CSEC ENGLISH
Hello there! We are still studying Walcott’s wonderful play, Ti Jean and His Brothers, for those of you preparing to write English B. And for all of you we have some revision exercises on the “agreement” of subject and verb. Read on, and enjoy!
ENGLISH B - Ti-Jean and His Brothers
You are aware, of course, that ours is a history of colonialism. Under colonial rule, we were given to understand that Western culture was superior. How does Walcott address this kind of thinking in his play? Walcott recognises that our Caribbean culture admittedly owes much to Europe, but it ALSO owes much to Africa, India, and China, and to the Indigenous peoples who were here long before Columbus arrived. In his play we see him acknowledging and responding to these various influences.
Allusion to Greek Tragedy.
Do not be surprised when, at the beginning of the play, we hear Frog saying, ‘Greek-croak,’ and apologising for his sneeze by saying, ‘Aeschylus me!’ What is going on? It’s a literary joke: Walcott is alluding to the famous Greek dramatist. But the question is: Why? And why would he put this allusion to a great Greek playwright into the mouth of a frog? Perhaps Walcott is suggesting that it’s not only the famous Greek heroes who knew about tragedy, but ordinary, humble people experience tragedy too— and sometimes ordinary, humble people (like TiJean) perform heroic deeds. Carib-bean heroes, Walcott seems to be saying, are just as grand as any hero from Ancient Greece and our sufferings and our triumphs are just as important on the world stage. The Prologue of the play is a dramatic form taken from Greek tragedy. It is known as the Chorus—a kind of narrative that tells us what the play is going to be about.
Allusion to folklore—both European and Caribbean.
Greek tragedy (like Italian opera and orchestral symphonies) is highbrow. But Walcott chooses ALSO to draw on the folk tradition. His story of three brothers faced with a challenge follows a pattern that you have met in many children’s stories (usually the youngest brother is rewarded with a pot of gold or by marriage to a beautiful princess!) Those stories are common in the European tradition. Papa Bois (the guardian of the forest), though, and Diablesse are drawn from our Caribbean folk traditions, while in St Lucia (Walcott’s birthplace) the Dance of Devils is a popular part of Carnival. We see, then, that Walcott juxtaposes his allusion to Greek tragedy with his use of folklore as if to say that neither form is superior; all are products of the human imagination.
Variety of language.
We’ve seen that Walcott is implying that folk wisdom is just as valuable as classical learning. Now we will see that he makes use of a wide range of language registers. At times the Devil speaks like a university professor, but he also slips into vulgar language too. Silly Mi-Jean, trying to sound learned, uses lots of clever vocabulary, but that only makes him look even more silly. Standard English is juxtaposed with St Lucian patois, ‘Bai Diable-là manger un ‘ti mamaille’, and lyrical poetry is heard alongside ugly racial slurs. It seems that Walcott insists that Caribbean people are the richer for being able to draw on the many cultures that have fed into our heritage, and he celebrates this cosmopolitan diversity.
FINDING THE REAL SUBJECT
Sometimes a verb is separated from its subject by several words. Always check back to find the real subject. Here is an example: THE LOCAL DOCTOR, who is in charge of two clinics and a total of 11 nurses, HAS gone on leave. Although the verb HAS is next to the plural word “nurses”, it actually refers to the subject “doctor”, and so is singular. In this example, the clause “who is in charge of two clinics and a total of 11 nurses” is in parenthesis. This means that the whole clause could be taken out of the sentence, and the sentence would still make sense. Try it and see. Some other parenthetical items that are similar to that clause are as follows: “Along with”, “together with”, “as well as”, “accompanied by”, “in addition to”.
Here is a simple summary of what we have just explained:
● Tom and Anand ARE coming tonight. (Tom and Anand = plural subject)
● ●
Tom, along with Anand, IS coming tonight. Tom, as well as Anand, IS coming tonight. Study these two sentences: Ameeka is one of the students who HAVE chosen to study French. (Several students HAVE chosen = plural)
Ameeka is the only one of the students who HAS chosen to study French. (Only Ameeka HAS = singular) Here is an exercise to help you revise what you have just learnt about making the verb agree with the subject. Select the correct form of the verb from the pair in italics.
1. The club’s president, along with several senior members, at the airport to welcome their counterparts from Trinidad.
was/were
2. Colin is one of the technicians who was/were dissatisfied with the proposals made for upgrading the laboratory facilities.
3. Cherille is the only member of the group of objects/object to making Caribbean Studies compulsory.
students who
4. Despite warnings of high tides, the intrepid fisherman, assisted by his two sons, pushes/push off from the shore.
5. His toothbrush, together with some chewing gum, a pack of cards and three rubber bands, tumbles/tumble out as he tips up the bag.
6. An overweight woman and her dog minutes before closing time.
enters/enter
the store just
7. The sound of seagulls screeching and seals barking mingles/mingle with the howling of the wind and the thunderous pounding of the waves.
8. This tribal custom is enforced by strict taboos, the violation of which brings/bring about the death of the offender.
WHO’S/WHOSE? Here we look at some pairs of words that are easily confused. ●
You will feel flattered if someone pays you a COMPLIMENT. An organisation needs its full COMPLEMENT of staff if it is to function efficiently.
The speeding bus hit a STATIONARY tractor. Our office manager forgot to order more STATIONERY.
“WHO’S (Who has) been eating my porridge?” cried Goldilocks. Everyone was sorry for the boy WHOSE father was ill in hospital.
Turn to 6B