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The Girl Who Can by Ama Ata Aidoo

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Detailed Summary of  “The Girl Who Can” by Ama Ata Aidoo The story is narrated by Adjoa, a perceptive and intelligent seven-year-old girl from a Ghanaian village, Hasodzi. Although young, Adjoa is observant and thoughtful, often reflecting on the expectations placed on women in her community. From the beginning, she explains that she was born with exceptionally thin legs, a physical trait that sparks constant discussion among the adults around her—especially among the two powerful women in her life: her grandmother, Nana, and her mother, Maami. The conflict over Adjoa’s legs In their Akan culture, a woman is valued for her ability to bear children and work efficiently on the farm. Nana believes that strong, thick legs are essential for a woman to perform these responsibilities. She therefore criticizes Adjoa’s legs as “too thin to carry a pot” or to bear children in the future. Maami, though less vocal, is caught between her mother’s traditional expectations and her desire to suppo...

The Power of Music by Sukumar Ray

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The Power of Music  by Sukumar Ray Line by Line Paraphrase (Please keep a copy of the poem from your book before reading the poem) 1.In summer, we begin to hear the humming sound of Bhisma Lochan Sharma’s singing. 2. His singing can be heard everywhere—on hills, plains, from Delhi all the way to Burma. 3. He sings with extreme intensity, as if his life depends on it, as if he's determined to sing no matter what. 4. People get confused and shocked by his singing, and move away—even though they know he means no harm. 5. People run away in panic, some getting hurt, or they become pale and weak. 6.They beg him, saying, “Please stop singing! We cannot take it anymore—we may die!” 7. His terrible singing causes bullock-carts to topple over and horses to collapse on the road. 8. But Bhisma Lochan does not care—he continues to sing loudly and powerfully. 9. Animals hate the loud noise as soon as they hear it. 10. They cry, fall over with their feet up, or look around in utter confusion. 11...

When Great Trees Fall by Maya Angelou

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When Great Trees Fall by Maya Angelou Line by Line Paraphrase  (Please keep a copy of poem in front of you before reading the paraphrase) When great trees fall,………safety When magnificent and towering trees collapse, Even rocks far away tremble, Lions crouch low in the tall grass, And elephants move slowly towards a place of safety. When great trees fall ……. fear When these massive trees collapse, In the midst of forests, Small creatures retreat and become silent, Their awareness dulled, feeling something beyond just fear. When great souls die…….hurtful clarity When extraordinary people pass away, The atmosphere around us turns Thin, uncommon, and pure. We take short breaths. For a moment, our eyes See everything with painful clarity. Our memory……….taken Our memory, suddenly keen, Reviews, Dwells on kind words, That were left unspoken, On walks we promised to take, But never did. Great souls die ……..wizened When great souls leave this world, Our sense of reality, tied to them, Also ...

Lines Written in Early Spring by William Wordsworth

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Lines Written in Early Spring By WILLIAM WORDSWORTH I heard a thousand blended notes, While in a grove I sate reclined, In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts Bring sad thoughts to the mind. To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think What man has made of man. Through primrose tufts, in that green bower, The periwinkle trailed its wreaths; And ’tis my faith that every flower Enjoys the air it breathes. The birds around me hopped and played, Their thoughts I cannot measure:— But the least motion which they made It seemed a thrill of pleasure. The budding twigs spread out their fan, To catch the breezy air; And I must think, do all I can, That there was pleasure there. If this belief from heaven be sent, If such be Nature’s holy plan, Have I not reason to lament What man has made of man? Introduction to “Lines Written in Early Spring” “Lines Written in Early Spring” is one of William Wordsworth’s early Romantic poems, com...

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray

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Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard  BY THOMAS GRAY The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,          The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, The plowman homeward plods his weary way,          And leaves the world to darkness and to me. Now fades the glimm'ring landscape on the sight,          And all the air a solemn stillness holds, Save where the beetle wheels his droning flight,          And drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds; Save that from yonder ivy-mantled tow'r          The moping owl does to the moon complain Of such, as wand'ring near her secret bow'r,          Molest her ancient solitary reign. Beneath those rugged elms, that yew-tree's shade,          Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap, Each in his narrow cell for ever laid,          The rude forefa...