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ENG1501 ASSIGNMENT 3 S1 2023
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Answers to the Small Things Essay for 2023. It discusses Comrade Q's role in the novel.
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LOLA JACOBS ASSIGNMENTS 0618151315ENG1501
Assignment number: 03
Year: 2023 (SEMESTER 1)
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The Essay:
In Nthikeng Mohlele's novel, Small Things, Comrade Q is a minor character whose role
in the novel opens up discussions on important themes in post-Apartheid South Africa.
Specifically, Comrade Q's character reinforces the theme of history and transition of
South Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state. This theme is linked to the theme of
inequality and class in post-Apartheid South Africa.To begin, it is important to define
what a minor character is in the context of the novel. A minor character is a character
who is not the main focus of the narrative but serves a purpose in moving the story
forward. Comrade Q fits this description as he is not one of the main characters in the
novel but plays a significant role in the themes that the novel explores.
, LOLA JACOBS ASSIGNMENTS 0618151315
Small Things by Nthikeng Mohlele
In Small Things, one of the minor characters, Comrade Q, may be a lesser mentioned
character but his role in the novel opens up discussions on two important themes in
post-Apartheid South Africa, namely, inequality and class and history and transition (of
South Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state). In post-Apartheid South Africa, the
novel suggests that a new, wealthy class of citizen has developed. This is a class of
previously disadvantaged South African comrades who use their credentials as anti-
Apartheid activists as currency to gain influence in business and politics in order to
generate wealth for themselves as well as family and friends.
Using the extract detailed below as a starting point and focusing specifically on the
theme of history and transition, write an essay in which you discuss Comrade Q’s
portrayal as a minor character. In your essay, you should do the following:
• Focus specifically on the theme of history and transition (Discuss how Comrade Q’s
character reinforces the theme of history and transition of South Africa from Apartheid to
a democratic state).
• Explain how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from Apartheid to a
democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
The extract you are expected to use begins on p. 75 of the novel with the words, “Frost
descends on Benito…” (p.75). The extract ends on p. 76 with the words, “Even more
absurd: how many souls owe how many Comrade Qs favours?” (Mohlele, 2013:76).
Remember that your essay should have:
• An introductory paragraph, which introduces your essay topic and explains how the
rest of your essay will be structured. Your introduction should restate the essay question
in your own words and should state what you will discuss;
• A body of 3-5 paragraphs, in which you develop your argument. The body of your
essay should do three things:
➢ it should define what a minor character is in the novel and how Comrade Q is
portrayed as one;
➢ it should explain how Comrade Q reinforces the theme of history and transition (of
South Africa from Apartheid to a democratic state); and
➢ it should consider how the theme of history and transition (of South Africa from
Apartheid to a democratic state) links to the theme of inequality and class.
• Remember that for each point that you make, you should refer to relevant sections of
the extract or text to support your argument.
• A concluding paragraph, in which you sum up the main argument that you have made
in your essay.
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