The Leader and the Led by Niyi Osundare
Background and setting of the poet, and plot summary of the poet
Subject: Literature-in-English
Theme:
Topic: The Leader and the Led by Niyi Osundare
Sub Topic:
Date: dd/mm/yyyy
Class: S.S 1
Average Age: 14 years and above
Duration: 40 Minutes
No of Learners: 40
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the lesson learners should be able to:1. Explain the Background of the poet
Niyi Osundare was born 1947 in Ikere- Ekiti, Ekiti state of Nigeria. He is an essayist, play-writer and one of Nigeria’s most celebrated poets. He has published fifteen books of poetry, several plays essays, articles and criticism previously a professor at the English institute of the University of Ibadan, he is currently Distinguished Professor of English at the University of New Orleans U.S.A.2. Explain the Background of the poem
This is a poem that focuses on leadership and followership in Africa as Africa politically operates as a jungle at the moment.The battle for leadership in Africa is similar to the battle for who leads among the animals in the animal kingdom as seen in the poem. This animals present themselves for leadership on the basis of strength and size not based on the quality needed to be called a leader or seen as a leader.
This is the same circumstance in Africa during elections. Some persons have what it takes (e.g good education, values, money, good personality, good manifesto) to be elected while others just present themselves for the sake of showing up. Thus, what is suggested here by the poet is that what we need is not just good leadership but good followership as well. That we must cultivate a mixture of two values which is: if we want to lead, we must learn how to follow.
3. State the Setting of the poem
The setting of the poem is ‘the forest’ where the animals carry out their contest for leadership. Some of the animals show off their leadership skills based on strength and size while others show off based on raw energy. Notwithstanding, the physical setting is Africa where there is confusion in leadership and disorderliness in followership. Instead of electing leaders based on their credibility and ability as the poem suggests, the followers elect them based on either Ethnicity (tribe) or Religiosity (religion).4. Recite the poem
THE LEADER AND THE LED
The lion stakes his claim
To the leadership of the pack
But the Antelopes remember
The Ferocious pounce of his paws
The Hyena says the crown is made for him
But the Impala shudder at his lethal appetite
The Giraffe craves a place in the front
But his eyes are too far from the ground
When Zebra says it’s his right to lead
The pack points to the duplicity of his strips
The elephant trudges into the power tussle
But its colleagues dread his tramping feet
The Warthog is too ugly
The rhino too riotous
And the pack thrashes around
Like a snake without a head
“Our need calls for a hybrid of habits”,
Proclaims the forest sage.
A little bit of a lion
A little bit of a lamb
Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe
Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake
A leader who knows how to follow
Followers mindful of their right to lead”
Niyi Osundare
The lion stakes his claim
To the leadership of the pack
But the Antelopes remember
The Ferocious pounce of his paws
The Hyena says the crown is made for him
But the Impala shudder at his lethal appetite
The Giraffe craves a place in the front
But his eyes are too far from the ground
When Zebra says it’s his right to lead
The pack points to the duplicity of his strips
The elephant trudges into the power tussle
But its colleagues dread his tramping feet
The Warthog is too ugly
The rhino too riotous
And the pack thrashes around
Like a snake without a head
“Our need calls for a hybrid of habits”,
Proclaims the forest sage.
A little bit of a lion
A little bit of a lamb
Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe
Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake
A leader who knows how to follow
Followers mindful of their right to lead”
Niyi Osundare
5. Explain Line to line analysis of the poem
Stanza one and two begin with the lion who claims to be a leader of the pack but he is disqualified to lead because of the “ferocious ponce of his paws”, as the antelope remembers it.In stanza three, the hyena begins to claim that he is the best animal to lead. His desire for the leadership position is cancel by his dangerous appetite for which it can kill and devour other animals. This fact is also highlighted by impalas (antelope) that “shudder at his lethal appetite”.
In stanza four and five, both the “Giraffe and Zebra”are aspiring to lead. Giraffe is disqualified because “his eyes are too far from the ground while the multiplication of the Zebra’s colour cost him the leadership role.
