Opening Worlds (Stories from different cultures)

Authors Avatar

Liam Hughes        7104        39409

Opening Worlds

Dead Man’s path is a story set in Nigeria during the year’s of the Christian Missionaries, when European’s tried to inflict culture, language and religion upon the people of Nigeria. This story shows how a new headmaster tries to bring modern methods to and old cultural village.

In Pieces Of Silver it gives an insight about a poor little boy from the Caribbean trying to get money for his retiring headmaster who in the end is the man who gives him the money to save the poor boy from punishment who uses the money to help fellow pupils avoid the same punishment and humiliation.

The twist in Dead Man’s Path is reflected by the new headmaster, Michael Obi, who tries to bring his new modern methods of teaching and tries to create a new atmosphere in his workplace and surrounding neighbourhood. But his plan backfires when he upsets local villagers and clashes with their ancient beliefs. The villager’s are said to have started a tribal warfare after Michael Obi closed a an ancient path leading through the school, which is said to be the path of which the souls travel and after failing to let both modern and new methods combine. Michael and the local village priest discuss their methods in which Michael hits out at the priest saying ‘…the whole purpose of the school is to eradicate just such beliefs as that. Dead mean do not require footpaths’ which leads into the Tribal warfare, proving the main point that old and new cannot live side by side.

Join now!

In Pieces Of Silver it shows how a young boy called Clement, who fears the punishment and humiliation he will receive if he doesn’t get the money to contribute for his retiring Headmasters leaving collection. However after his mother and father refuse to give money to the collection Clement is worried he will never be able to live it down with his new headmaster, until his sister a keen singer, decides they can make money through busking to help her brother. However the irony of the story comes when the pair arrive at the last house on their rounds, ...

This is a preview of the whole essay