2024 WAEC Literature OBJ (Prose, Drama & Poetry) Questions and Answers

2024 WAEC Literature in English Exam Questions and Answers (Prose, Drama, and Poetry): Study Guide for WASSCE School Candidates

Get WAEC May/June 2024 Literature in English questions and answers, covering Prose, Objective, Drama, and Poetry. This study resource is designed to help school candidates prepare thoroughly for the WAEC May/June Literature in English exam scheduled for May 2024

WAEC Literature in English Subscription plan:

Friday, 17th May 2024

Literature-In-English 2 (Prose) 9:30am – 10:45am

Literature-In-English 1 (Objective) 10:45am – 11:45am

Friday, 24th May 2024

Literature-In-English 3(Drama & Poetry) 3:30pm – 6:00pm

A. 2024 WAEC LITERATURE IN ENGLISH 3 (DRAMA AND POETRY) ANSWERS: 

Number 1, Version 1

In Second Class Citizen, conflict is revealed through the troubled marriage between Adah and Francis, showing a relationship driven by self-interest rather than mutual love. Adah works hard to support her family, while Francis exploits her efforts without contributing.

Adah’s dissatisfaction with her mother’s remarriage after her father’s death increases her sense of duty to support her family. She dreams of marrying a wealthy man who would care for her mother and brother. However, the suitors she meets are much older, and she refuses to marry into a relationship where she would be treated as a servant. In Adah’s Ibuza community, marriage is seen as a master-servant dynamic, with the woman expected to bear and care for children without much support from the father. This belief also discourages girls’ education, labeling educated women as arrogant. Adah’s family initially keeps her out of school, while her brother, Boy, is allowed to attend.

Despite societal challenges, Adah marries Francis, a student hoping to become an accountant. Francis cannot afford the high bride price Adah’s family demands due to her education, resulting in their absence at the wedding.

Although there might have been some love between Adah and Francis, Francis’s actions reveal a one-sided relationship. Adah’s hard work and income sustain the marriage, as Francis refuses to seek employment. He often writes home about issues he could resolve with Adah, such as her family planning decisions.

Francis views Adah as a subordinate, expecting her to fulfill traditional gender roles. He dismisses her desire to become a writer, fearing his family’s disapproval. Despite her significant contributions, Adah faces abuse, neglect, and disrespect. Francis eventually disowns their children, leaving Adah to fend for them alone. Adah, determined and resilient, vows never to let her children down, embracing her role as their sole provider.

This narrative illustrates conflict within a marriage shaped by gender inequality, societal expectations, and the struggle for self-respect within oppressive norms.

Number 1, Version 2

In Second Class Citizen, conflict is portrayed through the challenging marriage between Adah and Francis. Their relationship is characterized by selfishness rather than mutual care. Adah is motivated by a desire to work and support her family, while Francis seeks to benefit from her efforts without contributing.

Adah feels a strong responsibility to support her family after being disappointed by her mother’s remarriage following her father’s death. She dreams of marrying a wealthy man to provide for her family but faces challenges due to cultural norms in her community, which sees marriage as a relationship where the woman serves the man. This belief also undervalues the education of girls, which leads to Adah being kept out of school initially while her brother, Boy, is enrolled.

Adah eventually marries Francis, who is studying to become an accountant but cannot afford the bride price her family demands. This leads to a lack of support from her family during the marriage.

Though there might be some affection between them, Francis’s actions reveal a relationship that benefits only him. Adah’s dedication and income sustain the marriage as Francis avoids work. He writes home to his parents over issues he could resolve with Adah, such as her use of family planning without his consent.

Francis views Adah as a second-class individual, expecting her to perform traditional duties without question. He dismisses her aspirations of becoming a writer. Despite being the main provider, Adah faces mistreatment and neglect. Francis eventually rejects their children in court, showing no interest in their upbringing. Adah resolves to care for her children alone, determined to provide them a better life despite Francis’s abandonment.

This narrative highlights the struggles of a flawed marriage and addresses broader issues of societal expectations, gender roles, and personal dignity.

Number 4, Version 1

Nii’s rejection of Linda’s advances in Unexpected Joy at Dawn emphasizes his moral integrity, loyalty, and the pressures he faces. Linda persistently tries to persuade Nii to travel to Lagos with her, taking advantage of his struggles. Nii soon realizes her ulterior motives when she offers herself as a temptation, suggesting, “I will let you have me for free here and in Lagos, too… I know your wife is sick and has not been well for a long time.” This proposal shocks Nii, and he likens it to the biblical temptation of Joseph.

Linda’s desperation is revealed when she explains that she needs a British Visa to join her husband in London, something she believes she can achieve in Nigeria. She suggests that Nii pose as her husband to help her obtain the visa. This puts Nii in a difficult position, testing his loyalty to his ailing wife and his ethical boundaries.

Nii devises a plan to escape Linda’s offer, taking off his clothes and pretending to be drunk to trick the soldiers enforcing a curfew. His plan works, and the soldiers safely escort him home, saving him from Linda’s manipulative proposition. This act symbolizes his refusal to compromise his values.

Throughout this ordeal, Nii remains committed to his sick wife, resisting Linda’s advances despite his hardships. His actions illustrate his loyalty and moral strength, choosing to uphold his principles over seeking an easier path. Nii’s story is a testament to the power of ethical decision-making, showing the importance of personal integrity even in challenging situations.

Number 5, Version 1

The epilogue of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man serves as a deep reflection on the narrator’s journey and its broader implications. In this final section, the narrator’s time spent in the underground symbolizes his realization of his invisibility and society’s persistent refusal to see him as an individual.

A key aspect of the epilogue is the narrator’s self-reflection. He acknowledges that throughout his life, he has conformed to others’ expectations, losing his sense of self in the process. He realizes that his invisibility is not only about being unseen but about his failure to define himself outside the perceptions of others. This period of introspection allows him to understand the nature of his existence and the societal dynamics that shaped his experiences.

• WAEC Nov/Dec GCE Literature (Prose and Objective) 2024 – Second Series