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IJMB Literature Paper II Questions and Answers
The 2024/2025 IJMB Literature Questions and Answers are now available for complimentary access below.
Number One
(1a)
A Suitable Title for the Passage is “Struggles of a New Beginning”.
(1b)
(i) The fear and anxiety of transitioning from primary to secondary school.
(ii) The loneliness due to separation from old friends and lack of support.
(iii) Emotional pain caused by bullying and ridicule.
(iv) Difficulty in adapting to a new and intimidating school environment.
(v) Feelings of rejection, isolation, and sadness while trying to adjust.
(1c)
(i) Embark: To begin or set out on a new journey or experience.
(ii) Avant-garde world: A new and unfamiliar environment that is modern and different from what one is used to.
(iii) Sadness: A feeling of deep sorrow or unhappiness.
(iv) Ridicule: Being made fun of or mocked in a hurtful way.
(v) Stern: To be serious, strict, and often unfriendly in appearance or manner.
(1d)
Metaphor – It compares emotional pain to a physical sting without using “like” or “as”.
(1e)
They both feel lost, vulnerable, and overwhelmed in a new and unfamiliar world, trying to adjust and find comfort.
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Number Two
(2)
Samuel Selvon’s The Lonely Londoners presents a vivid and deeply human portrayal of the lives of West Indian immigrants in post-war London. The novel captures the emotional, social, and psychological burdens of migration through richly detailed characters, while also highlighting the complexities of adaptation, alienation, and cultural displacement. Through the character of Moses and others, Selvon uses characterization, setting, stream of consciousness, and linguistic innovation to convey the nuanced realities of the immigrant experience.
One of the dominant experiences explored is alienation and loneliness. Selvon illustrates how the city, despite its physical busyness, becomes a cold and isolating space for immigrants. Moses, the central figure, feels increasingly tired and worn down by years of trying to belong. This sense of emotional distance is further developed through his thoughts, which often wander to the futility of life in a land that never truly accepts him. Selvon uses the coldness of the London weather as a symbolic extension of this emotional isolation, drawing a connection between the harsh environment and the psychological desolation of his characters.
Additionally, Selvon highlights the struggles with economic hardship and job insecurity. Many of the characters are forced to take low-paying, unstable jobs that do not match their aspirations or qualifications. This economic limitation not only reinforces their marginal status in society but also frustrates their dreams of social mobility. For example, characters like Galahad and Lewis often find themselves navigating exploitative labor systems while having to suppress their dignity in the face of racism and class discrimination. The use of realistic dialogue and internal monologue allows Selvon to present these challenges in a raw and unfiltered way, grounding them in lived experience.
Furthermore, the novel engages deeply with the theme of identity and displacement. The characters are often caught between two worlds, the memory of the Caribbean and the harshness of the British metropolis. This in-betweenness creates a fractured sense of self, as they are pressured to conform to a society that both needs and rejects them. Through linguistic hybridity, especially the use of Caribbean creole in narration and dialogue, Selvon asserts the authenticity of West Indian identity in a foreign landscape. The use of non-standard English becomes an act of resistance, anchoring the characters to their cultural roots despite the overwhelming forces of assimilation.
Finally, Selvon presents moments of camaraderie and resilience among the immigrant men, who form a surrogate community in the absence of familial or societal support. Their shared experiences of discrimination, longing, and survival build a fragile brotherhood that offers emotional refuge. Through episodic structure and character-driven vignettes, Selvon shows how laughter, storytelling, and small victories become ways of coping with adversity. Despite the underlying melancholy of their existence, there remains an undercurrent of hope and determination that subtly affirms their humanity and endurance.
In sum, Selvon’s portrayal of immigrant experiences in The Lonely Londoners is rich in emotional depth, literary sophistication, and cultural insight. Through the interplay of structure, language, and character, the novel succeeds in capturing the inner and outer battles of those uprooted and re-planted in a land that remains ambivalent to their presence.
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Number Three
(3)
Francis Scott Fitzgerald’s use of the valley of ashes in The Great Gatsby functions as a powerful metaphor that critiques the decay and moral failure behind the façade of the American Dream. Situated between the glittering wealth of West Egg and the bustling city of New York, the valley represents the stark contrast between illusion and reality. Through this desolate and neglected wasteland, Fitzgerald exposes the hidden costs of ambition and the corruption underlying material success. The physical setting becomes a symbolic commentary on the broken promises of a dream that once offered hope and equality.
