[PDF] ANALYSIS OF BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH-EPISODIC APPROACH

 

BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ESSAYS AND ANSWERS

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Have you read the ULTIMATE guide to Blossoms of the Savannah? Click here to read a comprehensive analysis of the novel. 

Blossoms of the Savannah Analysis 

What is the best approach for students to use when responding to KCSE questions on Blossoms of the Savannah ?  

It’s simple!

Learners must be exposed to intensive reading. Writing amazing essays depends on the mastery of the text. 

A learner must know; the events happening in the text, the characters and the actions they are involved in, the outcome of their actions and any embedded moral lessons.

Moral values

What is the objective of studying literature in the Kenyan curriculum? To help the learners to acquire moral values.

Blossoms of the Savannah has both good and bad characters. 

The good characters like Minik ene Nkoitoi, Nabaru (the enkabaani) and Resian are always rewarded for their virtuous acts whereas the bad characters like Oloisudori, Olarinkoi and Ole Kaelo always fail to achieve their objectives.

Joseph Parmuat is a good character, isn’t he? He is a sturdy, industrious young man who respects the Nasila traditions. But why is he severely punished by being condemned to death?

Nasila has both positive and negative cultural practices. Kinship ties and respect among members of the same clan is to be upheld. Ole Kulet could not allow Taiyo’s illicit infatuation for Joseph Parmuat to grow any further. He suffers for a sin that is not entirely his. The take home message here is “kinship ties have to be upheld and respected. 

Therefore, literature is basically a conflict between good forces and bad forces. There is no in-between. 

Virtues are rewarded whereas vices are punished.

·    Resian’s determination pays off. She encounters challenges but she fights resolutely and achieves her dream of enrolling at Egerton University to pursue veterinary medicine.

"And they were off to their Nirvana, that was Ergeton University" (P 284)

·   Olarinkoi is punished for his cruelty to Resian. He fails to marry her. He is also forced into hiding due to shame after he unsuccessfully attempts to rape her. He also suffers when Resian viciously bites his finger in self defence.

"... he was rebuked, scolded and reprimanded by his mother." (P 232) 

What to consider when setting a KCSE essay based on Blossoms of the Savannah.

1.     Phrasing the question (Questions must have a value statement and an outcome-reward/punishment)

SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTION (KCSE 101/3 2019)

Analysis of Blossoms of the Savannah 

2.     The embedded morals (the text is divided into virtues and vices e.g. determination, family values, selflessness, betrayal among others)

3.     Accessibility of the question (can the learners relate to understand, relate to the question and appreciate the embedded morals)

4.     Marking points

5.     Possible relevant episodes

6.     Details in the episodes (the situation, the characters, their actions/activities, reactions, outcomes, moral values)

7.     The two sides of the question e.g. (Determination never goes unrewarded or Selfish individuals are always bound to fail ­)

Essay questions on Blossoms of the Savannah test three skills:

                               i.            Analysis: Reading the text critically to get the minute details e.g. Uncle Simiren has 4 wives and 16 children; Olarinkoi’s village is called Inkiito, Parmuat is a member of Ilmolelian clan; and Ole Kaelo receives 500, 000 from Oloisudori.

                             ii.            Synthesis: Knitting together several events in order to come up with a judgment e.g. Ole Kaelo denies Taiyo a chance to perform at the extravaganza; he also plans to marry off Resian to an old criminal because of money.

                          iii.            Evaluation: Making judgments or conclusions based on information acquired e.g. since Ole Kaelo puts his needs before the needs of his daughters for material gain we can conclude that he is not only materialistic but also selfish.

The 2 sides of a question

Apart from revolving around moral values in the text, a KCSE essay question on Blossoms of the Savannah usually encompasses two sides. You can identify the two sides by underling the keywords in the question. The second side is usually an outcome. Since questions have two sides the learners’ answers should bring out the two sides fully. Remember to show the link/relationship between the two sides, for example;

Blossoms of the Savannah essay questions; 

Example 1

“Determination leads to victory." Citing illustrations from Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay to validate this statement. (20 Marks)

The keywords in the question above are Determination and Victory.

While responding to the question above learners should discuss about a resolute/ determined character with supporting illustrations from the text. (Identify the qualities, actions or activities that depict this character as being determined). After that, they ought to demonstrate how this determination leads to victory. Show the determination and go until we see the victory. The victory MUST be as a result of the determination.

Blossoms of the Savannah essay questions; 

Example 2

“Selfish individuals are always bound to fail.” Basing your arguments on H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah write an essay to qualify this assertion.

The keywords in the question above are Selfish and Fail.

Discuss about an individual who shows concern only for himself and not the needs of others. Support this claim with relevant illustrations from the text. (What actions show that the character is selfish?) After that, demonstrate how this selfishness leads to the character’s ultimate failure.

In the questions above, the moral values of determination (virtue) and selfishness (vice) are highlighted.

What is the Episodic Approach and how useful is it in the analysis of Blossoms of the Savannah?

This is whereby a text is divided into smaller parts of important events that help to build the plot and highlight the thematic concerns. It helps the learners to master the plot, understand the characters, identify the themes and appreciate the language use.

Since English 101/3 is mainly concerned with moral values and the candidates’ ability to communicate in writing, this is the best approach to use when handling 101/3 set books.

HOW TO IDENTIFY EPISODES IN A TEXT

a)      What is the EVENT?

b)      Who are the CHARACTERS involved?

c)      What ACTIONS or ACTIVITIES are they involved in?

d)     How do the characters REACT to those events?

e)      What is the MORAL LESSON in that episode?

