches his eye.
This woman does not take notice of Tayyib al-Mahdi. Her large, round eyes are preoccupied with the
the ducks floating in the green lake. Tayyib sends her a hidden message using his awesome powers,
instantly setting her head-over-heels. He decides to heal himself before repairing the world. In one

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shared smile, Tayyib utterly forgets both his faith and his life. He surrenders to his fate. This ill-
advised move results in the loss of his powers.

Lastly, Tayyib loses his power when he strikes the man on the bus with severe cramps. When an
argument between the man and the woman erupts, Tayyib could not hear but he studies the
dimensions of the argument carefully. He is shocked when the man suddenly slaps the
woman. Tayyib focuses all his anger on the man‘s stomach. The brute doubles over and moans and
screams in pain when Tayyib strikes him with severe cramps. He has to be carried outside for an
ambulance to fetch him. Some people on the bus opine that the man deserves it owing to his bad
manners and cheekiness. Tayyib is satisfied and believes that he had done his duty in the best manner
possible. Instead of using his awesome power to fulfill his compassionate dreams for his country and
the planet, Tayyib misuses his power by punishing anyone that displeases him.

Conclusion
We should use our power for good reasons. (Accept any other valid conclusion).

Introduction: 2 marks
Content: 12 marks
Conclusion: 2 marks
Language: 4 marks

3. (b) Using Adipo Sidang’s play Parliament of Owls write an essay on the inhuman nature of
despotic heads of states.
Introduction: Royal Owl is a dictatorial head of state who kills his own subjects. He rules his
subjects with an iron fist. Under him people continue to suffer.

Royal Owl is the king of the bird kingdom and the lead owl who also goes by the name Tula
Nyongoro; the owl of owls. According to Money Bags, he is nepotistic; he is likely to give tenders
to his mistresses. Iron Lady says that he sent a number of owls from his kitchen right into parliament.
These owls include Money Bags who he uses to control parliament and get rid of dissent.

Royal Owl is short-sighted, while he thinks it fit to appoint unintelligent owls who he cannot
control; he fails to see that the same inept owls may lead him to his downfall. When Money Bags
goes down, he goes with the king.

Royal Owl is hypocritical and pretentious. When anointing Arum Tidi Elder of the Beautiful Horn,
he ‗tells‘ him that next time he shouldn‘t take his word for granted. This suggests that Royal Owl is
well aware of what caused Arum Tidi‘s demise.

Royal Owl is also satirical and disrespectful to him. He calls Arum Tidi a ‗hero‘ but it is clear he
means the opposite; Arum Tidi‘s heroism only makes sense in as far as the owls were able to use him
as a propaganda tool and especially in getting the Moonlight Bill passed. During the celebration, he
leads the birds in singing the freedom song knowing very well that they are at the worst stage of
servitude; Oyundi, their liberator has apparently been ‗bought‘, in Royal Owl‘s thinking and will be
feasted on tonight. He also pretends that the unity of the birds has been achieved through ‗our unity,
our safety‘, knowing quite well it has been achieved through the murder of Arum Tidi and the

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intimidation of dissenting birds especially the rebel owls. He rewards those who crush dissent as can
be seen in the elevating of Money Bags. In the same way, Oyundi is promised the seat of the Chief
Whip if she can deliver Tel Tel.
50
Royal Owl is vain and irritable. He is irked by Socialite Owl‘s questioning his meaning
of ‗next time‘ but forgives her when Money Bags tries to send her away. When he hears that Money
Bags was coming over to be crowned as king, he grabs his neck, then tightens his grip accusing him
of betrayal. He silences Money Bags severally during the meeting as he tries to make himself heard.

Royal Owl is naïve and thoughtless. He is easily taken in by Oyundi into signing the Unity Pact
while Oyundi calls him a ‗big head‘ with a mind ‗like the entire sky in its darkness‘ behind his back.
He does not intend the freedom and equality of all the birds because even Oyundi enters the
parliament as an owl and is baptized as such. This shows his condescension and his apparent belief in
the patronage of other birds by the owls. He uses his name and his chambers to create mystery
around himself. The name – His Majesty, Royal Owl, Tula Nyongoro, the owl of owls – is meant to
surround him with mystery and intimidate other birds into silence and obedience. Mystery is also
created around Royal trees which are out of bounds. The king also surrounds himself with mystery
about his diet, his dreams and their interpretation and particular revered objects he owns – their
purpose? To make him even more of an enigma, because this is what he relies on for his reign to
prosper; it is this mystery that gives him the power of unquestionable command. He also keeps
secrets about him which serve similar a purpose. He, for instance, ‗rolls his eyeballs clockwise in
sleep‘ and ‗...eats at least a lizard every last hour of the night‘ (28). He enters the stage carried by
puppet owls. This elevates him to the status of a god and we are told that many birds are seeing him
for the first time. His throne in parliament serves the same purpose and so does the standing of his
puppets behind him.He has an irrational fear for the light and an obsession for fireflies. He is
superstitious and ignorant. He keeps a bead which he says justifies his rule. He eats lizards at night.
He uses this superstition to entrench mystery about him and his rule. Royal Owl is properly taken
advantage of by Money Bags who not only runs the kingdom but intends to overthrow the king.
Royal owl has no idea of the suffering of the subjects in neither his kingdom nor how the parliament
runs the kingdom. This is well demonstrated when Money Bags is unmasked. The king‘s naïveté
here works against him because it is what Oyundi and the day birds take advantage of in order to
overthrow him.

