THE DUBE TRAIN SHORT STORY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADE 12 The Dube Train” by Can Themba is a remarkable example of such storytelling. Written during the apartheid era in South Africa, this poignant tale encapsulates the struggles, aspirations, and injustices faced by black individuals in a racially divided society. For Grade 12 students, analyzing this text provides not only literary insights but also a deeper understanding of historical and social contexts.
THE DUBE TRAIN BY CAN THEMBA
Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
Extract A
[The narrator describes a typical Monday morning.]
| The morning was too cold for a summer morning, at least to me, a child of the sun. But then on all Monday mornings I feel rotten and shivering, with a clogged feeling in the chest and a nauseous churning in the stomach. It debilitates my interest in the whole world around me. The Dube Station, with the prospect of congested trains filled with sour-smelling humanity, did not improve my impression of a hostile life directing its malevolence plumb at me. Despairing thoughts of every kind darted through my mind: the lateness of the trains, the shoving savagery of the crowds, the grey aspect around me. Even the announcer over the loudspeaker gave confusing directions. I suppose it had something to do with the peculiar chemistry of the body on Monday morning. But for me all was wrong with the world. Yet, by one of those flukes that occur in all routines, the train I caught was not full when it came. I usually try to avoid seats next to the door, but sometimes it cannot be helped. So it was on that Monday morning when I hopped into the Third Class carriage. |
- Read the following statement and complete the sentence by filling in the missing words. Write down only the words next to the question number (1a)–1b)).
In lines 1 and 2 “a child of the sun” is an example of personification.
The a) … is being described as the b) … of the narrator. (2) - Refer to paragraph 1.
- Quote no more than FOUR consecutive words from the extract to show that this story is written in the first person. (1)
- Using your own words, briefly describe how the narrator feels on a Monday morning. State TWO points. (2)
- In your view, why does he feel this way? State TWO points. (2)
- Refer to paragraph 2.
Quote TWO consecutive words to show that the narrator has a negative outlook on life. (1) - Refer to line 10 (“… shoving savagery of the crowds …”).
Which figure of speech is used here? (1) - Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence: In line 13, the word “flukes” refers to …
- unfortunate accidents.
- lucky charms.
- unlucky coincidences.
- a stroke of good luck. (1)
- Refer to the story as a whole.
Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE? Give a reason to support your answer.
The narrator’s journey was dull and uneventful. (2) - What point is the narrator making by including the description of the train carriage and the station? State TWO ideas. (2)
- A girl boards the train at Phefeni station.
- Explain what the narrator finds unusual for a girl of her age.State TWO points. (2)
- Explain why the narrator is surprised by the girl’s reactions later, when the tsotsi attacks her. State TWO points. (2) [18]
Answers
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Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
Extract B
[The narrator describes the reactions of the passengers.]
| Our caveman lover was still at the girl while people were changing from our train to the Westgate train in New Canada. The girl wanted to get off, but the tsotsi would not let her. When the train left the station, he gave her a vicious slap across the face so that her beret went flying. She flung a leg over me and rolled across my lap in her hurtling escape. The tsotsi followed, and as he passed me he reeled with the sway of the train. To steady himself, he put a full paw in my face. It smelled sweaty- sour. Then he ploughed through the humanity of the train, after the girl. Men gave way shamelessly, but one woman would not take it. She burst into a spitfire tirade that whiplashed at the men. “Lord, you call yourselves men, you poltroons! You let a small ruffian insult you. Fancy, he grabs at a girl in front of you – might be your daughter – this thing with the manner of a pig! If there were real men here, they’d pull his pants off and give him such a leathering he’d never sit down for a week. But, no, you let him do this here; tonight you’ll let him do it in your homes. And all you do is whimper, ‘The children of today have never no respect!’ Sies!” |
- Refer to line 1.
- Who is “our caveman lover”? (1)
- Why is this person described as a “caveman”? (1)
- Quote ONE word from paragraph 2 which shows that the narrator is comparing the “caveman” to an animal. (1)
- Refer to line 7.
What caused the “caveman” to reel? (1) - Refer to line 12.
Using your own words, explain why the woman calls the men “poltroons”. (1) - Refer to paragraph 4 of the extract.
Quote FOUR consecutive words to show that the woman believes that the men have strong fatherly instincts. (1) - Refer to line 18.
What does the use of the word “Sies!” suggest about the woman’s feelings? (1) - Later in the story the attacker draws a knife when the big man confronts him.
How do the following people react when they see the knife?- The woman (1)
- The male passengers (1)
- The big man, who has been sitting quietly all the time, comes to life because of the incident described in the extract.
- Why, do you think, does he not react when the tsotsi attacks the young girl? State TWO points. (2)
- What causes the big man’s violent reaction later? (2)
- Do you feel sorry for the attacker who is flung from the train and probably killed? Explain your answer. (2)
- The passengers on the Dube train choose not to get involved when the tsotsi attacks the girl. They also do nothing when he is flung from the train. Why do you think this is the case? Discuss your view. (2) [17]
Answers
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