Excerpt Questions and Answers on The Samaritan by John Lara
The Samaritan Except 1
Read the following extract from the play “The Samaritan" by John Lara and then answer the questions after. (25 marks)
Seymour: (Springing to his feet with clenched fists) That cannot be possible. Nobody can write that kind of thing about me in this world!
Harvester: (Looking at Ted and Seymour) Copies of indisputable documentary evidence to that effect were all over today's newspapers and are being shared in all media platforms.
Seymour: (Resuming his seat and swearing with trembling voice) Those are fake documents!
These are all barefaced falsehoods! And I can assure you one thing: Those behind
the allegations now have their appointment with fate! Certainly!
Ted: (Sitting properly and looking up for the first time) Supply of air? I am beginning
to think this is serious. Could we end up in Baneta Express Prison?
Harvester: (Turning pages of his note book) But that is only one of the allegations ,there are many more including drug trafficking. grabbing of public land., inflation of the cost of municipal projects, use of proxies to secure municipal tenders, undertaking shoddy public works, murder and gang warfare. The information is very detailed on the people and companies involved.
Mossi: There is also a lot of personal information on municipal leaders on that evil thing, too; including lifestyles of individual municipal officials, where they
live, the kind of houses they live in, their businesses, the vehicles they own,
other properties in their possession, when the properties were acquired, and
a lot of other personal details I don't want to mention here. (Looking at Bembe)
There was a lot of talk yesterday on the Madingo Golf Chub, with everyone
Wondering where you got the money to put it up.
Bembe: (Sitting up with an expression of horror on his face) The Madingo Golf Club? No!
I have always been very discreet about my private affairs! How did they get the
Information it is mine?
Mossi: You see, there is hardly anything on earth you can do without somebody knowing about it. You should also remember that those we regard as our fiends are sometimes wolves in sheep's clothing, And they may have a lot of information about us,which could be damaging!
Bembe: This might be our worst nightmarel
Mossi: What worries me most is the recent formation of a lobby group, an amorphous
virtual group, comprising mostly of lawyers, calling itself The Samaritan. It is calling
upon the people to volunteer as witnesses and help in the prosecution of those
involved in corruption and abuse of office in the Municipality. They are also planning to petition the Local Government Minister ,the Prime Minister, and the Chief Justice to take action The situation is not pretty at all.
Ted: (Looking at Justice Jaden) Can such online allegations form a strong basis for prosecution and conviction?
Jaden: (Adjusting his eyeglasses) Yes, they can, provided there axe valid documents supporting the allegations.
Bembe: (Throwing his hands in the air) I think we have no choice other than ban that thing within Maracas Municipality! The Municipal Council needs to pass a by-law to that effect urgently. I will enforce it immediately!
Jaden: (Adjusting his eyeglasses and then his tie) I think we need to be careful and strategic on what basis do you ban it? And how can you police the use of mobile phones to ensure the ban is effective?
Seymour: We can think creatively about that. For example, we can claim that municipal authorities are concerned that suspect Apps, particularly spy Apps, are finding their way into our municipality. This may lead to theft of confidential information such as bank account details. We can also cite issues of cyber bullying and the sharing of pornographic materials in schools.
Question and answers on The Samaritan by John Lara except 1
a)What is Seymour referring to at the beginning of the excerpt ? (2marks)
Public outcry in the media (1mk)that companies are billing the Municipal council huge sums of money without rendering any services/supply of air (1mk)
b) ldentify and illustrate two aspects of style in this excerpt. (4marks)
i) Personification... Barefaced falsehoods
i)Metaphor......friends are wolves in sheep's clothing
iii) Allusion........ the Samaritan alludes to the parable of the good samaritan
c)Discuss two themes evident in this excerpt (4marks)
i)corruption ....... calling itself The Samaritan. It is calling upon the people to volunteer as witnesses and help in the prosecution of those involved in corruption and abuse of office in the Municipality."
ii)Role of media /suppression of media Copies of indisputable documentary evidence to that effect were all over today's newspapers and are being shared in all
media platforms".
iii)Misuse of power /suppression of media I think we have no choice other than ban that thing within Maracas Municipality! The Municipal Council needs to pass a by-law to that effect urgently. I will enforce it immediately
iv) Impunity “Nobody can write that lind of thing about me in this world!"
v) Bad governance poor leadership ..". allegations of drug trafficking,...gang warfare "
vi) fear... I am beginning to think this is serious.Could we end up in Baneta Express
Prison?"
d)Discuss one character trait of Seymour and one character trait of Mossi. (4marks)
i. Character traits of Seymour
1. arrogant/boastful...."no one can write such a thing about me ..."
2. cruel .. Swears with a trembling voice that those making allegations about him will have appointment with fate
ii) Character traits of Mossi
1. Cautious .wants to take action against Samaritan before damage is done
2. Realistic "...there is hardly .....
3. Well-informed .. knows more than others
e)From your knowledge of the rest of the play, what two things does Mossi suggest could be done to control the use of the Samaritan App? (2marks)
a) Circular to be issued banning use of the App unless authorized by the council
b)Use computer experts to mess up the App
f) From your knowledge of the rest of the play briefly explain the origin of the Samaritan APP (4marks)
i)inflation
It was developed by two students(1mark) Montano and Alvita (1mark) assisted by their teacher madam Nicole (1mark) and was the best in the secondary school innovation competition(1mark)
g)Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the excerpt (5marks)
i) Supply of air - supply nothing real but appear to be doing so on paper
ii) Inflation - rise in cost
iv) amorphous - vague/formless
iv) Discreet - careful/cautious/wary/guarded
v) petition - appeal/suit/request