ENGLISH FAL P2
SHORT STORY GUIDE FOR GRADE 12
This guide was created to assist and facilitate Grade 12, English
First Additional Language learners with their prescribed short
stories, necessary for Paper 2. This guide should be used in
conjunction with other notes and a full-analysis of each
respective story and is NOT an end all be all cheat code to passing
exams or studying. Leaners should still thoroughly read and
analyse each story while using their own discretion.
This guide includes summaries for the following short
stories:
1.Forbidden Love by Can Themba
2.Rejection by Mariama Ba
3.Eveline by James Joyce
4.A Bag of Sweets by Agnes Sam
5.Class Act by Namhla Tshisana
6.The Wind and a Boy by Bessie Head
7.The Girl who can by Ama Ata Aidoo
8.Triumph in the face of adversity by Kedibone Seku
,FORBIDDEN LOVE by Can Themba
Title
Forbidden Love
Author
Can Themba
Setting
The height of apartheid in the
Western townships of Johannesburg,
in the Sophiatown and Noordgesig
area. It is told via an omniscient
narrator’s POV, sharing his personal
experience with apartheid laws.
Summary
Michael is black and Dora is coloured.
The two lovers are eventually
exposed when Dora’s little brother,
Bobby, is told at school that his
sister is in a relationship with a
“native.” A fight quickly follows after
Meneer Carelse (the history teacher),
who is in love with Dora, finds out. He
tries to convince the principal that
her family must be told, against the
principal’s wishes, he tells the whole
community.
, KEY TEXT DETAILS
Forbidden Love refers to a romantic relationship between
two individuals which is not approved due to religious,
cultural and political differences and laws. Dora and
Title
Michael’s relationship is highly discouraged by the
coloured people of Noordgesig.
FEAR
Dora’s family lives their lives in fear, they do not want
anything to do with black people in the area.
Their peers’ actions and beliefs makes them believe that
black South Africans are beneath them.
HYPOCRISY
Davie has a relationship with Salome, a black woman,
and a child was born.
Themes Ironically, Davie still considers it appropriate to beat
Mike up due to his relationship with Dora.
This suggests that David, as well as many others in the
community, are hypocritical.
APARTHEID
The people of Noordgesig (coloureds), refer to black
people as natives.
The author uses the fact that black people are not
allowed into the cinema, as an example of apartheid.
EXPOSITION
Two lovers from different racial backgrounds. They hide in
the tall grass due to prohibitions on mixed relationships
during apartheid.
RISING ACTION
Dora’s brother, Davie, along with a few of his friends seek
to find Michael. They meet up at the Rhythmic Cinema and
beat him up. Dora tries to stop them but does not
Plot succeed. The other African boys run away and Michael and
Dora are left by themselves with the angry crowd of
coloured boys.
CLIMAX
Salome tries to end the issue after she hears about the
beating. When Michael is healed, Salome reveals the truth
that Davie is actually the father of her child. Salome
present love letters that Davie wrote to her as evidence.
Both families are left shocked and with disapproval.
, RESOLUTION
Michael and Dora are no longer living in fear and the
feeling of rivalry and fear has subsided.
Dora Randolph
Loving and caring. Overprotective of her younger sister,
Louisa. She takes care of her lover, Michael, after the
beating. She is ashamed of how her family and community
treats their black counterparts. She does not give up her
relationship with Michael, suggesting persistence.
Michael Chabakeng
Considerate and chooses his words carefully when
speaking with Dora and her family. Shows concern over his
sister, Salome, and the identity of her child’s father. He is
humble and caring, he treats Dora and her family well.
Mr van Vuuren
He is racist and passionately shows hatred towards black
people.
Characters Louisa
Dora’s younger sister. She has a darker complexion than
the rest of her family. She does not want to be associated
with black people.
Meneer Carelse
Bitter and driven by bitterness. He informs everyone about
Dora and Michael’s relationship.
Davie
A hypocrite. He shares a son with Salome. He lives in fear
of being exposed as the father of the child. He beats up
Michael for having a relationship with Dora, his sister.
Salome
She is brave and strong. She is Michael’s sister. She
chooses to expose her relationship with Davie, despite the
repercussions.
