Black woman by Leopold Senghur
Background and setting of the poet, and plot summary of the poet
Subject: Literature-in-English
Theme:
Topic: Black woman by Leopald Sedar Senghor
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
Leopold senghor was born in 1906 in Senegal and died in 2001 in France. He was a Senegalese Negritude poet and politician. He was regarded as the father of Negritude [negros] . it is based on the philosophy that promote the conscious and pride in the Africa heritage. It cherishes the state of being a black man and his cultural values. He first publish Black woman in 1945.As a catholic, he wanted to be a priest but later got involved in the cultural and political activities of his country. During the second world war, he fought on the side of the French and was taken as a prisoner of war by German forces.
In 1960, he become the first president of an independent republic of Senegal. He retired from active politics in 1980.
2. Explain the Background of the poem
The poem, “Black Woman”, like every of Senghor’s poem, is a negritude poem. This poem of the late president of Senegal, Léopold Sédar Senghor, is an ode to the Black woman, but above all, to Senegal his country. Senghor's 'Black Woman' is the first-ever African poem that is dedicated and devoted to appreciating the beauty of African women. The poem was originally written in French as "femme noir", and later translated to English. "Black Woman" is a revolutionary poem published in 1936, a time at which many people were not ready for the change in the narrative of the perfect definition of beauty. Senghor is a leading figure of the Negritude movement, which originated in France and set out to celebrate African identity and culture. In the poem, "Black Woman" Senghor personifies Africa as a beautiful woman, who is sometimes a maternal figure and sometimes a lover. The poem "Black woman" is Senghor's most cited poem to date, largely because it is the first time a black woman is eulogized. It is clearly about the praise of the African woman as a person and symbol of the richness of the African culture. The poem expresses the beauty of the African woman (and by extension the African culture) that was hitherto expressed in the negative light.3. State the Setting of the poem
The setting of the poem is Africa. The poem is set in the 1920s and 1930s when no one could think of a black woman when matters concerning beauty and charms are been raised or discussed. Senghor creatively employs all the features that are then used to paint her ugliness and nastiness to give a positive valuation to African women. He deploys the imagery of nature such as animal, "the bush(savannah)", "ripe fruit", "east wind" "red-gold", "sun—baked", etc to restore admiration for the image of the black woman.4. Recite the poem
Black Woman
Naked woman, black woman
Clothed with your colour which is life
with your form which is beauty!
In your shadow I have grown up; the
gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes.
And now, high up on the sun-baked
pass, at the heart of summer, at the heart of noon,
I come upon you, my Promised Land,
And your beauty strikes me to heart
like the flash of an eagle.
Naked woman, dark woman
Firm-fleshed ripe fruit, sombre raptures
of black wine, mouth making lyrical my mouth
Savannah stretching to clear horizons,
savannah shuddering beneath the East Wind's
eager caresses.
Carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom, muttering
under the Conqueror's fingers.
Your solemn contralto voice is the
spiritual song of the Beloved.
Naked woman, dark woman
Oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the
athlete's flanks of the Princes of Mali
Gazelle limbed in Paradise, pearls are stars on the
night of your skin.
Delights of the mind, the glinting of red
gold against your watered skin.
Under the shadow of your hair, my care
is lightened by the neighbouring suns of your eyes.
Naked woman, black woman,
I sing your beauty that passes, the form
that I fix in the Eternal,
Before jealous fate turn you to ashes to
feed the roots of life.
Leopold Sedar Senghor
Naked woman, black woman
Clothed with your colour which is life
with your form which is beauty!
In your shadow I have grown up; the
gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes.
And now, high up on the sun-baked
pass, at the heart of summer, at the heart of noon,
I come upon you, my Promised Land,
And your beauty strikes me to heart
like the flash of an eagle.
Naked woman, dark woman
Firm-fleshed ripe fruit, sombre raptures
of black wine, mouth making lyrical my mouth
Savannah stretching to clear horizons,
savannah shuddering beneath the East Wind's
eager caresses.
Carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom, muttering
under the Conqueror's fingers.
Your solemn contralto voice is the
spiritual song of the Beloved.
Naked woman, dark woman
Oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the
athlete's flanks of the Princes of Mali
Gazelle limbed in Paradise, pearls are stars on the
night of your skin.
Delights of the mind, the glinting of red
gold against your watered skin.
Under the shadow of your hair, my care
is lightened by the neighbouring suns of your eyes.
Naked woman, black woman,
I sing your beauty that passes, the form
that I fix in the Eternal,
Before jealous fate turn you to ashes to
feed the roots of life.
Leopold Sedar Senghor
5. Explain Line to line analysis of the poem
Senghor's "Black Woman" is written in seven stanzas, 33 lines. The poem is written from the first-person perspective and in free verse-meaning that it has no set rhyme scheme.In the first stanza, the poet expresses his fondness for the black woman as he describes the blackness of the color of her skin as beautiful. Here, Africa is presented as a maternal mother who gives life through birth. And under whose shadow the poet persona's childhood has been nourished.
Senghor presents the black woman as a lover in the second stanza of the poem. He compares the black body of the African woman of a ripened fruit, and the Savannah which" shuddering beneath" eagerly caress the east wind. Her skin is further compared to the well "carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom" drum the mutters under a valiant conqueror's fingers. Besides, her solemn contralto voice has become the spiritual song of the beloved" one's.
In the third stanza of the poem, the adoration of the black skin of the African woman continues. Her smooth skin is further compared to that of an athlete On the flanks of the princes of Mali, " the elegant and graceful movement of the black woman is also compared to that of a gazelle limbs formed in paradise. While the pearls shine stars on her skin on a heavenly night of celebration.
In the last stanza, Senghor sees the black woman as Africa personified. He prefers to keep the beauty of the African woman perpetually hanging on the walls of his mind. This memory will not be affected even when "...jealous fate (death) turns her .. to ashes to feed the root of life. The natural beauty of the African woman is compared to that of Africa before the colonial masters invaded and colonized the continent. Lines 1 – 5
The black woman is naked. This naked woman must be totally so because we are informed that shelt-clothed with your colour” which is the colour of life with a beautiful shape. It is the “shadow” this woman does the poetic persona grew up “the gentleness of your hand” (1.3) may have smothered his face as a child evincing care and concern.
Lines 6 – 10
The poetic persona has toned nature it is “at the heart of summer at the heart of moon” (11.6-7) tit cones upon his “promised land” (Africa) (1.8) at the climax of her beauty which strikes him “to the hearts like the flash of an eagle” (11.9-16)
Lines 11 – 19
The poetic persona invokes “naked woman, Dark woman” (1.11) the woman has moved from being “dark” to being “tint”. Each colour is the shade of the other and this means the same the “nako women is metaphorically a “firm-fleshed ripe fruit” akin to the “sombre raptures of black wine, It (1.2) epilomized by “mouth making hyrical mouth”. (1.3) this is sensual, provocative, the image is that of vast space of sensational stretching to clear horizon savannah village probably Senghor’s Joal in Senegal where “carved tom-tom tau t tom-tom” (1.6) announces than bank has been worn. Our attention is drawn once again to the black woman who her “solemn voice” which sings “the spiritual songs of die/beloved” (18-19)
Lines 20 – 24
Naked woman’s beauty is farther heightened by referring to “oil that no breath ruffles” (1.21) I heal the naked woman spot is compared to the type that issues from “the athletes flank or form flanks of the prince of Mal” the “flanks” referred to the meat located between the end of them and the tip. It is portioned oily usually when cooked. The “dark woman” is “gazelle| limit of created in “paradise” just as pearls are stars on the night/ of your skin” (24.25) the “pearls belt caring to the ornaments of the body of the naked woman, dark woman”.
Lines 25 – 28
The naked woman causes “delight of the mind” (line 25) the same way that “red gold” glints and adore the woman’s watered light (2.6) an essential dimension of her beauty is the shadow of (hornsair) (1.27) which is also deeply dark or black. Her eyes are compared to “sun” said to be neighbouring (24) because they happen to be Juxtaposed (i.e. set side by side) the way the (eyes) are located on the human face.
