KCSE POETRY PAST PAPERS ANSWERS

POETRY

MARKING SCHEME

1. 2006 P1

 

1. c) i) died, pride

Knew, few, dew

Spread, said

Do, too                                                                                                (2marks)

 

1. ii) Only five

They emphasize her tender age.                                                         (2marks)

 

iii)       One would say the last two lines as a question, hence use a failing intonation.

Should be said with a sad tone showing disappointment or regret.  (2marks)

 

2. 2006 P2

 

3. (a) The person is probably in prison/ detention or some form of

confinement. The persona is longing to get out. “When I get out he or

she has been held in inhuman conditions.                                         (3 marks)

 

(b)       By “ touch “ he/she  means being treated like a human being, loving and being loved. “Touch” means the freedom to express his or her emotions freely, spontaneously.

“touch” the literal, physical touch.                       (3 marks) ( gets only 1 mark)

 

(c)       During the seven years  of confinement, the persona has been treated  like a pariah. He/ she says, I’ve learnt to know the meaning of untouchable. The persona has also been brutalized. He/ she was subjected to extreme violence. “ fierce mad fists, beating…” Finally, the persona experienced utmost indignity. He/ she was humiliated and denied any form of privacy ….” Searching – arms up, shoes off, legs apart …. Probing away  all privacy.”

(any two illustrated points 2 marks each = 4 marks)

 

(d)       The word “ paws” vividly describes the beastly behaviour of the tormentors. Animals like hyenas and lions have paws which they use to tear their prey to pieces. The word reveals the cruelty visited on the  persona and the attempts to disfigure and mutilate him/ her physically and emotionally.                                                  (2 marks)

 

(e)       The pot uses repetition to emphasize his message. The word “ touch”, for example is repeated more than ten times- both to explain the kind of touch that is desirable  and that which is resented. Also emphasis through the enumeration and the pauses. ( one …. Two…)                                                       (2 marks)

 

 

(f)       Prodding – poking, jabbing                                                                (1mark)

Indifferent- callous, inhuman, beastly)                                                     (1 mark)

 

(g)       The poem reveals that human beings abhor confinement, brutality and all forms  of degrading treatment. On the other hand, people crave for human warmth, affection, privacy and freedom. When one is denied the  latter, one  in a way “ dies”. The persona says: “ I want to feel alive  again.”

 

 

3. 2007  Question 3

• The poem is about a bird is  It is confined and denied freedom. It cannot enjoy the  ordinary  pleasures  of nature- the sunshine, the breeze  or the perfume from flowers. The  bird struggles to liberate itself  and hurts itself  in the  process. At another  level, the poem  is depicting the misery of those  who are denied freedom.  They  suffer  physical  and psychological torture. The persona  sympathizes with the victims and  condemns those who conspire to subject  others  to a life of slavery/ detention. Imprisonment/ confinement.

 

• (i) In the first stanza, the poet focuses on the feelings  of the  prisoner, feelings

of alienation from all that  is natural  and desirable, feelings of nostalgia for days

when  he or she enjoyed freedom.

(ii)       The second stanza  describes the attempts  by the  bird ( or  prisoner) to

escape. The struggle  is bloody. It seems that  efforts to escape  are met  with

brutality. Words  like  “ blood”, “pain” and “scars”  reflect the torment undergone

by the  victim                                                                                     ( 2 marks)

(iii)      The third  stanza focuses  on prayer. Other  means  have  not  yielded results,  so the bird ( or  prisoner)  appeals for intervention from  other sources. Perhaps a superior force will step  in  and liberate the bird.

 

• The persona sympathizes with the caged    A word like “aias” expresses  pity. The persona  also graphically describes the feelings and sufferings of the bird.  This elicits  pity from  the reader.

Bird feels….” He/ she  has  put himself/ herself  in the  shoes  of the bird. The persona  speaks  as  if  he/ she  shares  the pain experienced  by the bird. The persona  says, “…. a pain  still throbs….” As  if  he/ she  can feel  the pain. The persona also has feelings  of hope, hope  that  the caged  bird  will one day  experience freedom.                                                                                                                                                 (4 marks)

• From the poem , it is possible to  infer that the persona  has  had a  very  tough    He/ she  has  probably  suffered  at the hands  of  cruel  oppressors, been  denied freedom  and tortured. This  is why the persona  says. I know….” The persona probably  fought  and prayed  for  freedom. He/ she  may  have  suffered  physical  and  psychological  injury                                                                               ( 3 marks)

 

• The simile in the first stanza is “……… the river flows  like  a stream  of glass”. The simile is used to  show what the bird  yearns for but cannot have. The river represents a  life  of freedom, flowing  without    It stands for natural beauty that the caged  bird  is denied.                                                                               ( 2 marks)

 

• (i) And the faint perfume from its petals steals. This means  that the flowers  produce  a  sweet  smell  that  gives  much joy.  However, in  its cage, the bird cannot  have  such luxury  while  other birds  out  there  enjoy  the perfume.                       (2 marks)

 

