The Theory of Flight
,Contents
Genre: ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
Setting: .................................................................................................................................................... 5
Synopsis: ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Prologue: ................................................................................................................................................. 6
Structure: ................................................................................................................................................ 6
The two books:.................................................................................................................................... 6
The parts: ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Summary: ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Prologue (pp. 9-10) ............................................................................................................................. 7
Book one (pp.11-186) ......................................................................................................................... 7
Book two (pp. 187-328) ...................................................................................................................... 7
Narration: ................................................................................................................................................ 7
The third-person omniscient perspective: .......................................................................................... 7
Non-linear narrative: ........................................................................................................................... 7
Multiple perspectives:......................................................................................................................... 8
Golide and a fascination with flight: ....................................................................................................... 8
Genie and how to save a life: .................................................................................................................. 9
Heartfelt and uplifting: ............................................................................................................................ 9
Characters: .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Imogen ‘Genie’ (magical creature/genius/genealogy) Zula Nyoni (daughter): ................................... 9
Vida de Villiers:.................................................................................................................................. 10
Marcus Masuku:................................................................................................................................ 10
Krystle Masuku: ................................................................................................................................. 11
Goldie Gumede (born Livingston Stanley Tikiti) Dad: ....................................................................... 11
Elizabeth Gumede Mom: .................................................................................................................. 11
Bhekithemba Nyathi: ........................................................................................................................ 12
Valentine Tanaka: .............................................................................................................................. 12
Key themes:........................................................................................................................................... 12
Inter-connectedness: ........................................................................................................................ 12
Belonging: ......................................................................................................................................... 13
Family and family history: ................................................................................................................. 13
History and the transition from colonialism to independence: ........................................................ 14
The HIV pandemic: ............................................................................................................................ 14
Creativity/imagination/art: ............................................................................................................... 15
Flight: ................................................................................................................................................ 15
2
, The beauty and promise of life: ........................................................................................................ 16
Love: .................................................................................................................................................. 16
Freedom: ........................................................................................................................................... 16
The power of experience and choice: ............................................................................................... 17
Key symbols:.......................................................................................................................................... 17
Elephants swimming: ........................................................................................................................ 17
The colourful bird:............................................................................................................................. 18
Beauford Farm and Estate:................................................................................................................ 18
Sunflowers: ....................................................................................................................................... 18
The prologue: ........................................................................................................................................ 18
Flight: .................................................................................................................................................... 19
Literal: ............................................................................................................................................... 20
Figurative:.......................................................................................................................................... 20
Motives: ................................................................................................................................................ 20
Beauty-eyes are/are not for the beauty to see: ................................................................................ 20
Flight: ................................................................................................................................................ 21
Absence: ............................................................................................................................................ 21
Music: ................................................................................................................................................ 21
Symbols: ................................................................................................................................................ 22
The title: ................................................................................................................................................ 22
The Theory of Flight: ......................................................................................................................... 22
Important quotes and book notes: ....................................................................................................... 23
Page 9 Prologue (foreshadow and suspense) ................................................................................... 23
Page 15 Genesis (the start/origin/beginning): .................................................................................. 23
Page 16: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 23: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 24: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 25: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 43: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 52: ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 60: ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 73: ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 74: ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 97 Genie: .................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 179: ........................................................................................................................................... 24
Page 183: ........................................................................................................................................... 24
3
,Contents
Genre: ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
Setting: .................................................................................................................................................... 5
Synopsis: ................................................................................................................................................. 5
Prologue: ................................................................................................................................................. 6
Structure: ................................................................................................................................................ 6
The two books:.................................................................................................................................... 6
The parts: ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Summary: ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Prologue (pp. 9-10) ............................................................................................................................. 7
Book one (pp.11-186) ......................................................................................................................... 7
Book two (pp. 187-328) ...................................................................................................................... 7
Narration: ................................................................................................................................................ 7
The third-person omniscient perspective: .......................................................................................... 7
Non-linear narrative: ........................................................................................................................... 7
Multiple perspectives:......................................................................................................................... 8
Golide and a fascination with flight: ....................................................................................................... 8
Genie and how to save a life: .................................................................................................................. 9
Heartfelt and uplifting: ............................................................................................................................ 9
Characters: .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Imogen ‘Genie’ (magical creature/genius/genealogy) Zula Nyoni (daughter): ................................... 9
Vida de Villiers:.................................................................................................................................. 10
Marcus Masuku:................................................................................................................................ 10
Krystle Masuku: ................................................................................................................................. 11
Goldie Gumede (born Livingston Stanley Tikiti) Dad: ....................................................................... 11
Elizabeth Gumede Mom: .................................................................................................................. 11
Bhekithemba Nyathi: ........................................................................................................................ 12
Valentine Tanaka: .............................................................................................................................. 12
Key themes:........................................................................................................................................... 12
Inter-connectedness: ........................................................................................................................ 12
Belonging: ......................................................................................................................................... 13
Family and family history: ................................................................................................................. 13
History and the transition from colonialism to independence: ........................................................ 14
The HIV pandemic: ............................................................................................................................ 14
Creativity/imagination/art: ............................................................................................................... 15
Flight: ................................................................................................................................................ 15
2
, The beauty and promise of life: ........................................................................................................ 16
Love: .................................................................................................................................................. 16
Freedom: ........................................................................................................................................... 16
The power of experience and choice: ............................................................................................... 17
Key symbols:.......................................................................................................................................... 17
Elephants swimming: ........................................................................................................................ 17
The colourful bird:............................................................................................................................. 18
Beauford Farm and Estate:................................................................................................................ 18
Sunflowers: ....................................................................................................................................... 18
The prologue: ........................................................................................................................................ 18
Flight: .................................................................................................................................................... 19
Literal: ............................................................................................................................................... 20
Figurative:.......................................................................................................................................... 20
Motives: ................................................................................................................................................ 20
Beauty-eyes are/are not for the beauty to see: ................................................................................ 20
Flight: ................................................................................................................................................ 21
Absence: ............................................................................................................................................ 21
Music: ................................................................................................................................................ 21
Symbols: ................................................................................................................................................ 22
The title: ................................................................................................................................................ 22
The Theory of Flight: ......................................................................................................................... 22
Important quotes and book notes: ....................................................................................................... 23
Page 9 Prologue (foreshadow and suspense) ................................................................................... 23
Page 15 Genesis (the start/origin/beginning): .................................................................................. 23
Page 16: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 23: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 24: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 25: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 43: ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Page 52: ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 60: ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 73: ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 74: ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 97 Genie: .................................................................................................................................. 24
Page 179: ........................................................................................................................................... 24
Page 183: ........................................................................................................................................... 24
3
