Village People Bessie Head Title focuses on ways

Village People Bessie Head Title focuses on ways in which people practice a form of ubuntu – where they care and support each other. Setting: The 1970 s – Botswana. Area is poor and drought-stricken. Characterised by hardship, poverty, hunger, isolation, heat, …. BUT – this environment seems to bring about the best qualities in humans, viz. kindness, fellowship, fellow-feeling (ubuntu), gentleness, love, …

Characters Main character in each mini-story is the narrator. 1. The old woman – Narrator shows kindness and compassion. The young woman bringing water finds it difficult to communicate. Illumination/insight comes when she realises that the water is a gift. True spirit of Africa – to help others despite own poverty. No greed or self-interest.

Story 2 2. Narrator in ‘Summer Sun’ is young girl who feels pity for families suffering in drought. Sees through lies of politicians.

Cousin, Lebenah, has awaken her to need for change through education. She does not welcome the return of the ‘killing’ sun, but is thankful for quiet evening and love of family.

Summary – main points Not conventional short story. First section – essay format of strange paradoxes in Africa. 1. There is extreme poverty, suffering and resistance to change. 2. YET – there is immense humanity, gentleness, caring. 3. People rely on this comfort.

Summary – main points 4. YET – people confused as how to cope with change. 5. The 2 nd and 3 rd sections are mini-stories to support 1 st. 6. 2 nd = old woman who is hungry. 7. 3 rd = young girl whose family wait for rain. Smooth talking politician raises ‘hope’. 8. Lebanah convinced girl that change is coming – education. 9. Learn English / Geography book …. 10. Evenings become gentle - share family love.

Plot development 1. Begins with discussion about effects of poverty on rural people. 2. Despite hardships, child mortality, … there are rewards – love and warmth. 3. Two mini-stories are used to illustrate her point. 4. Old woman – climax – collapses / rising action – is helped / resolution – bringing water in gratitude. 5. Africa must not be judged by greedy people, BUT by barefoot human kindness. 6. 2 nd story – opening – the drought. Complications – hunger, desperation, not trusting rich politicians. 7. Resolution – reality that acceptance of reality, education, together with family kinship and love are a means of coping with situation.

Themes Humanity - Despite suffering and hardship, some of the best human qualities can emerge. Kindness- although poor – natural caring spirit. Hope – wait for rain / believe that education makes change. Tone and mood is both sad and hopeful. Sadness is in suffering, poverty. The hope lies in ubuntu that wins through / also possible change through education. Style is simple. Figures of speech – old lady is a ‘stalk of corn in the wind’. Personification of Africa as a poor, barefoot person.

Gift of bucket of water – huge – all that they had. Story 3 - wants to break out of cycle of poverty – education. Birds welcome sun – function best in light. Narrator dreads the sun rise – harsh continuation of drought.

Harshness of Mother Nature. Dependence on land to survive. Change – the importance of an education AND also women educated. Change – change attitude towards poverty. Change way of life to adapt to the African sun.

Themes Poverty Effects of drought Infant mortality Fear of change exploitation of women Human kindness Suffering

Need to know • Title: Focuses on the support and care shown to each other by the poverty-stricken village people. • Setting: Drought-stricken rural area of Botswana in the 1970 s • Characterization: • The narrator – Caring; compassionate; concerned about how African people are being treated; feels pity for her family; learns English to improve herself.

Need to know • Essay: The Old Woman – Weak with hunger; unashamed • Strange young woman – Appreciative for kindness shown to her relative – gives the old woman a pale of water (valuable) • Essay: Summer Sun • Family members – mother; grandfather; sister; little brother • Cousin Lebenah – a visionary – Africa will change. Women should improve themselves. Encourages the narrator to learn English. • Politician - deceptive