THE PEARL ESSAYS-KCSE ESSAY QUESTIONS ANALYSIS

Good families are built on love and teamwork. With reference to Kino and Juana in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, write an essay in support of this statement.

 

How to answer essay questions based on The Pearl

1.     Read the question carefully

2.     Identify the KEYWORDS to aid in your interpretation of the question

3.     Identify the actions (love and teamwork) and their outcomes (good families)

4.     Come up with points of interpretation based on point (3) above

The keywords in the question above are “good families” “love” and “team work”. Talk about Kino and Juana's family, which is the good family in this case, and show how it thrives because of love and teamwork. 

Each of your points must have love and teamwork and not just one or the other.

 

1.     Use Kino and Juana's family to develop your essay

2.     Identify challenges that force Kino and Juana to work as a team in order to overcome them

3.     Show the love among Kino, Juana and Coyotito

4.     Show the teamwork between Kino and Juana

 

Reasons why students lost marks in this question

Students’ essays lacked textual illustrations on:

1.     The challenge

2.     The love

3.     The teamwork

Some students used characters that are irrelevant to this question most notably Juan Tomas (Kino's brother) and his wife Apolonia. Since the question restricts you to Kino and Juana, adhere to the rubric strictly.

 

The Pearl essay: writing the introduction

1.     Demonstrate your interpretation of the question (Families stick together through thick and thin as a result of love and common goals or collaborative effort)

2.     Include the keywords in your introduction (good families, love, team work)

3.     Paraphrase

4.     Be brief, concise, precise

 

The Pearl KCSE question: sample introduction

Love and teamwork glue the family together. Without them, a family cannot overcome challenges or prosper. Kino and Juana face numerous obstacles but they endure them as a family because of deep affection and togetherness.

The Pearl essay: developing the body

1.     Give at least 4 well developed points

2.     Each point must fall on a separate paragraph

3.     Give adequate illustrations on the challenge,  love and teamwork that make Juana and Kino's family a good one

 

Points of interpretation

1.     Scorpion bite (p22) 

2.     Pearl fishing

3.     Second attack (p79)

4.     Killing

5.     Trackers

6.     The return (to La Paz)

For each of the points above, you must identify a challenge that forces Kino and Juana to battle it together (action/teamwork) as a good family.

Paragraph development

Challenge: Scorpion bite.

·        A child could easily die from the poison (p23).

·        The doctor is urgently needed. To get him would be remarkable (p23). 

 

Action: Kino kills the scorpion while Juana sucks the poison (p22) (teamwork and love)

·        They go to the doctor together (p24) (teamwork.)

·        The doctor was not of his race. "This doctor was not of his people" (p26)

·        Kino has no money; he only has 8 misshapen seed pearls. (p28)

·        The doctor refuses to the treat the baby (p28)

·        The beggars, stragglers and neighbours melt away (pg28)

·        Only Juana stands beside Kino long after everyone else leaves (p29)

·        They go fishing together. Kino sets up his fishing gear while Juana takes care of Coyotito (p32-33). 

·        Juana gathers brown seaweed poultice – a good remedy (p33). 

·        Kino and Juana slide the canoe down the beach to the water (teamwork) (p33). 

·        Juana prays for a pearl (p33)

·        They drive their double-bladed paddle into the sea in co-ordination (teamwork) (p33)

Outcome: Juana and Kino stick together as a family in the face of adversity. Coyotito is cured of the scorpion sting (p38). 

 
Sample set book question (and answer) based on The Pearl

A great family springs from mutual respect, a healthy dose of understanding and love. However, sometimes these pillars of a family are difficult to attain. In John Steinbeck’s The Pearl, Kino and Juana invest on love and teamwork as they confront their challenges.

We see love and teamwork between Kino and Juana when their baby Coyotito is stung by a scorpion. As the scorpion edged closer to the baby Juana muttered a Hail Mary and repeated the ancient magic to guard against such evil while Kino glided across the room noiselessly hoping to grab the animal before it stung the baby. Coyotito laughs shaking the rope and the scorpion lands on his shoulder and strikes. Kino grabs it and rubs it into a paste and beats it into the earth floor. Juana sucks the puncture hard and spits and sucks again as Coyotito screams in pain. A baby could easily die from the poison. Juana wants the doctor but everyone knows he would not come. He prefers treating the rich. Kino and Juana go to the doctor together, and a large crowd follows them. The doctor is not of his race. Unsurprisingly, the doctor refuses to treat the baby because Kino could not afford the treatment. He only has eight ugly misshapen seed pearls. The crowd melts away leaving Kino embarrassed and only Juana stays by his side for a long time. They then go pearl fishing together, to look for pearls to pay the doctor. Kino and Juana slide the canoe down the beach to the water. They drive their double -bladed paddles into the sea in coordination. As Kino searches for pearls, Juana attends to the baby applying the brown seaweed poultice to his swollen shoulder - a good remedy for his pain. It is evident that Juana and Kino work together as a family even though they have no money to treat their son.

