1. Village People Bessie Head
Title focuses on ways in which people practice a
form of ubuntu – where they care and support each other.
Setting:
The 1970s – Botswana. Area is poor and drought-stricken.
Characterised by hardship, poverty, hunger, isolation, heat, … .
BUT – this environment seems to bring about the best qualities in humans,
viz. kindness, fellowship,
fellow-feeling (ubuntu), gentleness, love, …

2. Characters Main character in each mini-story is the narrator.
The old woman –
Narrator shows kindness and compassion.
The young woman bringing water finds it
difficult to communicate.
Illumination/insight comes when she
realises that the water is a gift.
True spirit of Africa – to help others despite own poverty.
No greed or self-interest.

3. Story 2
2. Narrator in ‘Summer Sun’ is young girl who feels pity for families suffering in drought. Sees through lies of politicians.

4. Cousin, Lebenah, has awaken her to need for change through education
Cousin, Lebenah, has awaken her to need for change through education. She does not welcome the return of the ‘killing’ sun, but is thankful for quiet evening and love of family.

5. There is extreme poverty, suffering and resistance to change.
Summary – main points
Not conventional short story.
First section – essay format of strange paradoxes in Africa.
There is extreme poverty, suffering and resistance to change.
YET – there is immense humanity, gentleness, caring.
People rely on this comfort.

6. Summary – main points
4. YET – people confused as how to cope with change.
5. The 2nd and 3rd sections are mini-stories to support 1st.
6. 2nd = old woman who is hungry.
3rd = young girl whose family wait for rain. Smooth talking politician raises ‘hope’.
Lebanah convinced girl that change is coming – education.
Learn English / Geography book ….
Evenings become gentle - share family love.

7. Plot development
Begins with discussion about effects of poverty on rural people.
Despite hardships, child mortality, … there are rewards – love and warmth.
Two mini-stories are used to illustrate her point.
Old woman – climax – collapses / rising action – is helped / resolution – bringing water in gratitude.
Africa must not be judged by greedy people, BUT by barefoot human kindness.
2nd story – opening – the drought Complications – hunger, desperation, not trusting rich politicians.
Resolution – reality that acceptance of reality, education, together with family kinship and love are a means of coping with situation.

8. Themes
Humanity - Despite suffering and hardship, some of the best human qualities can emerge. Kindness- although poor – natural caring spirit. Hope – wait for rain / believe that education makes change. Tone and mood is both sad and hopeful. Sadness is in suffering, poverty. The hope lies in ubuntu that wins through / also possible change through education. Style is simple. Figures of speech – old lady is a ‘stalk of corn in the wind’. Personification of Africa as a poor, barefoot person.

9. Gift of bucket of water – huge – all that they had
Gift of bucket of water – huge – all that they had. Story 3 - wants to break out of cycle of poverty – education. Birds welcome sun – function best in light. Narrator dreads the sun rise – harsh continuation of drought.

10. Harshness of Mother Nature. Dependence on land to survive
Harshness of Mother Nature. Dependence on land to survive. Change – the importance of an education AND also women educated. Change – change attitude towards poverty. Change way of life to adapt to the African sun.

11. Themes
Poverty Effects of drought Infant mortality Fear of change exploitation of women Human kindness Suffering

12. Need to know
Title: Focuses on the support and care shown to each other by the poverty-stricken village people.
Setting: Drought-stricken rural area of Botswana in the 1970s
Characterization:
The narrator – Caring; compassionate; concerned about how African people are being treated; feels pity for her family; learns English to improve herself.

13. Essay: The Old Woman – Weak with hunger; unashamed
Need to know
Essay: The Old Woman – Weak with hunger; unashamed
Strange young woman – Appreciative for kindness shown to her relative – gives the old woman a pale of water (valuable)
Essay: Summer Sun
Family members – mother; grandmother; grandfather; sister; little brother
Cousin Lebenah – a visionary – Africa will change.
Women should improve themselves.
Encourages the narrator to learn English.
Politician - deceptive