First, the valley of ashes reflects the decay of social and moral values, where those who are left behind suffer silently in the shadows of wealth. Unlike the glamorous mansions of Gatsby and the Buchanans, this area is filled with ash, dust, and industrial waste. Fitzgerald uses this bleak landscape to reveal how the pursuit of wealth has led to the abandonment of compassion, integrity, and justice. The American Dream, once built on honest labor and personal merit, is shown here to have been reduced to lifeless ambition, leaving those without privilege, like George Wilson, trapped in a cycle of poverty and despair.
Secondly, the valley functions as a symbol of the illusion of equal opportunity. The American Dream promises that hard work leads to success, but the characters who inhabit the valley, such as George and Myrtle Wilson, are stuck in a space of stagnation, despite their efforts. Myrtle longs for upward mobility and tries to escape her class status through an affair with Tom Buchanan, but her tragic fate reveals the harsh truth that the dream is only accessible to a select few. Fitzgerald constructs this physical and symbolic landscape to demonstrate how class boundaries remain rigid, regardless of desire or effort.
Furthermore, Fitzgerald uses the imagery of ashes to symbolize spiritual emptiness and the loss of human purpose in a society driven by consumerism. The valley is not only physically barren but also emotionally sterile, lacking beauty, vitality, or aspiration. It stands as the moral graveyard of a generation that has traded integrity for profit. The industries that generate the ash, the same forces that fuel the economy, leave behind destruction instead of prosperity. Through this imagery, Fitzgerald critiques a society obsessed with material wealth while neglecting its spiritual and ethical foundations.
Finally, the valley of ashes also serves as the stage for the most devastating consequences of the characters’ actions, tying moral failure to literal death. Myrtle’s violent death occurs in this location, emphasizing how dreams are crushed in the very space that symbolizes disillusionment. This setting marks a turning point in the narrative, as Gatsby’s world of illusion begins to unravel, leading to further tragedy. Fitzgerald connects this physical space to the emotional and ethical collapse of the characters, reinforcing the idea that the American Dream is not only unfulfilled but destructive.
Through the valley of ashes, Fitzgerald critiques the myth of the American Dream by exposing the social inequality, moral decay, and spiritual emptiness that lie beneath the surface of wealth and ambition. The valley, in its bleakness and symbolism, becomes the novel’s most haunting reminder that the dream has been corrupted beyond recognition.
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Number Four
(4)
In Sula, Toni Morrison presents Nel Wright as a character whose identity is shaped by deep moral conflicts and emotional struggles. From childhood to adulthood, Nel grapples with the tension between societal expectations and personal desire, which creates a complex internal landscape. These moral dilemmas become central to her growth and relationships, especially her bond with Sula. Morrison uses Nel’s experiences to explore the pressures of conformity, betrayal, guilt, and self-realization within a racially and socially constrained environment.
One of Nel’s first moral challenges arises from the rigid values imposed by her mother, Helene Wright, who emphasizes respectability, discipline, and social order. Nel is taught to suppress her individuality and conform to accepted norms, even at the cost of emotional freedom. However, her friendship with Sula introduces her to a different way of life—one rooted in defiance and self-expression. This tension between control and freedom marks the beginning of Nel’s moral confusion, as she begins to question what is right, not only in society’s terms but also in her own evolving sense of self.
Another major moral dilemma for Nel emerges when Sula sleeps with her husband, Jude. This act of betrayal devastates Nel and leads to the collapse of her marriage. However, Morrison uses this conflict to explore deeper questions of identity and blame. Nel initially frames Sula’s action as unforgivable, but over time, she confronts the emptiness left by both Sula and Jude. Her moral certainty begins to unravel as she realizes that her pain is rooted not just in betrayal but in her own dependence on societal roles, wife, mother, respectable woman. This realization forces Nel to reconsider the meaning of loyalty and the fragility of human relationships.
Nel also faces an internal conflict surrounding the accidental death of Chicken Little, which she witnesses alongside Sula but never fully processes. Though Sula is the one who accidentally causes the boy’s death, Nel’s silence and refusal to speak up reflect a shared guilt. Morrison constructs this moment as a turning point in Nel’s moral development. Her decision to remain silent haunts her subconsciously and contributes to a repressed sense of complicity that resurfaces later in life. The unresolved nature of this event becomes symbolic of Nel’s deeper conflict between external innocence and internal doubt.
By the end of the novel, Nel undergoes a painful but necessary moral reckoning. Years after Sula’s death, she recognizes the profound emotional connection they shared, realizing that her grief and loneliness stem not only from betrayal but from the loss of a part of herself. Morrison shows how Nel’s identity was deeply intertwined with Sula’s, and that her moral judgments had masked a deeper need for connection and understanding. This final awakening marks the collapse of her rigid moral structure and signals a more honest, though melancholic, self-awareness.
