Nelson Mandela - Long Walk To Freedom
Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:
(i) On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?
The repetition is a literary device that repeats the same words or phrases to emphasize a concept. Here, in the poem the repetition of 'quiet' is used to emphasize the tiger's helpless silence. ‘Velvet quiet’ refers to the quiet velvet pads of the tiger, which cannot run or leap. They can only walk around the limited space in the cage. It also gives prominence to the rage that is building inside the tiger. The tiger wants to wander in the wild but he has to walk with quiet steps in his little cage unwillingly. The poet has repeated 'brilliant' to bring into notice the tiger's aspiration for freedom. As we know, a tiger's eyes are shining and glowing. With those shining eyes, he keeps staring at the shining stars and wishes to free like them. As the stars are inhabiting a place which is their natural home, the tiger also wants to wander around in the forest because that is the place where he belongs to.
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What does courage mean to Mandela?
Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
What “twin obligations” does Mandela mention?
What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How does he contrast these “transitory freedoms” with “the basic and honourable freedoms”?
Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him?
Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?
How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life?
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