ENG1501 EXAM
, SECTION A
QUESTION 2: SHORT STORY- “ROCK” BY LINDIWE NKUTHA
1. What is the significance of the short story’s title?
The title “ROCK” is significant to the story as it relates to the main characters in the story. The story
revolves around a disabled girl named “Zibusiso” and her mother “Ncedi”, who live in poverty.
Zibusiso is the narrator in the story. The title relates to Zibusiso because she is disabled and in a
wheelchair, she is constantly teased by other children in the neighbourhood, she says “I had to make
peace with the children in my neighbourhood whispering ‘Rock and Roll’ every time I rocked and
wheeled myself from my house…”(Nkutha [2006], pg.185). Despite her unfortunate circumstances
Zibusiso remains a humble, understanding, humorous individual, which is shown throughout the
story, which is shown when she has no ill-feelings towards the dog but rather relates to the dogs
hunger, also her relationship with the praying mantis is humorous but also sad when you realise she
has no friends and no one to talk to. Zibusiso eventually learns too embrace her nickname “Rock” as
she ends the story with “what better name for a rock legend in the making to have than the name
Rock?” (Nkutha [2006], pg. 199). Zibusiso celebrates the fact that she is different from others, she
embraces the diversity in her life.
2. Identify the short story’s setting and explain how the setting contributes to
the story’s theme of diversity.
The setting of the story is in Soweto. Zibusiso stays in a shack in Soweto with her family. They live in
poverty. Lindiwe Nkutha uses this story and first-person narration to create awareness of the social
and political issues faced in our country. The theme of diversity is clearly shown in the setting of the
story as it brings to light the fact that there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor. In the story
Zibusiso asks: “why is it that people with money find it necessary to rub coins against each other”
(Nkutha [2006] pg.186). Which proves that people in society are ranked by their level of wealth and
people are identified in society as rich or poor and are treated based on their status.
3. Who is Bra Phandi and how does the author celebrate diversity through his
business endeavours?
Bra Phandi was Zibusiso and Ncedi’s neighbour. Bra Phandi’s dog had caused Zibusiso to lose her
legs, out of hunger “my legs were mistaken for a lamb shank.” Bra Phandi also lived a disadvantaged
life as he lost his job and his wife who was the “sole breadwinner”, “developed a case of severe
arthritis…”. Bra Phandi realised that his situation was not going to change so he decided to accept the
life that he was given. He started by taking over all his wife’s household duties and he became known
as “the neighbourhoods first male washerwomen”. (Nkutha {2006] pg187). People even teased him
by giving his the nickname “Aunty Phandi”, but all of that stopped when he decided to become an
entrepreneur and created his own business called “Bra Phandi washerwomen enterprises.” The
attitude of his neighbours changed, and they respected and admired him for being responsible and
, SECTION A
QUESTION 2: SHORT STORY- “ROCK” BY LINDIWE NKUTHA
1. What is the significance of the short story’s title?
The title “ROCK” is significant to the story as it relates to the main characters in the story. The story
revolves around a disabled girl named “Zibusiso” and her mother “Ncedi”, who live in poverty.
Zibusiso is the narrator in the story. The title relates to Zibusiso because she is disabled and in a
wheelchair, she is constantly teased by other children in the neighbourhood, she says “I had to make
peace with the children in my neighbourhood whispering ‘Rock and Roll’ every time I rocked and
wheeled myself from my house…”(Nkutha [2006], pg.185). Despite her unfortunate circumstances
Zibusiso remains a humble, understanding, humorous individual, which is shown throughout the
story, which is shown when she has no ill-feelings towards the dog but rather relates to the dogs
hunger, also her relationship with the praying mantis is humorous but also sad when you realise she
has no friends and no one to talk to. Zibusiso eventually learns too embrace her nickname “Rock” as
she ends the story with “what better name for a rock legend in the making to have than the name
Rock?” (Nkutha [2006], pg. 199). Zibusiso celebrates the fact that she is different from others, she
embraces the diversity in her life.
2. Identify the short story’s setting and explain how the setting contributes to
the story’s theme of diversity.
The setting of the story is in Soweto. Zibusiso stays in a shack in Soweto with her family. They live in
poverty. Lindiwe Nkutha uses this story and first-person narration to create awareness of the social
and political issues faced in our country. The theme of diversity is clearly shown in the setting of the
story as it brings to light the fact that there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor. In the story
Zibusiso asks: “why is it that people with money find it necessary to rub coins against each other”
(Nkutha [2006] pg.186). Which proves that people in society are ranked by their level of wealth and
people are identified in society as rich or poor and are treated based on their status.
3. Who is Bra Phandi and how does the author celebrate diversity through his
business endeavours?
Bra Phandi was Zibusiso and Ncedi’s neighbour. Bra Phandi’s dog had caused Zibusiso to lose her
legs, out of hunger “my legs were mistaken for a lamb shank.” Bra Phandi also lived a disadvantaged
life as he lost his job and his wife who was the “sole breadwinner”, “developed a case of severe
arthritis…”. Bra Phandi realised that his situation was not going to change so he decided to accept the
life that he was given. He started by taking over all his wife’s household duties and he became known
as “the neighbourhoods first male washerwomen”. (Nkutha {2006] pg187). People even teased him
by giving his the nickname “Aunty Phandi”, but all of that stopped when he decided to become an
entrepreneur and created his own business called “Bra Phandi washerwomen enterprises.” The
attitude of his neighbours changed, and they respected and admired him for being responsible and
