📖 Civil Peace
Understanding the Text
=> Answer: the following questions.**
a. Why did Jonathan think of himself as ‘extraordinarily lucky’?
=> Answer: Jonathan believed that he was ‘extraordinarily lucky’ because he had escaped death during the Civil War and had survived together with his wife and children.
b. What are the ‘five blessings’ for which Jonathan is grateful?
=> Answer: The ‘five blessings’ Jonathan is thankful for consist of his own head, Maria’s head, and the heads of three of their four children. In this way, he expresses gratitude for the five members of his family who remained alive after the war.
c. Why did Jonathan mistrust the officer who wanted to take his bicycle? What does this tell you about the situation in Nigeria?
=> Answer: Jonathan became doubtful of the officer because the officer was ready to let him keep his bicycle after receiving a bribe. This incident indicates that corruption was deeply connected with public authority in Nigeria. It suggests that ordinary people could face dishonest officials and might have to pay money to obtain fair treatment.
d. What visitors might be at the door? Are Jonathan and his wife completely surprised? Explain.
=> Answer: The unexpected visitors are most likely robbers who have come to steal from Jonathan’s family. Jonathan and his wife are alarmed by the forceful noise at their door during the night. Their fear increases because the visitors are behaving aggressively and the situation clearly appears dangerous.
e. Why does no one in the neighborhood respond when the thieves pound on Jonathan’s door? Why do the thieves call for the police?
=> Answer: The neighbors choose not to respond because they are frightened of the thieves and do not want to put themselves in danger. The thieves call for the police because they understand that the surrounding people are too scared to intervene and rescue Jonathan's family.
📚 Reference in the Context
a. What does Jonathan mean by his expression “Nothing puzzles God”? What does this expression reveal about his character? Explain by citing details from the story.
=> Answer: “Nothing puzzles God” expresses Jonathan’s firm belief that God knows and understands everything that takes place. He uses the expression whenever he encounters an event that could otherwise leave a person surprised or confused.
Jonathan says it after discovering that his bicycle has survived safely. He uses the expression again when he finds that his house is still standing after the destruction of the war. He repeats it once more after the thieves take away his ex-gratia money.
The statement reveals much about Jonathan’s personality. He possesses a strong religious faith and chooses to notice the positive side of his circumstances. Instead of allowing his losses to make him completely hopeless, he remains grateful for whatever good fortune is left to him. His attitude therefore characterizes him as an optimistic, hopeful, faithful, and positive-minded person.
b. How does Jonathan change as he experiences the conflicts in his life? Explain.
=> Answer: Jonathan's life is filled with circumstances that could easily make a person hopeless, but he continues to respond to them with determination. The war causes him to lose one of his children, yet he remains grateful that other members of his family have survived.
His experiences teach him to deal with reality in a practical manner. Whenever one source of security disappears, he searches for another way to continue. He repairs his damaged home, finds a new means of earning money, and protects his family when confronted by criminals.
Rather than becoming defeated by repeated difficulties, Jonathan develops greater patience, adaptability, and determination. His experiences encourage him to accept changing circumstances and continue building his life.
c. Read the extract and answer the questions below.
“To God who made me; if you come inside and find one hundred pounds, take it and shoot me and shoot my wife and children. I swear to God. The only money I have in this life is this twenty pounds egg-rasher they gave me today ...”
i. Who is the speaker?
=> Answer: Jonathan is the speaker.
ii. Who is the speaker talking to?
=> Answer: The speaker is talking to the thieves or robbers.
iii. Who does “they” refer to?
=> Answer: “They” refers to the officials of the treasury, that is, the government officials.
d. Nigerian English has words like soja ‘soldier’ and katakata ‘confusion’, ‘trouble’ derived apparently from English words but transformed by native languages' phonologies. What does the author’s use of dialect here add to the story?
=> Answer: Terms such as soja and katakata demonstrate the way English has developed under the influence of Nigerian languages. The word soja means “soldier,” while katakata refers to “confusion” or “trouble.” Although these expressions appear to originate from English, their forms have been affected by the phonological patterns of native languages.
The use of this dialect makes the story more closely connected to Nigerian society. It gives the characters a recognizable local voice and makes the setting more believable.
The dialect helps to:
- •Demonstrate the influence of native languages on English.
- •Establish an authentic Nigerian atmosphere.
- •Reflect the everyday speech of local people.
