THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA, PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE-RALG

FORM THREE SEPTEMBER MID–TERM EXAMINATIONS

024 LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

(For Both Private and School Candidates)

Time: 3:00 Hours Year: 2026

Instructions

1. This paper consists of sections A, B and C with a total of eleven (11) questions.
2. Answer all questions in sections A and B and two (2) questions from section C of which question number nine (9) is compulsory.
3. Section A carries sixteen (16) marks, section B fifty four (54) marks and section C carries thirty (30) marks.
4. Cellular phones and any unauthorized materials are not allowed in the examination room.
5. Write your Name in Full on every page of your answer booklet(s).

SECTION A (16 Marks)

Answer all questions in this section

1. For each of the items (i) – (x) choose the correct answer from among the given alternatives and write its letter besides the item number in the answer booklet(s) provided.

(i) A short, pithy saying that expresses a traditionally held truth or piece of advice based on common sense or experience is known as:

1. Riddle 
2. Proverb
3. Parable 
4. Fable
5. Myth

(ii) ……………is a puzzle or joke in which you ask a question that seems to be nonsense but which has a clever or amusing answer.

1. Idiom 
2. Satire
3. Sarcasm 
4. Riddle
5. Euphemism

(iii) Ngugi is writing a new novel about a boy who was born in 1960, graduated in 1983 married in 1985, and died in 2020. Which plot is Ngugi using?

1. Chronological plot 
2. Flashback
3. Flash-forward
4. Foreshadowing
5. Mixed plot

(iv) In my novel I began by saying “My name is Toundi Ondoua. I was born in a family of Mr. and Mrs. Ondoua.” Which point of view am I using?

1. First person point of view 
2. Second person point of view
3. Third person point of view 
4. Limited third person point of view
5. Omniscient point of view

(v) “What has independence brought us? Where is the land? Where are schools for our children?” These questions are called:

1. Tag questions 
2. Questionnaires
3. Rhetorical questions 
4. Rhetorical figures 
5. Figures of speech

(vi) Kimambo has written a poem that violates/breaks some grammatical rules in order to achieve a poetic effect. He has employed?

1. New style 
2. Poetic criticism
3. Poor grammar 
4. Poetic license
5. Poetic invention

(vii) A set of beliefs or an attitude to life that guides author’s behaviour is known as:

1. Philosophy of the writer 
2. Philosophy of the reader
3. Crisis
4. Conflict
5. Theme

(viii) One of the following elements does not belong to form. That is:

1. Characterizations
2. Setting
3. Language use 
4. Message
5. Plot

(ix) A figure of speech that gives a human being the qualities of inanimate or non-living objects for example; “The man’s stony hands caused him to drop the plate he was holding.” is called:

1. Depersonification
2. Personification
3. Metaphor 
4. Simile
5. Metonym

(x) Identify the figure of speech which enables a reader to form a mental picture.

1. Hyperbole 
2. Simile
3. Imagery 
4. Allusion
5. Personification

2. Match the items in List A with their responses in List B by writing the letter of the correct response besides the item number in the answer booklet(s) provided.

SECTION B (54 Marks)

Answer all questions in this section

3. Provide a term that stands for each of the following expressions:

(i) A soothing song, poem or piece of music that is usually sung to make a baby sleep, to calm a baby down when they are crying.

(ii) Juma is now the gentleman of the street to mean that Juma is a thief.

(iii) The process of giving attributes to the characters.

(iv) The superstructure of a literary work.

(v) Mwananchi, I am talking to you

(vi) The sun saw and touched me and I felt it's warm caress

4. Read the following poem and then answer the questions that follow:

A BABY IS A EUROPEAN Ewe (Togo)

A baby is a European

He does not eat our food

He drinks from his own water pot

A baby is a European

He does not speak our tongue

He is cross when the mother understands him not

A baby is a European

He cares very little for others

He forces his will upon his parents

A baby is a European

He is always very sensitive

The slightest scratch on his skin results in an ulcer

Questions.

(a) Briefly explain what is the poem about.

(b) Which language does the baby speak? Give a reason for your answer.

(c) Briefly explain two (2) literary devices found in the poem.

(d) Suggest two (2) lessons you learnt from the poem.

(e) Is this poem relevant to Tanzania today?

5. How does poetry differ from prose? Provide six (6) points.

6. By drawing examples from your experience, explain six (6) differences that exist between Oral literature and written literature.

7. Differentiate the following literary terms:

(a) Simile and metaphor

(b) Literary language and ordinary language

(c) Title of the book and setting of the book

(d) Biography and autobiography

(e) Omniscient point of view and limited point of view

(f) Props and costumes

8. One day Clara met with Barobaro Juma. Clara asked Juma how movies are structured by Actors. He answered "Plot is important" As a form three student and expert of literature, help Clara to understand about plot by explaining shortly its five (5) stages.

