Symbols and Style (Grade 12 NSC Matric English FAL): Revision Notes

Symbols and Style

Major symbols in the novel

Johannesburg

The city serves as a symbol of destructive corruption that lures people from their homes, only to exploit and ultimately destroy them. This urban centre represents the dangerous allure of modern life that pulls characters away from their traditional values and communities. Whilst devout Christians like Stephen Kumalo can resist its corrupting influence, many other characters become victims of the city's destructive power.

Money

Throughout the novel, money functions as a symbol of power and control. Characters who possess wealth hold positions of authority over those who lack financial resources. The absence of money directly leads to poverty, illness, suffering, and even death. This symbol highlights the economic inequalities that divide South African society.

The earth and land

The land represents a stabilising, life-giving force for the people who inhabit it. When the earth is treated with respect and care, it acts like a nurturing mother - providing nourishment, health, and support for communities. However, when the land is damaged through rapid urbanisation (like in Johannesburg) or exploitative mining practices (the search for gold), it brings corruption, decay, and starvation to the people.

Writing style techniques

Paton employs several distinctive stylistic techniques that create the novel's unique voice and enhance its themes.

Narrative perspective

The story is told using a third person narrator who primarily focuses on Stephen Kumalo's experiences and thoughts. However, the narrator also shifts between different characters' perspectives throughout the novel. In some chapters (particularly 9, 12, and 23), the narrator presents conversations between unnamed speakers without providing context about who is speaking, creating a more universal voice for the community.

Language and figurative techniques

Lyrical and poetic style

Paton's writing style is often described as lyrical or poetic, giving the novel a distinctive rhythm and beauty. The author deliberately uses simple, accessible language - particularly when representing Stephen Kumalo's thoughts and speech. This simplicity reflects Kumalo's humble nature and religious devotion, while also making his character relatable to readers. The straightforward language mirrors the biblical style, reinforcing the novel's spiritual themes.

Key rhetorical devices

Similes: These comparisons help readers visualise characters and situations more clearly. For example, "He had grown fat, and sat with his hands on his knees like a chief" (Chapter 7), which shows John's transformation into a position of authority.

Dramatic irony: This occurs when readers understand something that characters do not. During Absalom's trial, he defends himself by saying he was frightened of the white man, but readers know that Arthur Jarvis actually supported black rights and would likely have helped rather than harmed Absalom.

Personification: The author gives human qualities to non-human things, particularly the land. For instance, "the soil is sick" (Chapter 3) compares the damaged earth to a suffering person, emphasising how environmental destruction mirrors social problems.

Authentic dialogue

Paton creates realistic dialogue that reflects how people in 1946 South Africa would have actually spoken. He incorporates Zulu terms like "umfundisi" (priest/minister) and "umnumzana" (sir/master) throughout the conversations, adding authenticity to the characters' speech patterns.

The author uses dashes instead of traditional quotation marks to introduce dialogue, which was a stylistic choice that makes the conversations feel more immediate and natural.

Tone and mood

Understanding tone

Tone refers to the author's attitude towards the subject matter and characters. In "Cry, the Beloved Country," the overall tone is compassionate yet tragic. Paton writes with deep sympathy for his characters' struggles whilst acknowledging the serious social problems they face.

The novel concludes on a more optimistic and hopeful note, with the famous final lines: "For it is the dawn that has come, as it has come for a thousand centuries, never failing." This shift towards hope suggests that despite current suffering, positive change is possible.

Understanding mood

Mood describes the emotional atmosphere that readers experience whilst reading the novel. The mood can vary throughout different sections - you might feel sadness, anger, hope, or indifference depending on the events being described. Consider how different scenes in the novel made you feel as you read them.

Exam tips for analysing symbols and style