, AFL1502
SECOND ASSIGNMENTS
SEMESTER 2 2026
DUE SEPTEMBER 2026
Assignment 20 - English……………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 3
Assignment 21 -IsiZulu……………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 11
Assignment 22 -IsiXhosa…………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 17
Assignment 23 -Sesotho sa Leboa……………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 23
Assignment 24 -Setswana…………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 29
Assignment 25 -Sesotho…………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 34
Assignment 26 -IsiSwati……………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 40
Assignment 27 -IsiNdebele……………………………………………………………………………….………………PAGE 46
Assignment 28 -Tshivenda………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 51
Assignment 29 -Xitsonga………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 56
,ASSIGNMENT 20: ENGLISH
QUESTION 1
(a) A drama typically consists of a plot that can be divided into four stages. Discuss those
stages. (12)
A dramatic plot typically follows a four-stage structure that guides the audience through
the development of the action from beginning to end. These stages, rooted in Aristotle's Poetics
and later refined by Gustav Freytag, are essential to understanding how drama unfolds
(Aristotle 335 BCE; Freytag 1863).
1. Exposition (Introduction)
This is the opening stage of the drama where the audience is introduced to the setting,
characters, and the basic situation or conflict. The exposition provides essential background
information that helps the audience understand the world of the play. For example, in William
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the exposition introduces the feud between the Montagues
and Capulets, the setting of Verona, and the young lovers who will become central to the plot.
The exposition establishes the status quo before any major action begins (Styan 1996:45).
2. Rising Action (Complication)
This is the longest stage of the drama, during which the central conflict develops and
intensifies. The rising action consists of a series of events, obstacles, and complications that
build tension and move the plot towards its climax. Characters face challenges, make decisions,
and encounter conflicts that drive the narrative forward. In Romeo and Juliet, the rising action
includes Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage, the killing of Mercutio by Tybalt, and Romeo's
subsequent killing of Tybalt, which leads to his banishment. Each event raises the stakes and
deepens the conflict (Esslin 1976:89).
3. Climax (Turning Point)
The climax is the moment of highest tension and emotional intensity in the drama. It is the
turning point where the central conflict reaches its peak, and the outcome becomes inevitable.
At this stage, the protagonist must make a critical decision or face a decisive confrontation. The
climax determines the direction of the resolution. In Romeo and Juliet, the climax occurs when
Romeo, believing Juliet is dead, drinks poison and dies, followed shortly by Juliet's suicide
upon awakening to find him dead. This moment seals the tragic fate of the lovers (Brockett
2007:112).
4. Falling Action and Resolution (Denouement)
The falling action follows the climax and shows the consequences of the turning point. Tension
decreases as the plot moves towards closure. Loose ends are tied up, and the final outcome of
the conflict is revealed. The resolution (or denouement) provides a sense of completion,
whether happy or tragic. In Romeo and Juliet, the falling action includes the Friar's explanation
of the events, the Prince's investigation, and the reconciliation of the two feuding families. The
play ends with the Prince's lament and the families' agreement to end their feud, bringing a
somber resolution to the tragedy (Styan 1996:112; Esslin 1976:134).
These four stages – exposition, rising action, climax, and falling action/resolution –
provide a framework for understanding how dramatic plots are structured and how they
engage audiences emotionally and intellectually.
, (b) The short story and the novel are both forms of storytelling but differ in many ways.
Discuss this by comparing a short story and a novel you have read. (10)
The short story and the novel are both narrative forms of fiction, but they differ
significantly in terms of length, scope, structure, character development, and narrative
complexity. To illustrate these differences, I will compare "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan
Poe (short story) and "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe (novel).
1. Length and Scope
The most obvious difference is length. A short story is brief and can typically be read in one
sitting, while a novel is a lengthy work that requires multiple reading sessions. "The Tell-Tale
Heart" is approximately 2,000 words and can be read in 10-15 minutes. In contrast, "Things
Fall Apart" is about 45,000 words and covers an extensive narrative spanning many years. The
short story focuses on a single, intense moment or event, while the novel explores a broader
timeline and a wider range of experiences (Abrams 1999:45; Poe 1843).
