An African Elegy

Elegy: A poem of serious reflection, typically a funeral song or a lament for the dead

Theme/Purpose

Poet's Language

The purpose of the poem is to teach gratitude, specifically a Westernized society.

The overall theme statement is that obstacles of life can be overcome by being grateful for what you have, and maintaining an optimistic viewpoint.

Mood and Tone

• Uses vivid imagery to create a peaceful picture "And that we never curse the air when it is warm Or the fruit when it tastes so good Or the lights that bounce gently on the waters"
• Asks rhetorical questions: "Do you see the mystery of our pain?"
• Ends with strong words/ phrases ex. "I too have heard the dead singing."

Mood of the poem: Gratefulness and hope

• "We are precious. And one day our suffering Will turn into the wonders of the earth"
• "We bless things even in our pain. We bless them in silence"
• "There are secret miracles at work. That only time will bring forth."
• "They tell me to live it gently, With fire, and always with hope. There is wonder here."
• " The ocean is full of songs. The sky is not an enemy. Destiny is our friend."

Tone: Gratitude, each stanza ends with a proclamation of gratitude

An African Elegy

Secondary Source

Discussion

Ben Okri

• Why do you believe the author felt he had to address and teach the topic of gratitude?
• Do you think it was the right choice to direct this message specifically to a Westernized society?

'Although the desire for more can be overpowering, it is important to maintain feeling of gratitude and gratefulness in one's daily life'

Stanza 4

personification- gives the air the human quality of memory, and music the quality of sweetness

That is why our music is so sweet.

It makes the air remember.

There are secret miracles at work

That only Time will bring forth.

I too have heard the dead singing.

personification- giving time a God-like persona, allowing for Time to work miracles

Elegy- typically a funeral song or lament for the dead.

personification- bringing life back to the dead

Stanza 6

Shows that there is more than what people are seeing on the surface

And there is surprise

In everything the unseen moves.

The ocean is full of songs.

The sky is not an enemy.

Destiny is our friend.

Metaphors- finalizes that there is happiness behind the negativity that the world sees

This stanza summarizes the concept that there is always beauty within pain.

Stanza 5

More positive connotation in this stanza, because it's near the end of the poem, giving an overall positive association to the poem

And they tell me that

This life is good

They tell me to live it gently

With fire, and always with hope.

There is wonder here

Metaphor (Symbolizes the poverty and desert of their community, they have turned into a mysterious wonderful place)

The mood or atmosphere is very positive and gives off a feeling of gratitude.

Stanza 1

• metaphor- direct comparison of people being miracles of creation

Stanza 3

Imagery- bitter is negative, however fruit is positive. Shows that throughout time we will experience both the good and the bad

do not take natural luxuries for granted

positive imagery

And that we never curse the air when it is warm

Or the fruit when it tastes so good

Or the lights that bounce gently on the waters?

We bless things even in our pain.

We bless them in our silence.

personification: lights do not bounce, shows imagery

• Positive/Negative connotation

be grateful for what you have, even if you are suffering

• shows they are grateful for what they have with positive connotation
• negative connotation shows they are suffering

An African Elegy

Structure and Rhythm

There is no rhyme scheme.

• To be serious.
• To show true gratefulness.
• About poverty.
• Structure allows for the mood to change or develop through each stanza, to help support the theme. (hope and pain to well-being and gratitude)

We are the miracles that God made

To taste the bitter fruit of Time.

We are precious.

And one day our suffering

Will turn into the wonders of the earth.

Imagery- "precious" visualize something fragile/small. Something that needs protection.

That is why our music is so sweet.

It makes the air remember.

There are secret miracles at work

That only Time will bring forth.

I too have heard the dead singing.

And they tell me that

This life is good

They tell me to live it gently

With fire, and always with hope.

There is wonder here

And there is surprise

In everything the unseen moves.

The ocean is full of songs.

The sky is not an enemy.

Destiny is our friend.

We are the miracles that God made

To taste the bitter fruit of Time.

We are precious.

And one day our suffering

Will turn into the wonders of the earth.

There are things that burn me now

Which turn golden when I am happy.

Do you see the mystery of our pain?

That we bear poverty

And are able to sing and dream sweet things

And that we never curse the air when it is warm

Or the fruit when it tastes so good

Or the lights that bounce gently on the waters?

We bless things even in our pain.

We bless them in silence.

personification- Giving the earth human qualities, and one day the suffering of the people will become a part of the beauty of earth, adding to complexity as you would a person.

Stanza 2

Speaking to a Westernized society.

Rhetorical question (figure of speech to convey the theme of the poem)

There are things that burn me now

Which turn golden when I am happy.

Do you see the mystery of our pain?

That we bear poverty

And are able to sing and dream sweet things

Point of view from the average African citizen in a poverty driven society.

Gives insight the poem takes place in the 1980's to 1990's when african poverty first became an epidemic.

• Negative/ Positive Connotation

• Stanza ends with positive connotation, to allow the positive feel to outweigh the negative feeling.