The stanza six and seven of the poem brings to our knowledge the respective claim of good leadership by “elephant” Warthog and “rhino”. The elephant is rejected by his fearful “trampling feet”, which it may use to step on other animals to death for opposing it. The “Warthog” is considered unfit to lead due to its ugly nature, while “the rhino” is said to be riotous in behavior.
Leaders should be approachable and not trampling upon their followers with intimidation as the elephant does. People who are morally “ugly” are not meant for leadership as in the case with “warthog”. The rhino is violent in dealing with others. Leaders should be peacemakers and lovers.
In stanza eight, given the fact that none of the animals is qualified to lead others, the poet says the whole animal kingdom is living without a direction and purpose; “like a snake without a head”.
In stanza nine, the morality of the poem is seen through the voice of “the forest sage”, declaring that all they need are leaders with positive, dynamic and unique conduct, without corruption, hatred and cruelty against their fellow human beings.
In stanza ten, the poet emphasizes on the dynamics of leadership in which a leader is expected to be decisive and tolerant at the same time.
In stanza eleven a leader is expected to be tough like a tiger, like a “doe”, showing that moral toughness that is guided with compassion is needed among the leaders. In line 22, leaders should also be transparent in policy making through which they can make innovative landmark achievements that can surprise the led (followers) like the mysteriousness of the docile, slow moving lake (line 22).
In stanza twelve the poet concludes by saying that the pack will remain peaceful, once there is a leader who knows how to be a follower, and followers who are mindful of their leadership rights because he/she could be asked to lead.
6. Explain the Subject Matter of the poem
The poem was written as a result of political transition in African countries. African nations were disorganized by military juntas who were more corrupt than the politicians they overthrown. The African politicians are worse than the military; they are crude, self-serving, unprincipled etc. The leader and the led is a warning to electorate to evaluate candidates they voted for. It is also on the process of leadership transition and disappointment of the electorate following the contestant (animals in the poem). Finally, the forest sage advocates for leader that is tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe, transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake. The poet said to have ideal society in Africa; our leader must be ready to serve the country in an honest and humble way.7. List and Explain the Theme of the poem
1. Theme of Leadership
In every group, there should be a leader. According to the poet, the group consists of animals and animal leaders like lion, hyena, elephant, zebra, rhino, and so on. Each of the animals has a weak point as a leader. The lion cannot lead because of his “pounce of paws” (line 4); the giraffe is not down to earth because it always look up, (line 7-8); the elephant is all too heavy, weighty and frightful for the other animals (line 11-12). None of the animals on its own has good leadership skills. Therefore, leadership requires a bit of the lion outlook and a bit of the lamb-character (line 19-20). As a result, the poet calls for a hybrid of habits (line 17).2. Theme of Imperfection
The poem sends the message that perfection is not criteria for leadership. The animals that felt they are worthy because of their strengths and powerful qualities are disqualified like those who posses weaknesses.In line 11-12, the elephant strength disqualified him while the ugliness of the warthog was his reason of disqualification as seen in line 13.
3. Theme of Balance
The theme of balance shows half strength and half weakness is the guaranteed character of a good leader. The poet revealed the solution through the forest sage because it takes wisdom to arrive at any solution to a problem, line (17-22).Theme of Followership
Followership is an integral theme in Niyi Osundare’s “The Leader and the Led”. The poem demonstrates the importance of followers in any democratic process. The poet places a certain level of responsibility on the followers. As can be seen in the poem, the common animals are vested with the power of choosing a leader. Therefore, in a nation-building process, the fate of a nation lies largely in the hands of the followers since they are the first point of contact in establishing a governing process.The poet shows that the core responsibility of the followers is to select a good leader. That is why the candidacy of the animals vying for the position of the leader is nullified on the ground of incompetency. That the antelopes, impalas, and other animals could reject the lion, hyena, giraffe, zebra, elephant, warthog, and rhino shows their relevance in the normal order of things.
When the animals are at the impasse on who to choose as their leader, “the pack thrashes around/Like a snake without a head” (Lines 15 and 16). This shows the task entrusted to the followers to choose a good leader who would set the nation on the pedestal of growth and development is no easy task.
The poem sends a message to the political followers in most African countries, who have turned vote-selling to normalcy; or have shunned their civic duty of voting; or only vote on the criteria of ethnicity and religion, that if you say your leaders are ruining your country, you are also part of the ruination.
