SECTION C: SHORT STORIES

In this section, questions are set on the following short stories:

 ‘FORBIDDEN LOVE’ by Can Themba

 ‘A BAG OF SWEETS’ by Agnes Sam

QUESTION 5

Read the following extracts from TWO short stories and answer the questions set on
each. The number of marks allocated to each question serves as a guide to the
expected length of your answer.

NOTE: Answer the questions set on BOTH extracts, i.e. QUESTION 5.1 AND
QUESTION 5.2.

5.1 ‘FORBIDDEN LOVE’

EXTRACT I
______________________________________________________________
For days Salome did not speak about the matter. The two women who
Loved Michael so much looked after him, nursed him back to health.
Then one Sunday morning Salome said suddenly, ‘Look, you two, I
think is it time we went to see old Davie. I want a little word with him.’

‘Aw, cut it out, I don’t want any more trouble,’ said Michael. 5

‘Oh, no, there won’t be trouble at all. Just a little talk,’ Salome said
mysteriously.

Dora accompanied them to her home, her heart beating wildly. They
found the whole family at lunch. Even Mr Van Vuuren was there
philosophizing expansively. 10

Davie went pale when he saw the threesome walk in. Before they could
say anything Salome took over.
‘Hello, Davie,’ she began. ‘Remember me? You beat up my brother
because he is in love with your sister.
5.1.1 Choose a description from COLUMN B that matches the name in
COLUMN A. Write only the letter (A-E) next to the question numbers
(5.1.1(a) to 5.1.1(d)) in the ANSWER BOOK)

COLUMN A COLUMN B
(a) Mr Van Vuuren A Salome’s brother

(b) Mike B School principal

(c) Mr Phillips C A family friend

(d) Davie D Salome’s lover

(4)

5.1.2 Describe the setting of the extract. (2)

5.1.3 Refer to line 8 (‘Dora accompanied them…heart beating wildly.’)

a) What does this line reveal about Dora’s state of mind? (1)

b) In your opinion, is Dora state of mind justified? (2)

5.1.4 Refer to line 11 (‘Davie went pale… threesome walk in’).

Mention two possible reasons why Davie reacts in this manner. (2)

5.1.5 Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence.

Write only the letter (A-D) next to the question number (5.1.4) in
the ANSWER BOOK.

‘Remember me?’ (line 14) is an example of a/an …

A Metaphor
B Hyperbole
C Rhetorical question
D Personification (1)

5.1.6 One of the themes in “Forbidden Love” is hypocrisy.

Discuss this theme. (3)

5.1.7 Refer to the story as a whole.

Dora’s mother can be admired for her bravery.

Discuss your view. (2)

AND
5.2 ‘A BAG OF SWEETS’

EXTRACT J

________________________________________________________
You would have thought the past three years had never happened,
the way my sister Khadija breezed into the family shop and stood
beaming at me, radiating that glow that comes from knowing
someone is surprised and overjoyed to see you.
Like a good Muslim woman, her hair was tucked under a blue 5
chiffon scarf, she wore a delicate peach lipstick – but her legs were
bare. She had discarded the traditional trousers Muslim women
wear with a dress.
Looking at her, standing there not attempting to hide her delight at
surprising me, nor her own joy at seeing me, I marvelled at all she 10
had forgotten.

After several minutes delighting in the joy of that meeting, her voice
burst from her, as if a hand clamped over her mouth the past three
years had just been removed.

‘Kal-toum!’ she said, stepping forward to embrace me. 15

Without thinking, I side stepped, moving out of her reach.
________________________________________________________

5.2.1 Who is the narrator in ‘A Bag of Sweets’? (2)

5.2.2 Refer to line 1 (‘You would have …had never happened’).

a) Why did Kaltoum and Khadija not see one another in

so many years? (1)

b) Mention two other important life-changing events that

happened during the three years that the sisters did not
have contact. (2)

5.2.3 Quote 5 consecutive words that prove that the narrator does not
welcome her sister’s presence in the shop (1)

5.2.4 Refer to lines 12-14 (‘her voice burst…just been removed’).

a) Identify the figure of speech used in these lines. (1)

b) Explain why the figure of speech is relevant. (2)

5.2.5 Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence.
Write only the letter (A-D) next to the question number (5.2.4) in
the ANSWER BOOK.

‘Kal-toum!’ (line 15) indicates the speakers…

a) anger.
b) excitement.
c) shock.
d) disappointment (1)

5.2.6 Why is the following statement FALSE?

This is the first time Khadija tried to reconcile with her family. (1)

5.2.7 Refer to the story as a whole.

Mention two possible reasons why Khadija focusses all her

attempts at reconciliation on Kaltoum and not the other
siblings? (2)

5.2.8 The bag of cheap sweets symbolises two very different things to
the two sisters.
Briefly discuss how each sister views the bag of sweets. (2)

5.2.9 Refer to the story as a whole.

Khadija can be described as a respectful person.

