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

FORM FOUR SEPTEMBER MID–TERM EXAMINATIONS

LITERATURE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

TIME: 3:00 HOURS — SEPTEMBER, 2026

INSTRUCTIONS

1. This paper consists of section A, B and C with a total of eleven (11) questions.
2. Answer all questions in section A and B and Two (2) questions from section C.
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 examination number on every page of your answer booklet.

SECTION A (16 MARKS)

Answer all questions in this section

SECTION B (54 MARKS)

Answer all questions in this section

SECTION C (30 MARKS)

Answer two (02) questions from this section

PLAYS

• The Lion and the Jewel — Wole Soyinka.
• Trials of Brother Jero — Wole Soyinka.
• Dilemma of the Ghost — Ama Atta Aidoo.
• The Government Inspector — N. Gogol.

NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES

• A Walk in the Night — Alex La Guma.
• House Boy — Ferdinand Oyono.
• The Concubine — Elechi Amadi.
• The Old Man and the Medal — Ferdinand Oyono.

POETRY

• Selected Poems — Tanzania Institute of Education.
• Growing Up with Poetry — David Rubadiri.

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SECONDARY EXAMINATION SERIES

MID TERM EXAMINATION AUG/SEPT 2024

FORM FOUR LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

Time  3HRS

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 Marks)

  Answer all questions in this section.

1. For each of the items  (i)-(x), choose  the correct answer among the given alternatives and   

     write its letter beside the item number in the answer booklet provided

i) Joshua read a play called “Kinjeketile” which addresses the event of “The Majimaji war” that really happened in the history of the then Tanganyika involving the southern tribes under the leadership of Kinjeketile Ngwale. What kind of a play did he read?

1.              Melo drama.
2.               Tragic comedy drama.
3.              Tragedy drama.
4.             Historical drama.
5.               Comedy drama.

ii) The beauty is brought into literature through language. This beauty found in literature 

     is referred as                                                                                                                                             

1.              Creativity
2.               Message
3.              Art
4.             Aesthetic
5.               Society

iii) ‘He wasn’t slow to accept the offer’ – meaning he was quick to accept the offer. This 

      statement best describes:- 

1.              A personification.
2.               An overstatement.
3.              A litotes.
4.             An understatement.
5.               An irony.

     iv)    One of the following is not a feature of oral literature

1.              it is expressed through the word of mouth
2.               it existed before the invention of writing
3.              it relies on the story teller who performs it in front of the audience
4.             it has only three genres
5.               it involves actual communication between performer and the audience

v) Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan describes Dr Ally Hassan Mwinyi’s life. This writing is an example of:- 

1.              Fiction
2.               Episode
3.              Epic
4.             Autobiography
5.               Biography

vi) A somber song or lament expressing mourning or grief, such as would be appropriate for performance at a funeral is called:-

1.              Ode
2.               Dirge
3.              Epic
4.             Iamb
5.               Lyric

vii) In a play “The lion and the jewel” the beautiful girl of ilujinle “Sidi” is invited by the village Chief Baroka to sup with him, she is blackmailed by him that he is impotent and so she agrees, though finally she find out that Baroka is not impotent as she is raped. Which of the literary terms below best describes the scenario existed?

1.              Point of view
2.               Verbal irony
3.              Situational irony
4.             Satire
5.               Dramatic irony

viii) Last week our Literature in English teacher asked every one of us to write a story that explains why tortoise’s shell is not smooth. What type of oral narratives did the teacher tell us to write?

1.              Fable
2.               Folklore
3.              Folktale
4.             Myth
5.               Legend

ix) When I was in Form Three, I read a novel in which the author had used witches, elves, goblins, sorcerers, dwarves and fairies as its characters. What kind of novel is this?

1.              Mystery
2.               Fantasy
3.              Romantic
4.             Science fiction
5.               Historical

x) The following are the importance of stage directions in a play or drama except:-

1.              They help the playwright to instruct the actors or actresses on what to do while on stage.
2.               They help the reader to understand the play, characters and setting of the play.
3.              They provide privacy to the actors/actresses
4.             They describe how characters should feel and show their feelings.
5.               They indicate when and how the characters enter and exit.

2. Match the descriptions in LIST A with the corresponding common terms used in plays in LIST B by writing the letter of the correct response beside the item number in the answer booklet(s) provided.

SECTION B (54 marks)

Answer all questions in this section

3.  Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow:

    Time of Martyrdom           - David Diop.

    The white killed my father

    My father was proud

    The white raped my mother

    My mother was beautiful.

     The white beat my brother under the sun of the roads

     My brother was strong

     The white turned with black blood.

     His hands red with black blood.

     And said in his master’s voice

     “Boy” an easy chair, a towel, water!

                    QUESTIONS.

1.                  What is the poem about?
2.                 What type of poem is this? Give a reason to your answer.
3.                  Briefly explain two themes found in the poem.
4.                 Briefly explain two poetic devices used in the poem
5.                  Is this poem relevant to your society?
6.                    What is the tittle of the poem?

4. What are the possible challenges facing oral literature as a result of the advancement of science and technology? Give six (6) points.

5. Write the correct answer for each of the items (a) – (f) in the answer booklet provided.

1.                  Why is the title of the literary work important?
2.                 What makes literature inseparable from the society?
3.                  How can allusion be applied in a literally works?
4.                 Why do poets use simile in their works?
5.                  Why do writers use personification in their works?
6.                    How is the style important to a novelist?

6. Explain six (6) basic features that differentiate play from other genres.

7. Write short answer for each of the item (a) – (f) in the answer booklet provided:

1.                  The most existing part of event of a narrative in which suspense and tension are resolved.
2.                 A short interesting story about a real person or event.
3.                  A puzzling question, statement or description especially one which intends to test the respondents cleverness.
4.                 Displays of humor whose words I narratives or dialogue make the audience laugh.
5.                  Why is the exposition important in the development of plot in a literary work?
6.                    When the author uses Flashback as one of the techniques of literature. How does her/ his work expected to be?

8.  As Form four student you have met your friend James who is studying Literature in English in Form three but he is not able to distinguish the following literary concept. How can you help him by giving him relevant examples?

1.                  Play and Drama
2.                 Fiction and non fiction
3.                  Ordinary language and consonance
4.                 Poet and persona
5.                  Figurative language and Literal language
6.                    Poetic license and Poetic devices

SECTION C: (30)Marks

Answer two (2) questions from this section.

9. Analyse the use of musical/sound devices in two poems you have read and appreciated. Give three points from each poem.

10. With reference of THE DILEMA OF THE GHOST and THE LION AND JEWEL, Culture is said to be dynamic, there are some of traditions and customs which are outdated, do you agree or disagree? prove your arguments with the support of the books. (Give 03-points for each).

11. With reference from TWO novels you have read, choose two PROTAGONISTS one from each book and show why we should sympathize with them (Give 03-points from each character).