Theme of Criticism of African leadership and followership:
The forest sage recommends "a hybrid of habits." The poet might have have felt that we all too interested in politicians who possess the faulty features pointed out in the poem . in other words we are advised not to overlook the antelopes ,the impalas( which is of the antelope family)the Warthogs, the lamb, the doe ,etc. At the moment African thrashes around for a leader or leaders "like a snake without a head " For now Africa is a pack " rather than an organized polity where the leadership and followership are still in disarray .In all these modern leaders ,the animals that trust themselves up to do without nominations the lion "stakes" his claim ;the hyena "says"; he wants the crown, the giraffe is said to "crave" his claim; the hyena says he wants the crown the giraffe "craves" for a place ,the elephant using his weight "trudges into the powers tussle " None relies on others nominating or recommending him or her.Theme of Male Dominance:
Male dominance is another noticeable feature of “The Leader and the Led” which one must pay attention to. It is evident that the leadership scene is dominated by male animals.The lion, the hyena, the giraffe, the zebra, the elephant, the warthog, and the rhino are all male animals. The constant use of the possessive determiner “his” lends credence to this position. No female animal vies for the leadership position.
This demonstrates the low participation of women in African politics. We can’t even start comparing the ratio of men in politics to the ratio of women in politics. The poem is a reflection of how African politics is dominated by men. This is probably why there is no female contender in the poem.
Theme of Oppression:
Oppression is an inexhaustible matter addressed in Niyi Osundare’s “The Leader and the Led”. The main symbol of oppression in the poem is the lion. In lines 1 and 2, “The lion stakes his claim/To the leadership of the pack”. However in lines 4 and 5, “But the Antelopes remember/The ferocious pounce of his paws”.The relationship between the lion and the antelopes is one of an oppressor and the oppressed. The lion uses his “claws” to oppress the antelopes. In a different narrative, the lion could have chosen to protect the antelopes with the same “claws”. This actually symbolizes how conveniently easy it is to convert instrument of protection to instrument of violence. Another African poet, Gbemisola Adeoti, avers this position in the second stanza of his poem, “Ambush”, that “The land is a sabra-toothed tiger” that uses its “bayonet of tribulation” to “make infants shudder home” and “the grizzled one snatch their gut” “halting venturous walk at dusk”
With their powers, they oppress the people they are meant to lead and protect. The citizens are oppressed and brutally harassed by security agencies that are there in the first place to protect them. “The ferocious pounce of his paws” on antelopes is an analogy of the deliberate and calculated oppression of the citizenry by the machinery of the state.
8. List and Explain the poetic devices use in the poem
1. Style
Imagery: Imagery are words that creates images in the mind of reader. The poet makes use of some of such words in the poem like: “riotous” which brings to the mind an image of chaos and violence or unrestrained behavior. This attitude is referenced to the rhino in the poem.Again the use of “stakes” in the first line of the poem indicates a struggle for something. Furthermore, the Hyena “says”, and the Zebra also “says” this brings to mind action of animals talking.
Other words of imagery includes: “crave”, “the pack points to the duplicity of the stripes,” and “like a snake without a head”.
Diction: the language of the poem is simple enough and can easily be understood by readers.
Tone & Mood: The poet employs the use of third-person narrative techniques with a climactic tone, starting with the problem of who-fits-the-throne to the solution proffered by the forest sage. The tone of the mood can be described as unrest, rivalry, and disagreement.
Structure: the poem has 12 pairs of lines. Each pair contains a thought. The poem is a blank verse because there is no rhyme scheme. At the same time, there is no run-on line because each pair stand on its own.
2. Figurative Expression
Metaphor: There is an evident use of metaphor in the poem; mostly in lines 19 and 20: “a little bit of a lion/a little bit of a lamb”. This bestows the fierceness/courage of lion and the meekness of a lamb on the ideal leader. Implied comparison! Is that not what metaphor is all about after all?Simile: There is simile in line 16, “like a snake without a head”, used to convey the direction-less of the pack. It is also in lines 21 and 22, “tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe/transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake” to suggest that a leader should be flexible and know when to yield and when not to yield to his people yearnings. He should be a blend of qualities.