Lines 29 – 33
The poet returns to the use of “black woman” as apostrophe to whom he signs. Because the woman is mortal, her beauty “passes” although her form and shape sensationally crafted. Her beauty contspoods those creature of another world.
6. List and Explain the Theme of the poem
1. Theme of African Beauty
The poem gives prominence to the admiration and glorification of the beauty of the black woman; hence the whole of the poem is devoted to the beauty of the black woman. The poet admires the beautiful smooth skin of the African woman, which strikes his heart" like the lighting of the eagle" he appreciates the powerful black presence of the natural black woman around him right from his childhood. The African woman's body is then compared to the of a ripened fruit, and whose resonant contralto voice is regarded as the spiritual anthem of the nation. The poet describes the African woman as elegant, graceful, and pure in all her physical attributes. This, the poet achieved by evoking elements of beauty in the poem, such as: " sun-baked pass", the "heart of summer" "the heart of noon", " firm-fleshed ripe fruit", somber raptures of black wine" to refer to African that is personified as a Naked woman, a Black woman in the poem.2. Theme of Nurturing Quality of a Black Woman.
In the poem, the poet does not cease to express the unbeatable qualities of a black woman as the source and sustainer of the growing child. The poet expresses his affection and appreciation to the black woman who had care tenderly in the gentleness of her hands until he enters the "promised land" of adulthood (Lines 1- 10). The ability of a black woman to give birth and sustain the life of the infant child is applauded. Also, the role of the African woman as the first teacher of the child is uncovered by the poet, as he remembers his mother's tutelage at the various stages of childhood that sustained his growth into adulthood. (Line 4—5)3. Theme of Praises of the Africa Culture.
The theme of the praises of the Africa culture cannot be overlooked in the poem. The poet's choice of words to enchant the praises of the black woman is extraordinary. In lines 1-2, the poet made a direct call of a naked woman, a black woman who is "clothed" with her color which is life. The poet showers praise on the natural black color of the African woman's skin, and everything about the black woman. Her smooth skin is compared to that of an athlete. The poet further praises the African woman as graceful and elegant as a gazelle. The natural beauty of the black woman in the poem is the richness of the African culture before the colonization.4. Theme of Womanhood.
The poet in “Black Woman” evokes all the known aspects of what it means to be a woman in Africa. She is:-- A mother and she cares
- Lover
- Epitome of beauty And a sexual object.
Thus, while most of these aspects of womanhood are very positive, there are others that make the woman subservient to the domineering male persona (a “conqueror” of women) in African culture.
5. Theme of Nostalgia.
Like most Negritude poetry, Black Woman does not only glorify the present. The poet recalls the past and shows a deep longing for those days gone by. His yearning for the past is most felt when he refers to the love and care showered on him by his gentle African mother. “In your shadow I have grown up the gentleness of your hands was laid over my eyes.”However, as we have seen so far, this nostalgic feeling for his childhood goes beyond the personal. It is a longing for the unblemished innocence of pre-colonial Africa. The poet wishes to bring back the pure glory and beauty of the African landscape and culture before they were decimated by the conquering colonizer. Now living in Europe, he gets to appreciate more the beautiful climate of his own continent.
“And now high on the sun-baked
pass, at the heart of summer, at the heart of noon,
I come upon you, my Promised Land.
And your beauty strikes me to the heart
like the flash of an eagle.”
