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aN AFRICAN THUNDERSTORM
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David Rubadiri was a Malawian diplomat, academic, and poet. He was born on July 19, 1930, and died on September 15, 2018. He attended several universities; Makerere University, King's College, and the University of Bristol, throughout his academic journey, which culminated in an M.A in Literature as well as a Diploma in Education. (more)
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LITERAL MEANING
The persona gives a vivid description of an African thunderstorm. It comes in from the west, with clouds and wind, followed by lightening (www.bulbsoup.com) and rain. The village children respond to the coming storm with screams of delight and mothers respond by dashing madly about and trying to get out of the storm.
The persona gives a vivid description of an African thunderstorm. It comes in from the west, with clouds and wind, followed by lightening (www.bulbsoup.com) and rain. The village children respond to the coming storm with screams of delight and mothers respond by dashing madly about and trying to get out of the storm.
From the west
1 Clouds come hurrying with the wind 4 Turning Sharply 5 Here and there 3 Like a plague of locusts Whirling 3 Tossing up things on its tail Like a madman chasing nothing. 10 1 Pregnant clouds 1 Ride stately on its back 5 Gathering to perch on hills Like dark sinister wings; 4 The Wind whistles by 15 1 & 2 And trees bend to let it pass. In the village 6 Screams of delighted children Toss and turn 7 In the din of the whirling wind. 20 Women - Babies clinging on their backs - Dart about In and out 8 Madly 25 The Wind whirls by 1 & 2 Whilst trees bend to let it pass. 3 Clothes wave like tattered flags Flying off To expose dangling breasts 30 As 9 jaggered blinding flashes Rumble, tremble and crack Amidst the smell of fired smoke And the 10.pelting march of the storm. Poet - David Rubadiri |
LITERARY DEVICES
1. PERSONIFICATION
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3. SIMILE continued
This is a display of force and strength because it now moves from controlling and manipulating nature, for example, the trees, to impacting humans on a personal level.
4. ALLITERATION
This is a display of force and strength because it now moves from controlling and manipulating nature, for example, the trees, to impacting humans on a personal level.
4. ALLITERATION
- Stanza 1, line 14: The reader can literally hear the wind rushing by their ears through the use of this sound device. The use of the word whistle implies that the wind is moving at an incredible speed.
DEFINITIONS: LITERARY DEVICES
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TABLE: LITERARY DEVICES
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IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
4. 'Turning Sharply' (Stanza 1, lines 3-4)
This phrase shows the movement of the wind, which is not static, but seems almost alive in its movements. Its restlessness is also highlighted through the use of the word sharply. So its movements are abrupt, at times, while also insistent in its movement.
5. 'Gathering to perch on hills.' (Stanza 1, line 12)
This phrase likens the wind to a bird of prey. It is perched in waiting for its next victim. This emphasizes that the wind is aiming to destroy.
6. 'Screams of delighted children toss and turn' (Stanza 2, line 2)
This highlights how the wind manipulates sound. It takes the children's screams and tosses and turns them. The power of the wind is highlighted here. It controls the movement of objects (www.bulbsoup.com) and people, and it manipulates sound. Its manipulation of sound also implies that the wind, itself, is very loud.
7. 'In the din of the whirling wind' (Stanza 2, line 4)
Din means a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise. This is a clear indication that the wind is extremely loud.
8. 'Madly' (Stanza 2, line 9)
This word emphasizes the chaos of the atmosphere. The mothers are dashing wildly about and the wind is wreaking its destruction. The scene has devolved into disorder and chaos.
9. 'jaggered blinding flashes' (Stanza 2, line 15)
This is a visual image of the lightning that is streaking through the sky. The blinding flashes bring to mind the flash of a camera, but these flashes are continuous and unpredictable.
10. 'pelting march of the storm'
This highlights how persistent the rain was. The term march brings to mind organized soldiers performing a task, therefore, when it is associated with the rain, it highlights the consistent, and persistent, nature of the rain in the African storm.
4. 'Turning Sharply' (Stanza 1, lines 3-4)
This phrase shows the movement of the wind, which is not static, but seems almost alive in its movements. Its restlessness is also highlighted through the use of the word sharply. So its movements are abrupt, at times, while also insistent in its movement.
5. 'Gathering to perch on hills.' (Stanza 1, line 12)
This phrase likens the wind to a bird of prey. It is perched in waiting for its next victim. This emphasizes that the wind is aiming to destroy.
6. 'Screams of delighted children toss and turn' (Stanza 2, line 2)
This highlights how the wind manipulates sound. It takes the children's screams and tosses and turns them. The power of the wind is highlighted here. It controls the movement of objects (www.bulbsoup.com) and people, and it manipulates sound. Its manipulation of sound also implies that the wind, itself, is very loud.
7. 'In the din of the whirling wind' (Stanza 2, line 4)
Din means a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise. This is a clear indication that the wind is extremely loud.
8. 'Madly' (Stanza 2, line 9)
This word emphasizes the chaos of the atmosphere. The mothers are dashing wildly about and the wind is wreaking its destruction. The scene has devolved into disorder and chaos.
9. 'jaggered blinding flashes' (Stanza 2, line 15)
This is a visual image of the lightning that is streaking through the sky. The blinding flashes bring to mind the flash of a camera, but these flashes are continuous and unpredictable.
10. 'pelting march of the storm'
This highlights how persistent the rain was. The term march brings to mind organized soldiers performing a task, therefore, when it is associated with the rain, it highlights the consistent, and persistent, nature of the rain in the African storm.
THEMATIC CATEGORY: Nature, Places.
ATMOSPHERE
- The mood of the poem is calm. The persona is calmly reporting on the storm and painting vivid images.
- The tone of the poem is reflective. The persona is reporting on the storm.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Rubadiri, D. 'An African Thunderstorm' in A World of Poetry. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rubadiri
Rubadiri, D. 'An African Thunderstorm' in A World of Poetry. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rubadiri