The Girl Who Can – Contextual Q&A

Question 1

She is seven years old. Her home is in Hasodzi village in the southwestern part of Ghana. Hasodzi is one of those parts of Africa that is green and fertile with plenty of rainfall. The grass and other vegetation grow very tall.

(i) Where is Adjoa's village located and what are its geographical characteristics? [3]
(ii) Why is the description of the landscape significant to understanding the story's setting? [3]
(iii) What does the phrase "green and fertile with plenty of rainfall" suggest about the community and its way of life? [3]
(iv) How does the setting establish the cultural and social context in which Adjoa lives? [3]
(v) Analyze how the physical environment of Hasodzi reflects the opportunities and constraints of Adjoa's world. [4]

Answers:

(i) Adjoa's village of Hasodzi is located in the southwestern part of Ghana. It is characterized as green and fertile with plenty of rainfall, where grass and other vegetation grow very tall. The lush, fertile landscape suggests a village economy based on agriculture.

(ii) The description of the landscape is significant because it establishes the story's setting within West Africa and a rural agricultural community. The emphasis on greenness and fertility suggests a thriving natural environment that sustains the community. This geographical context is essential for understanding the traditional way of life and the values that characterize Adjoa's family and community.

(iii) The description of the landscape as "green and fertile with plenty of rainfall" suggests a community deeply connected to the land and to agricultural production. The abundance of natural resources and vegetation implies a community where farming, food cultivation, and connection to the earth are central to daily life and cultural values. The fertile landscape represents both opportunity and constraint.

(iv) The setting of a small, rural, agricultural village in Ghana establishes a traditional African cultural context. The village setting suggests close-knit communities where traditional values, gender roles, and expectations are deeply embedded. The rural nature of Hasodzi means limited access to services like schooling, which makes Adjoa's attendance at school and her achievements more remarkable and challenging.

(v) The physical environment of Hasodzi creates both possibilities and limitations for Adjoa. The fertile landscape sustains the community and provides the agricultural foundation for village life, creating stable communities. However, the rural, remote nature of the village means limited educational and economic opportunities. Adjoa must travel five kilometers to attend school, a significant commitment in this environment. Yet the openness and space of the landscape also becomes symbolic of Adjoa's potential for growth and achievement, contrasting with the confinement of traditional gender expectations.

Question 2

Nana looked at Adjoa and said, "Your legs are too thin." Every time Nana saw Adjoa, she felt compelled to remind her granddaughter of her thin legs. "They have not got the meat on them to support the hefty load of a woman's full hips," Nana would say.

(i) What is Nana's primary criticism of Adjoa, and how frequently does she express it? [3]
(ii) What does Nana's comment about "the hefty load of a woman's full hips" reveal about traditional expectations of women? [3]
(iii) How does Nana's criticism reflect her understanding of female body and female roles in society? [3]
(iv) What is the psychological impact of Nana's constant criticism on Adjoa? [3]
(v) Analyze how Nana's perspective represents traditional views about women's bodies and their primary purpose in society. [4]

Answers:

Question 3

"My mother did not go to school. She was locked in darkness," Maami told Adjoa. "I went through only Primary Two. But you, you shall go to school as far as you can, with your head high and your feet well set on the ground."

(i) Why does Maami believe that not going to school is like being "locked in darkness"? [3]
(ii) How does Maami's limited education motivate her vision for Adjoa? [3]
(iii) What does Maami's phrase "with your head high and your feet well set on the ground" suggest about her hopes for Adjoa? [3]
(iv) How does Maami's perspective on education differ from Nana's perspective? [3]
(v) Analyze how Maami's personal experience of educational deprivation shapes her support for Adjoa's schooling and ambitions. [4]

Answers:

(i) Maami uses the metaphor of "darkness" to represent the limitations and restricted possibilities that come with lack of education. Without education, she feels her mother's horizons were severely constrained. She experienced ignorance, limited knowledge, and reduced opportunities as a form of imprisonment—being locked in darkness without access to light, knowledge, or possibilities.

(ii) Maami's own limited education (only Primary Two) has made her acutely aware of what she has missed and what doors remain closed to her. Rather than accepting this limitation for Adjoa, Maami is determined that her daughter will have the educational opportunities she herself was denied. Her deprivation becomes the motivation for her ambition for Adjoa.

(iii) The phrase "with your head high and your feet well set on the ground" suggests that Maami hopes Adjoa will move through the world with confidence, dignity, and stability. "Head high" suggests pride, self-respect, and refusal to be diminished or ashamed. "Feet well set on the ground" suggests being grounded, confident, and secure in her abilities. Maami's hope is that education will enable Adjoa to stand tall and secure in her identity and capabilities.

