THE SERF POEM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADE 12

The Serf

by Roy Campbell
His naked skin clothed in the torrid mist
That puffs in smoke around the patient hooves,
The ploughman drives, a slow somnambulist,
And through the green his crimson furrow grooves
His heart, more deeply than he wounds the plain,
Long by the rasping share of insult torn,
Red clod, to which the war-cry once was rain
And tribal spears the fatal sheaves of corn,
Lies fallow now.  But as the turf divides
I see in the slow progress of his strides
Over the toppled clods and falling flowers,
The timeless, surly patience of the serf
That moves the nearest to the naked earth
And ploughs down palaces, and thrones and towers.

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QUESTIONS

Refer to the poem The Serf by Roy Campbell and answer the questions below.

1. Refer to lines 1-4 (“His naked skin ... crimson furrow grooves”).
   Is the following statement TRUE or FALSE? Write “true” or “false” and quote a SINGLE word to support your answer.
   The serf is forced to work in very hot conditions.                  (2)
2. In your own words, explain the meaning of line (2)
3. Refer to lines 5-6 (“His heart, more ... of insult torn”).
   3.1 Identify the figure of speech used (1)
   3.2 Explain why the poet uses this figure of (2)
4. Choose the correct answer to complete the following In line 6 the words “rasping share of insult” refer to the ...
   1. Ploughshare breaking the earth.
   2. Serf wounding the earth.
   3. Inhuman treatment of the serf.
   4. Serf insulting his master.                                                   (1)
5. Refer to the last six lines of the poem (“Lies fallow now ... thrones, and towers”).
   Discuss the speaker’s warning in these lines. State TWO points. (2)
6. Complete the following sentences by using the words provided in the list Write only the words next to the question number (6.1–6.3)

   owner; labourer; ploughs; oppression; harvest; freedom

   This poem is about a farm (6.1) … who (6.2) … the earth. The serf represents patient revolutionaries whose sacrifice is responsible for human (6.3) ...                  (3)
7. Consider the poem as a whole. Do you feel sorry for the serf? Discuss your (2)
8. Give TWO reasons why the title “The serf” is a suitable one for this poem.                                                                         (2)
9. Is this poem a South African poem? Quote two consecutive words from the poem to support your (2)
10. The word “naked” is used twice in the Complete the sentence below quoting phrases from the poem.
    The word naked has been used negatively to show that the serf is poor because he has only his “naked...(10.1) “ and it has been used positively to show that he belongs to the land and to nature the “naked...(10.2)”                                                 (2) [21]

Answers 

1. True, “torrid”. ✓✓ (2)
2. The “green” grass is turned over as the ploughshare is pushed through it and the red colour of the soil is turned to the top. ✓✓        (2)
3. 3.21Metaphor ✓ (1)
   3.2 His heart is being compared to a red clod/ ✓✓
         OR
         The poet shows that both his heart and the earth are damaged/ broken. ✓✓
         OR
         The poet shows that the field is being damaged and his heart is broken/he has been hurt. ✓✓                                                    (2)
4. C / inhuman treatment of the ✓ (1)
5. The speaker is warning the oppressors, the rich people in power at the time, that their wealth and power will be broken down and the serf will slowly defeat the oppressors and be ✓✓
   OR
   A revolution is coming because the labourers will revolt. ✓✓
   OR
   Danger is coming because the labourers will revolt. ✓✓                   (2)
6. 6.1 labourer ✓
   6.2 ploughs ✓
   6.3 freedom ✓ (3)
7. YES, because he is tired (“somnambulist”) and it is hot (“torrid”)/ he is poor (“naked”) and his heart is dry and sad (like a field without ‘rain’). ✓✓
   OR
   NO, he is patient (“surly patience”) and freedom will come to him one day and he will overthrow the oppressors (“break down palaces”) and have his land again. ✓✓
   OR
   NO, many people earn a living in a hard way. He should be grateful he has a job. ✓✓ (2)
8. Serfs were poor and this worker has only a “naked skin”/ They were farm workers and he “ploughs” the field. ✓✓
   OR
   It is appropriate because “serf” means that you are owned by your master and subjected to hard labour, just as the serf in the poem is subjected to hard labour. ✓✓
   OR
   He is not allowed to leave/ seen as a possession/ not paid for his hard work. ✓✓         (2)
9. “tribal spears” ✓✓ (2)
10. The word “naked” has been used negatively to show that the serf is poor because he has only his “naked skin” ✓ and it has been used positively to show that he belongs to the land and to nature, the “naked earth” ✓. (2)  [21]