ASSIGNMENT 01: Poetry
Compulsory for examination admission
‘Higher Education’ – B. W. Vilakazi
Due date: [Will be announced on myModules]
Read the poem ‘Higher Education’ (available as an e-reserve on the library website)
before answering the questions that follow.
You must answer in full sentences, and you should support your answers by quoting
from the poem.
Note: You will notice that each question includes a mark allocation. This is to indicate
how muchyou should write to support your answer. One mark represents one main point
or reason. If a question counts four marks, that means that you will need to supply four
points or reasons.
Remember that you can use an example from a poem only once; you cannot use the
same example for each of your answers.
1. Refer to stanzas one to three.
1.1 In the first stanza, the speaker describes two contrasting experiences. Write two
sentences in which you explain the contrast. (2)
1.2 The second stanza gives a hint as to what may have caused the speaker to
experience this change. Write a sentence in which you explain in your own words what
the speaker means when he refers to “books / whose authors’ skins were white” (lines
8-9) and then write another sentence in which you give a reason as to why this may
cause him to feel discomfort. (2)
1.3 In the third stanza, the speaker presents a possible solution to the dilemma he is
facing. Identify and explain the imagery used to describe this solution. (3)
1.4 Is this attempt at a solution successful? Quote from the poem to support your
answer. (2)
Compulsory for examination admission
‘Higher Education’ – B. W. Vilakazi
Due date: [Will be announced on myModules]
Read the poem ‘Higher Education’ (available as an e-reserve on the library website)
before answering the questions that follow.
You must answer in full sentences, and you should support your answers by quoting
from the poem.
Note: You will notice that each question includes a mark allocation. This is to indicate
how muchyou should write to support your answer. One mark represents one main point
or reason. If a question counts four marks, that means that you will need to supply four
points or reasons.
Remember that you can use an example from a poem only once; you cannot use the
same example for each of your answers.
1. Refer to stanzas one to three.
1.1 In the first stanza, the speaker describes two contrasting experiences. Write two
sentences in which you explain the contrast. (2)
1.2 The second stanza gives a hint as to what may have caused the speaker to
experience this change. Write a sentence in which you explain in your own words what
the speaker means when he refers to “books / whose authors’ skins were white” (lines
8-9) and then write another sentence in which you give a reason as to why this may
cause him to feel discomfort. (2)
1.3 In the third stanza, the speaker presents a possible solution to the dilemma he is
facing. Identify and explain the imagery used to describe this solution. (3)
1.4 Is this attempt at a solution successful? Quote from the poem to support your
answer. (2)
