Forbidden Love Grade 12 Questions and Answers pdf

English FAL Grade 12 Forbidden Love Grade 12 Questions and Answers pdf:

Engaging with literature requires active reading and critical thinking, and one effective way to encourage this is through formulating questions and providing corresponding answers. In this context, we will create questions and answers based on the analysis of Can Themba’s “Forbidden Love,” which vividly portrays themes such as fear, love, apartheid, hypocrisy, defiance, and acceptance. The aim of this exercise is to deepen our understanding of the text and its themes.

Forbidden Love Grade 12 Questions and Answers

1. Q: What form of fear is predominantly exhibited in “Forbidden Love”? A: The fear Themba explores in “Forbidden Love” is the irrational fear of interaction between white and black South Africans, as prominently exhibited by Dora’s family.
2. Q: How does Davie’s behavior expose his hypocritical nature? A: Despite having a relationship with Salome, a black woman, and fathering a child with her, Davie reacts violently when he discovers his sister Dora’s relationship with Mike, a black man. This hypocrisy mirrors the attitudes of many white South Africans during apartheid.
3. Q: How does Dora demonstrate defiance in the face of societal norms? A: Dora demonstrates defiance by openly expressing her love for Mike, despite societal norms. She refuses to end their relationship under societal pressures, showing great courage and strength.
4. Q: How are the real strength and heroism in the narrative defined? A: The real strength in Themba’s narrative is attributed to Dora and Salome, whose resilience and determination enable Mike’s recovery and the exposure of Davie’s secret.
5. Q: How does Themba use the motif of the cinema to highlight apartheid’s impact? A: Themba utilizes the exclusion of black South Africans from the cinema to spotlight the segregative and marginalizing effects of apartheid. This action illustrates how even simple activities like watching a film became divisive under the apartheid regime.
6. Q: How does the story conclude on a note of optimism amidst prevalent resistance? A: The story concludes on an optimistic note with Dora’s mother happily accepting her mixed-race grandchild. This represents a shift towards acceptance, despite resistance from others like Davie and his father.
7. Q: How does Can Themba depict the impact of external influences on personal relationships in “Forbidden Love”? A: Themba portrays external influences through the character of Meneer, who, driven by resentment over his own rejection by Dora, reports Dora’s interracial relationship to authorities. The headmaster’s decision not to reveal this information further underscores the impact of societal pressures on personal relationships.
8. Q: How does the narrative illustrate the effects of living in fear? A: The narrative illustrates the effects of living in fear through the character of Davie, who lives in constant fear of his relationship with Salome being exposed. This fear not only governs his actions but also showcases the societal pressures and stigmas associated with interracial relationships during the apartheid era.
9. Q: How does the story reflect the societal norms and rules of the time? A: The societal norms and rules of the time are reflected in the story through the characters’ fear of having personal relationships with black South Africans, the hypocritical attitudes of characters like Davie, and the consequences faced by Dora and Mike for their relationship.
10. Q: What does Dora’s mother’s acceptance of her mixed-race grandchild symbolize? A: Dora’s mother’s acceptance of her mixed-race grandchild symbolizes a shift towards acceptance and an ability to see beyond the color of one’s skin. Despite prevailing societal norms, her acceptance signifies hope for change and progression in society.
11. Q: How are Dora and Salome depicted as resilient characters in the story? A: Dora and Salome are depicted as resilient characters through their actions and attitudes. Despite societal pressures and being labeled as liars, both women display strength, acceptance of their circumstances, and a sense of independence.
12. Q: How does the story highlight the divisive effects of apartheid on simple activities like going to the cinema? A: Themba highlights the divisive effects of apartheid on simple activities through the example of black South Africans being excluded from the cinema. This highlights how apartheid segregated society, making everyday activities like watching a film a source of division and inequality.

Themes in Can Themba’s “Forbidden Love”: A Grade 12 Examination

Introduction

Can Themba’s poignant short story “Forbidden Love” serves as a dissection of fear, love, apartheid, hypocrisy, defiance, and acceptance in South African society. The story, told from an unidentified third-person perspective, places the reader directly in the midst of a society consumed by fear.

Fear and Hypocrisy

The fear Themba refers to is not a traditional sense of danger, but an unfounded terror of interaction between white and black South Africans, prominently exhibited by Dora’s family. They unjustifiably regard black South Africans as inferior, dehumanizing them in the process. Ironically, this biased perspective doesn’t stop Davie from forming a relationship with Salome, resulting in a child. However, when confronted with his sister Dora’s relationship with a black man, Mike, Davie resorts to violence, exposing his hypocritical nature. This contradiction mirrors the attitudes of many white South Africans during apartheid.

Confronting Denial

Dora’s father’s denial is starkly depicted when he discredits Salome’s claim about the paternity of her child, choosing to deny the evident reality of white and black South Africans forming personal relationships.

External Influences and Acceptance

The story is punctuated with external influences such as Meneer, who considers it right to report Dora’s interracial relationship due to his resentment over being rejected by Dora. Interestingly, the headmaster, aware of Dora and Mike’s relationship, deems it unnecessary to divulge this information. Despite his discretion, Dora’s relationship becomes public knowledge, unjustly defining her by the color of Mike’s skin. However, Dora’s defiance shines as she unabashedly expresses her love for Mike, breaking away from societal norms, and displaying courage in her refusal to surrender to societal pressures.

Love, Strength and Defiance

Dora’s deep affection for Mike is evident in her refusal to terminate their relationship under duress, and she remains by Mike’s side during his recovery. Conversely, Davie lives in constant fear of his relationship with Salome being revealed.

In a stark contrast to Davie’s physical prowess, the real heroes in Themba’s narrative are Dora and Salome, whose strength and determination enable Mike’s recovery and the exposure of Davie’s secret. Despite being branded liars, both women display resilience, accepting their circumstances, and demonstrating their independence.

Highlighting Apartheid’s Impact

Themba utilizes the exclusion of black South Africans from the cinema to spotlight apartheid’s devastating impact, underscoring how a simple act of seeing a film becomes a divisive act in society, a testament to the intentions of the apartheid regime – to segregate and marginalize black South Africans.

The consequences of apartheid are discernible in the covert relationship between Dora and Mike, characterized by fear of backlash from white South Africans. Notwithstanding, Themba concludes the story on an optimistic note, as Dora’s mother happily accepts her mixed-race grandchild, symbolizing a shift towards acceptance, despite the resistance from Davie and his father.