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, Table of contents
Main characters ............................................................................................................................... 2
Themes and evidence of themes in text .......................................................................................... 5
Style and structure ........................................................................................................................... 7
Setting and background information ................................................................................................ 9
Scene by scene analysis................................................................................................................ 10
1
, Main characters
Mr M (Anela Myalatya)
Important actions
• Invites Camdeboo Girls' High for a debate at Zolile High in Brakwater.
• Invites Isabel and Thami to enter the literature competition as a team and provides training.
• Refuses to listen to Thami's political perspective.
• Informs the police about the activists organizing the school boycott, revealing their names.
• Is killed by a mob for being perceived as a collaborator with the government.
Relationships
• He has limited close relationships.
• He resides alone in a room within Rev Mbopa's house.
• Thami is his favored student, and he places all his aspirations and ambitions on him.
• His desire is for Thami to obtain a scholarship to attend university.
Personality traits
• He possesses qualities such as intelligence, respect, hard work, dedication, enthusiasm, and
passion.
• He holds an authoritative and traditionalist stance.
• He values respect for authority and strongly dislikes lawlessness.
• He believes in the transformative power of words and education.
• He displays stubbornness and rejects the ideas of the younger generation regarding revolution.
Physical description
• He is 57 years old.
• He wears glasses.
Changes
• Starts dignified and in control.
• Becomes angrier and upset during the school boycott.
• Eventually loses control and informs on the activists.
• Regrets actions leading to the arrest of Thami's comrades.
• Some believe he gives himself up due to regret.
• Stays loyal to his belief in learning and dialogue as the legitimate form of struggle.
• Refuses to join the protests.
Thami Mbikwana
Important actions
• Participates in a debate with Isabel.
• Forms a partnership with Isabel for the literature quiz and practices together.
• Develops anger towards the inequality and brutality of Apartheid and Bantu Education.
• Joins the school boycott as an act of protest.
• Alerts Mr. M about potential danger due to his act of informing on others.
• Offers to lie in order to protect Mr. M.
• Leaves the country to join the armed struggle against the oppressive regime.
2
, Table of contents
Main characters ............................................................................................................................... 2
Themes and evidence of themes in text .......................................................................................... 5
Style and structure ........................................................................................................................... 7
Setting and background information ................................................................................................ 9
Scene by scene analysis................................................................................................................ 10
1
, Main characters
Mr M (Anela Myalatya)
Important actions
• Invites Camdeboo Girls' High for a debate at Zolile High in Brakwater.
• Invites Isabel and Thami to enter the literature competition as a team and provides training.
• Refuses to listen to Thami's political perspective.
• Informs the police about the activists organizing the school boycott, revealing their names.
• Is killed by a mob for being perceived as a collaborator with the government.
Relationships
• He has limited close relationships.
• He resides alone in a room within Rev Mbopa's house.
• Thami is his favored student, and he places all his aspirations and ambitions on him.
• His desire is for Thami to obtain a scholarship to attend university.
Personality traits
• He possesses qualities such as intelligence, respect, hard work, dedication, enthusiasm, and
passion.
• He holds an authoritative and traditionalist stance.
• He values respect for authority and strongly dislikes lawlessness.
• He believes in the transformative power of words and education.
• He displays stubbornness and rejects the ideas of the younger generation regarding revolution.
Physical description
• He is 57 years old.
• He wears glasses.
Changes
• Starts dignified and in control.
• Becomes angrier and upset during the school boycott.
• Eventually loses control and informs on the activists.
• Regrets actions leading to the arrest of Thami's comrades.
• Some believe he gives himself up due to regret.
• Stays loyal to his belief in learning and dialogue as the legitimate form of struggle.
• Refuses to join the protests.
Thami Mbikwana
Important actions
• Participates in a debate with Isabel.
• Forms a partnership with Isabel for the literature quiz and practices together.
• Develops anger towards the inequality and brutality of Apartheid and Bantu Education.
• Joins the school boycott as an act of protest.
• Alerts Mr. M about potential danger due to his act of informing on others.
• Offers to lie in order to protect Mr. M.
• Leaves the country to join the armed struggle against the oppressive regime.
2