Through Nel Wright, Morrison examines how moral dilemmas shape not only personal decisions but also emotional identity and human bonds. Nel’s struggles with conformity, betrayal, guilt, and reconciliation reveal a journey toward self-discovery that is both painful and enlightening. Her moral conflicts do not lead to easy resolutions, but instead open space for complexity, growth, and reflection.
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Number Five
(5)
Toni Morrison’s Sula and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby both examine the theme of friendship through emotionally complex relationships, yet they do so within different cultural contexts and narrative styles. In Sula, friendship is deeply intimate and tied to identity, particularly between Nel and Sula, while in The Great Gatsby, friendship often appears superficial and driven by ambition or social advantage. Despite these differences, both novels reveal how friendship can be a source of emotional support, betrayal, and self-discovery.
In Sula, the friendship between Nel and Sula is built on a deep emotional connection, shared childhood experiences, and mutual understanding. Their bond is almost spiritual, filling emotional gaps left by their rigid families and society. Morrison uses their friendship to explore themes of loyalty, independence, and identity. However, the relationship also experiences betrayal when Sula sleeps with Nel’s husband. Even in conflict, Morrison portrays their bond as one that shapes their inner lives, showing that friendship can be both sustaining and devastating, especially when it challenges conventional boundaries.
By contrast, The Great Gatsby portrays friendship in more transactional and fragile terms. Nick Carraway’s friendship with Gatsby is shaped by admiration, curiosity, and a desire to understand Gatsby’s mysterious life. Gatsby, on the other hand, befriends Nick partly to get closer to Daisy. Fitzgerald constructs their relationship in a world where social climbing and appearances dominate, and loyalty is rarely genuine. The shallow nature of Gatsby’s larger circle, who vanish after his death, highlights how friendships in the novel are often hollow and dependent on wealth and reputation rather than emotional depth.
Despite their different settings, both novels explore betrayal within friendship as a turning point. In Sula, betrayal is personal and emotional, leading to years of silence and reflection. Nel eventually realizes that losing Sula affected her more deeply than losing her husband, revealing the profound impact of that friendship on her identity. In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby’s loyalty is betrayed by Tom, Daisy, and even the social circle he tries to impress, all of whom abandon him when he is most vulnerable. Both authors show how betrayal tests the sincerity of friendship and reveals deeper truths about character and values.
Finally, both Morrison and Fitzgerald use friendship as a mirror to explore the inner conflicts of their characters. Nel and Sula’s friendship becomes a tool for exploring issues of self-worth, womanhood, and moral choice. In a similar way, Nick’s relationship with Gatsby serves as a way to understand ambition, illusion, and disillusionment. The two novels, though distinct in tone and context, use friendship not just as a relationship between people, but as a literary device to uncover emotional and social tensions within their worlds.
In conclusion, Sula and The Great Gatsby treat friendship as a powerful force that shapes identity, reveals personal flaws, and tests moral boundaries. Morrison explores it through intimacy and emotional conflict, while Fitzgerald presents it through social dynamics and unfulfilled longing. Both novels ultimately show that friendship, whether deeply rooted or deceptively shallow, leaves lasting impressions on those who experience it.
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Number Six
(6)
In Xala, Sembene Ousmane employs rich symbolism to expose the moral decay and political failures of the African elite following independence. Through both physical objects and personal experiences, the novel critiques the misuse of authority, the betrayal of cultural values, and the false promises of modernity. Ousmane’s use of symbolic elements is not just decorative, it is central to his condemnation of how those in power have replicated the very systems of oppression they once opposed.
The most prominent symbol in the novel is the “xala” itself, the unexplained impotence that afflicts El Hadji after marrying his third wife. This physical condition represents the spiritual and moral impotence of the ruling elite. El Hadji, who is wealthy and influential, suddenly finds himself powerless in the most private aspect of his life. Ousmane uses this personal failure as a wider metaphor for the dysfunction of post-independence African leaders who are outwardly powerful but inwardly empty, unable to fulfill the real needs of their people. The xala is not only a curse but a judgment on corruption, greed, and disconnection from traditional values.
