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Difficulty: MediumTextual Analysis of Prescribed African Drama

Read the excerpt below from Wole Soyinka's prescribed African drama, Death and the King's Horseman:

"PRAISE-SINGER: They love to meander. Praise-singers the world over have no place for short cuts... The horseman of the King does not turn back to view the city he has left behind."

In the context of the play, what is the primary dramatic function of the Praise-Singer's utterances to Elesin Oba in this scene?

  1. To reinforce Elesin's ritual obligation while subtly probing his lingering earthly attachmentsAnswer
  2. B
    To express private inner thoughts directly to the audience without other characters hearing
  3. C
    To mock Elesin's hubris and celebrate his eventual refusal to perform the ritual suicide
  4. D
    To signal that the colonial administration has already halted the ancestral ceremony

Answer

The primary dramatic function of the Praise-Singer's utterances is to reinforce Elesin's ritual obligation while subtly probing his lingering earthly attachments.
The Praise-Singer serves as a vital ceremonial figure in Wole Soyinka's Death and the King's Horseman. His dialogue during the opening act serves to spur Elesin Oba toward fulfilling his ancestral mandate of ritual suicide while gently warning him that looking back—symbolizing attachment to physical pleasures—endangers the spiritual balance of the community.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the speaker and context of the dramatic excerpt
The Praise-Singer is chanting to Elesin Oba as he prepares for his ritual transition into the ancestral realm.
Understanding the character's role as communal memory and guide clarifies the purpose of the dialogue.
2
Examine the figurative meaning of 'does not turn back to view the city'
It serves as an admonition against allowing physical temptations or worldly pleasures to delay or derail his cosmic responsibility.
The imagery emphasizes total commitment to the ritual passage without hesitation.
3
Evaluate the choices against the text and thematic development
The correct interpretation captures both the supportive praise and the underlying warning regarding Elesin's tragic vulnerability.
Elesin's weakness for earthly pleasures is foreshadowed through the Praise-Singer's cautious reminders.

Key Concept

Dramatic dialogue and character function in prescribed African drama
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Topics

Textual Analysis of Prescribed African Drama

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