2. Character Development
In a short story, characters are usually limited in number and are developed minimally, often
through a single dominant trait or psychological state. The narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart" is
unnamed, and his character is defined primarily by his madness, obsession, and guilt. We learn
little about his background, relationships, or life beyond the murder he commits. In a novel,
characters are fully developed, multidimensional, and undergo significant growth over time.
Okonkwo in "Things Fall Apart" is portrayed in great detail – his childhood, his fears, his
relationships with his family, his role in the community, and his tragic downfall. The reader
understands his motivations, contradictions, and transformation across the narrative (Achebe
1958; Kennedy & Gioia 2012:78).
3. Plot Structure
A short story typically has a simple, focused plot with a single conflict that is resolved quickly.
"The Tell-Tale Heart" has a straightforward plot: a narrator murders an old man, hides his
body, and then is consumed by guilt when he hears the dead man's heartbeat. The action is
condensed and intense. A novel, however, has a complex, multi-layered plot with several
subplots and a wide range of conflicts. "Things Fall Apart" follows Okonkwo's life, the arrival of
European colonizers, the clash of cultures, and the disintegration of Igbo society. The novel has
multiple storylines and a broader narrative scope (Poe 1843; Achebe 1958).
4. Narrative Complexity
Short stories often use a single narrative perspective (first-person or third-person) and
maintain a consistent tone throughout. Poe's story is told from a first-person perspective,
immersing the reader in the narrator's disturbed mind. The novel, however, can employ
multiple perspectives, shifts in time, and more complex narrative techniques. "Things Fall
Apart" uses a third-person omniscient narrator that moves between Okonkwo's internal
thoughts, the community's collective voice, and cultural explanations (Kennedy & Gioia
2012:80).
5. Setting
A short story typically has one or two settings, while a novel may include many settings across
time and space. "The Tell-Tale Heart" is set almost entirely in one room. "Things Fall Apart" is
set in multiple villages in Nigeria, spanning years and moving between personal, family, and
community spaces (Abrams 1999:55).
SECOND ASSIGNMENTS
SEMESTER 2 2026
DUE SEPTEMBER 2026
Assignment 20 - English……………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 3
Assignment 21 -IsiZulu……………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 11
Assignment 22 -IsiXhosa…………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 17
Assignment 23 -Sesotho sa Leboa……………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 23
Assignment 24 -Setswana…………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 29
Assignment 25 -Sesotho…………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 34
Assignment 26 -IsiSwati……………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 40
Assignment 27 -IsiNdebele……………………………………………………………………………….………………PAGE 46
Assignment 28 -Tshivenda………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 51
Assignment 29 -Xitsonga………………………………………………………………………………………………PAGE 56
,ASSIGNMENT 20: ENGLISH
QUESTION 1
(a) A drama typically consists of a plot that can be divided into four stages. Discuss those
stages. (12)
A dramatic plot typically follows a four-stage structure that guides the audience through
the development of the action from beginning to end. These stages, rooted in Aristotle's Poetics
and later refined by Gustav Freytag, are essential to understanding how drama unfolds
(Aristotle 335 BCE; Freytag 1863).
1. Exposition (Introduction)
This is the opening stage of the drama where the audience is introduced to the setting,
characters, and the basic situation or conflict. The exposition provides essential background
information that helps the audience understand the world of the play. For example, in William
Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the exposition introduces the feud between the Montagues
and Capulets, the setting of Verona, and the young lovers who will become central to the plot.
The exposition establishes the status quo before any major action begins (Styan 1996:45).
2. Rising Action (Complication)
This is the longest stage of the drama, during which the central conflict develops and
intensifies. The rising action consists of a series of events, obstacles, and complications that
build tension and move the plot towards its climax. Characters face challenges, make decisions,
and encounter conflicts that drive the narrative forward. In Romeo and Juliet, the rising action
includes Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage, the killing of Mercutio by Tybalt, and Romeo's
subsequent killing of Tybalt, which leads to his banishment. Each event raises the stakes and
deepens the conflict (Esslin 1976:89).