Synecdoche: “Paws” (line 4) represent the lion’s predatory violence. “Eyes” (line 8) represent the accessibility of the giraffe to his subjects and the masses. “Stripes” (line 10) stands for the probable dishonesty of the zebra.
Alliteration: is the repetition of same consonant letters in the lines of a poem.
“Pounce … paws” (line 4),
“hyena … him” (line 5),
“far _ from” (line 8),
"pack points” (line 10),
“rhino … riotous” (line 14),
“hybrid … habits” (line 17),
“little … lion” (line 19),
“little … lamb” (line 20),
and “tough … tiger” (line 21) are manifestations of alliteration in the poem.
Parallelism: There is parallelism in lines 19 to 20: “A little of a Lion/A little of a lamb”; and lines 21 to 22: “tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe/transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake”.
Symbolism: The entire tale (its actors and the quest for a leader) represents human xperiences in the contemporary world; the electioneering process – campaigns and elections. The lion and hyena represent oppressive forces; the antelopes and the impalas the oppressed etc. Zebra stands for crooked leaders while giraffe leaders who have distanced themselves from the masses.
Paradox: There is interplay of two opposite ideas in line 21: “tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe”; and in line 22: “transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake”. Even though these lines contain contradictory ideas, the whole idea is for a leader to be a blend of these qualities; perhaps, somewhere in the middle of these ideas.
Fable: This is when human attributes are transferred to animals. Animals like human beings contest for the position of leaders-lion, hyena, giraffe, zebra, elephant, warthog and rhino.
Rationale:
The Leader and the Led by Niyi Osundare is a phylosophycal poem that focused on leadership and followership in Africa,which is operating at the moment in the jungle. The battle for leadership as of now is akin to the struggle for who leads among the animals as is the situation in the thicket. Each of animals show itself and lays claims itself and lays claim irrespective of whether or not they are known for prowess. Among humans this is what happens at election time; some people have what it takes such as money ,good education,good manifesto and good carriage with charisma. In this poem the poet suggests that whayis needed is not just good leadership but also good followership. If we want to learn how to follow. Leaders must have combination of character that will positioned them for the position of leadership.Prerequisite/ Previous knowledge:
Storyings, songs, history etc.Learning Resources:
Flash cards, an audio video youtube examples, Available useful objects.Reference Materials:
J.O.J. Nwachukwu et al: Exam Focus: Literature-in-English 2021-2025Tony Duru: Standard Literature-in-English
Internet.
The Leader and the Led by Niyi Osundare
Lesson Development:
STAGE |
TEACHER'S ACTIVITY |
LEARNER'S ACTIVITY |
LEARNING POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEP 1: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE full class session |
The teacher Introduces the lesson by asking questions based on previous knowledge. What is Creative writing? |
The students respond to the questions based on previous knowledge. Creative writing is any writing that goes outside the bond of normal professional journalistic, academic or technical form of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on narrative craft, character development and the use of literary device. Creative writing is also a form of using imagination, creativity, innovation in order to tell a story, through story writing visual with emotional impact like poetry writing and story telling. |
Reversing previous lesson |
| STEP 2: INTRODUCTION full class session Identification of prior ideas. |
The teacher review/introduce what they are going to study. The Leader and the Led by Niyi Osundare is composed in form of a fable. It tells the story of an animal kingdom lacking leadership based on rivalry and imperfection. The poem metaphorically presents a heterogeneous society like Nigeria with the danger that will arise between the leader and the led. In the poem, the most powerful animals in the kingdom saw the reason and right to become the ruler yet their power seemed to be their flaws. The trouble prolonged and the pack tussled like a snake without a head until the "ForestSage" (in line 18 stanza 9) proffered a solution. According to the forest sage, strength alone isn't the yardstick for becoming a ruler but the balance of strength and weaknesses is a needed quality for any animal that will rule the pack well. Line 17-20: Our need calls for a hybrid of habits, Proclaims the Forest Sage, A little little bit of a lion, A large bit of a Iamb, Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe, Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake. It ends on the stance that the pack will experience peace if it appoints a leader who knows how to be a followed and followers who are mind ful of their leadership rights |
