Comparing Poetry and Art Answers

Which detail should most likely be cited in a historical criticism of a literary work?

What would most likely be discussed in a feminist criticism of Chinua Achebe’s work?

Which statement best describes the similarities between the feminist and historical approaches to literary analysis?

Which questions may be applied to literary analysis from a feminist approach? Select three options.

Read the passage from "Marriage Is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe."I shall not call in a native doctor.” Nnaemeka’s father was known to be obstinately ahead of his more superstitious neighbours in these matters. "I will not be another Mrs. Ochuba. If my son wants to kill himself let him do it with his own hands. It is not for me to help him.”"But it was her fault,” said Madubogwu. "She ought to have gone to an honest herbalist. She was a clever woman, nevertheless.”"She was a wicked murderess,” said Jonathan who rarely argued with his neighbours because, he often said, they were incapable of reasoning. "The medicine was prepared for her husband, it was his name they called in its preparation and I am sure it would have been perfectly beneficial to him. It was wicked to put it into the herbalist’s food, and say you were only trying it out.”

Which questions may be applied to a literary analysis from a historical approach? Select two options.

Read the passage from "Marriage Is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe. The first paragraph is a letter that Okeke sends to his son Nnaemeka.I have found a girl who will suit you admirably—Ugoye Nweke, the eldest daughter of our neighbour, Jacob Nweke. She has a proper Christian upbringing. When she stopped schooling some years ago, her father (a man of sound judgment) sent her to live in the house of a pastor where she has received all the training a wife could need. Her Sunday School teacher has told me that she reads her Bible very fluently. I hope we shall begin negotiations when you come home in December.On the second evening of his return from Lagos Nnaemeka sat with his father under a cassia tree. This was the old man’s retreat where he went to read his Bible when the parching December sun had set and a fresh, reviving wind blew on the leaves.

Read the passage from "Marriage Is a Private Affair" by Chinua Achebe. In this conversation, Nnaemeka speaks first, and Nene speaks second."You have lived in Lagos all your life, and you know very little about people in remote parts of the country.”"That’s what you always say. But I don’t believe anybody will be so unlike other people that they will be unhappy when their sons are engaged to marry.”"Yes. They are most unhappy if the engagement is not arranged by them. In our case it’s worse—you are not even an Ibo.”This was said so seriously and so bluntly that Nene could not find speech immediately. In the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city it had always seemed to her something of a joke that a person’s tribe could determine whom he married.At last she said, "You don’t really mean that he will object to your marrying me simply on that account? I had always thought you Ibos were kindly disposed to other people.”"So we are. But when it comes to marriage, well, it’s not quite so simple. And this,” he added, "is not peculiar to the Ibos. If your father were alive and lived in the heart of Ibibio-land he would be exactly like my father.”

Read the passage from "Marriage Is a Private Affair” by Chinua Achebe."Father,” began Nnaemeka suddenly, "I have come to ask for forgiveness.”"Forgiveness? For what, my son?” he asked in amazement."It’s about this marriage question.”"Which marriage question.”"I can’t—we must—I mean it is impossible for me to marry Nweke’s daughter.”"Impossible? Why?” asked his father."I don’t love her.”"Nobody said you did. Why should you?” he asked."Marriage today is different . . .”"Look here, my son,” interrupted his father, "nothing is different. What one looks for in a wife are a good character and a Christian background.”Nnaemeka saw there was no hope along the present line of argument."Moreover,” he said, "I am engaged to marry another girl who has all of Ugoye’s good qualities, and who . . .”His father did not believe his ears. "What did you say?” he asked slowly and disconcertingly."She is a good Christian,” his son went on, "and a teacher in a Girls’ School in Lagos.”"Teacher, did you say? If you consider that a qualification for a good wife, I should like to point out to you, Emeka, that no Christian woman should teach. St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says that women should keep silence.”

Read the passage from "Marriage Is a Private Affair” by Chinua Achebe. It is a conversation between a woman named Nene and her fiancé, Nnaemeka. In this excerpt, Nnaemeka is the first to speak."You have lived in Lagos all your life, and you know very little about people in remote parts of the country.”"That’s what you always say. But I don’t believe anybody will be so unlike other people that they will be unhappy when their sons are engaged to marry.”"Yes. They are most unhappy if the engagement is not arranged by them. In our case it’s worse—you are not even an Ibo.”This was said so seriously and so bluntly that Nene could not find speech immediately. In the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city it had always seemed to her something of a joke that a person’s tribe could determine whom he married.At last she said, "You don’t really mean that he will object to your marrying me simply on that account? I had always thought you Ibos were kindly disposed to other people.”"So we are. But when it comes to marriage, well, it’s not quite so simple. And this,” he added, "is not peculiar to the Ibos. If your father were alive and lived in the heart of Ibibio-land he would be exactly like my father.”