I FEP Practical Exams

Department of Media Studies

Christ College (Autonomous)

Bangalore

IFEP

Writing Skills

Practical Exam

22 March 2007

9 am to 12.30 pm

Batch I

06D3001- 06D3039

01 pm to 04.30 pm

Batch II

06D3040 – 06D3077

Australian Literature and the Canadian Comparison

I would not be making any posts on "Australian Literature and the Canadian Comparison", as mentioned in the class. However, you may make your posts on this essays on my blog to which I shall respond. You may also share your class notes there, to which also I shall respond.

PostColonial Scramble - Steven Slemon

I would not be making any posts on 'The Postcolonial Scramble" as mentioned in the class. However, you may make your posts on the essays here to which I shall respond. You may also share your class notes there, to which also I shall respond.Publish

'Come Thunder' - Christopher Okigbo

Come Thunder

Christopher Okigbo

The Poet and the Background

A Nigerian poet Christopher Okigbo is an important voice in post-colonial literature as well as twentieth century literature. He has been referred to as an outstanding postcolonial English-language African poet and one of the major modernist writers of the twentieth century. His poetry has a strong influence of modernist European and American poetry, African tribal mythology, and Nigerian music and rhythms. Like most African litterateur, Christopher Okigbo was also a poet activist. Okigbo spent the best years of his life tormenting over the problems within his society and trying to solve them. Through his poetry, he tried to convey his visions of Nigerian society.

Some of the recurring images in Okigbo's poems are dance, thunder, and sound of drums. One can find all these in ‘Come Thunder’ as well. One can also see a vision of a spiritual quest, in his poem/s which takes the poet to the realm of ancient myths and to his spiritual self. Okigbo uses repetition, songlike rhythm and melodious flow of words.

He is also called the poet of destiny

He follows the romantic notion of poetry in that he believes that the poet "is no ordinary mortal but a divinely inspired artist, a possessed performer through whom hidden truths of the spirit are revealed and through whose influence mankind undergoes regeneration and spiritual rebirth. The poet, in the romantic tradition, functions severally as priest, prophet, and legislator for mankind, as a man speaking to other men with a voice of moral authority strengthened by heightened sensibility. He is a man imbued with an understanding and suffering soul, a kind of a god."

His poems also gain importance as prophecy and warning to Nigerians and the misrulers of Nigeria against continued national misdirection.

To understand Okigbo better one needs to locate the poet squarely with all communalistic traditional African poetics, in which aesthetics and social functionality are coordinate components of art. He totally identified with the Nigerian people. Okigbo's project included a sustained critical introspection, and his indignation, a militancy, despair, and ultimate martyrdom do not constitute a pessimistic closure.

The poems which are cut up, divided, brief in their sections, impress from line to line. Structure of his poems also is significant. Lines are repeated and varied throughout several of the poem-sequences.

The poem

The characteristic so Okigbo’s poems discussed in the background section hold good in the case of ‘Come Thunder’ too. The style, tone, and techniques used are much like those found in modernist poets. But the rhythm is essentially non-English. Abundant use of plosive sounds, in words and lines give a pattern to the poem. All this give the poem onomatopoeic effect which is in tune with the main motif of the poem – thunder.

The language is prophetic. It prophesies what is to come. There is warning given perhaps to the rulers of the impending changes or revolution. The revolution that seems to be suggested is one that will make the entire society tremble. The impending revolution should be seen in the backdrop of Nigerian (?) civil war.

One can notice a lot of juxtapositions. To understand the poem read it aloud.

I am aware that I have not substantiated my points with quotations from the poem. I leave t hem to you to do. You may comment here on the poem or on my post I shall respond to all your comments. I do it order to make it interactive and allow you to explore the poem. This is my reading of the poem. You may challenge it.

Try and see how this is a postcolonial poem? How it incorporates some of the issues I mentioned in the section on background.

Reference:

“Christopher Okigbo (1932-1967).” 2000. 19 Mar. 2007 <http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/okigbo.htm>

“Christopher Okigbo: The Fallen Bard.” 19 Mar. 2007

“Christopher Okigbo.” 10 March 2007. 19 Mar. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Okigbo>

“The Complete Review's Review Complete Review.” 2005. 19 Mar. 2007

Communicative English Syllabus from June 2007

ISem
Introduction to Mass Communication
Computer and Communication

II Sem
Applied Phonetics & Communication Skills
Introduction to Writing Skills

III Sem
Writing for the Media – Print
Creative Writing

IV Sem
Broadcasting Media – Radio
Basic Photography

V Sem
Media laws and Ethics
Films and Television

VI Sem
Advertising
Public Relations

Philosophers' pose!

Group photo taken after the last Certificate course in Philosophy Class on 10 March 2007 at Christ College Bangalore. The two-month long course had 36 participants enthusiastically participating. Prof Sundar Sarukkai of National institute of Advanced Studies, (NIAS) was the course instructor.

II Opt Eng essays

I had promised to make postings on two of the essays and also a poem if it's not dealt with in the class. Since my copy of the essays is in the college, I am unable to get make a post. Will do it may be tomorrow or within a few days.

Tomorrows workshop cancelled

I had expressed my desire to have a workshop on the Writing skill paper and the classes we had. But, since you have practical exam on Tuesday, I do not wish that you come here and spend your precious time. Once you come, even for a short time, your entire day is wasted.
Please tell all your other classmates calling or smsing that tomorrow s proposed workshop is cancelled.

We will have the workshop in the beginning of the next academic year

All the best for your exams.

FEP

Communicative English Paper IV

Introduction to Writing Skills

MINOR THESIS EVALUATION

Viva 10 + Thesis 15 = 25

Viva

Viva will try to understand the genuineness of the student work and the learning outcome by posing questions on

1. The research method

2. Analysis

3. Understanding of the conclusions drawn

Thesis

Thesis will be evaluated by Felix and Anil which will be then be ratified by the external examiners based on the viva and the re-examination of the thesis.

Thesis Evaluation criteria:

1. Content : Presentation Analysis of the research issue and conclusion

2. Understanding of research report format

3. Language: Grammar, spelling, punctuation, style

For clarification please contact Anil Pinto or Felix