1. Telephone Conversation
Wole Soyinka

2. The Poet Born in 1934; Nigerian Poet, playwright, novelist
Nobel Prize

3. The Poem Theme – Racism – White/Black Style – Satire Humour, tension
Conversational
Dramatic

4. The Speaker
Black
African
Woman
Prospective tenant
Cynical

5. The other voice
A White woman
Landlady
Probably prejudiced
polite

6. The conversation
Distant call
Tenant to landlady
Cryptic
Open ended

7. Vocabulary Stylized Dramatized Use of scientific jargon Imagery
Informed of racial discrimination

8. Exercises Look up the dictionary for 10 difficult words in the poem.
Compose a telephone conversation about seeking a flat on rent in Chandigarh.
Compose a telephone conversation between two strangers who have joined a new job.

9. Questions What is the theme of the poem?
Who is the speaker of the poem?
What is the confession about? Why does the speaker feel the need for it?
How does the landlady react?
What is the outcome of the phone-call?
Does the speaker succeed in avoiding the wasted journey by making the confession?

10. Conclusion
The poem gives an idea of racial discrimination. It also exemplifies how the apprehension of prejudiced response makes an individual cynical. There are several kinds of discriminations in the world and this spoils social harmony.