SHORT STORY GUIDE FOR GRADE 12
This guide was created to assist and facilitate Grade 12, English
First Additional Language learners with their prescribed short
stories, necessary for Paper 2. This guide should be used in
conjunction with other notes and a full-analysis of each
respective story and is NOT an end all be all cheat code to passing
exams or studying. Leaners should still thoroughly read and
analyse each story while using their own discretion.
This guide includes summaries for the following short
stories:
1.Forbidden Love by Can Themba
2.Rejection by Mariama Ba
3.Eveline by James Joyce
4.A Bag of Sweets by Agnes Sam
5.Class Act by Namhla Tshisana
6.The Wind and a Boy by Bessie Head
7.The Girl who can by Ama Ata Aidoo
8.Triumph in the face of adversity by Kedibone Seku
,FORBIDDEN LOVE by Can Themba
Title
Forbidden Love
Author
Can Themba
Setting
The height of apartheid in the
Western townships of Johannesburg,
in the Sophiatown and Noordgesig
area. It is told via an omniscient
narrator’s POV, sharing his personal
experience with apartheid laws.
Summary
Michael is black and Dora is coloured.
The two lovers are eventually
exposed when Dora’s little brother,
Bobby, is told at school that his
sister is in a relationship with a
“native.” A fight quickly follows after
Meneer Carelse (the history teacher),
who is in love with Dora, finds out. He
tries to convince the principal that
her family must be told, against the
principal’s wishes, he tells the whole
community.
, KEY TEXT DETAILS
Forbidden Love refers to a romantic relationship between
two individuals which is not approved due to religious,
cultural and political differences and laws. Dora and
Title
Michael’s relationship is highly discouraged by the
coloured people of Noordgesig.
FEAR
Dora’s family lives their lives in fear, they do not want
anything to do with black people in the area.
Their peers’ actions and beliefs makes them believe that
black South Africans are beneath them.
HYPOCRISY
Davie has a relationship with Salome, a black woman,
and a child was born.
Themes Ironically, Davie still considers it appropriate to beat
Mike up due to his relationship with Dora.
This suggests that David, as well as many others in the
community, are hypocritical.
APARTHEID
The people of Noordgesig (coloureds), refer to black
people as natives.
The author uses the fact that black people are not
allowed into the cinema, as an example of apartheid.
EXPOSITION
Two lovers from different racial backgrounds. They hide in
the tall grass due to prohibitions on mixed relationships
during apartheid.
RISING ACTION
Dora’s brother, Davie, along with a few of his friends seek
to find Michael. They meet up at the Rhythmic Cinema and
beat him up. Dora tries to stop them but does not
Plot succeed. The other African boys run away and Michael and
Dora are left by themselves with the angry crowd of
coloured boys.
CLIMAX
Salome tries to end the issue after she hears about the
beating. When Michael is healed, Salome reveals the truth
that Davie is actually the father of her child. Salome
present love letters that Davie wrote to her as evidence.
Both families are left shocked and with disapproval.
, RESOLUTION
Michael and Dora are no longer living in fear and the
feeling of rivalry and fear has subsided.
Dora Randolph
Loving and caring. Overprotective of her younger sister,
Louisa. She takes care of her lover, Michael, after the
beating. She is ashamed of how her family and community
treats their black counterparts. She does not give up her
relationship with Michael, suggesting persistence.
Michael Chabakeng
Considerate and chooses his words carefully when
speaking with Dora and her family. Shows concern over his
sister, Salome, and the identity of her child’s father. He is
humble and caring, he treats Dora and her family well.
Mr van Vuuren
He is racist and passionately shows hatred towards black
people.
Characters Louisa
Dora’s younger sister. She has a darker complexion than
the rest of her family. She does not want to be associated
with black people.
Meneer Carelse
Bitter and driven by bitterness. He informs everyone about
Dora and Michael’s relationship.
Davie
A hypocrite. He shares a son with Salome. He lives in fear
of being exposed as the father of the child. He beats up
Michael for having a relationship with Dora, his sister.
Salome
She is brave and strong. She is Michael’s sister. She
chooses to expose her relationship with Davie, despite the
repercussions.