When the doctor refuses to treat Coyotito, Kino and Juana are left with an egg on their face. They are embarrassed because they have no money to settle the doctor's bill. They decide to fish for pearls to pay the bill. They work in coordination to push the boat into the sea. As Kino dives for the pearls, he knows that Juana was praying. She loves her son. She steadies the boat as Kino climbs in. She lifts the poultice and calls Kino. The swelling has reduced and the poison is receding. Juana and Kino demonstrate teamwork and love when they fish for pearls and get the pearl of the world. Even though, they have no money for the treatment of the child they stay together as a family through the predicament even when everyone else leaves.

When Kino finds the valuable pearl, he faces the trial of constant attacks from unknown persons. He tries to sell the pearl for fifty thousand pesos but the pearl dealers offer prices as low as five hundred to fifteen hundred pesos. Kino decides to sell his pearl at the capital instead. That night Kino senses danger outside his hut. Juana unsuccessfully tries to stop him. She seizes a stone and rushes out after him. Kino had been attacked. She helps him to his feet and supports him to the house. Kino is cut in his cheek from ear to chin and blood oozes out. Juana wipes the blood with her skirt. She then offers him pulque. She also brings her clay pot of water and washes the cut on his face. She urges Kino to destroy or throw away the evil pearl before it destroys them. Kino dismisses her saying he is a man. He tells her that they will have their chance. With softened loving eyes, he touches Juana's shoulder gently to reassure her. She disagrees with him but obeys him. She agrees to accompany him on a mission to sell the pearl. She is not afraid. He gives her a warm soft look before they go to bed. Kino and Juana face the attack together as a family, as much as they hold different views about the pearl. (p 78,79,80) 

The family faces another challenge when Kino kills a man. When Juana gets tired of Kino's inaction, she tries to throw the pearl back into the sea. Kino catches her and strikes her with a clenched fist and kicks her in the side. After the attack, there is no anger in her for Kino. As she returns from the beach, she notices a dead man on the path, Kino’s knife beside him. Kino had killed a man. She knows the old life had gone. She quickly drags the dead man into the brush and sponges Kino’s face with her wet skirt. She tells him that they must go away. The men in the city would not listen to his justification about self-defense. Kino admits that she is right. He asks him to go and get the baby. He then figures that his canoe had been destroyed and his hut burnt. Despite the drawbacks, he takes Juana's arm and together they go to Juan Tomas's house. Juana sticks together with Kino because of love in spite of the trials.

Kino and Juana are followed by trackers while on the journey north. Kino obstinately refuses give up the pearl. He decides to go north and attempt to sell it. He says the pearl has become his soul. While trekking north together, Kino and Juana encounter many challenges. They face fierce, strong winds that pelt them with sticks and little rocks. The journey north is difficult. They are cautious and wary of animals. Juana is worried that the enemies may follow them. She tirelessly carries the baby and soothes him to sleep. They then notice that they are being hunted by trackers. Kino says, “Perhaps I should let them take me.” Juana knows that if he capitulates, they would all be killed. Kino suggests that they split up and Juana and Coyotito go north to Loreto or Santa Rosalia. Juana repeatedly says no to Kino's goading. They must stick together. There was no weakness, fear or irresolution in her. Juana offers Kino her blessing when she sets out to confront the trackers. She tells him to go with God. While Juana watches over the child, Kino confronts and kills the enemies. They face many hurdles but endure together as a family.

Lastly, Kino and Juana return to La Paz together after the death of their son Coyotito. Even after their biggest possible loss, Kino and Juana still remain together as a team. This is testament to the great love they share as a family. They return walking side by side, not in a single file as usual. Juana looked fatigued. They seemed removed from human experience. They do not answer Juan Tomas greetings. They look neither right nor left, up nor down – they stare straight ahead. They stand side by side and Kino offers Juana the pearl to throw it but she declines. He flings it into the sea with all his might. And they stand side by side watching the place for a long time. Kino and his wife literary remain a formidable team right to the bitter end. The tides rock their family but don’t break their unbreakable bond.