5. Theme of Childhood.
The poet look back to the period of his childhood and remember his place of birth Senegal. ‘in hands was laid over my eyes’, it is a memory lane down to his frowning days as a child , which he considers as living in paradise. He sets on a poetic journey to the ‘promised land’ of his home land Senegal. He recalls the caring attitude of his mother , which sustains him as a child. He appreciates the black woman as a wife and mother , who nourishes his childhood.7. List and Explain the poetic devices use in the poem
1. Style, Mood & Tone
Diction: the poet uses choice of words to symbolized the beauty of the black woman. He deliberately uses words like nakedness, black and darkness which are seen as negative attributes to praise the natural beauty of the black woman. The poet is also challenging the African woman to appreciate her natural beauty. And to bleach the dark skin in the name of sophisticated culture of the western world.Mood: the mode of the poem is that of Adoration. The poet adores the awesome beauty of the black woman. He describes everything about the African woman as naturally beautiful. Senghor sees Africa as the black woman he loves to celebrate. He seeks to adore that state of natural beauty before it is taken away by death.
Tone: the poet’s tone of the appreciation of natural beauty of the black woman pervades the poem. He praises the African woman not only for her natural smooth dark skin, but also for the way and manner she brings up her children.
2. Figurative Expression
Metaphor: Metaphor is a prominent figure of speech used in the poem. The black woman is compared to the "promised land," "ripe fruit," "Savannah", oil, and gazelle in lines 4, 7, 12, and 13.In lines 2, 21, 23, and 24: “your colour which is life, your form which is beauty”; “firm-fleshed ripe fruit, somber raptures of black wine”; “oil that no breath ruffles, calm oil on the athletes flank …”; “gazelle limbed in paradise, pearls are stars …” etc.
Simile: The literary device is used in line 5 "your beauty strikes me to the heart like the flash of an eagle," the comparison brings to mind the beauty and nobility of an eagle.
Repetition: line 1 "naked woman, black woman" and. Line 6 "Naked woman, dark woman" is repeated in lines 11 and 16 respectively to emphasize the natural beauty of the African woman.
Personification: The "black woman" is figuratively used to personify the African continent and Senghor's country, Senegal. The poet uses beauty of the color of the African woman's skin to personify the rich African culture before western influence and colonization. There are manifestations of personification in lines 15-16 and 32: “savannah shuddering … East Wind’s eager caresses”; “jealous Fate” etc.
Imagery: The poet's deploys natural imagery to link the Beauty of the black woman to nature, and by the same token to his homeland of Senegal. Natural images like wind, sun, moon, night, and stars are presented as attributes of the darkness of the African woman's skin.
Alliteration: The poet uses alliteration to buttress the beauty of the black woman in lines 1,2,3,6,7,9 etc.
- Line 1,6,11 and 16 naked women black woman
- Line 2 "clothed with your color which is life, with your form which is beauty"
- Line 3 "...grown-up; the gentleness..."
- Line 7 " firm-fleshed ripe fruit..... Mouth making lyrical my mouth"
- Line 9 "carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom..."
Symbolism: Symbolic words like:" the promised land, ripe fruit, Savannah, oil and gazelle to symbolize the natural beauty of the black woman as a person, as well as a symbol of an African woman and mother Africa.
Apostrophe: The whole poem is one long apostrophe. The poet addresses an unseen woman and Africa in general.
Interior Monologue: The poet persona speaks his thought to an addressee.
Rationale:
Before the poem was written, beauty had often been seen through the lenses of the Europeans in the figure of the white woman. So was the worthiness of a culture and civilization measured by the European values. Leopold Sedar Senghor changed this trend with his appreciation of beauty in the form of a “black naked” woman and also with his reiteration on the worthiness of the African culture.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.
