Before You Read & Activity
Which country had apartheid until very recently?
South Africa had the apartheid system until very recently.
Activity: Match the expressions with their meanings
| Expression |
Meaning |
| A rainbow gathering of different colours and nations |
A beautiful coming together of various peoples, like the colours in a rainbow |
| The seat of white supremacy |
The centre of racial superiority |
| Be overwhelmed with a sense of history |
Feel deeply emotional, remembering and understanding all the past events that have led up to the moment |
| Resilience that defies the imagination |
A great ability (almost unimaginable) to remain unchanged by suffering |
| A glimmer of humanity |
A sign of human feeling (goodness, kindness, pity, justice, etc.) |
| A twilight existence |
A half-secret life, like a life lived in the fading light between sunset and darkness |
Oral Comprehension Check - Part 1
1. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
The ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in Pretoria. In India, the Red Fort and Rashtrapati Bhavan are made of sandstone.
2. Can you say how 10 May is an 'autumn day' in South Africa?
10 May is an autumn day in South Africa because South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, where May falls during the autumn season.
3. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions "an extraordinary human disaster". What does he mean by this? What is the "glorious ... human achievement" he speaks of at the end?
The "extraordinary human disaster" refers to the apartheid system that lasted for decades. The "glorious human achievement" is the establishment of South Africa's first democratic, non-racial government.
4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?
Mandela thanks the international leaders for coming to witness South Africa's inauguration ceremony and for supporting the common victory for justice, peace, and human dignity.
5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
He sets out ideals of liberating people from poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender discrimination, and other forms of discrimination, and ensuring that never again would South Africa experience oppression of one by another.
Oral Comprehension Check - Part 2
1. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
The military generals salute Mandela and pledge their loyalty. Their attitude has changed because they now respect the democratically elected government, whereas before they would have arrested him.
2. Why were two national anthems sung?
Two national anthems were sung to symbolize the unity of both black and white South Africans in the new democratic nation.
3. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in the first decade, and (ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century?
(i) In the first decade: A system of racial domination, one of the harshest and most inhumane societies. (ii) In the final decade: A system that recognized the rights and freedoms of all peoples regardless of skin color.
4. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Courage to Mandela means not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
5. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
He thinks that love is more natural to the human heart than hate, as people must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.
Oral Comprehension Check - Part 3
1. What "twin obligations" does Mandela mention?
Mandela mentions obligations to one's family (parents, wife, children) and obligations to one's people, community, and country.
2. 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"?
As a boy: Freedom to run in fields, swim, roast mealies. As a student: Freedom to stay out at night, read what he pleased. These were "transitory freedoms" compared to the "basic and honourable freedoms" of achieving potential, earning a living, and having a family without obstruction.
3. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why/Why not?
No, Mandela thinks the oppressor is not free because a person who takes away another's freedom is a prisoner of hatred, locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.
Thinking about the Text
1. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of?
A large number of international leaders attended the inauguration to show their support for South Africa's first democratic government. It signified the triumph of justice, peace, and human dignity over apartheid, and the victory of freedom over oppression.
2. What does Mandela mean when he says he is "simply the sum of all those African patriots" who had gone before him?
Mandela means that he represents all the African patriots who sacrificed and struggled before him. His achievements are built upon their efforts, sacrifices, and courage, and he sees himself as continuing their noble legacy.
3. 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?
Yes, extreme oppression can produce extraordinary character. Mandela illustrates this by mentioning heroes like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, and others who showed remarkable courage and wisdom in fighting apartheid. Other examples include Mahatma Gandhi, who developed non-violent resistance against British rule, and Malala Yousafzai, who stood up for education rights despite violent opposition.
4. How did Mandela's understanding of freedom change with age and experience?
As a boy, Mandela understood freedom as running freely in fields. As a student, he wanted personal freedoms. Later, he realized that true freedom meant the liberation of all his people from oppression. His understanding evolved from personal freedom to collective freedom and justice for all.
5. How did Mandela's 'hunger for freedom' change his life?
Mandela's hunger for freedom transformed him from a frightened young man into a bold one, from a law-abiding attorney to a "criminal" fighting injustice, from a family-loving husband to a man without a home, and from a life-loving person to someone living like a monk in prison. It became the driving force of his life.
