Lessons 14 & 15:
Chapter 4
LESSON 14
1.Tsotsi’s inner conflict and lack of confidence.
2. Tsotsi makes a choice which is out of his character. He decides to keep the baby. Why?
i) The impact of Boston’s words.
ii) The beginning of his transformation.
3. Elements of dark and light:
i) Tsotsi: associated with darkness.
- His lack of confidence.
- Being illiterate.
- Difficulty in crowds.
- Tsotsi covers his window, because it protects him from the elements and he wants privacy.
ii)Tsotsi: associated with light:
- the mood of a Saturday street.
- Tsotsi does not find it easy to move through the crowd on his way back to his room.
- Walking through crowds.
- Having to ask for help.
- Wanting to care for the baby.
Preparation for LESSON 15:
1.Consider whether Tsotsi’s decision to hide the baby in the ruins, is a good one.
2. Look at the significance of Cassim as narrator.
3. Research forced removals of Group Areas Act.
LESSON 15:
1.Significance of Cassim as a narrator:
i) Look at the words he uses to describe Tsotsi.
ii) His use of humour to break the tension of the threat that Tsotsi presents.
2.Tsotsi breaks one of his three rules:
i) He questions the past.
ii) He has avoided his past for so long.
iii) Tsotsi begins to remember the “yellow bitch,” he had as a young child.
3. Is Tsotsi’s choice of the ruins for the baby a good one?
Learner Preparation for LESSON 17:
1.Read Chapter 5.
i) Look for evidence that Tsotsi no longer focuses on the gang.
ii) Contrast Butcher and Tsotsi’s perception of women.