Questions and Answers to The Dirge of the Warriors’ Widows Poem
Weakened and weeping, I remain among the ruins. Weakened and weeping, I remain amid trackless plains. Tell me, what is this place where I remain?
By my father’s name, with whom do I remain?
They dwindle, the people, the unworthy ones stay on. They dwindle, the people, unworthy one stay on. They dwindle, the people, with whom do we remain?
Weakened and weeping, I remain among the ruins. When the sun has sunk under the earth
I go to the door, I go stealthily and on tiptoe:
I imagine he is coming, I imagine he comes carefree from the hunt. They die, do the people, with whom do we remain?
They die, do the people, we remain among the ruins. They die, do the people, we remain amid trackless plains.
Questions and Answers on the Dirge of The Worriors' Widows
1. Classify the above oral poem giving reason. (2 marks)
Dirge – they die, do the people……
2. Who is the persona in this oral poem? (2 marks)
A mourner – weakened and weeping, I remain among the ruins.
3. Identify and illustrate one function of the above oral poem. (2marks)
To mourn those who have passed on – the persona is mourning the death of their loved ones.
4.Identify and illustrate any three features of style used in this oral poem. (6 marks)
Repetition – weakened and weeping (any other illustration)
Rhetorical questions - …. this place where I remain?
Direct translation - …with whom do we remain?
Parallelism – they die…
Circumlocution - …the sun has sunk under the earth. Alliteration – weakened and weeping
5. Describe the mood of the oral poem. (2marks)
Sombre/ sad/ melancholic – the persona is mourning the death of their loved ones
6. Give two ways in which the anxiety of the singer is brought out. (2marks)
He/she goes to the door stealthily and on tiptoe
I imagine he is coming …with whom do we remain?
7. Identify and illustrate one economic activity in this oral poem. ( 2marks)
Hunting – I imagine he comes carefree from the hunt.
8. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the oral poem. (2marks)
i) Dwindle - decrease/diminish/lessen
ii)stealthily - secretly