Colourful, complete poem analysis. Compiled by using previous test/ exam papers for 2025, and:
ESSAY QUESTION
In the poem ‘Poem of Return’ the speaker believes that the people who were not in exile suffered a great deal’
With reference to diction, tone and imagery discuss to what extent do...
THE TITLE
The speaker is returning to his country. At
‘Poem of Return’ by Jofre Rocha
this stage it is not known whether it is a
voluntary or forceful return.
BACK GROUND
The poet’s birthname is Roberto Antonio Victor Francisco de
Almeida. He used the pseudonym (also known as a ‘war name’
in Angola), ‘Jofre Rocha’. He was born in 1941 in the village of
Caxicane, Angola. He is a qualified Social Scientist, Lawyer, short
story writer and poet.
Because of political unrest in rural Angola, where guerilla warfare
was taking place, his family moved to Luanda, the capital city of
Angola. It is here where he became a political activist. As a
political activist, he participated in the guerilla warfare for the
liberation of his country. Between 1961 and 1968, Jofre Rocha
was a political prisoner. It is at this time that he achieved some of
his academic qualifications.
After the independence of Angola in 1975, Jofre Rocha, as an
active member of the ruling party, MPLA, held several
government positions.
He is the founding member of the Union of Angolan Writers. He
has written twenty-two works in seventy-three publications and
three-hundred-and-ten library holdings.
‘Poem of Return’ is one of his poems inspired by his days in exile
from his land of birth, when he was a liberation fighter.
@Juffrou_Ansie
, 2
‘Poem of Return’ by Jofre Rocha
DICTION
Land of Exile Foreign place where one is restricted politically,
socially & economically.
Dews Water droplets forming on surfaces early in the
morning.
Drama Historic scenes of war, torture, protests,
bloodshed, riots etc
Immense Great
Plaint of tumid Arguments between lovers
sexes
Bereft Without
Wingless stone A stone that was not thrown yet.
in hand
Discuss the change in tone
SUMMARY: from stanza 2 to 3. Quote in
support of your answer.
The speaker is contemplating his upcoming return to his home country. The In stanza 2 there is a tone of
speaker mentions his return from exile and the anguish associated with those longing and yearning – the
who died whilst oppressed. grief is immense. He cries out
The poem is written from the perspective of an individual who has been for the homeland to meet
exiled, someone who had to flee their country of birth. The poem captures him with ‘real’ emotions, not
the sentiment of loss, lost opportunity, and lost experience. He describes his flowers, nothing superficial. In
‘host country’ as “land of exile and silence” – this suggests that he was not the 3rd stanza the tone shifts to
happy there. He lists the things he missed while he was away and it is clear anger and bitterness.
that he feels guilty about ‘escaping’ whilst his countrymen/women suffered. Although happy to be home,
He makes it clear that he is not a hero and should not be welcomed or he realises the enormous
treated as one if he returns. He asserts that the real heroes are the ones who sacrifice made by some in the
stayed and fought against oppression. struggle for liberation
The poet is writing about the lost opportunities, mourning and sadness
@Juffrou_Ansie
brought about by colonialism, exile and war.
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