📖 Civil Peace
Understanding the Text
=> Answer: the following questions.**
a. Why did Jonathan think of himself as ‘extraordinarily lucky’?
=> Answer: Jonathan considered himself ‘extraordinarily lucky’ because he had survived the Civil War and was able to return to life with his wife and children. After witnessing the enormous destruction brought about by the war, he regarded his survival and that of his family as an exceptional fortune.
b. What are the ‘five blessings’ for which Jonathan is grateful?
=> Answer: The ‘five blessings’ for which Jonathan is grateful are his head, his wife Maria’s head, and the heads of three out of their four children. These represent the five members of his family who have survived 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 suspicious of the officer because the officer was willing to accept a bribe in exchange for allowing him to keep his bicycle. This made Jonathan realize that the officer was not behaving honestly while exercising his official authority.
The incident also reflects the difficult social conditions in Nigeria. Corruption had become widespread, and government officials could use their positions for personal advantage. Ordinary citizens could therefore be forced to deal with bribery even when dealing with public authorities.
d. What visitors might be at the door? Are Jonathan and his wife completely surprised? Explain.
=> Answer: The visitors at Jonathan’s door are most likely thieves who have come to rob his family. The couple becomes frightened when they hear the violent pounding at the door during the night. The unusual hour and aggressive behavior of the visitors make the situation clearly threatening.
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 stay inside because they are afraid of the thieves and do not want to expose themselves to danger. The thieves call for the police because they know that the people nearby are too frightened to come out and assist 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: By saying “Nothing puzzles God,” Jonathan expresses his belief that God possesses complete knowledge of everything that happens. Events that may appear surprising or difficult for human beings to understand are never beyond God's understanding.
Jonathan uses this expression at several important moments in the story. He says it after finding that his bicycle has remained in good condition. He uses it again when he discovers that his house is still standing after the destruction caused by the war. Finally, he repeats the expression after the thieves take his ex-gratia money.
These occasions reveal Jonathan’s deeply hopeful approach to life. He does not allow his suffering to make him completely negative. Instead, he looks at whatever fortunate circumstances remain and places his trust in God. His attitude clearly presents 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 goes through a number of painful experiences, but these hardships do not cause him to lose his determination. The war takes one of his children away, yet he continues to appreciate the survival of the rest of his family.
His experiences gradually make him more practical in dealing with life's difficulties. He understands that the circumstances after the war are different from those before it, so he adjusts accordingly. He repairs his damaged home, develops a new means of earning money, and takes a careful approach when his family is threatened by thieves.
Thus, the conflicts of his life strengthen his patience and ability to adapt. Rather than becoming defeated by hardship, Jonathan learns to respond to changing circumstances with determination while maintaining his faith and hope.
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: Words such as soja and katakata demonstrate the influence of Nigerian languages on English. Soja means “soldier,” while katakata means “confusion” or “trouble.” Although these words apparently developed from English, their forms have been influenced by the phonological patterns of native languages.
The author's use of dialect gives the story a strong local character. It connects the language with the Nigerian society being portrayed and makes the conversations more natural within the setting.
The use of dialect:
- •Demonstrates the influence of native languages on English.
- •Creates a realistic Nigerian setting.
- •Reflects the speech of ordinary people.
- •Strengthens the representation of Nigerian culture 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 them from Jonathan and suggests that they come from a different linguistic and social background. Their manner of speaking also adds to the unfamiliar and threatening impression they create when they arrive at Jonathan’s home.
The difference in accent additionally reflects the linguistic diversity of Nigerian society, where English can be spoken differently according to regional, cultural, 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 appropriate because it highlights the irony of the situation following the Nigerian Civil War. Although the actual fighting has stopped, Jonathan’s life is still surrounded by difficulties, fear, and insecurity.
The effects of the war remain visible in the damaged condition of his home and the loss of his previous livelihood. Jonathan must work hard to rebuild his life, while criminal activities continue to threaten ordinary people. The robbery at his home proves that violence has not completely disappeared with the official conclusion of the war.
For this reason, Civil Peace is more effective than Civil War. The title emphasizes the contrast between the formal end of war and the absence of genuine peace in everyday life.
🌍 Reference Beyond the Text
a. How would you describe the civil peace in Nigeria?
=> Answer: The civil peace portrayed in Nigeria was uncertain and far from complete. Although the war had ended, its consequences continued to affect ordinary citizens. People still had to repair damaged homes, rebuild their livelihoods, and adapt to the difficult conditions created by the conflict.
In addition to economic and physical difficulties, insecurity remained a major problem. Criminals could still threaten and attack people, while neighbors were sometimes too frightened to offer assistance. Jonathan’s experience with the robbers demonstrates this continuing atmosphere of fear.
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 placed in circumstances like Jonathan’s, I would try to remain hopeful despite the hardships surrounding me. I would concentrate on protecting my family and finding practical ways to restore our lives after the destruction of war.
I would continue working rather than surrendering to hopelessness. I would also try to remain patient and sensible when dealing with difficult circumstances and maintain faith in God. If faced with danger, I would prefer to remain calm and avoid unnecessary confrontation.
Therefore, I believe I would try to maintain a positive, optimistic, courageous, and energetic attitude toward life, similar to Jonathan’s.
c. Draw the character sketch of Jonathan Iwegbu.
=> Answer: Jonathan Iwegbu is the central character of Civil Peace and is portrayed as a man who possesses an exceptionally hopeful outlook despite experiencing serious difficulties. His character is marked by peacefulness, patience, persuasion, calmness, hard work, and adaptability. He is a round character, while his essential attitude remains stable throughout the story, allowing him to be considered a static character as well.
The Nigerian Civil War has affected Jonathan deeply. He loses one of his children and returns to a damaged home. His former occupation is also no longer available in the changed circumstances. Nevertheless, he does not allow these losses to completely control his thoughts or destroy his desire to continue living.
Jonathan instead chooses to focus on the things that remain. He considers himself fortunate because he, his wife, his bicycle, and three of his four children have survived. His willingness to regard these surviving possessions as blessings demonstrates his ability to find hope in the middle of suffering.
His response to the damaged house reveals another important quality. Rather than simply grieving over what the war has destroyed, Jonathan takes action. He gathers whatever materials are available and begins repairing his home. This shows that he is hardworking and believes that difficulties should be addressed through practical effort.
Jonathan also demonstrates adaptability in his economic life. Since his earlier occupation is no longer suitable after the war, he does not remain inactive. He creates a new opportunity for himself by starting a business and opening a bar. Through this effort, he continues to provide for his family.
His encounter with the thieves further demonstrates his calm and peaceful nature. When the criminals threaten his family, Jonathan does not unnecessarily challenge them. Instead, he attempts to convince them that he possesses very little money and gives them what he has in order to protect his wife and children.
Even after losing his money to the robbers, Jonathan does not abandon his determination. The robbery becomes another hardship that he must face rather than something that completely destroys his spirit. His response to repeated difficulties demonstrates his remarkable resilience.
Jonathan’s faith is another defining feature of his personality. His repeated use of “Nothing puzzles God” shows his confidence that God understands every circumstance. This belief helps him remain thankful for his blessings instead of allowing his losses to dominate his life.
Jonathan Iwegbu therefore represents optimism, resilience, hard work, faith, patience, adaptability, and peacefulness. Through his character, the story presents the strength of an ordinary person who continues rebuilding his life despite war, personal loss, poverty, corruption, and insecurity.