Black woman by Leopald Sedar Senghor
Lesson Development:
STAGE |
TEACHER'S ACTIVITY |
LEARNER'S ACTIVITY |
LEARNING POINTS |
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| STEP 1: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE full class session |
The teacher Introduces the lesson by asking questions based on previous knowledge; What is an ode as use in literature? |
The students respond to the questions based on previous knowledge. An ode is a poem, especially one that is written in praise of a particular person, thing, or event. |
Reversing previous lesson |
| STEP 2: INTRODUCTION full class session Identification of prior ideas. |
The teacher review/introduce what they are going to study. "The poem Black Woman" by Leopold Senghur is an Ode. The poem is hymn of praise to the Black Woman, an African mother, Daughter or sister on indeed mother Africa which deserve to be treated like a woman. The poet praises the natural beauty of the African woman and stresses the need to accord her the rightful place in the society. |
The students listen attentively to the teacher. | Introducing the topic for discussion. |
| STEP 3: DEVELOPMENT Group Work (2 mins) |
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. |
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| STEP 4: EXPLORATION 3 mins Mode: Individual |
The teacher presents to the class the instructional resources and explain the content analsis of the poem Black Woman by Leopold Sedar Aenghor The teacher leads the students to air their views on them. Leopold Sedar Senghor was a proponent of the Negritude poetry of French expression. He was the first indigenous president of the independent Senegal, a former French colony. During the colonial period, France operated the assimilation policy in its African colonies; the policy required the adoption of French culture, ideas, and value system in all its totality resulting in the discard of the African culture. The import of this is that many Africans were made out of necessity to aspire to be more French than being Africa; to imbibe the French values; and to see everything African as primitive and uncivilized. In other words, they saw the world through the European lens. However, rather than becoming Europeans, they became half-French and half-Africans; neither being any of the two. They lost their African identity and in turn did not have the French identity. They were the types Birago Diop described in his popular poem, Vanity”, as the generation that had lost touch with its roots. Negritude Poetry, introduced by Aime Cesaire and promoted by the likes of Leopold Sedar Senghor and Birago Diop, thus reasserts the African identity and culture eroded by the domineering French civilization”. Senghor is often referred to as the father of negritude poetry”. The poem, Black Woman”, like every of Senghor’s poem, is a negritude poem. It is quite clearly about the praise of the African woman as a person and symbol of the richness of the African culture. The poem expresses the beauty of the African woman (and by extension the African culture) that was hitherto expressed in the negative light. The term woman” repeated all through the poem often collocating with dark”, naked”, and black” refers to the African woman (otherwise women of black race) as mother, daughter, sister, and of course, the poet’s home country. Needless to say the poem is influenced by the practices in the poet’s own country. |
The students listen attentively to the teacher. | Introducing the topic for discussion. |
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| 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. BLACK WOMAN Structure of the Poem In the first stanza, the poise expresses his fondness of the black woman. He describes the black colour of her skin as beautiful Senghur Presents Africa as he maternal mother who gives life through beds under whose shadow his childhood has been nourished. He sees the gentility of his mother as shoot from any home until he comes upon the poet’s “heart-like the flash of an eagle”. He loves and adores the dark skin of the African woman. Senghur Presents the black woman as a lover in the second stanza of the poem he compares the black body of the African woman as a ripened fruit, on this Savannah which “shuddering beneath” eagerly carries the east wind. Asking is further compared to the well “carved tom-tom, taut tom-tom” drum the mutters under in valiant conquerors fingers. Beside her solemn contral to voice has become “the spiritual song of the beloved” ones. Even the words like naked and duck are used positively to describe the perfect body of African woman. In the third stanza of the poem come on the adoration of the black skin of the African woman continues smooth skin is further compared to that of an athletes on “the flanks of the Princess of Mali” coma the elegant and graceful movement of the black woman is also compared to that of a gazelle limbs formed in paradise. While the pearls stone a stars on her skin and the heavenly night of celebration. The shadow of her hair is seen as a cover that has the ability to melt away the worries of the poet by “the neighbouring suns” of her charming eyes. In the concluding stanza of this poem, Senghur Sees the black woman as Africa personified. He refers to keep alive the beauty of the African woman perpetually hanging on the walls of his mind. This memory will not be affected even when “jealous fate (death) turns her..." To ashes to feed the roots of life. The natural beauty of the African woman is compared to that of Africa before the colonial masters invaded and colonise the continent. |
