Question

(a) Read the following passage and point out
the various devices that make it effective.

At last the rain came. It was sudden and

tremendous. For two or three moons the

sun had been gathering strength till it

seemed to breathe a breath of fire on the

earth. All the grass had long been scorched

brown, and the sands felt like live coals to

the feet. Evergreen trees wore a dusty coat

of brown. The birds were silenced in the

forests and the world lay panting under the

live, vibrating heat. And then came the clap

of thunder. It was an angry, metallic and

thirsty clap, unlike the deep and liquid

rumbling of the rainy season. A mighty

wind arose and filled the air with dust.

Palm trees swayed as the wind combed their

leaves into flying crests like strange and

fantastic coiffure.

When the rain finally came, it was in

large, solid drops of frozen water which the

people called "the nuts of the water of

heaven". They were hard and painful on

the 'body as they fell, yet young people ran

about happily picking up the cold nuts and

throwing them into their mouths to melt.

The earth quickly came to life and the

birds in the forests fluttered around and

chirped merrily. A vague scent of life and

green vegetation was diffused in the air. As

the rain began to fall more soberly and in

smaller liquid drops, children sought for

shelter, and all were happy, refreshed and

thankful.

Answer 1

At last the rain came. It was sudden tremendous. For two or three moons the sun had been gathering strength till it seemed to breathe a breath of fire on the earth. All the grass had long been scorched brown, and the sands felt like live coals to the feet. Evergreen trees wore a dusty coat of brown. The birds were silenced in the forests, and the world lay panting under the live, vibrating heat. And then came the clap of thunder. It was an angry, metallic and thirsty clap, unlike the deep and liquid rumbling of the rainy season. A mighty wind arose and filled the air with dust. Palm trees swayed as the wind combed their leaves into flying crests like strange and fantastic coiffure.

When the rain finally came, it was in large, solid drops of frozen water which the people called “the nuts of the water of heaven.” They were hard and painful on the body as they fell, yet young people ran about happily picking up the cold nuts and throwing them into their mouths to melt.

The earth quickly came to life and the birds in the forest fluttered around and chirped merrily. A vague scent of life and green vegetation was diffused in the air. As the rain began to fall more soberly and in smaller liquid drops, children sought for shelter, and all were happy, refreshed and thankful. (14.4-6)
The Umuofia people are at the mercy of nature; they depend on the timely arrival of the rains for their crops. Here, the earth is characterized as an entity separate from the sky. The earth, too, depends on the sky’s providence to renew her life every rainy season.