Rhetoric of Pedagogy
Rhetoric of Pedagogy in Femi Osofisan’s Twingle Twangle; A Twyning Tale.
A MAN wanted to know
Which is better – war or peace,
The knife or the spoon, blood
Or water?
Thus opens Femi Osofisan’s play Twingle Twangle; A Twyning Tale. It is about knowledge and the quest for understanding. Man is riddled by so many philosophical issues that surround his existence which makes him to question the very essence of his ontology. It is this inability to comprehend the forces of nature that has compelled man to seek knowledge in different quarters, some in religion and some in philosophical speculations.
Femi Osofisan’s play is concerned with the dualities of life that confront man. This paper therefore focuses on the role of literature as rhetoric for pedagogy. It sees literature in both its function as utile (education) and dulce (entertainment).
Twingle Twangle uses the metaphysical conceit of twins (another duality) to explain the interconnectedness of human beings in the scheme of events. It borders on choices and human actions in the face of daunting challenges. It is the Yoruba worldview that twins are special children with the ability to determine where and how they choose to be born. However, the idea of seniority is a marked difference between them. Who is the elder is always a contentious issue since they are born on the same day. TAYE: I’m older than you, don’t forget. I’m entitled to some respect.
KEHINDE: Nonsense. You came out of our mother’s womb first only because I, as your elder, sent you forward. You were running an errand for me. (SCENE, 2).
This tirade between the brothers demonstrates the understanding of hierarchy both in the physical world and the spiritual world. While Taye – by virtue of being the first to see the world, claims seniority. Kehinde, with claims of seniority in the spirit world believes he is the elder of the two. Their journey from the spirit world is one of adventure. In the play, therefore, the playwright tells a tale
A MAN wanted to know
Which is better – war or peace,
The knife or the spoon, blood
Or water?
Thus opens Femi Osofisan’s play Twingle Twangle; A Twyning Tale. It is about knowledge and the quest for understanding. Man is riddled by so many philosophical issues that surround his existence which makes him to question the very essence of his ontology. It is this inability to comprehend the forces of nature that has compelled man to seek knowledge in different quarters, some in religion and some in philosophical speculations.
Femi Osofisan’s play is concerned with the dualities of life that confront man. This paper therefore focuses on the role of literature as rhetoric for pedagogy. It sees literature in both its function as utile (education) and dulce (entertainment).
Twingle Twangle uses the metaphysical conceit of twins (another duality) to explain the interconnectedness of human beings in the scheme of events. It borders on choices and human actions in the face of daunting challenges. It is the Yoruba worldview that twins are special children with the ability to determine where and how they choose to be born. However, the idea of seniority is a marked difference between them. Who is the elder is always a contentious issue since they are born on the same day. TAYE: I’m older than you, don’t forget. I’m entitled to some respect.
KEHINDE: Nonsense. You came out of our mother’s womb first only because I, as your elder, sent you forward. You were running an errand for me. (SCENE, 2).
This tirade between the brothers demonstrates the understanding of hierarchy both in the physical world and the spiritual world. While Taye – by virtue of being the first to see the world, claims seniority. Kehinde, with claims of seniority in the spirit world believes he is the elder of the two. Their journey from the spirit world is one of adventure. In the play, therefore, the playwright tells a tale