Page 4: Symbolism and Contrasts

This page delves deeper into the symbolism and contrasts present in the story. The color green, representing hope, is a recurring motif throughout the narrative.

Example: The green-white-green flag and the description of hills as "fresh, the color of spinach" reinforce the theme of hope and new beginnings.

However, the story also presents contrasts to this hopeful tone. The narrator's isolation, expressed through lines like "I told not one. Not even Mother" and "There was nobody to talk to," creates a poignant counterpoint to the public celebration.

The page also introduces the symbolism of the narrator's new leather shoes. These shoes, while new and presumably beautiful, cause pain - a metaphor for the potentially painful process of gaining independence.

Highlight: The juxtaposition of hope and pain, newness and discomfort, reflects the complex reality of Nigeria's independence.

Page 7-8: Conclusion and Exam Questions

The final pages conclude the narrator's monologue and transition into exam questions related to the text. The narrator's closing thoughts reinforce the themes of confusion, isolation, and physical discomfort (represented by her hurting feet) that have run throughout the story.

Highlight: The juxtaposition of national celebration with personal discomfort and uncertainty continues to the very end of the narrative.

The exam questions focus on comprehension and analysis of the text, asking students to summarize key points and analyze narrative techniques. This suggests that the story is being used as a teaching tool to explore Nigeria's history and literary analysis techniques.

Vocabulary: Monologue - A long speech by one character in a story, play, or movie.

These questions encourage students to engage deeply with the text, considering both its historical context and its literary merits.

Page 3: Changing Atmosphere and Symbolism

The third page explores the evolving atmosphere of the story and introduces important symbolism. The initial celebratory mood shifts as the narrator describes the bright sunlight shining on wet streets, creating an almost heavenly scene.

Quote: "It was so bright that [the narrator] could hardly bear to look at them."

This description adds a sense of awe and wonder to the atmosphere, reinforcing the momentous nature of the day. The comparison to the "door to heaven" introduces a spiritual element to the independence celebration.

However, the atmosphere changes again towards the end of the page, as the narrator's personal experience diverges from the public celebration. Her father's change of mind and her mother's refusal to let her join create a sense of confusion and isolation.

Highlight: The contrast between public jubilation and private confusion highlights the complex emotions surrounding independence.