ASSIGNMENT 01: Poetry
Compulsory for examination
admission
‘Higher Education’ – B. W. Vilakazi
, 1.
1.1. In the first stanza of the poem "Higher Education", the speaker describes the
contrasting experiences of black South Africans who are seeking higher education.
The speaker notes that while the youth are wandering in darkness, confused and
racked with pain, the fathers and mothers of the community are pondering their
efforts all in vain. The contrast here is between the young generation who are
struggling with the challenges of finding education and the older generation who
have already made efforts to overcome those challenges but have not yet
succeeded.
1.2. In the second stanza, the speaker suggests that the reason for the contrasting
experiences of the youth and the older generation seeking higher education may be
due to the fact that the books they are seeking knowledge from are written by white
authors. The speaker implies that the lack of access to educational materials
produced by people of color could be a barrier to their education. This can cause
discomfort as it highlights the systemic racial inequalities that have limited access to
knowledge and education for people of color.
1.3. In the third stanza, the speaker presents a possible solution to the dilemma of
seeking higher education by using the imagery of a key. The speaker suggests that
the white man holds the key to the portals of learning, and that key needs to be
unlocked to obtain knowledge. This key imagery represents the idea that education
is a pathway to unlocking opportunities and potential. The use of the key imagery
implies that education is the key to unlocking the doors that have been closed to
people of color, and that they need to fight for equal access to that key.
1.4. In the poem "Higher Education," the speaker does not explicitly state whether
the attempt at finding a solution to the dilemma of seeking higher education has
been successful or not. However, the poem implies that the struggle for higher
education is ongoing and that the fight for liberation and equal access to education
continues. The final stanza states that "Higher education is the key / To a future
bright and bold" and that it is the path to their destiny and the realization of their goal.
This suggests that while the struggle for higher education may be ongoing, the
speaker believes that education is still the key to a better future and that the fight for
it must continue.
2.
2.1. In stanzas four to six of the poem "Higher Education," the speaker describes
several things he has lost or missed out on due to his love of learning. Three such
things are:
Compulsory for examination
admission
‘Higher Education’ – B. W. Vilakazi
, 1.
1.1. In the first stanza of the poem "Higher Education", the speaker describes the
contrasting experiences of black South Africans who are seeking higher education.
The speaker notes that while the youth are wandering in darkness, confused and
racked with pain, the fathers and mothers of the community are pondering their
efforts all in vain. The contrast here is between the young generation who are
struggling with the challenges of finding education and the older generation who
have already made efforts to overcome those challenges but have not yet
succeeded.
1.2. In the second stanza, the speaker suggests that the reason for the contrasting
experiences of the youth and the older generation seeking higher education may be
due to the fact that the books they are seeking knowledge from are written by white
authors. The speaker implies that the lack of access to educational materials
produced by people of color could be a barrier to their education. This can cause
discomfort as it highlights the systemic racial inequalities that have limited access to
knowledge and education for people of color.
1.3. In the third stanza, the speaker presents a possible solution to the dilemma of
seeking higher education by using the imagery of a key. The speaker suggests that
the white man holds the key to the portals of learning, and that key needs to be
unlocked to obtain knowledge. This key imagery represents the idea that education
is a pathway to unlocking opportunities and potential. The use of the key imagery
implies that education is the key to unlocking the doors that have been closed to
people of color, and that they need to fight for equal access to that key.
1.4. In the poem "Higher Education," the speaker does not explicitly state whether
the attempt at finding a solution to the dilemma of seeking higher education has
been successful or not. However, the poem implies that the struggle for higher
education is ongoing and that the fight for liberation and equal access to education
continues. The final stanza states that "Higher education is the key / To a future
bright and bold" and that it is the path to their destiny and the realization of their goal.
This suggests that while the struggle for higher education may be ongoing, the
speaker believes that education is still the key to a better future and that the fight for
it must continue.
2.
2.1. In stanzas four to six of the poem "Higher Education," the speaker describes
several things he has lost or missed out on due to his love of learning. Three such
things are:
