KCSE English paper one Oral Poetry

English Oral poetry questions and answers for KCSE 

KCSE English paper one 2019

 Study the poem below and then answer the questions that follow.

    A stooped old man and a young man

    Chanced to meet one day

    The young one said to the elder

    In this usual braggart way,

    “Why don’t you walk up straight like me?

     That’s no way to grow old;

     It’s all a form a form of habit;

     At least that’s what am told.” 

The old man gave him a knowing look, 

And said “My dear young friend 

have you ever examined your wheat field, 

And noticed the heads that bend? 

If not, just look them over

As harvest time draws nigh,

You’ll find that the heads that are empty 

Are standing tall and high

But the heads that count in the harvest

Are filled and bending low, 

Awaiting the reaper's sickle;

Their time is short, they know.”

And as the young man passed on by, 

He slowly bowed his head

No doubt he pondered many a day

On the things that the old man said

 

From How to Teach Poetry by Amy Z. Davis and Florence Stratton. Heineman Edu Books, 1984

 

I.Identify two features of oral song in this poem. (4mks)

Striking imagery. To create mental pictures in the mind of the audience. The old man compares old people to ripe wheat heads that are ready for harvest and young people to straight wheat heads that are empty and not ready for harvest. 

Rhetorical questions that help engage the audience in thinking critically about the message in the poem. 

“Have you ever examined your wheat field and noticed the heads that bend?”

Rhyme to create rhythm/musicality and make the song memorable and interesting 

"Day, way;

old, told;

friend, bend." 

 

   II.        Identify any two words that you would stress in the second line of the last stanza. Explain your answer. (3mks)

Slowly bowed

I would stress the words slowly bowed to show how the young man is embarrassed after mocking the old man. He reflects on the wise words of the old man. 

 III.        How would you perform the fifth line of the first stanza? 

I would say it with a contemptuous tone. 

I would raise my voice to show bravado and contempt. 

I would shrug my shoulders to show youthful pride. 

I would point at the audience when I say “you”

I would say it with a falling intonation to express confidence or lack of respect. 

 

KCSE English paper one 2017

Read the song below and then answer the questions that follow. 

 

Maize has a market

Sorghum has a market 

Maize has a market 

What about my children? 

My children’s market is the graveyard 

What about my children?

My children's market is the graveyard

You are a backbiter 

You are a witch 

You are a gossip

My children 

You will kill them because of jealousy 

My children 

You will kill them because of jealousy

 

Adopted from Magomoro. Portrait of an African village (1987). Landeg White, Cambridge University press 1987

 

I.With an illustration in each case, identify any three features that contribute to the oral nature of the song. (6mks) 

Repetition. Some words and phrases have been repeated to create musicality and emphasize the message in the song. The phrase “maize has a market” and “what about my children?” and the word “you” are repeated. 

Direct address for immediacy of expression for the audience to get the intended message. The song ridicules jealous people.  

“You are a backbiter”

“You are a witch” 

Rhetorical questions to make the audience think critically “What about my children?”. The question hits the recipient hard. The jealous person should think about his or her vices against the children.

 

   II.        Briefly explain why the word “you” should be stressed while performing the song.

 

The word “you” should be stressed to express the scorn or criticism. The audience should feel and empathize with the performer. Due to the direct address, the intended recipient gets the message clearly. 

 

KCSE English paper one 2011

Read the following poem and then answer the questions that follow. 

Lazy bones, let’s go to the farm

    Sorry, I’ve got a headache 

Lazy bones, let’s go pounding grains

    Sorry, my leg isn’t right

Lazy bones, let’s go to fetch firewood

     Sorry, my hands are hurting 

Lazy bones, come and have some food

    Hold on, let me wash my hands

 

(From Oral Poetry from Africa. Compiled by Mapanje and White. Longhorn group, U.K.) 

 

I.How would you say lazybones’ response in stanza 2,4 and 6. Give reasons for your answer? (3mks)

I would say it in a low, sarcastic voice to mock lazy bones who pretends to be hurting. 

I would wear a grimace to express lazybones’ pain. 

(say what you would do and why you would do; verbal and nonverbal cues) 

 

   II.        If you were performing this poem, how would you say the last line? 

I would say it in a line excited voice to express eagerness and change of heart on lazybones’ side. 

I would say it with a broad smile to show how lazybones is delighted to eat but not work. 

(give verbal and nonverbal aspects of performance and explain their function in aiding the performance in relation to the meaning/intended message of the poem) 

 

 III.        Provide another word that has the same pronunciation as each of the following words. 

Some Sum

Right Rite/Write

Come Cum 

 

KCSE English paper one 2009

Read the following oral chant and then answer the questions that follow 

 

Rain Making Litany

   (Reciter)                                                                                      (Responders)

We overcome this wind                                                                   We overcome

We desire the rain to fall and that it may poured in showers

Quickly

Ah! True rain, I adjure three falls, if though rainiest, it is well it’s well

A drizzling confusion                                                                          Confusion

If it rains and our food ripens, it is well.                                                It is well

If the children rejoice, it is well.                                                             It is well

If the young men sing, it is well.                                                            It is well

If our women rejoice,                                                                             It is well

If our women rejoice.                                                                             It is well

If our children rejoice,                                                                            It is well

If the young men sing,                                                                           It is well

If the aged rejoice,                                                                                 It is well

Am overflowing in the granary,                                                         Overflowing

May our grain fill the granaries                                                            May it fill

A torrent in overflow,                                                                           A torrent 

If the wind veers to the south, it is well.                                                 It is well

If the rain veers to the south, it is well.                                                 It is well

 

I.Identify three aspects of oral performance that make this chant easy to remember 

Repetition of phrases makes it easy to remember e.g. The phrases ‘if our children rejoice’ and ‘it is well’ are repeated. 

The refrain by the chorus reinforces the message making the poem memorable. 

The involvement of the audience through the refrain makes them own the chant. This makes it interesting and easy to remember 

It is simple. It has short lines that can be chanted and remembered easily. This gives the chant universal appeal 

It is all encompassing; it involves all people including women and children and therefore memorable 

 

       II.    In what ways would this chant be made interesting to listen to? (3mks) 

Varying the tone appropriately for example raising your voice when you say “if our women rejoice” to show the joy. Change the voice to show how men, women and Children rejoice

By wearing a glad face with a broad smile when you say “an overflowing in the granary” to show gladness for the bumper harvest. 

Involving the audience in echoing the refrains, dancing and gestures to kill monotony 

Appropriate costume to spice up the performance 

Use of musical instruments e.g. drums to add musicality and rhythm. 

Appropriate gestures like raising your hands in prayer when saying “may our grains fill the granary”

 

     III.     What preparations do you think the narrator would make to ensure the audience Listen to and participate in the chant? (4mks)

 

Prepare part of the audience to know how to respond 

Gathering attractive and appropriate costumes

Rehearsal before a mock audience in order to gain confidence and correct any possible errors. 

Mastering the content of the chant. 

Collecting required instrument in advance 

Ensuring the venue is devoid of external interference 

Consulting on expert on the right thing to be done. 

  Next we analyse oral skills notes on negotiation skills

Notes on KCSE English paper 3 essay questions and answers

Which oral poetry questions do you expect?