Thinking about Language
I. Noun-Verb Pairs
Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text:
| Noun |
Verb |
| rebellion |
rebel |
| constitution |
constitute |
| formation |
form |
| government |
govern |
| oppression |
oppress |
| demonstration |
demonstrate |
Fill in the blanks with noun forms:
Martin Luther King's contribution to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the assistance of Rosa Parks... To break these laws would mean subjugation and humiliation by the police... Beatings, imprisonment and sometimes death... Martin Luther King's tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance to racial injustice.
II. Using the Definite Article with Names
Explain what these sentences mean:
- Mr Singh regularly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties: He invites famous celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, or people of their stature.
- Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times: Madhuri Dixit is considered to have similar qualities, talent, or status as Madhubala had in her time.
- History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well: History includes not just famous conquerors and leaders like Alexander, Napoleon, and Hitler, but also common people.
III. Idiomatic Expressions
Match the phrases:
| Phrase |
Meaning |
| I was not unmindful of the fact |
had not forgotten; was aware of the fact |
| when my comrades and I were pushed to our limits |
felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer |
| to reassure me and keep me going |
help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation |
| the basic and honourable freedoms of...earning my keep |
earning enough money to live on |
IV. Looking at Contrasts
Complete the sentences:
- It requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character.
- Courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it.
- The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear.
- If people can learn to hate they can be taught to love.
- I was not born with a hunger to be free. I was born free.
Complete the contrast sentences:
- For decades the Union Buildings had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow gathering of different colours and nations.
- Only moments before, the highest generals... saluted me and pledged their loyalty... not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me.
- Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem..., they would soon know the words by heart.
- My country is rich in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth is its people.
- The Air Show was not only a display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military's loyalty to democracy.
- It was this desire for the freedom of my people... that transformed a frightened young man into a bold one, that drove a law-abiding attorney to become a criminal, that turned a family-loving husband into a man without a home.
Poems - Questions and Answers
A Tiger in the Zoo by Leslie Norris
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle's edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
But he's locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
Glossary:
snarls: makes an angry, warning sound
1. Which stanzas speak about the tiger in the zoo, and which ones speak about the tiger in the jungle?
Tiger in the zoo: Stanzas 1, 4, and 5
Tiger in the jungle: Stanzas 2 and 3
2. Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild.
| Tiger in Cage |
Tiger in Wild |
| stalks |
lurking |
| stalking the length |
sliding |
| ignoring visitors |
snarling |
| stares |
baring |
|
terrorising |
3. Find the words that describe the two places.
| Zoo |
Jungle |
| cage |
shadow |
| concrete cell |
long grass |
| bars |
water hole |
|
jungle's edge |
|
village |
4. Notice the use of repeated words. What is the effect of this repetition?
The repetition of words like "quiet" and "brilliant" creates emphasis and draws attention to the contrasting states of the tiger - his silent anger and his magnificent nature despite captivity. It also creates a musical quality in the poem.
5. Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?
For zoos: Zoos can protect endangered species, conduct breeding programs, and educate people about wildlife conservation.
Against zoos: Animals suffer in captivity, lose natural behaviors, and live in confined spaces that don't mimic their natural habitats.
Alternatives: Wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, virtual zoos through technology, and habitat conservation programs.
The Tiger by Peter Niblett
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
Then he thinks.
It would be nice not to be behind bars all
The time
Because they spoil my view
I wish I were wild, not on show.
But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,
But if I were wild, food might poison me,
But if I were wild, water might drown me.
Then he stops thinking
And...
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
The Panther by Rainer Maria Rilke
His vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything else. It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.
As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the movement of his powerful soft strides
is like a ritual dance around a centre
in which a mighty will stands paralysed.
Only at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts, quietly. An image enters in,
rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges into the heart and is gone.
Discussion: Compare the three poems about captive animals.
All three poems depict the suffering of majestic animals in captivity. Leslie Norris's tiger is angry and confined but still dreams of freedom. Peter Niblett's tiger is more philosophical, weighing the dangers of the wild against the confinement of the zoo. Rilke's panther is completely broken by captivity, with its spirit paralyzed. Together, they present a powerful critique of keeping wild animals in cages while also acknowledging some practical considerations.