EPISODES IN BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH

Click here to see episodes in Blossoms of the Savannah

 

SAMPLE ESSAY QUESTION FROM BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH

“Our greatest enemies are those close to us.” Basing your arguments on H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah write an essay to qualify this assertion.

Show how a character causes harm, threatens, attacks or betrays their friends, close family members or other relations.  For instance, Mama Milanoi betrays her own daughters Taiyo and Resian. She fails to speak up when her husband schemes with Oloisudori to have Resian circumcised and married off to him forcefully. Although she is privy to the obnoxious plan she looks the other way. She also conspires with the three women to deceive Taiyo and have her abducted and savagely circumcised in Esoit, 5 kilometres away from Nasila.  

How to earn maximum marks using the Episodic Approach

1.      Character involved in the event

2.      The situation the character is in.

3.      Background – The events that lead to the situation  

4.      Activities/actions that take place (include the character in question and other characters)

5.      Reaction- drawn from the action. What you as the reader/other characters in the text feel about the character’s actions.

6.      Virtues/Vices

7.      Outcome- The character’s action leads to certain outcome-reward or punishment. 

 

Example using a sample essay

Example 1

“Determination leads to victory.” Citing illustrations from Blossoms of the Savannah, write an essay to validate this statement. (20 Marks)

Character: Resian

Situation: Ole Kaelo, her father, plans to have married to Oloisudori after she is circumcised against her will yet she has ambitions of joining Egerton University.

Background: When Ole Kaelo relocates to Nasila from Nakuru after he gets retrenched, he gets immense financial support and good will from a cunning extortionist known as Oloisudori. Oloisudori later falls in love with Resian and demands to have her circumcised and to marry her. He uses his financial ability to arm twist Ole Kaelo who is sucked in by Oloisudori’s trap.

Activities/actions: Oloisudori tries to woo Resian with gifts including a golden brooch, bracelet and ring. Resian declines his offer and returns the gifts because she has her eyes firmly fixed on her ambition. She defies her father and escapes from the village albeit in a harrowing way.  She endures a distressing journey to Inkiito after fleeing Nasila (*the determination).

Reaction: Resian is assertive and determined/resolute

Virtues/Vices: We acquire the value of determination. Determination pays off.

Outcome: She meets Emakererei who helps her achieve her dream; enrolling at Egerton University (*the victory)

Example 2

“Our greatest enemies are those close to us.” Basing your arguments on H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah write an essay to qualify this assertion.

Character: Olarinkoi

Situation: Plans to marry Resian to fulfill his mother enkoiboni’s prophecy.

.

Background: Ole Kaelo relocates from Nakuru to Nasila. Olarinkoi moves to his home and lives with the family with an ulterior view of deceiving Resian and eloping with her to his village Inkiito to have her circumcised as a wife. Before he executes his plan, he wins Resian’s trust by recuing Taiyo and her when Ntara and Lante tried to rape them.

Activities/actions: He deceives Resian, kidnaps her and takes her to his village Inkiito. He plans to have her circumcised, to marry her and to move to Tanzania to hide with her. He attempts to rape Resian and also attacks her causing severe grievous bodily harm.

Reaction: Olarinkoi is a pretentious brute who takes advantage of Resian’s vulnerability.

Virtues/Vices: Traitorous individuals always fail in their endeavors.

Outcome: Olarinkoi terribly fails in his bid to circumcise and marry Resian since she manages to escape with the help of Nabaru.

He is punished for this vice.

The above outline should guide learners on how to develop the points in a Blossoms of the Savannah essay. However, the points should be written in continuous prose.

THE FORM OF THE ESSAY

A KCSE essay on Blossoms of the Savannah comprises 3 distinct parts.

1.                 Introduction

2.                 Body 

3.                 Conclusion 

Let's delve into the procedure of writing the essay. 

INTRODUCTION 

·        We begin with how to write the introduction  

What to do; 

1.                 Write it within the first paragraph of your essay 

2.                 Demonstrate your understanding of the question 

3.                 Paraphrase

4.                 Capture both sides of the question since it has two parts. 

5.                 Cite 2 examples you intend to discuss. 

6.                 Be brief. 

What to avoid; 

1.                 Avoid definition of terms 

2.                 Avoid simply rewriting the question as it is 

BODY 

What to do;

1.                 Write at least four, well-illustrated points. 

2.                 Each point falls on a separate paragraph 

3.                 Strive to answer the question on the first line of each paragraph. 

4.                 Capture both sides of the question when developing your point

5.                 Support each point with specific illustrations from the text. 

6.                 Write in prose. 

What to avoid; 

1.                 Narrating the events as they are in the book.

2.                 Headings/subheadings 

3.                 Writing irrelevant stuff.

CONCLUSION 

What to do; 

1.                 Simply sum up your discussion (you may use a relevant proverb)

2.                 Introduce your conclusion with phrases such as in conclusion, in brief, to sum up et cetera. 

3.                 Must fall on the last paragraph. 

What to avoid; 

1.                 Introducing new points 

2.                 Preaching morality/ giving moral lessons 

NOTE:

§  Your essay should not exceed 450 words; otherwise you risk losing two marks.

§  Write your essay in simple present tense. (Ole Kaelo betrays Resian NOT Ole Kaelo betrayed Resian)

SAMPLE ESSAY ON BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH

“Our greatest enemies are those close to us.” Basing your argument on H.E Ole Kulet’s Blossoms of the Savannah write an essay to qualify this assertion.

Click here to read full essay.

NEXT : Themes in Blossoms of the Savannah 

Attempt these Blossoms of the Savannah Study Questions for KCSE learners and have a look at these KCSE LITERATURE ESSAY QUESTIONS based on Blossoms of the Savannah. 

Do you know this secret method to hack Literature Paper 3 essay questions? Click here . 

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