When family members work together, they balance strengths and weaknesses. This is what is depicted by John Steinbeck in The Pearl.

Click here to download The Pearl essay questions and answers pdf

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A DOLL'S HOUSE ESSAY-KCSE QUESTION ANALYSIS

A Doll's House Essay Question; 2020 KCSE Question Analysis 

Sometimes quitting a relationship may be the only option but it hurts loved ones. Using relevant illustrations from Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House; write an essay in support of this statement.

 

How to answer essay questions based on A Doll's House

1.     Read the question carefully

2.     Identity the KEYWORDS to help you interpret the question

3.     Identify the characters’ actions and their outcomes  

4.     Come up with points of interpretation based on point 3 above

The keywords in the question above include “quitting a relationship”, “only option” and “hurts loved ones.”  From these, we can use the following guide questions to come up with points of interpretation and textual illustrations.  

 

1.     Which character is in an established relationship and with whom? (Give textual evidence)

2.     Action: Who quits the relationship and why? ( Give the challenges that rock the relationship and show that the character quits as a last resort)

3.     What is the background information concerning the quitting?

4.     Outcome: Who is hurt? (Do not simply state that so and so is hurt. Show proof of the pain.)

 

Reasons why students lost marks in this question

 Most essays lacked textual details on:

1.     The relationship

2.     The quitting

3.     Background information

4.     The pain (textual evidence on how a character is hurt as the result of the broken relationship)

 

A Doll's House essay: writing introduction

1.   What is your interpretation/understanding of the question (Does the student interpret the question correctly? We must see a relationship, leaving and resultant pain)

2.     Include the keywords in your introduction

3.     Do NOT simply rewrite the question as your introduction

4.     Mention some of the characters that quit and those who are hurt, without delving into details.

5.     Be brief.

 

In your introduction, we should see characters leaving or abandoning loved ones, and the resultant pain/suffering. The pain must be directly linked to the quitting.   

 

 
A Doll's House sample introduction

People are sometimes forced to quit their relationship. As a result, they make their partners or relations to experience emotional or psychological pain. Some characters in A Doll's House, like Nora and Mrs. Linde, abandon their loved ones causing them untold agony.

 

A Doll's House essay: Developing the body

1.     Give at least four well-developed points

2.     Each point must fall on a separate paragraph

3.     Give sufficient textual details on the action [quitting], background [relationship challenges], and the outcome [pain]

 

The following must be apparent in EACH paragraph in order for you to score full marks.

·        Established relationship (e.g. Nora & Helmer)

·        Background i.e. challenges, decision to quit

·        Hurting loved ones (Show the pain according to the book)

 

Points of interpretation

1.     Nora leaves Helmer

2.     Linde leaves Krogstad

3.     Helmer leaves Nora

4.     Anne leaves the wicked man

5.     Nora leaves her children

6.     Dr. Rank abandons the Helmers

 

Paragraph development

Character: Nora is in an established relationship with Torvald Helmer. They have been married for eight years and their relationship seems cosy. 

Textual evidence on the relationship between Nora and Helmer

·        Torvald refers to his wife using all sorts of pet names e.g. little lark, littlesquirrel, little spendthrift, little skylark etc.

“Come, come, my little skylark must not droop her wings. What is this! Is my little squirrel out of temper?” (p3-4)

·        Torvald takes Nora playfully by the ear (p3)

·         Nora plays with Torvald's coat buttons (p5)

·        Nora tells Mrs. Linde that the last eight years have been a happy time for her (p9)

·        Nora also tells her about her three lovely children and Torvald's new appointment as manager of the bank. She is relived and so happy (p11)

 

There are many more illustrations in the book. You should cite sufficient evidence in order to score full marks. Merely glancing at the events would not suffice.

 

Action: Nora quits the relationship citing various challenges. After Torvald reproaches her about the loan and forgery, she decides to leave.

 

“I am not fit for the task. I must try to educate myself. And that is why I am going to leave you now.” (p112)

“I cannot remain with you any longer” (p113)

“I do not love you anymore” (p116)

“I had been living here with a strange man, and had borne him three children” (p117)

“I cannot spend the night in a strange man's room” (p118)

Background information: Identifying the character who quits and mentioning the quitting (action) and the pain it causes (outcome) merely earns you one mark out if the possible three. You would score full marks only if you sufficiently give the background information which includes the challenges that forces Nora to quit the relationship with Helmer.

