JAMB 2016 Literature in English · Question 31

This question is based on Bayo Adebowale's Lonely Days. In Kufi the death of a husband is treated with

Options

  1. A.indifference
  2. B.suspicion
  3. C.elation
  4. D.anger

Answer: B. suspicion

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The question asks how the community of Kufi treats the death of a husband in Bayo Adebowale's Lonely Days. This is about the novel's treatment of widowhood.

Explain the concept: Lonely Days follows Yaremu, a widow in the Yoruba village of Kufi. After her husband Lamidi dies, she is subjected to harsh widowhood rites and ill-treatment. Relatives of the late husband, especially the in-laws, and the community treat her badly. She is made to mourn in isolation, is not allowed to bathe or dress normally, and is looked on with distrust. Her in-laws exploit her, and her own child is shut out of her life for a while.

Working through the options:

  • A. Indifference: Wrong. The community is actively involved in the rites and the oppression, so it is not indifferent.
  • B. Suspicion: Fits. In Kufi, a widow is often suspected of having had a hand in her husband's death. This suspicion is why she is subjected to rigorous rites meant to "prove" her innocence and cleanse her.
  • C. Elation: Wrong. There is no celebration. The tone is one of mourning and hardship.
  • D. Anger: Not the best choice. The treatment is driven by superstition and suspicion, not by general anger over the death itself.

Answer: The death of a husband in Kufi is treated with suspicion.

Exam tip: For Lonely Days, remember the themes of widowhood, exploitation, tradition versus individual rights, and the cruelty of in-laws. When a question mentions how society treats a widow, think "suspicion, harsh rites, and mistreatment."

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