Mr Shane Marvin Wolf
202106929
HENG51116
English
Prof Karen Haire/Ms Mokhele
12 July 2021
Formal Assessment: 3
Plot of Mhudi in reference to chapter 19.
Plot is the story or plan of a play or novel (Collins Online Dictionary | Definitions,
Thesaurus and Translations, 2021). It is the sequence of events that make up a story,
whether it is written, filmed, or sung. It is also important to note that plot is how the
story develops, unfolds, and moves in time. Plots are typically made-up with elements
which I will discuss such as climax which is defined as the highest or most intense
point in the development or resolution of something, culmination (Collins Online
Dictionary | Definitions, Thesaurus and Translations, 2021). It is where we find the
most action, drama, change, and excitement. Rising action is a related series of
incidents in a literary plot that build towards the point of greatest interest (Collins Online
Dictionary | Definitions, Thesaurus and Translations, 2021). It is where the novel
becomes more complicated.
In chapter 19, we are introduced to the climax of the novel that starts with a very
interesting, humorous but very important discussion between Barolong and Batswana
Chiefs, Tauana and Moroka with Potgieter to decide who will keep which spoils of the
war if they do succeed to overcome the Matabele tribe under King Mzilikazi. There is
a heated argument between the two chiefs with Potgieter when he suggested that the
chiefs will be honoured by having all the captured cattle while they take all the land.
Chief Tauana contested such an idea with an exclamation that he would not take such
an offer as it makes no sense to have all the cattle with no land for them to graze,
“What an absurd bargain! “Exclaimed Chief Tauana of the Ra-Tshidi, “what could one
do with a number of cattle if he possessed no land on which to feed them? Will his
cattle run on clouds! And the grass grows in the air?” (Plaatje, 2011:154). This part of
the novel gives us an idea of what the Boers might have been after from the beginning,
which is land, because there had to be a very tense debate and argument before they
could give in to the terms of the two chiefs. “After much wrangling and arguing the
Barolong terms were accepted by the Boers,” (Plaatje, 2011:154). It also important to
recognise that the above-mentioned event shows that the Boers regarded black
people as unfit to have land and to maintain it, this is very important in regard to the
novel as it was written to criticise the injustice of land distribution in South Africa in
1919.
The novel uses what happens in history (the 1830s) to describe what was happening
in 1919, at the time the novel was written. Gradually, and in different ways, land was
taken away from black owners until finally, the 1913 Land Act was passed which
prevented black people from owning land, at all. White people took over the land. To
make matters even worse, black people were still forced to work on the land to earn a
living. President Brand (the fourth president of the Orange Free State from 1864 to
1888) took possession of Moroka’s territory. He banished his surviving son and
confiscated all Barolong lands. In the end, black people were prevented from buying
land for which their ancestors fought for.
Reference List:
Collinsdictionary.com. 2021. Collins Online Dictionary | Definitions, Thesaurus and
Translations. [online] Available at: <https://www.collinsdictionary.com/> [Accessed 10
July 2021].
Haire, K. 2021. Mhudi chapter 14-24 Plot: Introduction to literary genres HENG51116.
PPT lecture. Kimberley: Sol Plaatje University.
Maeneche, B M. 2021. Mhudi lecture: Introduction to literary genres HENG5116.
Tutorial Plaatje Plot chapter 14-24. Kimberley: Sol Plaatje University.
Plaatje, S.T. 2011. Mhudi. Jeppestown: Ad Donker Publishers.
Name: Shane Marvin Wolf
Student
number:202106929
I declare that this is my own original work. Where secondary material has been used
(either from a printed source or from the internet), this has been carefully
acknowledged and referenced in accordance with university requirements.
I understand what plagiarism is and am aware of the university’s policy in this regard.
I have not allowed anyone else to copy my work.
S M Wolf
Signature
12 July 2021
Date