·        Torvald overworks himself and falls dreadfully ill (p12)

·        Nora borrows 250 pounds to facilitate the trip to Italy.

·        This is after she unsuccessfully begs Torvald to take the vital trip meant to save his life (p19)

·        Mrs. Linde finds it unwise that Nora borrows without her husband’s permission, but Nora wonders if it's imprudent to save your husband's life (p18-19)

·        Nora keeps the loan a secret from Torvald. She understands his manly independence.

·        She does not want to ruin their beautiful home and mutual relations.

·        She struggles to repay the loan by working and earning money. She also saves housekeeping money from Torvald.

·        Still strives to get Torvald a good table and her “sweet little darlings” decent clothes(p20-21)

·        When Krogstad threatens to blackmail her, she has faith that her loving husband would repay the money owed and rid her of the obligations (p37)

·        She forges a name to spare her father anxiety and care and save Torvald’s life (p41)

·        She tries to plead Krogstad's case but only for the sake of the family (p59)

“If your little squirrel were to ask you for something very, very prettily-” (p57)

·        She is desperate to protect her relationship with Torvald.

·        She begs Christine to be her witness (p78)

·        When Torvald finds out about the secret he insults Nora and forbids her from raising the children

“Miserable creature-what have you done?” (p103)

“But I shall not allow you to bring up the children; I dare not trust them to you” (p105)

 

·        Torvald changes tune when Krogstad sends back the bond but it's too late (p106)

Outcome: Do not simply mention that Nora's departure hurts Torvald. Give some evidence to back up your claim.

Torvald begs Nora to stay. He says “I have it in me to become a different man” (p118)

·        He begs her to wait until the next day (p118)

·        He suggests they live as brother and sister

“Can I ever be anything more than a stranger to you?”

When Nora leaves, Torvalds sinks down an a chair, his face buried in his hand. He feels empty.

This is enough proof of Torvald’s pain.

 

Sample set book essay question and answer based on A Doll's House

 Sometimes quitting a relationship may be the only option but it hurts loved ones. Using relevant illustrations from Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House; write an essay in support of this statement.

 A relationship undergoes a lot of challenges sometimes. If a relationship does not work, it may force one of the partners to abandon it and seek other options. In the event that one partner walks out on another, it causes pain. Mrs. Linde abandons Krogstad due to unavoidable circumstances and he ultimately  feels like a shipwrecked man.

 

Nora decides to leave her husband Torvald, causing him untold misery. Before she decides to leave, they had a cordial intimate relationship. Helmer displays affection by using loving pet names like little squirrel or little skylark when referring to his wife.  When asking for favours from him, she intimately plays with his coat buttons. Nora affectionately tells Mrs. Linde about her three little children and her happy eight year marriage. She is also excited about Torvald's appointment as bank manager. Problems begin when Torvald overworks and falls ill. He has to go to Italy in order to recover. He is adamant about taking the trip, even after Nora begs earnestly, so she is forced to borrow 250 pounds from Krogstad. She also forges her father's signature. She keeps these a secret from Torvald in order to protect his manly independence, maintain their mutual relations and guard their beautiful happy home. She works tirelessly and saves her housekeeping money with a view of secretly repaying the loan. She does all these for the sake of her husband and family. However, when Torvald learns about Nora's secret he in infuriated. He calls her a miserable creature and a criminal. He further forbids her from raising her children whom she loves deeply. Nora decides to leave Torvald since he is not ready to make any sacrifice for her. She calls him a strange man who doesn’t understand her. Torvald later has a change of heart when Krogstad sends them the damning bond. He begs Nora to leave the next day. He tries to convince her  to stay so that they could live as brother and sister. He even reminds her of her duties as a wife and a mother. When Nora leaves, he sadly sinks onto a chair and buries his face in his hand, feeling devastated and empty. He is deeply hurt by her departure. 

