2.6
Tell My Son to Hold On to His Gun
Short Story
By Kaakyire Akosomo Nyantakyi
Characters
•
Atoapoma/Kwame: The main character. He had a dream about how he had killed the monster who killed his mother.
His father: In his son’s dream, he was killed by the palace executioners as a spiritual sacrifice.
Summary
Kwame’s father owned the largest cocoa farm in the village and was very friendly. It was believed his mother had been killed by a human-looking beast. At dawn, Kwame went early to the farm with his father.
Kwame’s father told him to go to the village for their food. Kwame admitted that he was afraid that the killer beast would kill him. But his father admonished his son to be courageous. Kwame then took his gun and went to the village for the food. When he got back, his father was not around so Kwame went to look for him.
At first he was hesitant to enter into the thick forest but he remembered that his father had told him to be courageous. Still, Kwame doubted his safety. So he climbed a shade tree close to the river and held on to his father’s encouraging words.
He saw an ugly hairy monster Kwame shot the monster several times until it died. Then he cut off the beast’s head to show to the village
On his way, he saw a piece of cloth and his father’s head hanging on a tree. He cried bitterly. Suddenly, a strange echoing voice said that his father was sacrificed for a special purpose and his blood was used to spiritually cleanse Kwame and give him the courage needed to overcome the beast. The voice explained to Kwame that he was destined to kill the beast
The people would not mourn his father’s death because his father was a noble and fearless man whose sacrificial dea erased the sense of fear that gripped the village folks. Finally the voice told him. “Your father wants you to hold on to your gun.” Kwame woke up suddenly, realising that it was all a dream
Examples of Literary Devices
Point of view: First person narrative. Mood: The following mood conveys fear and loneliness: I couldn’t tell what time it was but the sun had set. And there I was, all alone, in that long stretch of thick forest controlled by that wild killer beast (p. 93).
Personification:
1. A long loud roll of thunder broke the stillness of afternoon… (p. 92). 2. A triumphant wave suddenly ran over my whole body -(p. 96).
the
Simile:
1. Anger suddenly spread over me and my heart felt as it was being pricked by a needle (p. 96)
.
2. When I saw his entire hody swaying from side to side, anger struck me like thunder. (p. 95) 1. I gave him a slow-sidelong look and anger began to
spread over me like fever (p. 95).
4. It took another round of firing before I fell to the ground as if struck by lightning (p. 95).
Hyperbole:
1. When I saw his entire body swaying from side to side, anger struck me like thunder (p. 95). 2. My lips tightened in anger, and tears that had welled
up in my eyes began to flow freely like running water
(p.96).
Onomatopoeia:
1. Then blood began oozing down his mouth and nose.
(p.95).
2. But suddenly, an unknown force pushed my finger against the trigger and, ‘boom’! went a loud, deep
sound from the gun (p. 94). 3. I smashed the monster’s head against the tree and knelt down (p. 96).
Alliteration: Note the repetition of the consonants in the following sentence: “So I picked it up, made a quick turn and hurried along the path back to where we were weeding” (p.92). There is also the sound of repeated vowels close to each other, which is a literary device known as Assonance.
Symbolism:
1. In the story, wealth is represented by how large one’s cocoa farm is.
2. Kwame’s father symbolises a courageous person who
was also fearless and noble..
Oxymoron:… the loud silence and the look on my father’s face… (p.92). Observe the two italised words that appear to be contradictory.
Commentary/Analysis
Theme: Courage and persistence lead to success. When Kwame was feeling afraid his father told him to be courageous and through that, he was able to kill the beast. He also persisted in the search for his father.
Tell my son to Hold on to His Gun deals with the theme courage/bravery/mastering or conquering of fear. “Then I heard a voice like my father’s. ‘Be courageous, be courageous, Kwame, be courageous.”” (p 102).
Interest in the story is sustained by its narrative technique, the ‘I’ narrator. We see all issues from the perspective of Kwame and he comes across as a credible and reliable mirror.
Though the story ends as a dream, it is authentic or plausible (which means it is believable). Also of interest is the effective use of suspense and drama especially during the encounter with the monster.
Discussion Questions
1. In the story, what does it mean to own a large cocos Identify symbolism and alliteration as literary devices from the story.
farm?
2.
3. Explain how Kwame’s father died. 4.
At approximately what time did Kwame and his father
usually go to the farm?
In which part of the forest did Kwame shoot the killer beast?
6. Give your opinion about how and why Kwame’s father was sacrificed?
7. Explain why you think this story is a story of courage
and determination.
Objective Questions Tell My Son To Hold On To His Gun
1. What time did Kwame and his father go to the farm
normally?
2. What did Kwame take with him as he went back to
the village to get lunch?
3. What words encouraged K wame as he searched for
the killer beast?
4. “This, bastard must die.” Who is the “bastard’ being talked about in this statement?
5. How did Kwame’s father truly die?
6. According the story, what does crying or mourning
mean?
When two words that appear to be
contradictory are used
together in a statement in order to achieve a certain effect.
Eg. “The silence was loud!”
Oxymoron