Lecture 1 on Space and Place in South African Literature. Aligns with 2022 second-year English.

1. Critically discuss
the major themes
of the prescribed
poems.
Theme 2: Place and Space in South African Poetry
LO2.1
Discuss the influence
of the historical and
cultural context of
each prescribed poem
on its themes.
LO2.2

2. Critically discuss
the major themes
of the prescribed
poems.
Theme 2: Place and Space in South African Poetry
LO2.1
Discuss the influence
of the historical and
cultural context of
each prescribed poem
on its themes.
LO2.2

3. Theme 1
recap
Space
Neutral ground, before being
complicated by ways of seeing
and thinking.
Place
Space that has been invested
with cultural, social, political, and
linguistic meaning.

4. Discussion: The Spartan Woman
What is the poem about?
What does it mean?
What is its basic message?
Does it communicate its
message effectively? How?
What sort of poem is it?
What does it remind you of?
LO2.1
Moffett (2013) p14.
As the poem is read aloud, consider these questions.
Discuss your answers to the questions in groups of 3-5.

5. Paraphrase
In pairs, write down the gist of the poem in your own words.
Use 3-5 sentences to summarise the meaning of the poem.
NB: Paraphrasing is not the same as an analysis.
LO2.1
Moffett (2013) p16.

6. Discussion: The Spartan Woman
Who is the narrator in
the poem?
Are there tensions between
narrator and focaliser with
regards to place?
What is the effect of the
description of land and
landscape?
Who is the poem’s focaliser?
LO2.1
IIE (2017) p20.
Reread the poem silently and consider these questions.
Discuss your answers to the questions in groups of 3-5.

7. Under the sun's relentless rays she lies,
With stern fingers pointing steadily upwards,
Her broad breast bare to the sky,
She watches with an immovable face,
Those who seek to nestle on her heart,
But it is hard, and the heat of her breath is scorching.
Vainly they strive to rest in her treacherous arms.
They cling to the hem of her garments praying for life,
Yet not a quiver betrays her thought.
Draw a vignette
LO2.1
Image: Brent Ninaber
Choose a vignette from the first 10 lines of the poem
and draw the image which it conjures.

8. Personification
LO2.1
Image: Carl Warner
Recall instances in art and linguistic expression where you've observed concepts
and objects being personified as women.
Share examples with the class. Explain how it makes you feel.

9. Personification
LO2.1
Image: Carl Warner
Are there equivalent instances of the masculine being personified in art and
linguistic expression? Does this use result in less or more discomfort?
Share your examples and feelings with the class.

10. Close reading
Identify significant and
repeated words or
lines.
Examine images and comparisons,
unpacking the associations.
Check punctuation and
the effect it has on pace
and meaning.
Identify the musicality
of the words.
Ask How the poem conveys its
message and Why.
LO2.1
Moffett (2013) p19-21.
Independently complete a close reading of The Spartan Woman. Make notes, highlight and
circle relevant words on the poem itself, or create a mind map. You have 20 minutes.

11. Characters
Africa: “A spartan woman” Settlers: “Those who seek to nestle on
her heart”
LO2.1
How do the characters interact? What themes become evident in this interaction?
Discuss with your partner for 3 minutes and then report back to the class.

12. Themes
? ? ?
Belonging? Abandonment? Alienation?
LO2.1
Belonging, abandonment, and alienation are common themes for poetry about space and
place. Are any of them major themes of The Spartan Woman?
What are the poem's other major themes? Share the themes and your reasoning with the class.

13. Critically discuss
the major themes
of the prescribed
poems.
Theme 2: Place and Space in South African Poetry
LO2.1
Discuss the influence
of the historical and
cultural context of
each prescribed poem
on its themes.
LO2.2

14. 1913 1914 1931
South African political context
Land Act prevented
Black people (except
those in Cape
Province) from buying
land outside reserves.
National Party was
founded.
Statute of
Westminster removed
the last vestiges of
British legal authority
over South Africa.
LO2.2
Image: Human Awareness

15. None but the bravest, none but the best
Shall earn her favour,
From them she will withhold nothing.
And maybe there shall arise a mighty race,
That maybe shall move with iron tread,
Towards the hills of God.
Which mighty race might this be?
Which people had failed to “earn her
favour”?
Write down your guesses and share
them with the class.
LO2.2
Image: Eberhard Grossgasteiger

16. 1834-1838 16 December 1838 1920s and 1930s
Afrikaans cultural context
Afrikaners move from
Cape Colony to the
north and east during
the Great Trek, leaving
British rule which had
outlawed slavery.
Battle of Blood River
cements Afrikaner idea
of being chosen by
God.
Afrikaner Broederbond
establishes numerous
cultural and social
service organisations to
enhance nationalism.
LO2.2
Images: Wikimedia Commons; Die Afrikanerbond

17. Debate The
“mighty race”
is Afrikaans.
vs
The
“mighty race”
is purely
hypothetical.
Using what you know about
the cultural and historical
context of the poem, argue for
one of the points shown.
The class will be split into two
teams who will present their
debate in the next lecture.
LO2.2