Conclusion;
Royal Owl is used to criticize monarchies and their use mystery to maintain and justify their rule.
This is well seen in Africa where some presidents rule for life or continue to lengthen their tenures
indefinitely. It is also clear that such leaders have little idea of how their governments run or what
happens to the subjects of their kingdoms.

3. c) Kazuo Ishiguro, Artist of the Floating World

‗War has mostly negative outcomes.‘ With illustration form the novel ‗An Artist of the Floating
World by Kazuo Ishiguro, write an essay to justify this statement.
Sample introduction
War has caused different negative effects to people‘s life as portrayed in An Artist of the Floating
World.
W i-War leads to loss of life. Ono says, it had taken more than a year for his son‘s ashes, Kenji, to
arrive from Manchuria. The communists, they were constantly told, had made everything difficult
there. The when his ashes finally came, along with those of twenty- three other young men who had
died attempting that hopeless charge across the minefield, there was no assurance that the ashes

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were in fact Kenji‘s and Kenji‘s alone. ‗But if my brother‘s ashes are mingled.‘ Setsuko had written
to Ono at that time, ‗they would only be mingled with those of his comrades.‘ We cannot complain
about that and so they accepted the ashes as Kenji‘s and carried put the belated ceremony.
(pg62).when the younger of the two Akira Sugimura visited Mr. Ono he was able to surmise that
most of her family members from the time of the sale died during the war (pg6). The death of Mr.
Ono‘s wife.
W ii-War leads to destruction of property. When Ono meets Kuroda after a few years, Ono says,
beneath his umbrella, he was hatless and dressed in dark raincoat. The charred buildings behind him
were dripping and the remnants of the gutter was marking a large amount of rainwater splash down
not far from him (pg87). Ono says, ― on three or four evenings a week, I still find myself taking path
down to the river and the little wooden bridge still known to some who lived here before the war as
‗the Bridge of Hesitation‘ …clusters of new houses have appeared towards the foot of the hill down
which I have just come. And further along the river bank, where a year ago there was only grass
and mud, city cooperation is building an apartment block for future employees. But these are still far
from completion and when the sun is low over the river, Ono might even mistake them for the
bombed ruins still to be found in certain parts of the city. But such ruin become more and more
scarce each week; indeed, one would probably have to go as far North as Wakamiya District, or else
badly struck area between Honcho and Kasugamachi to encounter them now in any number. But
only a year, I am sure bombed ruins were still a common place sight all over the city. (pg111)
W iii- War leads to anger, frustrations and suffering. It was the midst of the burial ceremony for
Kenji, who had died in the war, that Ono saw Suichi, Setsuko‘s husband, striding away angrily.
Later, as the guests from the ceremony were gathering in Ono‘s house, Setsuko said to Ono, ‗please
understand, Father, Suichi never intended to appear disrespectful. But we have attended so many
such ceremonies this past year, for Suichi‘s friend and comrades and they always make him angry.
(pg63). ‗There seems to be no end of courageous deaths,‘ Suichi said eventually, ‗half of my high
school graduation years have died courageous deaths. They were all for stupid causes though they
were never to know that…do you know, father what really makes me angry…? Those who sent the
likes of Kenji out there to die these brave deaths, where are they today? They‘re carrying on with
their lives, much the same as ever. Ichiro become emotionally unstable after the war and can only
associate with violent movies. Ichiro says ‗Lone Ranger! Hi yo silver!‘
W iv-War leads to loss of property and poverty. When Ono visits Matsudi, Matsudi is grateful
that both Ono and he managed to hold on to their property, ‗still, we both managed to hold on to our
assets‘. And you have more reasons to be thankful Ono. You appear to hold on to your health.
(pg105) You remember Nakane, the principal of Minami Imperial College? I see him from time to
time. These days he is a little better than a beggar, he tries to keep up appearances, but he lives
entirely off borrowed money.
W Scarcity of commodity
W failure of marriage negotiation
W Life changes
Any relevant conclusion

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