3. Climax (Turning Point)
The climax is the moment of highest tension and emotional intensity in the drama. It is the
turning point where the central conflict reaches its peak, and the outcome becomes inevitable.
At this stage, the protagonist must make a critical decision or face a decisive confrontation. The
climax determines the direction of the resolution. In Romeo and Juliet, the climax occurs when
Romeo, believing Juliet is dead, drinks poison and dies, followed shortly by Juliet's suicide
upon awakening to find him dead. This moment seals the tragic fate of the lovers (Brockett
2007:112).
4. Falling Action and Resolution (Denouement)
The falling action follows the climax and shows the consequences of the turning point. Tension
decreases as the plot moves towards closure. Loose ends are tied up, and the final outcome of
the conflict is revealed. The resolution (or denouement) provides a sense of completion,
whether happy or tragic. In Romeo and Juliet, the falling action includes the Friar's explanation
of the events, the Prince's investigation, and the reconciliation of the two feuding families. The
play ends with the Prince's lament and the families' agreement to end their feud, bringing a
somber resolution to the tragedy (Styan 1996:112; Esslin 1976:134).
These four stages – exposition, rising action, climax, and falling action/resolution –
provide a framework for understanding how dramatic plots are structured and how they
engage audiences emotionally and intellectually.
, (b) The short story and the novel are both forms of storytelling but differ in many ways.
Discuss this by comparing a short story and a novel you have read. (10)
The short story and the novel are both narrative forms of fiction, but they differ
significantly in terms of length, scope, structure, character development, and narrative
complexity. To illustrate these differences, I will compare "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan
Poe (short story) and "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe (novel).
1. Length and Scope
The most obvious difference is length. A short story is brief and can typically be read in one
sitting, while a novel is a lengthy work that requires multiple reading sessions. "The Tell-Tale
Heart" is approximately 2,000 words and can be read in 10-15 minutes. In contrast, "Things
Fall Apart" is about 45,000 words and covers an extensive narrative spanning many years. The
short story focuses on a single, intense moment or event, while the novel explores a broader
timeline and a wider range of experiences (Abrams 1999:45; Poe 1843).
2. Character Development
In a short story, characters are usually limited in number and are developed minimally, often
through a single dominant trait or psychological state. The narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart" is
unnamed, and his character is defined primarily by his madness, obsession, and guilt. We learn
little about his background, relationships, or life beyond the murder he commits. In a novel,
characters are fully developed, multidimensional, and undergo significant growth over time.
Okonkwo in "Things Fall Apart" is portrayed in great detail – his childhood, his fears, his
relationships with his family, his role in the community, and his tragic downfall. The reader
understands his motivations, contradictions, and transformation across the narrative (Achebe
1958; Kennedy & Gioia 2012:78).
3. Plot Structure
A short story typically has a simple, focused plot with a single conflict that is resolved quickly.
"The Tell-Tale Heart" has a straightforward plot: a narrator murders an old man, hides his
body, and then is consumed by guilt when he hears the dead man's heartbeat. The action is
condensed and intense. A novel, however, has a complex, multi-layered plot with several
subplots and a wide range of conflicts. "Things Fall Apart" follows Okonkwo's life, the arrival of
European colonizers, the clash of cultures, and the disintegration of Igbo society. The novel has
multiple storylines and a broader narrative scope (Poe 1843; Achebe 1958).
4. Narrative Complexity
Short stories often use a single narrative perspective (first-person or third-person) and
maintain a consistent tone throughout. Poe's story is told from a first-person perspective,
immersing the reader in the narrator's disturbed mind. The novel, however, can employ
multiple perspectives, shifts in time, and more complex narrative techniques. "Things Fall
Apart" uses a third-person omniscient narrator that moves between Okonkwo's internal
thoughts, the community's collective voice, and cultural explanations (Kennedy & Gioia
2012:80).
5. Setting
A short story typically has one or two settings, while a novel may include many settings across
time and space. "The Tell-Tale Heart" is set almost entirely in one room. "Things Fall Apart" is
set in multiple villages in Nigeria, spanning years and moving between personal, family, and
community spaces (Abrams 1999:55).
