–Why does the narrator address his listener as “my son”?
–The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
–What seems to be the story’s perspective on the government in newly independent Sudan? What’s the relationship between the government and the villagers?
–Explain the shift in narratorial perspective in the final passages of the story? How does it change our own view of the text
Why does the narrator address his listener as “my son”?
The narrator addresses the listener as his son because in Arabic the word is used as a term of endearment and familiarity even for a stranger. This usage of “my son” also shows the narrator’s age. It seems only natural for an elder man to refer to people younger than him as his children instead of the other way around. This phrase is common in Eastern cultures because it is both a sign of respect and closeness between two parties. Despite the fact that they are actually strangers to one another, referring to the listener as his son is a welcoming and warm greeting that would motivate the listener to actually take the story to heart.
The shift in narration in the finale of “The Doum Tree of Wad Hamid” went from the older and wiser villager telling a story to a stranger then that same stranger passing on the same story through oral tradition. It makes me think that this village with these horse flies in summer and harsh weather conditions in winter, isn’t too bad after all. It can mean the Doum Tree’s effect on the outsider was significant enough for him to stay and honor the tree. The older man is convinced the stranger will run away because he is an outsider and doesn’t have the tough skin to live in such extreme and isolated conditions. The stranger at the end of the story implies that he stayed in the village and appreciates the Doum tree enough to worship it and continue telling its legacy and the legacy of its people.
The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
I think this means the doum tree is the root of all villagers. Despite the fact that narrator knows that there are some conflicts between the tradition and modernity, old generation and new generation, he still wants to show the stranger that the doum tree is the representation of their identity. It is also something that are proud of, regardless the improvement of technology. In other words, the narrator implies that they do not want to change their tradition by accepting the modernity even though they know that the new generation will adapt to this kind of new world. By saying the doum tree will grow up with the new generation, the narrator also indicates that there is no way for new generation to deny their identity and their faith because the doum tree is their root.
The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
I feel like the narrator is saying that the doum tree will forever be apart of all of the villagers’ lives. Also, I feel like the doum tree also represents the village just like how the eiffel tower represents France or the Statue of Liberty representing New York. Even though there are differences between the old generation and the new generation, they do, however, have something that they can agree on and that is the importance of the dorm tree.
What seems to be the story’s perspective on the government in newly independent Sudan? What’s the relationship between the government and the villagers?
There is a very obvious negative relationship between the government and the villagers. The government, for the villagers, represents change and change means the destruction of what they believe in. This is supported by the past where the government wanted to turn the sacred land land into a railroad stop. The villagers felt that the government could not bring change without destroying everything they stood all at once, or eventually. The negativity also springs from how the government takes advantage of the issues within the city. When the men are released from jail the new government uses them to make themselves look good without any real concern for what has happened. They use the villagers for a “photo-op”and then leave without looking back. Their lack of respect for the people and their culture really is the basis of the negative relationship the government and the villagers share.
–The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
The doum tree will be represent as an identity for the new generation. They grows with the doum tree, it has become part of their lives. They can’t deny the fact that the doum tree is just like their root. It also represent a connection between the new generation and old generation.
–The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
I interpreted this line as the narrator saying that the doum tree is part of every villager’s identity. Everybody born in the village sees the doum tree at birth and grows up with it basically. They see it every single day and it’s something that becomes a part of them. I think the narrator is explaining the significance of the doum tree on the lives of everybody in the village. That’s why they cannot tolerate it being tarnished by outsiders. It is a sacred symbol and tarnishing it would be like tarnishing their own identities.
–The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
The doum tree plays such a big role in their village that every generation can relate to. The doum tree is their faith and it’s part of them. This is something that they can always relate to even when generations pass. Since they all find it to be symbolic of their village and their faith, it keeps them united as a village.
The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
I think what narrator means is that the doum tree is their identity. No one knows when the doum tree is born, but as soon as they realize, the tree is already there. No matter how many generations passed, the doum tree is alway there for the next new generation.
–Why does the narrator address his listener as “my son”?
Addressing someone significantly younger than you as “son” is very common in Eastern societies. It shows respect and closeness, the narrator considers the young boy as he would consider his son. In the story, it shows us an important difference between the narrator and the listener, it is that they are from two different generations. They is likely to be an age gap between them. The narrator is the older wiser one, and by referring to the younger boy as “son”, he expresses his wisdom.
The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
This tree throughout time will always have a connection to the next generation no matter what new innovative things are out there. It will always be there for the inner love and a place to go to when one is in need. The tree always finds its way into peoples hearts and it it something spiritual for all generations to lok up to.
Why does the narrator address his listener as “my son”?
The narrator addresses his listener as “my son” to show the age difference. The narrator seems to consider the young boy as his own son. Also, it shows that the the narrator and the young boy are from two different generations. With this, we see that the narrator is wiser and talks from experience by expressing his wisdom to the young boy. Although they do not know each other, being referred to as “my son” shows a sign of closeness between the two and encourages the boy to listen.
–The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
I think trees in general are symbols of a quiet strength and tranquillity. The tree is unmoving and peaceful. I think in Wad Hamid is has become a symbol of stability. I believe that people naturally yearn for stability, especially when they grow from infantcy to adulthood which is some of the most radical change a person experiences. Therefore as they grow they find the tree to be a stable reminder of healthy growth, slow and incremental rather than volatile. I think the people of Wad Hamid find comfort through this.
The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
The Doum tree is a symbolism of the town that it has been there throughout generations. That the tree is very old and that is a symbol for their village. That it has been there and it is there to stay. In the story this new technology symbolizes change but the tree is tradition in a way. Also the tree helps people out with the bug bites when they get difficult to handle
The narrator tells us that “every new generation finds the doum tree as though it had been born at the time of their birth and would grow up with them.” What do you make of this?
The narrator is trying to show the importance of the tree to old and younger generations. The tree is a symbol of what people believe in. I also think it represents their culture and how the tree is still standing represents the strength of their culture.
–Explain the shift in narratorial perspective in the final passages of the story? How does it change our own view of the text
The shift in narratorial perspective and point of view is when the person asks the villager about set up the water-pump. “ ‘And when,’ I asked. ‘will they set up the water-pump, and put through the agricultural scheme and the stopping-place for the steamer?’ ” (824). In this quotation, the steamer symbolize technology modernization. They wanted to modernize but they changed their mind that they do not need to remove the doum tree for modernizing.
–Why does the narrator address his listener as “my son”?
In the article, the narrator mentions that the people in the town are polite and treat everyone nicely. Also it identify the age between the narrator and his listener.
Why does the narrator address his listener as “my son”?
The narrator addresses the listener as “my son” primarily to show the relationship between them. By this I mean, the narrator seems to be of older age; elder people are associated with wisdom. By addressing the listener as “my son” the narrator is showing superiority. It also creates an intimate relationship like father and son, but distanced because they will never think alike, they are from two different times. The listener is a stranger, this means he and the narrator are distant, perhaps with a different perspective of life. Yet the narrator is welcoming the listener into the village, creating a bond between them.
Explain the shift in narratorial perspective in the final passages of the story? How does it change our own view of the text?
I think that the shift in narrator changes our view of the text because it signifies a transition from customs and tradition to one of future generations and progression. The Doum Tree of Wad Hamid is described as having grown up and continuing to grow with the people of the village, and so, the transition helps us see this change in generation more clearly.
Why does the narrator address his listener as “my son”?
This has to do with the text. The author wants to convey the idea that doum tree is the root of the village by addressing audience my son. It makes the text more powerful and get audiences more attention.