(iv) Maami's perspective on education is fundamentally different from Nana's. While Nana focuses on Adjoa's body and her suitability for traditional female roles, Maami focuses on Adjoa's mind and her potential for growth through education. Maami values what education can do for Adjoa's future possibilities, while Nana values only traditional roles. Maami is progressive and forward-thinking; Nana is traditional and backward-looking.

(v) Maami's personal experience of educational deprivation profoundly shapes her support for Adjoa. She knows firsthand what it means to be "locked in darkness" and to have limited horizons. This knowledge makes her deeply committed to ensuring that Adjoa has access to education. Her support is not abstract but rooted in her lived experience of what lack of education means for a woman's life, autonomy, and possibilities. Her commitment to Adjoa's education is an act of breaking the cycle of educational deprivation.

Question 4

Adjoa did not tell her grandmother or her mother about her performances at school. She thought it was not important. Each day she walked the five kilometers to school, and she walked back the five kilometers in the evening. She enjoyed the walks.

(i) Why doesn't Adjoa tell her family about her school achievements, and what does this reveal about her perspective? [3]
(ii) What is the significance of the fact that Adjoa must walk five kilometers each way to attend school? [3]
(iii) How does Adjoa's attitude toward the long walk reflect her character and her commitment to education? [3]
(iv) What does Adjoa's silence about her achievements suggest about her understanding of what matters in her community? [3]
(v) Analyze how Adjoa's quiet confidence and lack of boasting contrasts with her actual capabilities and achievements. [4]

Answers:

Question 5

Adjoa said, "Nana, there is going to be a District Games. The school is sending some of us to take part in it. They say I should run in three events." Nana stared at Adjoa. Maami's mouth opened a bit.

(i) What news does Adjoa share with her family, and how do they initially react? [3]
(ii) Why is Nana's stare significant, and what might it indicate about her response? [3]
(iii) Why is Maami's reaction (opening her mouth) significant to understanding family dynamics? [3]
(iv) What does the fact that Adjoa is being sent for three events indicate about her athletic abilities? [3]
(v) Analyze how this moment represents a turning point in the story and a challenge to family expectations. [4]

Answers:

(i) Adjoa tells her family that there will be District Games and that she has been selected by the school to participate in three events. Nana's initial reaction is to stare—a response that suggests shock, surprise, or disbelief. Maami's mouth opens slightly, which also suggests surprise or speechlessness. Both reactions indicate that the news is unexpected.

(ii) Nana's stare is significant because it suggests shock and disbelief. Nana, who has constantly criticized Adjoa's thin legs as inadequate for a woman's role, is confronted with evidence that these very legs can accomplish something remarkable. The stare may represent Nana's struggle to process information that contradicts her beliefs about Adjoa and her body.

(iii) Maami's reaction of opening her mouth slightly suggests shock and excitement. Her open mouth indicates that she is surprised but also potentially delighted. This subtle physical reaction reveals her emotional response to news that aligns with her hopes for Adjoa's future and her belief in her daughter's potential.

(iv) The fact that Adjoa is selected to run in three events indicates that she is an exceptional athlete. In a school competition, not all students are selected, and students who can perform well in multiple events are rare. Being selected for three events demonstrates outstanding athletic ability and fitness.

(v) This moment represents a turning point in the story because it challenges the family's previous understanding of Adjoa and her value. For Nana, it begins to undermine her belief that thin legs are inadequate. For Maami, it validates her investment in education and her belief in Adjoa's potential. The announcement introduces the possibility that Adjoa might accomplish something that transcends traditional gender roles and family expectations. The District Games become a space where Adjoa's capabilities can be proven and acknowledged.

Question 6

Nana went to the school and asked questions about Adjoa. When she was convinced that it was true, her attitude toward the child changed. She washed the uniform and ironed it herself. She borrowed a pressing iron from Mr. Mensah's house so she could press Adjoa's uniform properly.

(i) Why does Nana go to the school and ask questions, and what does this reveal about her initial response? [3]
(ii) What causes Nana's attitude toward Adjoa to change, and how does this change manifest? [3]
(iii) What is the significance of Nana washing and ironing Adjoa's uniform herself? [3]
(iv) Why does Nana borrow a pressing iron specifically, rather than using what she has available? [3]
(v) Analyze how Nana's changed behavior demonstrates her transformation and suggests redemption from her previous harsh criticism. [4]

Answers:

(i) Nana goes to school to verify if Adjoa's claim is true. Her skepticism and need for verification reveals that she initially doubts Adjoa's story. Nana cannot believe that her granddaughter, whom she has constantly criticized for having inadequate legs, could actually be selected for District Games. Her need to verify demonstrates how deeply her negative beliefs about Adjoa are embedded.

