Petals of Blood Close Analysis

OPTION #1:         Pages 25 – 29

“So within six months he came to feel as if Ilmorog was his personal possession.
. . .But she herself was not ther e.”

OPTION #2        Pages 3 2  – 3 6

“To be made a prefect. . . . He called out to Joseph.”

Choose  ONE of the  above  excerpts  from  Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s Petals of Blood  (1977).
Do not feel that you must analyze the entire excerpt  from beginning to end . Given
that you have only 350 -400 words, you need to focus on one specific and complex
point.  You should choose  an argument  and angle  that  will allow you to provide
convincing support, given the evidence  in the excerpt.

Textual evidence is key here: description, phrases, images, words, etc . You must
support your argument with carefully chosen evidence from your  excerpt.  Incorporate
your  evidence  (make the connection;  explain its significance with res pect to your
thesis).

Present your argument in context: What is the title of the novel and what is the
author’s name?  Where is the excerpt situated within the story ?