Essay question 1
“If you were still alive, Refent˘se, child of Tiragalong,you would be glad that Bafana Bafana lost to Francein the 1998 Soccer World Cup fiasco. Of courseyou supported the squad. But at least now, you wouldexperience no hardships walking to your flat throughthe streets of Hillbrow – that locality of just over onesquare kilometre,according to official records; andaccording to its inhabitants, at least twice as big andteeming with countless people. You would rememberthe last occasion in 1995, when Bafana Bafana wonagainst Ivory Coast and, in their jubilation, people inHillbrow hurled bottles of all sorts from their flatbalconies. A few bold souls, boasting a range of drivingskills, swung and spun their cars in the streets, makingU-turns and circles all over the road. You would recallthe child, possibly seven years old or so, who got hit bya car. Her mid-air screams still ring in your memory.When she hit the concrete pavements of Hillbrow, herscreams died with her.”
(Mpe, P. 2001. Welcome to Our Hillbrow. South Africa: University of Natal Press)
Write an essay in which you explore the portrayal of Hillbrow in the novel, Welcome to Our Hillbrow, using the above extract. Formulate an argument specifically focusing on a) the socio-economic space of Hillbrow (as presented by Mpe), b) the depiction of trauma and tragedy, and c) how the narrative techniques contribute to the depiction of the Hillbrow. Provide textual evidence (short quotes) to substantiate your argument. You may refer to textual evidence from other areas in the novel, but the majority of your essay (50-60%) must provide a close reading of the extract. A failure to do so will severely impact your mark.
Essay question 2
“It’s nothing – just a movie I’ve been watching onTV. It’s a sad story about a man and his woman whohave fallen prey to AIDS. They are sharing the fatalinfection with each other. When they go back to theirrespective villages and the people there learn that theyare suffering from AIDS, they say:Indeed! Is it not known what the fruit of sin is?Refilwe had come to our Jude the Obscure and lovedit, despite the sorrow it woke in her. She loved it theway she loved Hillbrow and Tiragalong, the way sheloved life. If Refent˘se were still alive, he might havewritten a poem for her, calledFor Refilwe Who is No More … It would have been her eulogy.”
(Mpe, P. 2001. Welcome to Our Hillbrow. South Africa: University of Natal Press)
Write an essay in which you explore trauma and tragedy in Welcome to Our Hillbrow, using the above extract. Formulate an argument about the depictions of trauma and tragedy in the novel, providing textual evidence (short quotes) to substantiate your argument. You may refer to textual evidence from other areas in the novel, but the majority of your essay (50-60%) must provide a close reading of the extract. A failure to do so will severely impact your mark.

Answers to Above Questions on English

Answer 1: An analysis of the welcome to our Hillbrow indicates that the portrayal of Hillbro is multifaceted, as it indicates socio economic complexities, trauma and tragedy and a depiction of narrative techniques. The socio economic space of Hillbrow is identified as highly challenging.