“Tell my son to Hold on to his Gun” Analysis: By Kaakyire Nyantakyi
Overview of the story
Tell my son to hold on to his gun is a story which takes readers on a journey of courage, sacrifice and prophecy .
Let’s explore Kaakyire Akosombo Nyantakyi’s short story, ” Tell my son to hold on to his gun”.
In the heart of Dawohoso, It is Kwame’s destiny to stop a killer beast that has haunted the people in his village for years.
We will look at the themes, literary devices, questions and answers and lessons to take from the story.
Being Brave is Important
The most important idea in this story is being brave. Kwame starts as a scared boy but becomes a brave hero.
Tell my son to hold on to his Gun
His father’s words, “Be courageous, be courageous,” helped him change from being afraid to becoming fearless.
Sacrifice and prophecy
Kwame’s father does something hard: he sacrifices himself for a bigger purpose.
This shows that sometimes, we have to give up something important for success.
That sacrifice prepared Kwame to finally defeat the killer beast.
There’s also a part about a prophecy.
Tell my son to hold on to his gun
In the prophecy, someone predicted what would happen in the future.
He predicted that a boy would put an end to the killer beast.
This adds a mysterious and interesting twist to the story.
Final surprise: it was all a dream!
The story surprises us when Kwame wakes up and realizes everything was a dream.
This makes us think about what’s real and what’s in our minds. It adds a kind of magical feeling to the story.
This final twist creates different emotions in readers.
Literary devices in the narrative
Alliteration and repetition
The story uses words that sound alike, like “be courageous” and “father, father.
This makes those words stand out and stay in our minds.
Simile
Words like “anger struck me like thunder” and “his whole body shook as if something was going to explode in him, ” help us picture how Kwame feels.
It’s like saying he felt really, angry or scared. Simile uses “like” and “as”for comparison.
Onomatopoeia
The use of onomatopoeia, like “Boom! Went a loud deep sound,” feels like hearing the sound in our minds. This makes the story more exciting.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole, such as “my heart was burning with wild desire,” creates exaggeration.
This makes a reader develop strong feelings about a character.
Conclusion
“Tell My Son to Hold on to His Gun” is a story about facing one’s fears, making tough choices, and how dreams can feel real.
Kwame’s journey teaches us that even when things seem scary, being brave can help us win.
As we finish reading, we think about how our own bravery can help us face challenges.
A major lesson to take away from this story is to hold onto our guns in the face of life’s challenges. Read also, Makola Poem Analysis: By Theresa Ennin
Selected Questions on Tell my son to hold on to his gun and answers
- In the story, what does it mean to own a large cocoa farm? Ans: It means to be is rich
- Explain how Kwame’s father died. Ans: Kwame’s father was killed by palace executioners as a spiritual sacrifice.
- In which part of the village did Kwame kill the killer beast? Ans: Near the river, Sabinom
- Why do you think this story is a story of courage? Ans: Kwame’s father encouraging words to his son changed his fearful nature to eventually conquer the killer beast.
- According to the passage why did the killer beast beat his chest? Ans: To show that he was the boss of the thick forest.
- What words encouraged Kwame as he searched for for his father? Ans: Be courageous
- What is the theme of the story? Ans: Courage and persistence lead to success
- Give a physical description of the killer beast. Ans: He was hairy, seven feet tall, had oval shaped ears, pointed nose and his eyes extended beyond its normal place.
- According to the passage, what does crying or mourning mean? Ans: it means fear
- What is the setting of the story? Ans: Dawohoso 11. What is the point of view of the story?
Ans: First person narrative
Related Resources: Term 2 Scheme of Learning from the links here
For KG and Primary levels, the scheme of learning are for the whole year – that is, a yearly scheme of learning.
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