SECTION C (30 Marks)

Answer two (2) questions in this section. Question number nine (9) is compulsory

LIST OF READINGS

PLAYS

The Lions and The Jewel – Soyinka, W

The Trials of Brother Jero – Soyinka, W

The Dilemma of Ghost – Aidoo, A. A

The Government Inspector – Gogol, N

NOVELS

A Walk in the Night and other stories – Guma, A

House Boy – Oyono, F

The Old Man and The Medal – Oyono, F

The Concubine – Amadi, E

POETRY

Selected Poems – Tanzania Institute of Education

Growing Up with Poetry – David Rubadiri

9. Poets are the teachers who always speak the truth. Show your arguments with reference to this fact by using two poems you have read. Provide three (3) points from each poem.

10. The elders once said “Nothing that just happen without a driving force behind” Substantiate this quotation in relation to conflicts among people by using two plays of your choice. Provide three (3) points from each play.

11. Novelists play a great role in revealing the ways in which women are portrayed in their societies. Justify this statement by using two novels, citing three (3) points from each novel.

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SECONDARY EXAMINATION SERIES

MID TERM EXAMINATION AUG 2023

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

Time  3 HRS

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper consists of three section A, B and C
2. Answer all questions in section A and B and only two questions in section C
3. Write  your name on every  page of your sheet

                                                SECTION    A (16 MAARKS)

1. Choose the correct answer from the alternative given by writing the correct letter on the space provided

1. The following terms are found in the definition of literature except

1. Art B. Language. C society D. Form E. Messages.      (      )

2.  The creativity of composing the work of art and how he/she used the language is known as?

1. Language B. Art C. Society   D. aesthetics E. relevance      (     )

3. What make literature the work of art?

1. The use of characterization, symbolism, imagery, and plot 
2. The use of characters, exploitation and language.
3. The use of language plot and humiliation
4. The use of dialogue, monologue and customs
5. The use of metaphor, simile, and exploitation             (       )

4. John is the lion this is an example of…..

1. Metaphor   B. Simile C. Euphemism   D. personification  E. Symbolism (   )

5. The following are the function of literature except?

1. Entertain B. Educate    C. Liberate D. Develops language E. erosion    (   )

6.  ………….. is presented through written form

1. Simile   B. Written literature C.  Oral literature D. Metaphor    (   )

7. Refers to things said to cause amusement or laughter

1. Parable B. jokes C. Fable D. Idioms E simile     (    )

8. The type of literature that includes poetry , plays and novels 

1. Genres B. legends C Parable D. prose  E. Narration    (    )

9. Oral literature is older than written literature because?

1. Undergo changes B. stored in people’s mind C. Its cost full    D. Started since man born  (     )

10.  A person who compose a poem is known as

1. Persona   B. Poet C. Rhyme D. narrator   E. novelist  (    )

2. Match the items in LIST A with those in LIST B by writing the letter of the correct answer besides the item number.

 SECTION B     (54 MARKS)

3. Read the following poems and then answer the questions that follow

BUILDING THE NATION

By Christopher H. M. Barlow (Uganda)

Today I did my share

In building the nation.

I drove the permanent secretary

To an important urgent function

In fact, to a luncheon at the Vic.

The menu reflected its importance

Cold Bell beer with small talk,

Then fried chicken with niceties

Wine to fill the hollowness of the laughs

Ice-ream to cover the stereotype jokes

Coffee to keep the PS awake on return journey.

I drove the permanent secretary back.

He yawned many times in the back of the car

Then to keep awake, he suddenly asked,

Did you have any lunch friend?

I replied looking straight ahead

And secretly smiling at his belated concern

That I had not, but was sliming!

Upon which he said with a seriousness

That amused more than annoyed me,

Mwananchi, I too had none!

 I attended to matters of state.

Highly delicate diplomatic duties you know,

And friend, it goes against my grain,

Causes me stomach ulcers and wind.

Ah, he continued, yawning again,

The pains we suffer in building the nation!

So the PS had ulcers too!

My ulcers I think are equally painful

Only they are caused by hunger,

No sumptuous lunches!

So two nation builders

Arrived home this evening

With terrible stomach pains

The result of building the nation –

   -Different ways. 

Questions 

a.    What is the poem about?

b.    Who is the persona? How do you know?

c.    Suggest three literary and poetic devices used in the poem.

d.    What is the tone and mood of the poem?

e.    What type of the poem is this?

f.    mention two themes found in the poems.

4. Which literary term is being described by each of the following characteristics?

 (a) The references (quotations) which are made by the literary writers from either bible or any other known statement.

 (b) The story started by showing a gun and later on one of the characters uses it to kill his brother.

 (c) A character who changes his or her behaviour throughout the story.

 (d) Use of conjunctions to compare two unlike things 

 (e) A type of oral literature in which most of characters are animal

5. What are the possible five (5) challenge’s facing oral literature. 

6. With vivid examples differentiate the following literary terms

1. Form and content
2. Stage direction and episode
3. Diction and point of view
4. Riddle and proverbs
5. Oral literature and written literature

7.“Literary devices are important in literature” support this question with four (4) points

SECTION C (30 MARKS)

Answer only two questions from  this section. 

