Hard to find by Sinesipo Jojo

1. True or false. Sinesipo Jojo is a young South African poet.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Sinesipo Jojo was born in the Eastern Cap.

2. Substantiate your reason. Select from the options below.

• She was born in the Eastern Cape (Port St Johns)

• She was born in Transkei

• She was born prior to 1993

• She was born in 1993

Answer explanation

She was born in Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape in 1993

3. When did she realise that she has a talent for poetry writing?

• A While she was still at school

• B In the Psychology class in her final year

• C When she joined a creative writing workshop at school

• D When she joined a creative writing workshop at university

Answer explanation

She studied at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

4. Discuss the effectiveness of the title: 'Hard to find'

Answer explanation

The poet mentions that although she is a poet, words are often inadequate when it comes to describing exactly how she feels.

5. Refer to the title: 'Hard to find'. Select all statements which refer to the irony depicted in the title

• A poet is a master of words.

• A poet uses words to create his/her art.

• The narrator (speaker) in the poem states that it is often hard to find the correct words.

• The narrator (speaker) in the poem feels that all poets always have the right words.

Answer explanation

The title refers to the fact that the poet feels that words are sometimes hard to find

Poets are supposed to be a master of words, as they use words to create their art. Thus it is ironic.

6. Refer to the mood of the narrator/speaker in the poem

• At first she is sombre, then she becomes hopeful and at the end she is angry and frustrated

• At first she is hopeful, then she becomes hopeful and at the end she is angry and frustrated.

• At first she is angry and frustrated, then she becomes sombre and at the end she is hopeful

• At first she is angry and frustrated, then she becomes hopeful and at the end she is sombre/sad