Another powerful symbol is El Hadji’s third wedding ceremony, which reflects the arrogance and extravagance of the new ruling class. The celebration is filled with pomp, imported luxury, and a shallow display of wealth. Ousmane uses this setting to symbolize the imitation of colonial excesses by African elites who, rather than forging a new and just society, mimic the behavior of their former oppressors. This excessive display contrasts sharply with the poverty outside the gates, symbolizing the gap between the powerful few and the struggling masses, and how corruption distorts priorities.
The beggars who appear at key moments in the novel also serve as symbolic figures. Representing the dispossessed and voiceless, they confront El Hadji in the climax, forcing him to face the consequences of his selfishness and political betrayal. Their physical deformities serve as reminders of the wounded nation, scarred by colonialism and now neglected by its own leaders. Ousmane gives the beggars symbolic power as agents of justice, suggesting that true strength and moral authority lie with those who have been ignored and exploited, not with those who hold official titles.
Additionally, El Hadji’s foreign suits and imported possessions are used to symbolize his detachment from African identity and values. He defines success through material goods imported from Europe, revealing how power has become associated with external status rather than internal integrity. This obsession with Western wealth exposes how the elite use their power not for national development but for personal glorification. Ousmane’s symbolism critiques the emptiness of such aspirations and the cultural inferiority complex that drives them.
Through layered symbols, such as impotence, extravagant ceremonies, beggars, and foreign goods, Sembene Ousmane exposes how power, when disconnected from moral purpose and cultural roots, becomes corrupt and self-destructive. Xala is not merely a personal story of downfall but a broader symbolic warning about the dangers of leadership without accountability, and modernity without values. The novel’s symbolism sharpens its political message and reinforces its call for genuine justice and reform.
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Number Seven
(7)
In Fragments, Ayi Kwei Armah presents disillusionment as a deep emotional and psychological crisis affecting both individuals and the broader Ghanaian society. The protagonist, Baako, returns from his education abroad filled with idealism and hope, only to confront a society consumed by materialism, corruption, and loss of cultural direction. Armah uses Baako’s internal conflict, family expectations, and symbolic imagery to explore how the dream of progress and national renewal has collapsed into personal and collective disappointment.
Baako’s disillusionment begins with the gap between his expectations and reality. After studying abroad, he returns home with a desire to contribute meaningfully to national development through creativity and simplicity. However, he quickly realizes that his values are at odds with the society around him. Instead of appreciating his intellect or moral vision, his family and society judge him by his material success. This contrast becomes a central point of frustration, as Baako sees that the promise of independence has turned into a race for wealth and prestige, rather than true transformation.
Armah also uses family relationships to deepen the theme of disillusionment. Baako’s mother, Efua, and other relatives expect him to use his foreign education to gain a high government position and provide for the family materially. When he refuses to engage in corrupt practices or chase after wealth, they see him as a failure. This conflict shows how the very people who should support his ideals are instead part of a system that promotes selfish ambition. The family’s pressure and rejection of Baako’s values reflect how society has traded vision for vanity, leaving those who resist the system feeling isolated and defeated.
Another powerful aspect of Baako’s disillusionment is seen in his struggle with mental breakdown. As he watches his values lose meaning and finds himself increasingly misunderstood, Baako experiences emotional collapse. Armah uses this psychological deterioration as a symbol of how idealism cannot survive in a society ruled by hypocrisy and greed. The hospital where Baako is admitted becomes a place not of healing but of further alienation. It shows that those who hold on to truth and honesty are treated as the ones who are unwell, while the corrupt thrive in public life. This tragic irony strengthens the novel’s critique of post-independence Ghana.
Finally, Armah uses symbolic contrasts, such as light versus darkness, purity versus pollution, and foreignness versus home, to reinforce the theme of disillusionment. Baako returns from abroad expecting to bring light and positive change, but instead finds himself surrounded by moral darkness. The wasteful culture of imported luxury goods, the obsession with foreign status, and the disregard for meaningful values all point to a fractured society. Through these contrasts, Armah shows that the dream of progress has been corrupted, leaving idealists like Baako broken and lost.
Through Baako’s personal journey and the societal decay around him, Ayi Kwei Armah paints a powerful picture of disillusionment in Fragments. The novel critiques the betrayal of national ideals, the pressure to conform to shallow values, and the emotional cost of standing apart from a corrupt system. Armah’s use of internal conflict, social expectation, and symbolism makes the theme deeply human and politically urgent.
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Number Eight
(8)
Olu Obafemi’s Wheels examines the struggles of a nation caught in the trap of underdevelopment, corruption, and the conflict between tradition and change. Through complex characters and symbolic storytelling, the novel addresses the societal problems that hinder progress and justice in post-colonial Africa. Obafemi employs themes such as political betrayal, youth activism, social inequality, tradition versus modernity, and national transformation to build a compelling narrative of resistance and hope.