 

Mrs. Linde is forced to abandon her true love Krogstad and this undoubtedly makes him miserable. Krogstad sincerely loved Mrs. Linde and would gladly do anything for her sake. She tells Nora that she knew him many years ago when he was a solicitor’s clerk. Mrs. Linde has no option but to leave him when her mother is bedridden and helpless and she is forced to provide for her two younger brothers. Krogstad's prospects seemed hopeless at the time, so Mrs. Linde was left with no choice but quitting their relationship and marrying a rich man. When she leaves, Krogstad has an unhappy marriage and later becomes a widower. Krogstad calls Mrs. Linde a heartless woman because he was hurt when she jilted him. Mrs. Linde regrets and says she did not do it with a light heart. She had no right to throw him over for anyone’s sake. When Krogstad lost her, it was akin to losing the solid ground under his feet. He feels like a shipwrecked man clinging to a bit of wreckage. Mrs. Linde also feels like a shipwrecked woman. She begs Krogstad to take her back so that she could take care of her children. Although she has no option when she leaves Krogstad, her action hurts him.

 

Helmer quits his relationship with his wife Nora. This hurts Nora. He strips her of her wifely duties by forbidding her from bringing up the children. Nora is hurt because she feels Torvald is an ingrate who does not appreciate her selflessness. Before the relationship went to the dogs, it was warm and cosy. Torvald treated Nora like a doll and called her pretty little names like squirrel and skylark. Nora acknowledges that for eight years she had a happy married life. She is happy with her children and delighted about Torvald's new appointment. However, when he falls ill and she is forced to borrow money to carter for his recuperation, things go south. She is proud for saving Torvald's life since she did it for the sake of love. She is a loving wife who would do anything to please Torvald. Torvald also loves her wife, or so it seems. He chooses for her a dress and picks the Neapolitan fisher girl  character for her for the fancy dress ball. Nora tells Dr. Rank that Torvald is absurdly fond of her and even somewhat jealous. She feels that he loves her deeply. He sometimes fantasizes that she is a young beautiful bride. However, when he learns of Nora's secret about the loan and the forgery he quits the relationship by denying Nora the right of raising her children. He rants that he is a miserable creature and a criminal who has ruined his future. Nora expected Torvald to take the blame and say he is the guilty one. This would be a wonderful thing. She is hurt and disappointed when the wonderful thing does not happen. In her awakening, she discovers that Torvald is a strange man who does not love her. He hurts her when he selfishly quits the relationship.

Anne walks out of the relationship between the father of her daughter and her. Nora wonders how she could have the heart to put out her own child among strangers. Anne was in a relationship with a certain man and the result of this fling was the birth of her daughter. Anne has no option but to quit the relationship and leave out her daughter among strangers since the wicked man did not help her to raise the child. She chooses to become Nora's nurse. Although the daughter wrote to her when she was confirmed and when she was married, she must have been hurt growing up without the warmth of her mother’s love. Anne had no choice but to leave the wicked man but this causes her daughter untold misery.

The fall out between Nora and Torvald forces her to quit her relationship with her children. Nora  has a strong loving motherly bond with her three children. He buys the children presents namely a new suit and sword for Ivar, a horse and a trumpet for Bob and a dolly and a dolly's bedstead for Emma. She is delighted at the fact that the children will enjoy Christmas.  She proudly tells Mrs. Linde about her three lovely children. When she plays hide and seek with them, their time together is filled with laughter. The children are so attached to her that they want to continue playing after Krogstad comes and leaves. Naturally, mothers spend a lot of time with their children so Torvald thinks that a mother's action could have a deep seated effect on the children. Later,  the children beg so earnestly to be allowed to be with their mother. Anne says they are accustomed to having mama with them. When Krogstad threatens to blackmail her, she tells him to think about her three little children. Nora is forced to leave her children but she does so with a heavy heart. Torvald forbids her from bringing up the children. When she decides to leave, he reminds her of her sacred duties - her husband and her children.  Nora, however, says that the children are in better hands than hers since the maids know everything in the house. She will always think of them. Since they had a strong attachment to their mother, the children are hurt when she leaves them. 

Lastly, Dr. Rank quits the relationship he had with the Helmers. They had a strong relationship as great friends. They do not even have to invite him for functions since he would come to the house anyway. He even understands the rules of the Helmer household e.g. macaroons are forbidden. Whenever Torvald is busy Rank spends time with his wife Nora. He visits them everyday regularly. He is Torvald's intimate friend and a great friend of Nora's. He is practically just like one of the family. Dr. Rank fears that Christine Linde would replace him as the beat friend to the Helmers. When his death is imminent, Dr. Rank takes his leave effectively quitting his relationship with the Helmers. He sends them a card with black crosses over his name signifying his death. Torvald and Nora are devastated. 

