WAEC Literature in English 2022 Theory — Question 20

Model answer

Points to develop: i. Relation to theme; ii. Identification of the travelers; iii. The experience in the course of the journey; iv. Instances of regret in the poem; v. The evaluation or the assessment of the journey. The poem deals with the search for spiritual fulfillment in the course of life's journey. Three wise men known as the magi decide to embark on a journey for spiritual fulfillment. The three men face challenges in their search for the birthplace. Their encounter with the birthplace confuses or perplexes the object of their mission. The journey is a long and tedious one at the worst time of the year. This finds explanation in the expression: 'a cold coming we had of it, just the worst season of the year'. The travelers' camels become sore footed along the way. Besides, they meet with hostile, unfriendly cities where prices of items are exorbitant. They meet gamblers, women and others drinking liquor. In the course of the journey, their 'night fires' go out. The travelers see a 'white horse' and 'the temperate valley'. They continue amidst difficulties until they achieve their goal. The magi now wish for another life. The unfriendly weather and time of the journey are causes of regret. The experience of the Magi with gamblers, bad women and alcoholics makes them regret embarking on the journey. More importantly, the loud 'voices singing in our ears, saying/ That this was all folly' climaxes their regret. The travelers wish that they hadn't embarked on the journey in the first place. However, there are glimpses of hope as can be seen in 'the white horse' and 'the temperate valley' they encounter. The travelers fulfill their objective: 'Finding the place; it was, you may say, satisfactory'. This is also captured in the expression 'There was birth certainly'. They assess the birth by saying 'I have seen births and deaths...this birth was hard and bitter agony for us'. The magi or travelers return in doubt and regret: 'we returned to our places, these kingdoms but no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation'. The determination of the Magi to arrive at their destination is worthy of emulation. It can also be gleaned from the poem that man's desires far outweighs the challenges of one's desires. It can be concluded that man will, no matter the regrettable experiences in life, continue to quest for self-fulfillment.