The students listen attentively to the teacher. | Introducing the topic for discussion. |
| STEP 3: DEVELOPMENT Group Work |
The teacher guides the learners to form four groups and asks them to choose their leaders and secretaries. | Learners choose their group leaders and secretaries. | Inculcating leadership skills, competitive spirit, cooperation, teamwork and a sense of responsibility among learners. |
| STEP 4: EXPLORATION 3 mins Mode: Individual |
The teacher presents to the class the instructional resources and explain the Background of the poet and poem. The teacher leads the students to air their views on them. Niyi Osundare was born in Ikere, Ekiti, in Western Nigeria in 1947. He attended Amoye Grammar School in Ikere and obtained B.A. degree in English at University of Ibadan. He had M.A. from Leeds University in English and Ph.D from York University in Canada. In 1977, he became a professor of English from University of New Orleans. The poem focuses on the leadership and followership in Africa. The struggle for leadership is similar to the struggle for who leads among animals. Animals see themselves on the advantage of strength and size. During elections in Africa, some people show their money, education, manifesto and ability to speak and lead, while others participate in the elections for the sake of participation. According to Niyi Osundare, we need good leaders and good followers. If we want to lead, we must learn how to follow. It is against this background that Niyi Osundare wrote the poem to prepare us to lead or to follow. |
The students listen attentively to the teacher. | Introducing the topic for discussion. |
| STEP 5: DISCUSSION Mode: Group |
The teacher guides the learners to recite the poem and explain the structure of the poem. | The students recite the poem and explain the structure of the poem. THE LEADER AND THE LED The lion stakes his claim To the leadership of the pack But the Antelopes remember The Ferocious pounce of his paws The Hyena says the crown is made for him But the Impala shudder at his lethal appetite The Giraffe craves a place in the front But his eyes are too far from the ground When Zebra says it’s his right to lead The pack points to the duplicity of his strips The elephant trudges into the power tussle But its colleagues dread his tramping feet The Warthog is too ugly The rhino too riotous And the pack thrashes around Like a snake without a head “Our need calls for a hybrid of habits”, Proclaims the forest sage. A little bit of a lion A little bit of a lamb Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake A leader who knows how to follow Followers mindful of their right to lead” Niyi Osundare Structure of the Poem The poem is a twenty four lined poem structured in twelve stanzas. Each stanza is made up of two lines (couplet) without any rhyme pattern, each line contains a unique idea that is never repeated in the poem. The poem is one that focuses on the political system in Africa looking at the problem of leadership and followership. Through the poem, we see how Africa operates as a jungle at the moment in it’s political space where there’s confusion in leadership and disorderliness in followership as there is no credible process of electing leaders; the leaders who present themselves for leadership positions as well, lack the characteristics of what a leader is expected to possess. There are multiple animal characters in the poem; and five of the animals project themselves for leadership position. The poetic persona suggests his own opinion when he says “the Warthog is too ugly” and “the rhino too riotous”. The poem is a blank verse as it doesn’t have any end rhymes. It also contains run-on-lines (enjambment). |
structure of the poem |
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| The teacher guides the learners to explain the background setting of the poem. | The students explain the background setting of the poem. The setting of the play is the forest prominent animals, known to be powerful, are recalled at various times during which they stake their claims to leadership: the lion, the hyena, the giraffe,zebra, elephant, warthog, and rhino. References are made to snake , Forest sage (tortoise), lamb, tiger and doe. These animals are not all known for their raw energy, some are gentle and Calm or at least do not constitute a danger to others. At the physical level, the setting may be said to be Africa where there still exist confusion in leadership and disorderliness in her followership. There is as yet no settled or predictable manner of leaders taking their places. |
The background setting of the poem. | |
| STEP 6: APPLICATION Mode: Group |