In brief, indeed quitting a relationship hurts loved ones even if one has no choice but to leave. 

Click here to download A Doll's House essay questions and answers.  

MEMORIES WE LOST ESSAY: HITTING BUDAPEST ANALYSIS

Memories we Lost and other stories KCSE essays

Review of KCSE 2020: Hitting Budapest-NoViolet Bulawayo

Children growing up in urban slums today face many challenges. Using illustrations from NoViolet Bulawayo's “Hitting Budapest”, write an essay to illustrate the truth of this statement.

 

How to answer KCSE essay questions based on Memories we Lost

1.     Read the question carefully

2.     Identify KEYWORDS to aid in your inference of the question

3.     Come up with points of interpretation

 

The keywords in the question include “children”, “urban slums” and “challenges”. This question is quite straightforward since all you have to do is to identify the problems or trials faced by children growing up in ghettos.

 

The points you give must be in relation to the events in the story “Hitting Budapest” and not simply the general obstacles faced by children in slums.

 

You only score a full mark when you support each point with adequate textual illustrations.

 

Task

·        Identify challenges experienced by the characters

·        Explain how the challenges affect the children

 

Steps to answering the set book essay question

1.     Identify a challenge

2.     Give sufficient textual backup

 

Reasons why students lost marks in this question 

Most students correctly identified the challenges but failed to give sufficient illustrations from the short story.

 

Memories we Lost essay: Hitting Budapest-Introduction

1.     What is your interpretation of the question? What challenges do children in the slums experience?

2.     Include the keywords in your introduction

3.     Paraphrase instead of simply rewriting the question

4.     Mention some of the challenges

5.     Be brief

 

Memories we Lost essays: developing the body

1.     Give at least four fully developed points

2.     Each point falls on a separate paragraph

3.     Give adequate textual illustrations on the challenges and how they affect the children  

NB: Your point should appear on the first line of each paragraph  

 

 

Points of interpretation

1.     Lack of food

2.     Shabby clothing

3.     Squalor living conditions

4.     No schooling

5.     Unwanted pregnancy

6.     Poor parenting

7.     Violence

 

Paragraph Development

Challenge: the children living in Paradise lack food

Illustration:

·        The children are forced to steal food

·        They are not allowed to cross Mzilikazi road but they are pushed by hunger pangs (p97)

·        The narrator feels like someone took a shovel and dug everything out of her stomach

·        She would die for guavas or anything to eat (p97)

·        Basta is supposed to be watching his little sister Fraction while the narrator is supposed to stay home and her mother would kill her if she found out she went-but they still go (p97)

·        Chipo is pregnant but she remarks that she does not want the baby or anything, just guavas (p98)

·        They used to steal from Chipo's uncle's tree

·        They finished all the guavas and moved to strangers’ houses

·        They have stolen so many times until they have lost count

·        Godknows is tasked with methodically picking the street from where they steal guavas

·        When they meet Mello, they cannot stop staring at “the thing she was eating”-her food

·        The children have never seen anyone throw away food.

·        As Mello chews, the narrator swallows with her

·        The children plan to move from stealing guavas to burglary and break-ins (p102)

·        They overeat and their stomachs are so full that they almost crawl home

·        They will only drink water and sleep

·        They anticipate constipation - it is usually so bad that it feels “like giving birth to a country” (p104)

 

The lack of food (challenge) forces the children to steal guavas from Budapest (effect). Without adequate illustrations, you do not score a full mark.

 

 
Sample set book essay question (and answer) based on Memories we Lost

Children growing up in urban slums today face many challenges. Using illustrations from NoViolet Bulawayo's “Hitting Budapest”, write an essay to illustrate the truth of this statement.

 Many children growing up in urban slums today undergo unimaginable crises for example poor sanitation, crime, violence, unwanted pregnancy etc. The children e.g. Basta, Sbho and Chipo experience innumerable challenges which affect them in various ways.

