Summary
Summary First Day After The War
- Course
- English Poems
- Institution
- The Hill College
In depth Line by line summary of First Day after the war covers theme and tone
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By: variava • 3 year ago
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FIRST DAY AFTER THE WAR - Mazisi KuneneBackground notes of poet
Mazisi Kunene was born in South Africa, in 1938. He studied in South Africa and in the
United Kingdom, and worked as an academic in the United States of America before
returning to South Africa. His best known work is the poem, ‘Emperor Shaka the Great’,
which was originally written in isiZulu and translated into English. He died in 2006.
Summary
• Mazisi Kunene wrote much of his poetry in South Africa, in the time of apartheid, a
period in which black people were discriminated against and oppressed. His poem
describes the joy that people felt at the ending of this system of government.
• The poem lists a number of ways in which the people celebrate the news. The news
is so wonderful that we see how people of all types celebrate together and ‘held hands with
a stranger’
Line 1
We heard the songs of a wedding party.
metaphor – our country is compared to a new bride. A wedding marks the start of a new
life for her. Similarly, it is the of a new chapter for South Africa.
songs – suggest happiness, celebration
wedding party – unity: families come together
Line 2
We saw a soft light
soft light – symbol of hope/optimism. Tone – peaceful, calm
Line 3
Coiling round the young blades of grass
literal: new grass; figurative: young men and youth at the beginning and birth
Metaphor – the poet compares the young married couple to young blades of grass. The
married couple are young like fresh, new growth of grass.
Lines 2 - 3
Metaphor – the glow of happiness on the young couple is compared to light on new grass.
This suggests a new dawn, a fresh new start for South Africa.
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