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 poem is Africa. However, when the poet entitles his poem black woman, whether she is in Africa or elsewhere, see in the Americas or the Caribbean. The home of all blacks is Africa, as Pointed ourtearlier, Senghur Broke new grounds rather than write a point and please the white woman he defaulted a poem entirely to one black woman which eventually to, and for all African females. Africa has earlier said, is the poems seen in terms of time and physical locate. The poem is set in the 1920s and 1930s when thoughts was spread for the black woman of appeal or charm. All features which should have been used to paint her ugliness became rehabilitated are such terms as “naked” “black” “Shadow” “dark” “somberraptures” “mouth” “tom-tom” “solemn contral to voice” “spiritual song” (Which reminds one of black American spirituals) “Oil” “flanks” “night of your skin watered skin” “shadow of your hair”, “suns of your eyes” etc. Ordinarily the above words on expression would have meant very little, both the point uses them to describe on cause the admiration of the image of the black woman. The images used in the poem reminds us of natural events such as animals, the Bush (“Savannah”) ripe fruits, black wine EAST wind, (the elements) paradise, pearls, red gold, sun-baked pass (a routine of mountainous area) ETC as a consequence, the scene is largely of the tickets, heart of summer”, “harsh of an eagle” “sun baked pass,” “sombre raptures” and specific promise land. “The black woman’s beauty may be ephemeral, but it conceived in the other world which suggests some kind of permanence. The poetic persona has to please this beauty quickly, while it lasts before probably through cremation (burning of a crop) is turn to ashes to serve as manual to feed roots of life” (1.31) |
The background setting of the poem. | |
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| STEP 6: APPLICATION 4 mins Mode: Group |
The Teacher guides the students to explain the theme of the poem. | The students explain theme of the poem. 1. THE CELEBRATION OF BEAUTY: In the “Black Woman”, Senghor eulogizes the beauty of Africa woman and by extension, Africa as a continent. He writes to debunk the assumption of the Western world that black is inferior and associated to barbarism or primitivism. The poet sees Africa as a superior continent. He compares the colour of African woman to life; the beauty of an eagle. “Naked woman, dark woman” is repeated in the poem to emphasis the beauty of Africa. The skin of Africa reflects the sun, gold and natural surroundings. It can be asserted that the work is an ode to beauty. 2. BEAUTY OF AFRICA: The poet personifies Africa as a black woman , who is ever beautiful. He is proud of the undiluted culture and physical features that make the African heritage unique. Senghor presents mother Africa as a paragon of beauty and complete perfection without any western influence before the colonization. It is important that the poet uses word like nakedness, blackness to describe the perfect beauty of Africa. The poet sees nothing negative or evil about Africa , but rather a ‘promised land’ that flows with milk and honey. 3. GENDER AND SUPERIORITY OF MOTHERHOOD: It has often been argued that women are inferior compared to men. This assertion is a controversial. Is the female weak physically, emotionally and spiritually? However, Senghor depicts women as life. Without them there will be no life. They are seen as “ripped fruit”, paradise of beauty, his “new found land” in the poem. The poet persona captures the qualities of compassion, peace, benevolence and contagious joy of motherhood. These qualities are attributed to a superior being. Allegorically, he sees Africa as the mother womb of the earth. In the last line of the poem, Africa is seen as the mother that “feeds the roots of life.” Historically, Africa is the cradle of civilization. Africa as continent was rapped economically by the colonizers. 4. PRAISE: The poet use choice of word to praise the black woman, and the greatnesss of African woman. He showers praises on the natural black colour of the African woman , skin and everything about the black woman .Her smooth skin is compared to that of an athlete. He futher praises the African woman as graceful and elegant as a gazelle praises of the natural beauty of the black woman also implies the richness of the African culture before thecolonization. 5. THE CHILDHOOD: The poet look back to the period of his childhood and remember his place of birth Senegal. ‘in hands was laid over my eyes’, it is a memory lane down to his frowning days as a child , which he considers as living in paradise. He sets on a poetic journey to the ‘promised land’ of his home land Senegal. He recalls the caring attitude of his mother , which sustains him as a child. He appreciates the black woman as a wife and mother , who nourishes his childhood. |