The Teacher guides the students to explain the theme of the poem. | The students explain theme of the poem. 1. Theme of Followership: Leadership brings about followership; for followers to succeed they must have a good leader. Thus looking at the poem, the followers within the animal circle are fault-fault-finding (critical) upon any animal that projects itself for leadership position. They thoroughly assess such an animal and identifies it’s shortcoming because they know what they want in a leader. Therefore the poet suggests to us that as human beings what we need in a leader, is one who has the character of “a little bit of a lion” and a little bit of a lamb.” 2. Theme of Criticism of African leadership and followership: The scenario painted in the poem is similar to what happens in African leadership and followership. The poet happens to be the Forest sage in this poem and recommends a “hybrid of habits” which is a mixture of character traits. At the moment Africa is disorganized in their political system instead of being organized and it trashes around for a leader “like a snake without a head”. Leadership candidates “crave” a place in front despite their shortcomings and project themselves for leadership without credible and fair process. None relies on the other nominating him or her! The poet advises that the followers should not be overlooked. 3. Theme of Imperfection: Another theme in the poem is the theme of imperfection. The poem sends the message that perfection is not the recipe for leadership. The animals that felt they are worthy because of their strengths and powerful qualities are disqualified like those who possess weaknesses. In lines 11 -12 (The elephant trudges into the power tussle/ But his colleagues dread his trampling feet), the elephant strength disqualified him while the ugliness of warthog was a reason for his disqualification, as seen in line 13 (the warthog is too ugly). |
Being able to explain the theme of the poem. |
| The Teacher guides the students to list and explain the poetic devices use in the poem. | The students list and explain the poetic devices use in the poem. 1. A simile is a poetic device that compares two unlikely with the use of "as " or "like". We see the usage in the poem in line 6: "like a snake without ahead", the poet states that the pack has no leader and. it thrashes around like a snake without ahead This comparison helps to solidify the understanding we get of a society without a leader. other uses of simile are seen in lines 21 and 22. 2. Metaphor: The use of metaphor in the poem The leader and the led' is dominant. Metaphor is an indirect comparison in a work of art. The poem is built on a metaphorical ground, that is, It is a metaphor of things that happen in a human democratic setting whenever it comes to the issue of electing a new leader was creatively presented as an animal kingdom. 3. Interior Monologue: The poet persona speaks his thought to an addressee. 4. Apostrophe: The whole poem is one long apostrophe. The poet addresses an unseen woman and Africa in general. 5. Imagery: using words or expressions to create a mental picture in a poem so the readers can see, smell, feel the event clearer. Few in the poem are "But the impalas shudder at his lethal appetite" in line 6, "And the pack trashes around" in line 16, "The pack points to the duplicity of his stripes" in line 10. 6. Repetition: Words like “dark woman”, “naked woman” are repeated in the poem to drive home the dominant message. 7. Alliteration: Alliteration successive use of consonant sounds within a line or two in a poem. "hybrid of habits" in line 17, "far from the ground" in line 8, "pounce of his paws" in line 4, "The pack points to" in line 10. 8. Antithesis: Apart from the dominant use of metaphor in the poem, another prevalent poetic device is the use of Antithesis. This is creating an opposing or contrasting opinion or character in a work of art. It is a dominating poetic device because the most line of the couplets shares opposite characters. Hyena versus impalas in stanza 3 "The hyena says the crown is made for him/ But the impalas' shudder at his lethal appetite" and the elephant versus the colleagues in stanza 6. Another instance of antithesis is in the stanza. 9. Symbolism: using words or expressions to represent status, event, or idea. In the poem The Leader and the Led, the term "Forest Sage" symbolized a wise person which is a normal human democratic setting that presents the poet. |
Poetic Devices use in the poem. | |
| The Teacher guides the students to summarize the poem. | The students summarize the poem. The Leader and the Led' is composed in form of a fable. It tells the story of an animal kingdom lacking leadership based on rivalry and imperfection. The poem metaphorically presents a heterogeneous society like Nigeria with the danger that will arise between the leader and the led. In the poem, the most powerful animals in the kingdom saw the reason and right to become the ruler yet their power seemed to be their flaws. The trouble prolonged and the pack tussled like a snake without a head until the "Forest Sage" (in line 8 stanza 9) proffered a solution. According to the forest sage, strength alone isn't the yardstick for becoming a ruler but the balance of strength and weaknesses is a needed quality for any animal that will rule the pack well. Line 17 - 20: Our need calls for a hybrid of habits//Proclaims the Forest Sage, //A little little bit of a lion//A large bit of a lamb/Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe/Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake'. It ends on the stance that the pack will experience peace if it appoints a leader who knows how to be a followed and followers who are mindful of their leadership rights. |
