Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumAnalysis of Prescribed African Poems

Complete the statement regarding the allegorical symbolism in Kofi Awoonor's prescribed African poem *The Weaver Bird*.

Answer:In Kofi Awoonor's *The Weaver Bird*, the weaver bird functions as an allegorical representation of Western 【colonizers】, while the defiled old shrine represents the displacement of traditional African 【culture】.

Answer

The weaver bird symbolizes Western colonizers/imperialism, while the defiled old shrine symbolizes traditional African culture/heritage.
In Kofi Awoonor's *The Weaver Bird*, the weaver bird allegorically represents Western colonizers (or imperialism) who arrived peacefully but gradually took over native territory. The defiled 'old shrine' symbolizes the erosion and displacement of traditional African culture and heritage under colonial rule.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary allegorical figure in Kofi Awoonor's poem *The Weaver Bird*.
The weaver bird represents European colonizers or Western imperialism entering the African continent under the pretext of harmony.
The poem uses the bird's aggressive nesting habits to mirror colonial intrusion and territorial expansion.
2
Determine what the defiled 'old shrine' represents in the context of the poem.
The old shrine represents indigenous African culture, customs, and ancestral traditions.
In African literature, sacred shrines symbolize cultural identity and religious heritage, which were alienated and polluted by foreign dominance.

Key Concept

Allegorical Symbolism in African Poetry
Rate this question

Topics

Analysis of Prescribed African Poems

More questions from this topic