(ii) and they  pulse  again  with  a  keener sting: this  line refers to the excruciating pain  suffered  by the bird  as it tries  to free  itself.  Every  time  it beats  wings,  the  old  wounds  become  sore  and  cause much pain.                                          (1 mark)

 

4. 2008
5. i) pay, day

grief, relief

end, friend

release, peace

bought, thought

best, interest(3marks)

ii)

This is a poem in which the persona expresses regret and despair for something foolish he or she has done in a moment of reckless excitement.  Whatever it was has resulted in a lifetime of suffering and gloom.  The tone should bring out the sorrow, desperation as well as resignation the tone is likely to be solemn or somber or poignant identification.                                                                                                                         (1mark)

iii)

The punctuation in the second stanza three years of pause.  The dash represents a significant pause, creates suspense because it is not easy to anticipate what the persona will say next.  The comma is a short pause which gives the speaker time to catch his or her breath.  The full stop is a final punctuation mark and in this stanza, it seems t tell us that the speaker’s fate is sealed, final.  There seems to be no possibility for appeal Ironically, only death will bring some relief.                                      (3marks)

 

iv)

The last line of the poem would be said in a voice that expresses surprise or even shock at the realization of the pride the persona has to pay. Perhaps the voice would be raised, the eye wide open and the words ’God and  “ Interest” articulated with a lot of emphasis. The exclamation marks show that this line would reveal the fact that the persona still cannot believe what has happened                                                                                                                                                                                           (2marks)

 

5. 2008 P2
   • The poem is about a major disturbance e.g. political disturbance  such as  coup detat political upheaval, ethnic clashes e.g. traumatic experience/ turbulence at  personal  level  such  as  divorce, tape, death of  a loved  Return to apparent  fence                                                                                                                                           (3 marks)
   • The greenery implies peacefulness/ peace whether at the individual or political The yellow sots implies possibility of danger or turbulence. Things are not as tranquil or  peaceful as they seem

Red  is  imminent violence/ turbulence. Up heaved

• Any two of the following

Personification e.g. rests, “ occupies”  fleeing”

Symbols e.g. “pond” for  country of one  life, “stone” for the cause of the turbulence and leaves  a permanent scar/ reminder/ aftermath

Repetition e.g. “ripples”  “ the red”

Onomatopoeia e.g. splash, ripples, rushing……

Alteration e.g  hand  in hand  convey harmony”

“ reflection regain” “ stirring surges”

 

• sad/tragic/ pessimistic/ ironic/ stoical/ resigned/ identification

although life  may  seem calm  and peaceful on the surface, there  is  a  possibility of disturbance or  turbulence                                                                         ( 3 mark)

• the cause of the turbulence/ ripples is permanent
• Surges- move forward in a wave – like  manner

Fade- lose strength/ vigour

Tranquil – calm, quiet, motionless                                                                (3 marks)

6. 2012 Q3a P1

(a) (i)       ab ab cd cd ef ef gg

Accept rhyming pairs

Hogs        die          brave          spot        shed       pack

Dogs        defy        grave          lot          dead       back

 

7. 2012

–  Thematic statement: The poem talks about a corrupt leader/ .poor leadership/

immoral/ abuse or misuse of office √1

Illustrations:

He flirts with his secretaries in a disrespectful manner √1.

-He is immoral having several children with helpless innocent girls and boasting of it

as being a God – given mission/l

He exploits his workers by underpaying then: while he pretends to be overworked and

underpaid himself.  √1      Any two illustrations – 2×1

 

1. – Who laugh subserviently to conceal their indignation (and grudging envy) √2
2. – it is a simile √1

 

• It brings out the evil nature of the boss/his greedy nature/he is a dangerous

person/he is exploitative/he is inactive/immobile/inefficient/lazy; √1

• Further explanation of the above points √1

1. – He is referred to as a good – natured person who should be respectful to his

juniors, yet he shamelessly flirts with his secretaries patting their hips.

• He paints a picture of being industrious but he is hardly aware of his work working for a short time in the office only to leave at 11.30am.
• He claims to be overworked and underpaid yet this is exactly the opposite. It is his juniors who are overworked.
• He is generous, but generous not on positive virtues but on vices. He has fathered children with innocent girls claiming to be a God – sent mission to fill the earth.
• He is said to be a perfect paragon of leadership yet he is Fiddled with corruption, immorality and poor leadership.
• Any 2 points = 4marks
• No contrast = zero

 

1. – Oblivion. – in a daydream/ staring into nothingness/being in a state of

fantasy/sleepiness/ state of being unconscious of what is going on around

him√1

• Guileless – innocent/gullible/naive/unsuspecting √1
• God – sanctioned mission – Divine / God – given right √1

 

1. – guileless girls

– perfect paragon

-.Leaves for lunch

-marry me

• secretaries in tight skirts

The sounds must be identified e.g. underline. If no = zero

 

1. – Bring cut the irony of such leadership.

• it is a satire of society’s leadership
• Repetition of the lines emphasize the hypocrisy of the leader.