Summary of the poem. | |
| STEP 7: EVALUATION Mode: Entire Class |
The teacher asks the students the following questions: 1. What is the background setting of the poet? 2. What is the background setting of the poem? 3. What is the setting of the poem? 4. What is the subject matter of the poem? 5. Identify and explain literature device use in the poem. 6. What is the structure and style of the poem? |
The students expected answers 1. Niyi Osundare was born in the year 1947 in Ekiti state, Nigeria. He had his education in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Leeds University, England; and the York University in Toronto, Canada. He is a playwright, an essayist, a poet as well as an Emeritus professor in the University of New Orleans U.S.A. He has won many prizes, has published over 15 books of poetry, and is also a human rights activist. Many of his poems have been translated also in other languages. 2. Osundare treats the subject matter of the poem as what can be termed a cooperative venture". This he shed light on by using the animal metaphors to present the various behavioral traits that are relevant in the attainment of power. Also, the poem brings to mind, "the animal farm" by George Orwell. The poem aims to satirize the political struggles in Nigeria and by extension other countries in Africa. 3. The setting of the poem is the forest where animals do their struggle for leadership and power. At the physical level, the setting maybe in Africa where we still have confusion in leadership and disorderliness in followership. Confusion in leadership because of no settled or agreed manners of leaders taking place. Some leaders claim that they emerged through democratic process, civilian leaders are chased away by the military. The followers are also confused because the led accept a particular leader because he/she comes from one’s ethnic group or religion, not whether the leader can do the job of leading others. 4. The subject matter of this poem is what is expected of those who lead and those who are led. It is a cooperative venture, rather than to be seen as the onus of those who lead or those who follow. Good leaders must have been a good follower. The poet uses animal metaphor to depict the various behavioral traits which are relevant in leadership tussle or in power play. The morality of the poem is seen in stanza nine where the poet through the voice of "forest sage" declares that all they need are leaders with dynamic and unique conduct, devoid of corruption, hatred and cruelty against their fellow human beings. 5(a) Simile: The beauty of the woman strikes the poet-speaker “like the flash of an eagle.” (b) Imagery: Basically, the poet uses visual pictures of nature. (c) Metaphor: The dark woman is compared to life, new land, paradise, sun, star etc. 6. STRUCTURES & STYLES: Osundare's "The Leader and the led" is written in 12 stanzas, each stanza has two lines, i.e in Couplet without an end rhymes. The first part of the poem juxtaposed varying animals' choices to lead and those of followers against their leadership and the final four stanzas of the poem are solutions to the hovering choice of leadership problem in the animal kingdom. In terms of diction, Osundare's choice of words was straight, easy to read and understand by all works of life. Finally, the poet employs the use of third-person narrative techniques with a climactic tone, starting with the problem of who-fits-the-throne to the solution proffered by the forest sage. The tone of the mood can be described as unrest, rivalry, and disagreement. |
Asking the learners questions to assess the achievement of the set objectives. |
| ASSIGNMENT | The teacher gives learners take home 1. Explain the Background of the poet and the poem. 2. Discuss the setting of the poem. 3. Explain Line to line analysis of the poem. |
The learners copy the assignment. | Better understanding of the poem. |
| CONCLUSION | The teacher wraps up the lesson from the learners' contribution The theme of the poem include: 1. Balance: The theme of balance as seen in Lines 19-22 : " A little bit of a Lion//A little bit of a lamb4Tough like a tiger, compassionate like a doe Transparent like a river, mysterious like a lake" shows that half strength and half weakness is the guaranteed trait of leadership. Niyi Osundare revealed the solution via the forest sage because it takes wisdom to arrive at any solution to a problem. 2. political fable, Fable is a fictional story that features animals that are given human activities. The animals speak like human beings and contested for elections. 3. Transition process: The military disengagement from power to political power by politicians. 4. Hybrid of Habits: Hybrid is something that is formed by combining two or more things together. A leader must have characters that reflect tough and compassion. |
The students listen to the teacher and copy down notes. | Consolidating and harmonizing scientific concepts. |