The children lack food. The lack of victuals forces them to steal guavas. The narrator would die for guavas since her stomach feels empty like everything had been dug out with a shovel. The children are not allowed to cross Mzilikazi road but hunger drives them out of Paradise in search of food. Chipo, who is pregnant, is more preoccupied with guavas than her unborn baby. The children have stolen all guavas from her uncle's tree and have moved to strangers’ houses. They have stolen so many times until they have lost count. Godknows leads the pack of illicit gatherers, carefully picking new streets to steal from. At Budapest they are fascinated by the food Mello is eating. They stare at the thing in her hand even as she throws it away. They have never seen anyone throw away food. When Mello speaks to Chipo, she is absent minded still brooding over the food on the ground. As Mello chews, the hungry children swallow with her. They end up overeating and fearing for the ensuing painful calls of nature. Food is a basic need but to children in ghettos, it’s a luxury that is hard to come by.

The children dress shabbily. As they make their way out of Paradise, Basta wallops the bigheaded child to discourage the younger children from following them. The child is naked. Mello wonders how the barefooted children could handle the heat and hard earth. Godknows's shorts are dirty and his back peeps from the torn patches like strange eyes. Basta wears his black tracksuit bottom and faded orange “Cornell” T-shirt everyday. The children lack proper clothing.

The children live a life of squalor. The surroundings in Paradise are extremely dirty and unpleasant owing to the poverty in the slum. There is a notable contrast between Paradise and Budapest. Budapest is like a different country. The residents are different from those in Paradise. Even the air is fresh unlike that one in Paradise which chokes with burning and rotting things and the smell of cooking food. The houses there are big, have nice fences, flowers and green trees. If she lived in Budapest, which is areal place with real people, the narrator would wash her body daily and neatly comb her hair. The kids fantasize about escaping the life of squalor and moving to better places like America, South Africa and Botswana. Sbho wishes to marry a man from Budapest so that she could move away from the dirty, unappealing shacks in Paradise. The poor children can only impotently admire the big houses, which look like mountains, with large swimming pools. Surely, slum children live a miserable life of squalor.

Children in slums do not attend school. Instead they spend their time either stealing or fighting. Basta, who is eleven, and the younger ones who attempt to follow them are all out of school. Basta wears the same clothes everyday, a black tracksuit bottom and a faded orange T-shirt, an indication that he does not attend school. Chipo fondly remembers her teacher Mr. Gono who advises that you cannot make money without education. She says his name proudly as if he is her father. She wonders how Basta would make money to buy the houses he desires when they don’t go to school. He says he does not need school to make money. At the juvenile correction centre the children learn how to read and write. The narrator plans to write to Mello to apologize for their misdemeanor. Chipo wishes to continue her studies and become a counsellor to guide and help the children from Paradise.

Chipo is pregnant after she is defiled by her grandfather. He was arrested and detained but the innocent little girl is left to suffer. She used to outrun everyone but not anymore. She has to keep stopping to rest. Basta gets impatient with her. He warned the other children to stop playing with her. The children are young and naïve but have a faint idea of pregnancy. They talk about the possible sex of the baby and how people get pregnant. Chipo is not sure about her due date but she knows the baby will come someday. She is only ten. Mello looks at her pitifully probably because she has never seen a pregnant child before. As they leave Budapest, they have to stop for Chipo to vomit. Her baby is eventually born at the juvenile correction centre. Children in slums suffer unwanted pregnancy.

Another challenge the children suffer is poor parenting. They easily sneak out of Paradise while on their mission to steal guavas. It easy for them since their mothers are busy with hair and talk. They simply glance at them and look away nonchalantly. The men's eyes are glued to the draughts as they while away under the jacaranda trees. The children are surprised when Mello smiles at them and asks if she could take a picture of them. No one smiles at them and adults never ask them anything. Adults are indifferent about the children. No wonder they are always arguing and fighting. Basta has beaten all of them except Stina. The children lack parental care.

Lastly, the children in slums are prone to violence. When the younger children try to follow them out of Paradise, Basta does not hesitate to wallop one of them. He has beaten all the children except Stina. He needlessly picks up a fight with Sbho when she voices admiration for one of the houses in Budapest. He throws a guava at the big, blue house she likes. He walks backwards facing Sbho for he likes facing whomever he is quarreling with. He also taunts another girl about her ambition of going to America. He says she will end up in nursing homes cleaning poop. The girl fantasizes about beating him up for saying that. She would slap him, butt him and punch him until he spits his teeth out and vomit all the guavas. Then pin him to the ground and jab him pulling his head back until he begs for his life. These violent thoughts, coming from a nine year old, manifest a lifetime of experiencing violence while growing up in the slums.

In summary, children growing up in slum areas experience all sorts of challenges.

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