PREVIEW
The Essay: In Nthikeng Mohlele's novel,
Small Things, Comrade Q is a minor
character whose role in the novel opens up
discussions on important themes in post-
Apartheid South Africa. Specifically,
Comrade Q's character reinforces the
theme of history and transition of South
Africa from Apartheid to a democratic
state. This theme is linked to the theme of
inequality and class in post-Apartheid
South Africa. To begin, it is important to
define what a minor character is in the
context of the novel. A minor character is a
character who is not the main focus of the
narrative but serves a purpose in moving
the story forward. Comrade Q fits this
description as he is not one of the main
characters in the novel but plays a
significant role in the themes that the novel
explores. In the extract on pages 75-76 of
the novel, Comrade Q is portrayed as a
member of the new, wealthy class of
citizens in post-Apartheid South Africa. The
extract describes how Comrade Q uses his
ENG1501
credentials as an anti-Apartheid activist as
currency to gain influence in business and
politics in order to generate wealth for
himself as well as family and friends. This
portrayal of Comrade Q reinforces the
theme of history and transition of South
Africa from Apartheid to a democratic
ASSIGNMENT 3 S1 2023 state.
NATALIE FOXX
, WHATSAPP 0845251828
Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele
In Small Things, one of the minor characters, Comrade Q, may be a lesser mentioned
character but his role in the novel opens up discussions on two important themes in
post-Apartheid South Africa, namely, inequality and class and history and transition (of
South Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state). In post-Apartheid South Africa, the
novel suggests that a new, wealthy class of citizen has developed. This is a class of
previously disadvantaged South African comrades who use their credentials as anti-
Apartheid activists as currency to gain influence in business and politics in order to
generate wealth for themselves as well as family and friends.
Using the extract detailed below as a starting point and focusing specifically on the
theme of history and transition, write an essay in which you discuss Comrade Q’s
portrayal as a minor character. In your essay, you should do the following:
• Focus specifically on the theme of history and transition (Discuss how Comrade Q’s
character reinforces the theme of history and transition of South Africa from Apartheid to
a democratic state).
• Explain how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from Apartheid to a
democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
The extract you are expected to use begins on p. 75 of the novel with the words, “Frost
descends on Benito…” (p.75). The extract ends on p. 76 with the words, “Even more
absurd: how many souls owe how many Comrade Qs favours?” (Mohlele, 2013:76).
Remember that your essay should have:
• An introductory paragraph, which introduces your essay topic and explains how the
rest of your essay will be structured. Your introduction should restate the essay question
in your own words and should state what you will discuss;
• A body of 3-5 paragraphs, in which you develop your argument. The body of your
essay should do three things:
➢ it should define what a minor character is in the novel and how Comrade Q is
portrayed as one;
➢ it should explain how Comrade Q reinforces the theme of history and transition (of
South Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state); and
➢ it should consider how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from
Apartheid to a democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
• Remember that for each point that you make, you should refer to relevant sections of
the extract or text to support your argument.
• A concluding paragraph, in which you sum up the main argument that you have made
in your essay.
The Essay: In Nthikeng Mohlele's novel,
Small Things, Comrade Q is a minor
character whose role in the novel opens up
discussions on important themes in post-
Apartheid South Africa. Specifically,
Comrade Q's character reinforces the
theme of history and transition of South
Africa from Apartheid to a democratic
state. This theme is linked to the theme of
inequality and class in post-Apartheid
South Africa. To begin, it is important to
define what a minor character is in the
context of the novel. A minor character is a
character who is not the main focus of the
narrative but serves a purpose in moving
the story forward. Comrade Q fits this
description as he is not one of the main
characters in the novel but plays a
significant role in the themes that the novel
explores. In the extract on pages 75-76 of
the novel, Comrade Q is portrayed as a
member of the new, wealthy class of
citizens in post-Apartheid South Africa. The
extract describes how Comrade Q uses his
ENG1501
credentials as an anti-Apartheid activist as
currency to gain influence in business and
politics in order to generate wealth for
himself as well as family and friends. This
portrayal of Comrade Q reinforces the
theme of history and transition of South
Africa from Apartheid to a democratic
ASSIGNMENT 3 S1 2023 state.
NATALIE FOXX
, WHATSAPP 0845251828
Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele
In Small Things, one of the minor characters, Comrade Q, may be a lesser mentioned
character but his role in the novel opens up discussions on two important themes in
post-Apartheid South Africa, namely, inequality and class and history and transition (of
South Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state). In post-Apartheid South Africa, the
novel suggests that a new, wealthy class of citizen has developed. This is a class of
previously disadvantaged South African comrades who use their credentials as anti-
Apartheid activists as currency to gain influence in business and politics in order to
generate wealth for themselves as well as family and friends.
Using the extract detailed below as a starting point and focusing specifically on the
theme of history and transition, write an essay in which you discuss Comrade Q’s
portrayal as a minor character. In your essay, you should do the following:
• Focus specifically on the theme of history and transition (Discuss how Comrade Q’s
character reinforces the theme of history and transition of South Africa from Apartheid to
a democratic state).
• Explain how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from Apartheid to a
democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
The extract you are expected to use begins on p. 75 of the novel with the words, “Frost
descends on Benito…” (p.75). The extract ends on p. 76 with the words, “Even more
absurd: how many souls owe how many Comrade Qs favours?” (Mohlele, 2013:76).
Remember that your essay should have:
• An introductory paragraph, which introduces your essay topic and explains how the
rest of your essay will be structured. Your introduction should restate the essay question
in your own words and should state what you will discuss;
• A body of 3-5 paragraphs, in which you develop your argument. The body of your
essay should do three things:
➢ it should define what a minor character is in the novel and how Comrade Q is
portrayed as one;
➢ it should explain how Comrade Q reinforces the theme of history and transition (of
South Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state); and
➢ it should consider how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from
Apartheid to a democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
• Remember that for each point that you make, you should refer to relevant sections of
the extract or text to support your argument.
• A concluding paragraph, in which you sum up the main argument that you have made
in your essay.
