Telephone Conversation- Wole Soyinka

What is the meaning of the poem telephone conversation?

• The poet expresses the idea of racial differences

  He shows how racial tensions still exist

• The poet expresses the idea of equality

• He wants us to see the beauty of conversation

How does the speaker make the woman in the telephone conversation feel uncomfortable?

• He refers to skin colour as shades of hair colour

  This shows he is mocking her idea of colour

• He capitalizes the colours

Why does the poem concentrate so much on different shades of colour?

• To emphasize the diversity of people

  Too many categories/labels

• To show we belong to a rainbow nation

Identify and explain the figure of speech in the following line:

"like plain or milk chocolate?”

• Simile

  Emphasizes the similarity between colour and chocolate bars

• Simile

  The poet makes fun of the woman, by asking her to be specific using the example of chocolate flavours

Do you think this poem is relevant today?

• Yes

  Racial groups, labels, stereotypes still exists and causes tension

• No

  Discrimination is a thing of the past