Gr 11 English FAL powerpoint presentation for the poem "The Birth of Shaka".

1. The Birth of Shaka
- Oswald Joseph Mtshali

2. Historic background
about Shaka Zulu &
the Zulu tribe
https://youtu.be/eTvggk5KT60

3. The life of
Shaka:
Mother was Nandi
Born fatherless
1816 became leader
Half brothers assassinated him

4. The poet
Oswald Joseph
Mtshali:
Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal
Attended Wits University
Colombia University

5. More
information
about King
Shaka:
• King Shaka developed a new Zulu Military
system – and under his strict leadership, they
became the most powerful tribe in the
history of SA.
• Some of his Developments:
- The assegai
- The bull-horn formation
- Discipline
• King Shaka was murdered by his 2 half-
brothers.

6. The Birth of Shaka
Poem analysis

7. His baby cry
was of a cub
tearing the neck
of the lioness
because he was fatherless.
Shaka is compared to a baby lion at birth. --- METAPHOR --- ‘The
king of the animal kingdom’, so Shaka will be a king for his
followers.
He had a lot of anger – even
since birth. The cub is
tearing at the neck of the
lioness. It is an aggressive
baby.
His mother, Nandi, was
also of royal blood.
His father, shunned Shaka and
his mother.

8. The gods
boiled his blood
in a clay pot of passion
to course in his veins.
ALLITERATION
The gods planned his life, he was
an important person from birth.
The gods knew he had potential.
The clay pot = Zulu custom of making
food and beer in clay pots. Shaka had
more traditional passion.
If passion courses in his
veins, he is very passionate,
which supports line 8s
message of Shaka being
more passionate about
tradition.

9. His heart was shaped into an ox shield
to foil every foe.
Metaphor: his heart is as strong as an
ox shield. An ox shield = traditional
defensive shield. This means Shaka
would be protected but he will also
protect his people.
ALLITERATION: His enemies would be fooled.

10. Ancestors forged
his muscles into
thongs as tough
as wattle bark
and nerves
as sharp as
syringa thorns.
Ancestors are very important in Zulu culture. Ancestors determine
the prosperity of a family because they have contact with the spirit
world.
SIMILE(s)
Very strong
leather straps
Changing the old saying, “Nerves as
sharp as steel’, to fit into context of the
poem.

11. His eyes were lanterns
that shone from the dark valleys of Zululand
to see white swallows
coming across the sea.
His cry to two assassin brothers:
Two possibilities:
(1) He was able to see into the future…
(2) He was the tribe’s guiding light.
(1) He believed he was
the only one who
“could see”/guide
the tribe.
(2) Could be referring to
the fact that
Zululand was still
underdeveloped.
(3) Contrasting the
“white swallows”.
Europeans coming from Europe. A swallow is
a bird that migrates from Europe to Africa
and the Europeans came from Europe to
Africa. Also a reference to the fact that they
build their homes with clay.

12. ‘Lo! You can kill me
but you’ll never rule this land!’
LISTEN!
If you kill me, you will be vulnerable. The white man will
conquer you and he will rule this land.

13. BIRTH OF SHAKA - QUESTIONS
1.1 Refer to stanza 1.
1.1.1 To which animal is Shaka compared in stanza one? (1)
1.1.2 Which word hints at Shaka’s sometimes violent and aggressive nature? (1)
1.1.3 What reason is suggested for the young Shaka’s anger and volatility? (1)
1.2 Refer to stanza 2.
1.2.1 From which supernatural source does the poet suggest Shaka’s passionate and energetic nature come? (1)
1.2.2 Identify the main figure of speech in stanza two. (1)
1.2.3 What emotion besides energy and passion, does the word ’boiled’ (line 7) suggest? (1)
1.3 Refer to stanza 3.
1.3.1 Which TWO of Shaka’s personal qualities are symbolised by the term ‘ox shield’? (2)
1.3.2 Identify the figure of speech in line 10. (1)

14. 1.4 Refer to stanza 4.
1.4.1 From where, does the poet suggest Shaka got his great physical strength and mental daring (courage)? (1)
1.4.2 Identify the figure of speech where Shaka’s muscles are compared to rope (‘thongs’) made of wattle bark. (1)
1.4.3 Quote the simile (six consecutive words) which best expresses Shaka’s quick reflexes, fast decisions, acute
intelligence and great courage. (1)
1.4.4 What does the phrase ‘syringa thorns’ (line 18) suggest about the way in which Shaka’s enemies viewed him? (1)
1.5 Refer to stanza 5.
1.5.1 Quote a TWO WORD METAPHOR (a) which shows Shaka’s ability to predict the future and explain (b) what it
means. (2)
1.5.2 The fact that Shaka was assassinated shows that not everyone loved him. Briefly describe your understanding of
the poet’s attitude to Shaka Zulu. (2)

15. MEMO:
1.1.1 A lion cub (1)
1.1.2 “Tearing” (1)
1.1.3 He was fatherless / illegitimate / His father rejected him.
(1)
1.2.1 The gods (1)
1.2.2 Metaphor (1)
1.2.3 Anger (1)
1.3.1 His great courage (1) His fighting spirit/ ability as a warrior (1)
1.3.2 Metaphor (1)
1.4.1 Ancestors (1)
1.4.2 Simile (1)
1.4.3 ‘Neves as sharp as syringa thorns’ (1)

16. 1.4.4 They feared him/ respected him / he was cunning / He was extremely intelligent (1)
1.5.1 (a) ‘White swallows’ (1)
(b) the coming of white people. (1)
1.5.2 He admired Shaka’s many fine qualities and is overwhelmingly positive about him. (2)
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