(ii) Once Nana is convinced that the news is true, her attitude changes dramatically from criticism to support. She no longer focuses on Adjoa's "thin legs" but recognizes their capacity for athletic achievement. This change manifests in concrete physical care: she washes the uniform and irons it herself—actions that demonstrate love, support, and investment in Adjoa's success.

(iii) Nana washing and ironing the uniform herself is highly significant. Rather than telling Adjoa or someone else to do these tasks, Nana personally takes responsibility for preparing Adjoa for the games. This personal care represents her acknowledgment of Adjoa's importance and her desire to contribute to Adjoa's success. The care and attention to the uniform demonstrates that Nana now values what the uniform represents: Adjoa's achievement and potential.

(iv) Nana borrowing a proper pressing iron from Mr. Mensah rather than using what she has suggests that she wants to do an excellent job. She goes to the effort of borrowing a better iron specifically so she can press the uniform "properly." This demonstrates her commitment to ensuring that Adjoa is perfectly prepared and presented for the games. The borrowed iron represents her willingness to go beyond her normal means to support Adjoa.

(v) Nana's changed behavior demonstrates a profound transformation. She moves from being a critic who focuses on Adjoa's perceived inadequacies to being a supporter who actively works to help Adjoa succeed. This transformation suggests that Nana's harshness was rooted in her own limited perspective and traditional views, not in any genuine inadequacy in Adjoa. Once confronted with evidence of Adjoa's capability, Nana can abandon her previous negativity. Her care in preparing the uniform suggests that she is not beyond redemption but capable of growth and changing her perspective when faced with new information.

Question 7

During the week of the games, Nana did something that surprised everyone in the village. She would wake up early in the morning, and she would walk to the district center to watch Adjoa race. Each day she would walk behind the schoolchildren.

(i) What does Nana do during the week of the games that surprises the village, and why is this action significant? [3]
(ii) What is the physical cost of Nana's actions—what does she do each day, and what does this commitment reveal about her change? [3]
(iii) Why does Nana walk "behind the schoolchildren" rather than alongside them or independently? [3]
(iv) What does Nana's presence at the games represent for Adjoa and for the village? [3]
(v) Analyze how this passage demonstrates the depth of Nana's transformation and the power of witnessing someone's capabilities to change perspectives. [4]

Answers:

(i) Nana wakes up early each morning and walks to the district center to watch Adjoa race. This action surprises the village because it is extraordinary for someone of Nana's age and status to make this physical effort to support a granddaughter's athletic competitions. The action is significant because it demonstrates that Nana's transformation is not merely internal but manifests in concrete commitment and public action.

(ii) Each day during the games, Nana walks to the district center—a journey that requires significant physical effort, especially for an elderly woman. This daily commitment requires her to wake early and undertake a substantial walk. Her willingness to do this demonstrates the depth of her commitment to Adjoa and her transformation. She is willing to physically exhaust herself to witness and support Adjoa's achievement.

(iii) Nana walks "behind the schoolchildren" rather than walking alongside them or independently, which suggests humility and perhaps some acknowledgment of her previous skepticism and harshness. Walking behind positions her as a supporter and follower rather than a critic or authority figure. It also suggests she is joining the school community in supporting Adjoa, positioning herself as part of the collective support system.

(iv) Nana's presence at the games represents several things: for Adjoa, it is powerful validation and support from the family member who previously criticized her most harshly; for the village, it demonstrates the importance of recognizing and celebrating achievements that break traditional gender expectations. Nana's public presence at the games becomes a statement that she supports and values Adjoa's achievement.

(v) This passage demonstrates the transformative power of witnessing someone's actual capabilities. Nana, who had only her theoretical beliefs about women's bodies and roles, is forced to confront the reality of Adjoa's achievement. Once confronted with evidence of Adjoa's capability, Nana cannot maintain her previous criticism. The passage reveals that prejudices and stereotypes, while persistent, can be disrupted when confronted with compelling counter-evidence. Nana's daily walks to witness Adjoa's races represent her commitment to seeing and acknowledging a reality that contradicts her previous beliefs.

Question 8

Adjoa won all the races she entered. She came back with a cup for the best all-round junior athlete. Nana took the cup, and she held it carefully as she had carried babies and other precious things. That evening, when she had shown the cup to Maami, she sat down and said to herself, "Thin legs can also be useful."

(i) What does Adjoa achieve at the district games, and what trophy does she win? [3]
(ii) How does Nana's physical handling of the cup demonstrate her respect for Adjoa's achievement? [3]
(iii) What is the significance of comparing how Nana carries the cup to how she carries "babies and other precious things"? [3]
(iv) What does Nana's private statement "Thin legs can also be useful" represent in terms of her transformation? [3]
(v) Analyze how this final moment encapsulates the story's central theme and represents Nana's complete change of perspective. [4]

Answers: