1 Brief.Biography on Roger Mais

Roger Mais was born in Kingston Jamaica on the 11th August, 1905 and died on the 21st of June, 1955. He was a jamaican journalist, novelist, poet and playwriter. He was born in a middle-class family and by 1951, he won ten first prizes in the West Indian literary competitoins. Mais has published over a ahundred short stories and novels,where most can be found in Public Opinion and Focus. His short stories were collected in a volume entitled Listen, The Wind, thirty-two years after his death. Mais's novels have been republished posthumously several times, an indication of his continuing importance to Caribbean literary history. He also had an influence on younger writers of the pre-independence period, notably John Hearne.
Mais wrote novels such as: The Hills Were Joyful Together (1953)
                                          Brother Man (1954)
                                          Black Lightenning (1955)
 In 1955 Mais was forced to return to Jamaica after falling ill with cancer; he died the same year at age 50.


3. Religious aspects in regard to Rastafarianism:

The word "dreadlocks" comes from the feeling that this hairstyle inspired in others. Rastas grow dreadlocks as a symbol of their beliefs, in part following the biblical prohibition of shaving or cutting your hair. Rastas who follow this tradition can easily tell how long another Rasta has worn his hair in such a manner.
Though it is against the law, the rebellious practitioners of this religion may smoke marijuana. Those who do consider it to be the Bible's "holy herb" and take it as sacrament. It is understood to be the key to understanding the universe and God. Indentured servants from East Indian originally brought marijuana to Jamaica.
Some Rastas believe in eating organic food and follow strict dietary requirements which prohibit alcohol and tobacco consumption as well as salt, meat (particularly pork), and most seafood. This strict organic dietary regimen is called Ital. Many Rastafarians prefer to keep their own gardens to ensure that they can adhere to this diet.
Rastafarianism allows its believers the freedom to make their own choices, particularly in how they worship. This means that many do not agree with any of these three activities (wearing dreadlocks, smoking ganja, and practicing Ital), while some agree with one or two, and a few follow all three. It's important to remember that not every Rastafarian is the same.
One of the most important aspects of Rastafarianism is its strict belief in the word of the Bible. While some followers refuse to cut their hair and instead grow dreadlocks, more widely accepted tenets are also included.

2. What Critics had to say about Brother Man:

Most person's saw the book 'Brother Man', to be very interesting as well as a book that was worth engaging with. This was due to the fact that the book was referred to as a book of strength and many morals.
Others viewed the book as disturbing, and according to a review posted in the CRoB (Caribbean Review of Books) " the author's representation of conversational dialogue stinks".
The book was also marked down because person's who disliked or detested rastafarians felt that Roger Mais was going to some how allow them to have equal rights as other persons (non- rastafarians).

(Due to the Carribbean Review Of Books):The leading newspapers played up the angle that a community of bearded men in their midst, formed together into a secret cult, was a menace to public safety.
People began writing letters to the press. All bearded men should be placed behind barbed wire. They should be publicly washed (?) and shaved! They should be banished to Africa. They should be sterilised. They should be publicly flogged. They became identified with a certain political party. They should be denied the vote. They were, in fact, potential rapists and murderers all.

Literary Terms

•     Forms of Prose Fictions

1. Novel- a long narative in leterary prose.

2. Novella- (or short Novel) is a written, frictional prose narative longer than a novellete, but shorter than a novel.

3. Short Story-a work of friction that is usually written in prose, often in a narative format.

•    Elements of Prose Fiction

4. Narative techniques- the methods involved in telling a story.

5. Point-of-view- the way in which the narator approaches his/hers material and the audience.

6. Characterization-the way in which a writer creates characters in a anrative so as to attract or repel the reader's sympathy.

7. Setting- the time or place in which a play takes place.

8. Theme- the abstarct subject of a work; its the central idea or ideas which may or may not be explicit or obvious.

9. Plot- the plan of a literary work, especially of dramas and novels.

10. Style- the characteristic manner in which a writter expresses himself/herself, or the particular manner of an individual literary work.

•   Literary Devices

11. Imagery- is used in literature to refer to the descriptive language that evokes sensory experience.

12. Symbol- something which represents something else (often an idea or quality) by analogy or association.

13. Irony- A manner of speaking or writing that is dispersed through all kinds of literayture; irony consists of saying one thing and meaning another.

14. Satire- literature which exhibits or examines vice and folly and makes them appear ridiculous or contemptible.

15. Allusion- a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of a place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art either directly or by implication.

• Structural Devices

16. Stream of conciousness- the attempt to convey all the contents of a character's mind-memory, sense, perception, feelings, intuition, thoughts- in relation to the stream of experience as it passes by, often at random.

17. Interior Monology- an attempt to convey in words the process of conciousness or thought (as means of narating story).

18. Flashback- a  sudden jump backwards in time to an earlier episode or scene in the story or novel, play or film.

19. Foreshadowing- the technique of suggesting or prefiguring a development in a literary work before it occurs.

20. Time Frame- a given inteval of time especially in relation to a particular event or process.

21.Motif-  a recurrrent thematic element.

22. Juxtaposition- to put side by side or close together.

•      Other Words

23. Social- of or having to do with human beings living together as a group in a situation which their dealings with one another affect their common well-fare.

24. Political- of or concern with government, the state, or politics.

25. Historical- of or concerned with history as a science.

26. Religious- characterised by adherance to a religion or a religion devout, pius gladly.

27. ethnic- designated or of a population subgroup having a common cultural heritage as distinguished by customs, characteristics, language, common history etc.

28. Moral- a pratical lesson about right and wrong conduct.

29. intellectual- the ability to reason or understand.

30. Cultural- the training and refinement of the intellect, interest,taste, skills and arts.

•     Types of Fictions

1. Mystery-this type of fiction tends to center on a wily detective type to solve the crime. most mysteries tend to focus mostly on crimes, most often, murder.

2. Romance-is an huge category aimed at diverting and entertining  women. It usually consists of evidence of love, extravagance,adventure etc, along with a heroic lover overcoming impossible odds to be with his true love.

3. Women's Fiction- some key characteristics of these books include a focus on relationships, one or more strong female protagonists, women triumphing over unbearable circumstances, and the experiences of women unified in some way.

4.Science/Fantasy fiction- novels depict distant worlds and futuristic technologies that whirl readers far away from the here and now and yet provoke contemplation of contemporary issues.

5. Suspense/ Thriller- are tense, exciting, often sensational works with ingenious plotting, swift action, and continuous suspense. In this genre, a writer's objective is to deliver a story with sustained tension, surprise, and a constant sense of impending doom that propels the reader forward.

6.Western- these novels about life on America's post Civil War western frontier usually involve conflicts between cowboys and outlaws, cowboys and Native Americans, or Easterners and Westerners.

7. Horror-Filled with gut-wrenching fear, this popular genre keeps readers turning the blood-filled pages. From a writer's perspective, the defining characteristic is the intention to frighten readers by exploiting their fears, both conscious and subconscious: fears of supernatural forces, alien visitations, madness, death, dismemberment, and other terrifying notions.

8. Young Adult- This genre includes any type of novel with a protagonist in the 12 to 16 age range that speaks to the concerns of teenagers.


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