Why did Mandela say that it was almost impossible for a man of his race to fulfil both of those obligations in a country like South Africa?

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?

I. There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed from the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing -(at)ion or ment. There may be a change in the spelling of some verb – noun pairs: such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.

1. Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text.