This document is a summary of 'First Day After The War' by Mazisi Kunene. The document includes analyses regarding each line, tone and mood, structure, themes, diction, imagery etc. Furthermore, a collection of contextual questions from past papers is included in the summary.
First Day After the War
“We heard the songs of a wedding “We saw a soft light”
party.”
The poet appeals to the reader's Figuratively: The soft light is a
sense of hearing (heard the songs) symbol of hope/optimism.
and vision (saw a soft light). Literally: Dawn/ early morning. Just
as sunrise marks the start of a new
(Metaphor) Our country is day, this was the start of a new
compared to a new bride. A era.
wedding marks the start of a new
Tone – peaceful, calm
life for her. Similarly, it is the of a
new chapter for South Africa.
The songs being sung suggest
happiness, celebration. A “wedding
party” represents unity and
families coming together.
Through the use of “we” the
speaker includes the reader in the
action and ideals expressed in the
poem. This emphasises
that it was a widespread
celebration.
“Coiling round the young blades of “At first we hesitated, then we saw
grass” her footprints,
Her face emerged, then her eyes
of freedom!”
Coiling refers to wind around in Hesitated suggests unbelief, doubt:
loops or spirals, completely They could not believe that their
covered. dream of being free has finally
been realised.
(Metaphor) The poet compares the
young married couple to young (Personification) Freedom is
blades of grass. The married described as having footprints, a
couple are young like fresh new face and eyes. Kunene uses the
growth of grass. The glow of concept of the democracy as a
happiness on the young couple is character. Democracy is feminised
compared to light on new grass. by the pronoun “her”.
Also suggests a new dawn, new Furthermore, freedom or
beginning, fresh new start. democracy is said to have
footprints, a face and eyes.
'footprints' refers to the area
affected or covered by freedom;
freedom makes its mark with its
footprints. "face' refers to one's
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, identity. Freedom is identified as
such when it emerges.
'eyes of freedom' could suggest
the innocence of freedom.
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