- •Express Nigerian cultural and national identity.
e. Why do you think the thieves who come to rob Jonathan speak English with a heavier African accent than Jonathan does?
=> Answer: The thieves’ heavier African accent distinguishes their speech from Jonathan’s and suggests that they have a different social and linguistic background. Their manner of speaking also contributes to the threatening nature of their appearance because they sound unfamiliar within Jonathan’s immediate surroundings.
Furthermore, the difference in their speech reflects the linguistic diversity of Nigerian society, where people may use English with different regional and social influences.
f. The title of the story "Civil Peace" itself is ironical as there is little to differentiate ‘civil peace’ from ‘civil war’. Do you think that the title of this story is appropriate, or would “Civil War” have been a better title? Explain.
=> Answer: The title Civil Peace is highly appropriate because it expresses the irony at the heart of the story. Although the Nigerian Civil War has ended, the characters do not immediately enter a life that can truly be described as peaceful.
Jonathan still has to deal with the physical and economic consequences of the conflict. His house has been damaged, his former means of earning a living has disappeared, and criminal activity continues to threaten ordinary citizens. The robbery at his home is particularly significant because it proves that violence and insecurity remain present even after the war.
Thus, Civil Peace is more meaningful than Civil War. It emphasizes the contrast between the formal end of war and the actual experience of peace in everyday life.
🌍 Reference Beyond the Text
a. How would you describe the civil peace in Nigeria?
=> Answer: The condition of civil peace shown in Nigeria was unstable and incomplete. After the war, people had to reconstruct their homes, livelihoods, and ordinary routines while dealing with the damage left behind by the conflict.
The disappearance of open warfare did not mean that society had become completely safe. Criminals still posed a threat, and ordinary citizens could not always depend on others for protection. The incident involving Jonathan and the thieves illustrates the continuing fear and insecurity.
Therefore, the situation can be described as one where peace existed officially, but insecurity and disorder continued in everyday life.
b. What kind of attitude towards life do you think you would have if your situation was similar to that of Jonathan’s?
=> Answer: If I were experiencing circumstances like those faced by Jonathan, I would try to preserve hope and face each difficulty with courage. I would give priority to the safety and well-being of my family and search for practical ways to rebuild our lives.
I would also try to remain hardworking and patient instead of allowing suffering to make me hopeless. Faith in God would help me maintain confidence during difficult moments. When faced with danger, I would attempt to remain calm and avoid unnecessary conflict.
Thus, I believe I would try to develop a positive, optimistic, courageous, and energetic attitude toward life, as Jonathan does.
c. Draw the character sketch of Jonathan Iwegbu.
=> Answer: Jonathan Iwegbu is one of the central figures of Civil Peace, and his personality is chiefly characterized by his ability to remain hopeful despite severe hardship. He is peaceful, patient, persuasive, calm, hardworking, and adaptable. Although he is a round character, he can also be described as a static character because his fundamental outlook remains largely unchanged throughout the story.
The war takes several things away from Jonathan, but he refuses to measure his entire life through his losses. His greatest source of gratitude is the survival of his family. He considers himself fortunate because he, his wife, his bicycle, and three of his four children have survived the conflict. Even though one child has died, Jonathan chooses to appreciate those who are still alive.
His behavior after returning to his home further reveals his practical nature. The war has damaged the house, but Jonathan does not simply sit and complain about the destruction. He gathers whatever useful materials he can find and works toward restoring the house. His actions show that he believes effort is necessary for rebuilding his life.
Jonathan also demonstrates considerable adaptability in his economic life. Since his former occupation is no longer available, he does not remain dependent on what he used to do. Instead, he establishes another means of earning money and opens a bar to provide for his family.
His encounter with the thieves provides another clear example of his character. When the criminals threaten his family, Jonathan avoids unnecessary confrontation and attempts to settle the situation peacefully. He tells them that the only money he possesses is the amount he has received as ex-gratia payment and eventually gives them what he has in order to protect his family.
Even after experiencing war, bereavement, destruction, poverty, corruption, and robbery, Jonathan does not abandon his positive outlook. He continues to concentrate on survival and reconstruction rather than surrendering to despair.
Jonathan Iwegbu therefore represents optimism, resilience, hard work, faith, patience, adaptability, and peacefulness. His character illustrates the strength of a person who continues to rebuild life even when the surrounding circumstances remain uncertain and difficult.