The dominant literary device in Diop's Vanity is

Analyze the question: It asks for the dominant literary device in "Vanity" by David Diop, a poem in the JAMB African poetry syllabus.

Recall the poem: "Vanity" is a short, reflective poem. The speaker says that in the face of pain and humiliation he has carried "the heavy weight of silence" and learned to bow to others' demands. He recalls the lesson that "they said: 'Let those who have a smile on their lips.'" The refrain-like central idea is that those who accept humiliation have forgotten what it means to be dignified. It is largely a statement of moral instruction, with the speaker questioning the point of pride and flattery.

A sound, widely used reading of the poem is that it criticizes people who flatter the powerful and chase worldly favours. The speaker puts that criticism across mostly through questions and exclamations, challenging the reader to consider the emptiness of such behaviour.

Evaluate the options:

• A. Rhetorical question: Questions posed to make the reader reflect, not to get an answer. This fits the poem's reflective, challenging tone.
• B. Allusion: The poem has no notable references to historical or literary figures or events.
• C. Hyperbole: There is no sustained exaggeration.
• D. Dramatic irony: This belongs to drama, where the audience knows more than the characters. It is not a feature of this poem.

Caveat: I am working from memory of the poem's overall structure and tone, not a line-by-line check.

Answer: A. rhetorical question

Exam tip: For "dominant device" questions, ask what the poet does most often. If the poem keeps asking questions that need no answer, the device is rhetorical question. Eliminate drama-specific terms like "dramatic irony" when the text is a poem.