The document provides a critical analysis of the poem "Mystic Drum" by Gabriel Okara, discussing possible interpretations of the outsider character and themes in the poem such as nature, the killing of innocence, and problems in society. It examines how the outsider could represent a western woman, the poet's beloved, or Eve, and analyzes imagery related to nature, pollution, and deforestation. In interviews, Okara stated the poem is essentially a love poem about a lady he admired who seemed coy yet adoring from a distance.

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Topic :- Critical analysis of the
poem ‘Mystic Drum’ by Gabriel
Okara
Paper :- African Literature
19th March,2013
Prepared by :-Nargis I. Saiyad
M.A. Sem.:-IV,
Batch:- 2012- „13,
Department of English,
Bhavnagar University,
Bhavnagar.

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The title 19th March,2013
Content
possibilities
The outsider may be the female of western world
 Western imperialism
The outsider may be the beloved of the poet
 Okara mentions in one of his interviews that "The Mystic
Drum" is essentially a love poem:
"This was a lady I loved. And she coyly
was not responding directly, but I adored her. Her
demeanor seemed to mask her true feelings; at a distance,
she seemed adoring, however, on coming closer, she was,
after all, not what she seemed.’’

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19th March,2013
 The outsider may be the emblem of Eve
Nature: Goddess of Africa
 “and fishes danced in the river”
 “But standing behind a tree
With leaves around her‟‟
“ the sun and the moon and the river gods-
and the trees began to dance”

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19th March,2013
Killing of innocence
“with leaves around her waist”
“belching darkness”
 Identity of his people
Problems of society
 Pollution
 “and smoke issuing from her nose”
 Deforestation
 “ with roots sprouting from her
feet and leaves growing on her head”

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19th March,2013