Do you agree with this statement? (3)

MEMORANDUM – FORBIDDEN LOVE

5.1.1 a) C
b) A
c) B
d) D (4)

5.1.2) The setting is in Mike and Salome’s apartment after Mike was assaulted
by Davie and his friends. / The setting is at Dora’s house when Salome
confronts Davie about their relationship. (2)

5.1.3) a) ‘Her heart beating wildly’ indicates that Dora is anxious / stressed /
in a state of panic. (1)

b) Yes. She is about to see her family for the first time after the attack
on Mike. / She is anxious about how Salome is going to react
towards her family. (2)

5.1.4) Davie turned pale as he realised that the man he assaulted was standing
in his house.
Davie turned pale because he realised the truth about his relationship with
Salome will be revealed to his family. (2)

5.1.5) C – Rhetorical question (1)

5.1.6) The discussion of the theme of hypocrisy may include the following points,
among others:

Davie has a relationship with Salome (a black woman) and a child is born.
Ironically, Davie still considers it appropriate to beat Michael up when he
also has a relationship with Michael’s sister.
It is hypocritical that Davie does not approve of his sister’s relationship
with a black man while he has a relationship and even fathers a child
with a black woman. (3)

NOTE: For full marks, the response must be well substantiated.

A candidate can score 1 or 2 marks for a response which
is not well substantiated. The candidate’s interpretation
must be grounded in the short story.
5.1.7) Open-ended

Accept any relevant response which shows an understanding of the

Following viewpoints, among others:

Yes

 Dora’s mother is never depicted as being a racist, despite the rest

Of her family’s reactions to the racial situation.
 Dora’s mother allows her children the freedom to make
their own choices in life.
 Dora’s mother instantly accepts her grandchild, despite
the controversy surrounding the child’s existence.

OR

No

 Dora’s mother never stands up against her racist husband.

 Dora’s mother allows her own children to suffer at the hands
of racist characters like Mr Van Vuuren.
 Dora’s mother does not instil the same loving and accepting
behaviour in her children as she displays at the end. (2)

NOTE: Do NOT award a mark for YES or NO. Credit responses

where a combination is given. For full marks, the response
must be well substantiated.
A candidate can score 1 or 2 marks for a response which
is not well substantiated. The candidate’s interpretation
must be grounded in the story.
MEMORANDUM – A BAG OF SWEETS

5.2.1) Kaltoum. Khadija’s older sister. / The eldest of the siblings. (2)

5.2.2 a) Khadija decided to marry a Christian man. Her family could not
forgive her for betraying her own family/religion. (1)

b) The parents died within months of each other.

Khadija gave birth to a baby. (2)

5.2.3 ‘moving out of her reach’ (1)

5.2.4 a) Metaphor (1)

b) The manner in which her voice came out can be compared to an

overloaded object that bursts open. This indicates the immense
joy she experiences after seeing her sister again. (2)

5.2.5 B – excitement (1)

5.2.6 Khadija has been trying, without success, for over a year to make peace
with her family. / Before visiting the shop, Khadija used to go to her
parents’ house to attempt to make peace with her siblings. (1)

5.2.7 Being sisters, Khadija and Kaltoum had a good relationship. Khadija
hopes that this will motivate her sister to forgive her.
Kaltoum is now the oldest family member, therefore the rest of the
siblings will, most likely, follow her example when it comes to Khadija. (2)

5.2.8 Kaltoum sees the bag of sweets as a way of getting rid of her
sister. / Kaltoum sees the cheap bag of sweets as an insult directed at
Khadija.

Khadija sees the bag of sweets as a gift, even a peace offering, which
leaves her with hopes of reconciliation. (2)

5.2.9 Open-ended

Accept any relevant response which shows an understanding of the

Following viewpoints, among others:

Yes

 As the younger sibling, Khadija attempts to make peace with her sister.
 Khadija does not enter her parents’ house when visiting the family, but
rather knocked ‘at our door, waiting like a stranger…’
 Khadija does not react negatively when being ignored by her siblings.
 Khadija does not retaliate when Kaltoum pushes her in the shop.
No

 Khadija betrays her parents/family/religion when she marries a

Christian man.
 She ‘forgets’ her Muslim traditions when she shows up to the shop
with her legs exposed.
 She visits the shop on Fridays knowing all too well that the brothers
are at the mosque praying.
 Khadija ignores all the hints that she is not welcome at the shop
and continues to visit her sister. (3)

NOTE: Do NOT award a mark for YES or NO. Credit responses

where a combination is given. For full marks, the response
must be well substantiated.
A candidate can score 1 or 2 marks for a response which
is not well substantiated. The candidate’s interpretation
must be grounded in the story.