8. “language and literature are two sides of the same coin” Discuss (six point)
9. Imagine that you have gone home. For the holiday and you meet your friend who is studying PCM at Sengerema secondary school. You tell her that you are studying literature in English and she says “The study of literature is the wastage of time”. Prove her wrong by using six (6) point
10. You are walking to the school library and you meet your friends who are taking science subjects arguing that there is no any difference between poetry and other literary works like novels and plays. As a literature in English student give them six (6) points to solve the conundrum

THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH MIDTERM EXAMINATION

Time: 3 Hours Year: 2022

Instructions

1. This paper consists of sections A, B and C with a total of ten (10) questions.

2. Answer all questions from sections A and B and three (3) questions from section C of which questions 7 and 8 are compulsory.

3. Section A carries fifteen (15) marks, section B forty (40) marks and section C carries forty five (45) marks.

4. Cellular phones and any unauthorized materials are not allowed in the examination room.

5. Write your Examination Number on every page of your answer booklet(s).

SECTION A (15 Marks)

Answer all questions in this section.

1. For each of the items (i) - (x), choose the correct answer from among the given alternatives and write its letter beside the item number in the answer booklet provided.

(i) The following terms are found in Literature, which one is not?

1. Drama
2. Mood
3. Persona
4. Personal
5. Act

(ii) Bughati wrote a story revolving around Mzungu’s life. How do you call that story?

1. History
2. novel
3. Play
4. Biography
5. Autobiography

(iii) “You are very smart in class; you scored 2% in the examination”. What literary concept can the statement refer to?

1. Irony
2. Repetition
3. Assonance
4. Poetic license
5. Diction

(iv) One of the following information is true about fables, which one is it?

1. It is a written literature
2. It uses animals to express morals
3. It can be sung or recited
4. It talks about heroes who lived in the past
5. It explains the origin of an occurrence

(v) Hamsa wanted to please Judith; he compared her to Miss Tanzania use the phrase “like”. What aspect of literature did he provoke?”

1. Metonymy
2. Irony
3. Simile
4. Diction
5. Exaggeration

(vi) One of the following features differentiates play from other literary genres. Identify it

1. Play is emotional in nature
2. Play is musical in nature
3. Play employs excessive use of figures of speech
4. Play is a narrative
5. Play is lengthy in terms of content

(vii) In a situation whereby a work of literature is written using some aspects of freedom, especially in poetry, what terminology describes this?

1. Open poem
2. Point of view
3. Literary style
4. Literary freedom
5. Poetic license

(viii) ______ is a group of lines in a poem

1. Stanza
2. Verse
3. Sonnet
4. Ballad
5. Closed form

(ix) A lengthy fictitious narrative is known as________

1. Play
2. Novel
3. Short story
4. Poetry
5. Fiction

(x) Onomatopoeia is associated with _____

1. Rhythm
2. Genre
3. Title
4. Character
5. Sounds

2. Match the descriptions in List A with the corresponding answers in List B by writing the letter of the correct response beside the item number in the answer booklet(s) provided.

SECTION B (40 Marks)

Answer all questions in this section.

3. Write short notes for following literary expressions

(a) Poetry is musical in nature

(b) Literature is basically divided into three genres

(c) Characters are representation of real people in a story

(d) Figures of speech are important literary tools

(e) Literature and society are inseparable

4. Read the following poem and then answer the questions that follow:

I am Nobody – Emily Dickinson

I am nobody! Who are you?

Are you – Nobody – too?

Then there’s a pair of us!

Don’t tell they’d banish us- you know!

How dreary- to be – Somebody!

How public – like a Frog –

To tell your name – the livelong June-

To an admiring Bog!

Questions

(a) What is the poem about?

(b) Who is the persona in this poem is this?

(c) List and explain two figurative languages used in this poem.

(d) Explain how the title of the poem is relevant to its context.

(e) What message can one find in the poem?

5. Compare and contrast the following literary terms

(a) Persona and character.

(b) Theme and relevance.

(c) Fairy tale and myth.

(d) Hypocrisy and exploitation

(e) Form and content

6. Write down factors that make poetry unique from other literary genres.

(a) Poetry ……………..

(b) Poetry …...........

(c) Poetry …………..

(d) Poetry …………...

(e) Poetry …………..

SECTION C (45 Marks)

Answer three (3) questions from this section. Question 7 and 8 are compulsory.

LIST OF READINGS

Plays

• The Lion and the Jewel - Soyinka, W.
• The Trials of Brother Jero - Soyinka, W.
• The Dilemma of a Ghost - Aidoo, A.A.
• The Government Inspector - Gogol, N.

Novels

• A Walk in the Night and Other Stories - Guma, A.
• Houseboy - Oyono, F.
• The Old Man and the Medal - Oyono, F.
• The Concubine - Amadi, E.

Poetry

• Selected poem - Tanzania Institute of Education
• Growing up with poetry - David Rubadiri

7. Conflict is something inevitable in our societies. Support this statement with two novels that you have read by giving three points from each novel.

8. Explain how poetry portrays our social lives. Use two poems, each with three points for your explanation.

9. Use two plays that you have attempted under this programme and explain how misunderstandings between characters have led to conflict in our respective societies.

10. Explain in details, the playwrights’ intention for writing the play “The Government Inspector” by Nikolai N. Gogol.