One of the central themes in Wheels is political corruption and betrayal of public trust. Obafemi portrays leaders who abandon their revolutionary ideals for personal gain once they gain access to power. This betrayal is not just political but also moral, as those who once fought for justice now oppress the very people they claimed to liberate. The symbolic “wheels” in the novel represent a society that keeps turning in circles, repeating cycles of deceit, failed leadership, and broken promises. Through this, the novel exposes how corruption prevents meaningful development and deepens the suffering of the masses.
Closely connected to this is the theme of youth activism and the struggle for social justice. Obafemi presents the youth as a force for change, willing to challenge oppressive systems and demand accountability. Characters like Daodu and others reflect a generation that refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice. Their involvement in revolutionary activities, protests, and intellectual debates demonstrates a deep commitment to rebuilding the nation. Through them, Obafemi celebrates youthful energy and idealism as necessary tools for breaking the vicious cycle of corruption and stagnation.
Another strong theme in the novel is social inequality and class oppression. Obafemi contrasts the luxurious lives of the elite with the hardship faced by the common people. The poor remain voiceless and marginalised, while the privileged manipulate systems for their benefit. This unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity highlights the failure of leadership and the injustice of a society where economic mobility is nearly impossible. Obafemi uses realistic settings and conflicts to expose the deep divide between the powerful and the powerless, emphasizing the urgency of social reform.
Finally, the novel explores tradition versus modernity, as characters struggle to find balance between cultural heritage and contemporary political ideals. Some characters blindly follow tradition even when it justifies oppression, while others reject it completely in pursuit of radical change. Obafemi does not present one side as superior but instead shows the importance of critically engaging with the past while building a progressive future. This theme adds depth to the narrative, showing that national transformation must involve not only political reform but also cultural introspection.
In Wheels, Olu Obafemi presents a profound examination of African society, highlighting themes that reflect the continent’s complex realities. Through corruption, activism, inequality, and cultural conflict, the novel challenges systems of oppression and calls for courageous change. Obafemi’s thematic richness strengthens the novel’s role as both a literary work and a call to action for a better society.
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Number Nine
(9)
Sembene Ousmane’s Xala and Olu Obafemi’s Wheels both explore social injustice in post-independence African societies, using different settings and characters to highlight how power is misused and the masses are oppressed. While Xala focuses on the betrayal of the people by the political elite in Senegal, Wheels presents a broader picture of Nigeria’s corrupt leadership and the class struggles that arise from systemic inequality. Both authors use symbolic and realistic methods to present injustice as a major obstacle to national progress.
In Xala, social injustice is exposed through economic inequality and the exploitation of the masses. El Hadji and the political class enjoy wealth and power, but the beggars, symbolic of the oppressed, suffer from extreme poverty and neglect. The government claims to represent the people but ends up replicating colonial structures of greed and exclusion. Ousmane uses the image of the beggars confronting El Hadji to show how the voiceless are denied justice, even as their suffering funds the luxury of the elite. This confrontation exposes the failure of post-independence leadership to deliver meaningful change.
In contrast, Wheels presents social injustice through institutional corruption and the oppression of youth voices. The political class in the novel has abandoned revolutionary goals and turned against the very citizens they once claimed to protect. Obafemi introduces university students and youth activists who demand fairness, transparency, and reform, but are met with violence and repression. Through these characters, the novel shows how social systems silence dissent and maintain inequality, with the powerful manipulating institutions for personal gain while ignoring the majority’s needs.
Both novels highlight class division and the widening gap between the rich and the poor, but in different ways. In Xala, wealth is flaunted through luxury and materialism, even as the majority live in squalor. In Wheels, the elite use their positions to suppress those who question their authority, making the poor more powerless. Obafemi uses education and protest as tools of resistance, while Ousmane uses satire and irony to criticize the blind pursuit of wealth. Both approaches reveal how injustice is rooted in the failure of those in power to act with integrity and accountability.
Ultimately, both Ousmane and Obafemi show that true development cannot happen without justice, fairness, and responsible leadership. Xala presents a personal story of downfall caused by social betrayal, while Wheels provides a broader, revolutionary view of resistance against injustice. Despite their differences in tone and setting, both novels call for awareness, unity, and action against systems that exploit and silence the common people. Their portrayal of social injustice remains a powerful critique of failed post-colonial leadership and a demand for real transformation.
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COMPLETED.
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