Question 12
How does the image of caged bird explain the boy’s experiences in The Schoolboy?
Observation
A good number of candidates attempted this question. The candidates were able to point and answer the demands of the question.
The required answer should include the following points:
- Statement of the central theme.
- The restrictions imposed by society and school on children’s growth and development.
- The caged bird and the boy’s experience of nature.
- The boy is excluded from participation in nature’s activities, being restricted in school.
- Implications for adulthood: loss of early childhood joy.
- The boy describes his experiences of school harrowingly.
Candidates’ performance in this question was good.