Cockcrow Commentary: Tell My Son To Hold On To His Gun Detailed Commentary

This commentary on Tell My Son To Hold Onto His Gun from the book Cockcrow holds; subject matter, summary, literary devices, theme, mood etc. Enjoy…

THE SUBJECT MATTER

Kwame and his father lived in Dawohoso village. The mother, as it’s believed, died at the hands of a monster beast. Kwame and the father go to the farm one Saturday. He is sent to go back to the village to bring food. Upon his return, he doesn’t meet the father; he searches everywhere for him and finally has to go into the thick forest to look as well. Kwame gathers courage as he hears the father’s voice urging him on. Smart enough, Kwame loads his gun and climbs a tree to have a better look of the beast. He shoots and kills it at the spot. Later, he realises that his father willingly gave himself for the community.

SYNOPSIS 2

At age two, Kwame’s mother is killed by a human – looking beast. The fear of this monster rules over him even at age twenty – two.

His father, a rich cocoa farmer sets Kwame up on a path to liberation from this fear. His father wants him to be brave and responsible because he is the sole heir to the cocoa farm.

He is sent by his father to fetch their lunch. Upon his return his father was no where to be found. Fear grips him but he remembers his father’s encouraging words to him to be courageous. He gathers courage, picks his gun, cutlass and his father’s hunting sack and goes searching for his dad. He finds himself in the deep forest alone and sees the monster.

Our main character, Kwame masters courage and kills the hairy monster. Sadly, he finds his father dead nearby but he is told by a spirit that his father died a sacrificial death so that he, Kwame would be able to accomplish his destiny purpose. It is his destiny to kill the monster and put an end to fear that hovers over the villagers. The spirit tells him that his father left a message for him which is : ‘Tell My Son To Hold Onto His Gun’.

Written By: Kaakyire Akosombo Nyantakyi

SETTING

Dawohoso

CHARACTERS In Tell My Son To Hold Onto His Gun – Cockcrow

• Kwame
• Kwame’s father
• Beast/Monster

About Our Characters

Kwame Atoapomaa

Kwame is the narrator in the story Tell My Son To Hold Onto His Gun and the protagonist in the story. He was an obedient, hard working and intelligent young man of 22 years. In the story. Kwame was identified as fearful at first glance, his father’s words of courage spurred him on to be courageous. With the courage and bravery instilled in him, that led to his success to killing the monster.

Kwame’s Father

Kwame’s father is sighted in the story to be courageous, patriotic and hard working man. He was also a successful cocoa farmer, very energetic even at age 62. He was identified to be the main brain behind the success of Kwame’s bold quest to kill the human-looking beast.

Read Also: Morte d’Arthur Written By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

CONFLICTS

Internal Conflict (within Kwame)

• When Kwame had to go to home alone to bring food.
• When he had to go alone into the forest.

External Conflict (man against nature)

• The killer beast against the community
• Kwame against the killer beast

MOOD

1. Worry
2. Fear
3. Loneliness

THEMES

1. One can overcome fear by doing the very thing he fears to do
2. It takes courage to kill fear
3. Boldness
4. Courage
5. Facing your fears

POINT OF VIEW

• First person narrative

Read Also: Cockcrow Commentary: Debbie Sandy & Pepe Detailed Commentary

LITERARY DEVICES

These are some literary devices in the story.

1. Oxymoron

• “…the loud silence…”

2. Repetition

• “be courageous, be courageous, Kwame be courageous…”

3. Simile

• “…I was able to handle the gun like an adult”
• “…anger struck me like thunder.”
• “…he fell to the ground as if struck by lightning.”
• “…my heart felt as if it is being pricked by a needle.”

4. Metaphor

• “…my heart was burning.”
• “He stood rooted to the spot.”
• “…my father’s encouraging words were buried deep down my heart.”

5. Rhetorical Question

• “…to walk all the way to the village and back all by myself?”
• “What if I meet the killer beast who won’t spare… anyone who crossed his path?”
• “Could it be he had entered… and had been killed by the killer beast?”
• “But where else could he be?”

6. Onomatopoeia

• “…the forest alarm, huu! huu! huu!…”
• “…boom! went a loud, deep sound…”
• “…coughing…sneezing…”
• “…clapping and cheering.”
• “…roar of thunder.”
• “…soft and muffled voice.”

7. Allusion

• “this whole cocoa farm will be yours someday when I’m dead and gone.”

8. Alliteration

• “…deep down…”

Read Debbie, Sandy and Pepe’s Commentary Below. Click on image.

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