Concept:The question asks about the multiple strategic purposes served by the speaker’s extended self-description in Wole Soyinka’s poem “Telephone Conversation.” Beyond simple defiance, the performance aims to challenge power dynamics, expose prejudice, and humanize the speaker.
Explanation:In the poem, the speaker—a Black man—describes himself in excessive detail to the landlady after she learns his race. This drawn-out performance achieves several things simultaneously:
1. It lets the speaker retain control of the conversation, forcing the landlady to listen and thus reversing the typical power imbalance.
2. Through a satirical, ironic tone, the speaker highlights the absurdity of the landlady’s racial prejudice, making the reader aware of her bias.
3. By offering a vivid personal description, the speaker presents himself as a full human being, not just a racial label—creating a slim chance for empathy or understanding.
All three purposes work together, so each option (A, B, C) is correct. Therefore, the best answer is “All of the above.”
Answer:Option D: All of the above.