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Wetu the black cow is dead. The people are saddened as they remember her and how she had enriched
their lives. We also learn of a possible reason for her death.
ABOUT THE POET
Francis Carey Slater was born near Alice in 1876, the grandson of an 1820 settler.
He received some of his schooling at Lovedale College, a seminary about 13 kilometres from Alice that
had been created as early as 1841 to educate black children but which did at times enrol the occasional
white child.
Carey's formative years in the Alice area were at a time of great hardship for the rural community. The
young poet was therefore deeply immersed in the tragedy of disease and drought -- the theme of this
poem.
Upon leaving the college, he took up work with the Standard Bank -- a pre-eminent institution in the
Eastern Cape -- where he rose eventually to the position of manager at the Graham's Town branch.
Upon taking early retirement, he moved to Cape Town but maintained his link with the Eastern Cape as
his source of inspiration while he continued to perfect his poetic skills.
Slater is regarded as the first English-speaking South African to write real poetry rather than simple verse.
He grew up with the African people, and wrote of them "as he knew them, with familiarity and
conviction".
His poetry has been described as having "real inventiveness" and "a sensual awareness of his
subjects that lead to the coining of fresh images". It is said that he often evoked "a uniquely South
African experience by image and rhythm".
He died in 1958 at the age of 82.
Have you looked at the questions in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer the following questions:
"No more will she face yapping curs
With lowered horns and bewildered eyes;
No more will her slow shadow
Comfort the sunburnt veld, and her sweet lowing
Delight the hills in the evening."
- What is onomatopoeia? Find TWO examples of onomatopoeia in these
lines. (2)
[Need help?]
Onomatopoeia is the use of a word which sounds like the noise it is describing, e.g. the buzzing
of the bees or "igandaganga" which is the Zulu word for a tractor because it sounds like an old
tractor motor.
"Yapping" and "lowing" are both examples of onomatopoeia.
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- What is a "cur"? Why is this word more suitable in the context of this poem than, say,
"dog"? (4)
[Need help?]
A "cur" is a mongrel dog. The word is much more suitable in the context of this poem because one
would seldom find a thoroughbred dog in the rural areas of South Africa.
Moreover, the word "cur" carries with it a tone of ultimate disdain. When compared to the cow
whom everyone loved, the dog that is annoying her becomes a loathsome creature, a "cur".
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- In what way could the cow's shadow "comfort" the "sunburnt veld"? (2)
[Need help?]
The cow's shadow acts like an umbrella to the veld, giving it comfort in much the same way as an
umbrella would give comfort to a sunbather who has had too much sun.
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"The fountain that filled our calabashes
Has been drained by a thirsty sun;
The black cloud that brought us white rain
Has vanished -- the sky is empty;
Our kraal is desolate;
Our calabashes are dry:
And we weep."
- One source explains that these lines reveal "the cause of Wetu's death". Is this true? What
else could be the purpose of these lines? (4)
[Need help?]
It is possible that Wetu died because of the drought. These lines certainly do paint a picture of a serious
drought: thirsty sun, rain clouds vanished, desolate kraal, calabashes dry.
On the other hand, it is also possible that the poet is using the drought as an image for Wetu's death. Just
as everyone feels spiritually dead at a time of drought -- "we weep" -- so do they now feel
spiritually dead because of Wetu's death.
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- Comment on the rhythm of these lines. What is the purpose of the noticeable shortening of the last
four lines? (2)
[Need help?]
The noticeable shortening of the lines is there for a purpose. Is it to portray a picture of the people not
being able to catch their breaths because of their heartbreak -- perhaps to portray their sobbing?
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Contrast the poet's use of rich similes throughout this poem with the short stabbing statements at the
conclusion. (4)
[Need help?]
The rich poetry of the early lines is possibly meant to convey the happy memories they have of Wetu. The
poet and the people think back to happy times, and this is expounded through rich imagery.
Ultimately, however, the sadness of her death reduces them to tears. The happy memories cease and
they give way to short, stabbing sobs.
The poet uses a flowing style at the beginning which captures the idea of the abundance during the good
times but followed by the short, stabbing lines at the end to indicate drought, death and sorrow.
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If you were to write a short essay on this poem to explain its most important features, what points would
you explain? (10)
[Need help?]
There are many things you could talk about but here are some features you need to expand upon:
- The poet's use of rich imagery, and his use of similes and not metaphors -- and why;
- The visual effect of the poem -- how does the poet achieve this? (Hint: it has to do with his use of
similes.)
- The social aspect of the poem: how does the author relate the poem to its cultural location?
- The climatic conditions which may have killed the cow but which the poet also seems to use as a
vehicle for explaining their bitter anguish at her death;
- The switch from a flowing style at the beginning into a series of short, staccato lines towards the
end;
- Anything else that is worth talking about?
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Carey's poetry has been described as having "real inventiveness" and "a sensual awareness
of his subjects that lead to the coining of fresh images".
- Would you agree with this statement? Explain your answer carefully. (10)
[Need help?]
The answer to this question would be very similar to the previous one except, perhaps, you would need
to dwell more heavily on the typically South African words and imagery, as well as the cultural tone of the
poem by placing it clearly within the Eastern Cape and amongst the Xhosa people.
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It is said that the poet evokes "a uniquely South African experience by image and rhythm".
- How does one justify such a statement? (10)
[Need help?]
A similar question to the previous one except that you would need to speak not only of the South African
and Eastern Cape imagery but also dwell on the rhythm of the poem: the flowing style at the beginning
which captures the idea of the abundance during the good times but followed by the short, stabbing lines
at the end to indicate drought, death and sorrow.
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