"A detailed line-by-line analysis of a Grade 12 IEB 2025 poem, providing in-depth insights to ensure complete understanding and aid in exam preparation."
We gave her a discardment
A trifle, a thing no longer to be worn,
Its purpose served, its life done.
She put it on with exclamations,
Her eyes shone, she called and cried,
The great bulk of her pirouetted
She danced and mimed, sang snatches of a song.
She called out blessings in her native tongue
Called to her fellow-servants
To strangers and to passers-by
To all the continent of Africa
To see this wonder, to participate
In this intolerable joy.
And so for nothing
Is purchased loyalty and trust
And the unquestioning obedience
Of the earth's most rare simplicity.
So for nothing
The destruction of a world.
, - This opening line sets the tone for the poem, introducing
the act of giving as central. T
- he word “discardment” suggests an item deemed
unworthy or obsolete by the giver.
- This choice of diction underscores the disparity in value
We gave her a discardment perception between the giver and receiver.
- The “we” implies a collective identity, possibly
symbolizing societal hierarchies or colonial overtones.
- The lack of elaboration on the item invites readers to
consider the implications of materialism and
condescension.
- The use of “discardment” is a neologism, emphasizing
the act of devaluation.
- This line diminishes the item further, describing it as a
“trifle,” a term synonymous with insignificance.
- The repetition of “a thing” reinforces its worthlessness
to the giver.
- However, the phrase “no longer to be worn” reveals its
prior utility, indicating a history now discarded.
A trifle, a thing no longer to - This phrase could symbolize societal tendencies to
be worn, undervalue the old or repurposeable.
- The commas segment the line, creating a rhythm that
mimics indifference.
- The lack of specificity leaves the item open to
interpretation, suggesting it could represent colonial
cast-offs or symbols of exploitation.
- The brevity of this line underscores the perceived
finality of the item's utility.
- The parallel structure “its purpose served, its life done”
enhances the dismissive tone.
- This dual phrasing mirrors the cyclical nature of
Its purpose served, its life exploitation, particularly in colonial contexts.
done. - The repetition of “its” dehumanizes the object, reducing
it to a lifeless, utilitarian entity.
- The absence of conjunctions accelerates the pace,
conveying a sense of closure from the giver’s
perspective, while foreshadowing a contrasting renewal
of value by the receiver.
- This line marks a pivotal shift as the receiver
transforms the discarded object into something
meaningful.
- The verb “put it on” symbolizes reclamation and
She put it on with recontextualization.
exclamations, - “Exclamations” conveys intense emotion, suggesting joy
and gratitude that contrast starkly with the giver’s
indifference.
- The absence of descriptive punctuation, such as an
exclamation mark, tempers the tone, subtly questioning
the imbalance of reaction between giver and receiver.
- This act reflects themes of resilience and
reinterpretation.
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