Being able to explain the theme of the poem. |
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| 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. Allegory: Allegory is a work that has primary and secondary meanings. The dark woman in the poem is a symbol of Africa as a continent. Africa is a beautiful and lovely continent. She is seen as the beloved of the world. Her natural resources attracted the Western world. 2. Metaphor: The dark woman is compared to life, new land, paradise, sun, star etc. 3. Simile: The beauty of the woman strikes the poet-speaker “like the flash of an eagle.” 4. Interior Monologue: The poet persona speaks his thought to an addressee. 5. Apostrophe: The whole poem is one long apostrophe. The poet addresses an unseen woman and Africa in general. 6. Imagery: Basically, the poet uses visual pictures of nature. 7. Repetition: Words like “dark woman”, “naked woman” are repeated in the poem to drive home the dominant message. |
Poetic Devices use in the poem. | |
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| 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? |
The students expected answers 1. Leopald Sedar Senghor was born in Jaal Fadio – ut, Senegal on the 9th of October 1906. He started his early education in Senegal and continual when he moved to France at the age of 22 years. He attended university of Paris, the Sorbonne, E’Cole Normale Super’reure, Lycee Lonis Le grand, all in France. M Senghor was a poet, teacher, statesman, husband, father and the first President of Senegal after her independence he was President from 1960 to 1980. He founded the socialist party and was also a foremost proponent of the concept involvement which refers to “Black consciousness” the sum of the cultural values of the black world as they are expressed in the life institutions and works of blackmen. His works include; Chants dombr (1945), Ethiopiques (1956), poems (1964) Elegies Majenres (1979) and many more. He dies on 20th December 2001 in Caemfrance, and was buried in Darker. 2. Senghor experiences while living abroad influenced his writing of this poem to the Black Woman , whose beauty is natural and perfect. He also uses the poem to stress the need to accord the black woman her rightful place in the scheme of things in African society. The poem “Black woman” is a response to the poems in praise of the white woman’s beauty. Before this poem, white writer’s like Dante, years, spencer etc have devoted parts of their literary works to express the beauty and elegance of the white woman. The result of this is the beauty was now seen in one’s fairness or whiteness. The features and qualities of the white woman became a criteria for assessing the beauty of all women. Leopald Senghor however brings a shift from the normal with the poem “Black woman”. It is the first time an African writer was devoting a poem to celebrating the beauty of the black woman. The poem is a revolutionary poem that uses the medium of negitude to assert the supremacy of the black woman, her colour and beauty, at a time when it was not common to do so. 3. The setting of the poem is Africa. The poem originally written in French as ‘femme noir’, and later translated in English. 4. This poem was originally written in French as “Femme Notr”, and later translated to English. It is a hymn of praise to the African black woman as a person and symbol of richness of African culture. The black woman is seen as a mother, daughter call mom sister and indeed the poet’s home country Senegal. Senghur’s Experiences while living abroad influenced his writing of this ode to the black woman whose beauty is natural and perfect. He also uses the poem to stress the need to accord the black woman her rightful place in the scheme of things in the African society. |
Asking the learners questions to assess the achievement of the set objectives. |
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| 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. |
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| CONCLUSION | The teacher wraps up the lesson from the learners' contribution Beauty of the black woman: the poet admires the beautiful smooth skin of the African human. Which strike his heart “like the lightning of the eagle” he appreciates the powerful black presence of the natural black woman around him right from his childhood. The Africa woman’s body is compared to the ripened fruits and whose Resonant contral to voice is regarded as the spiritual anthem of the nation. Senghur describes the African woman as elegant, graceful and pure in all her physical attributes. The African woman as the source and sustained of the growing child human The poet expressed his love and appreciation to his mother and indeed mother Africa for the care, protection until he enters the “promised land” of adulthood. The ability of black woman to give birth and sustain the life of the infant child is commended in the poem the role of the African woman as the first teacher of the child is exposed by the poet, he remembers his mother's tutelage at the various stages of childhood that sustained his growth into adulthood. |
The students listen to the teacher and copy down notes. | Consolidating and harmonizing scientific concepts. |