The Lion and the Jewel Questions and Answers
by Wole Soyinka

Recently Answered Questions

• The Lion and the Jewel
  Comment on the love triangle between Sidi, Lakunle and Baroka in Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel.
  All three characters live in the same village in an unnamed African country. The triangle connects Sidi, a beautiful young woman, to the other two characters. Lakunle, the younger man, has moved...

  1 Educator Answer

• The Lion and the Jewel
  How is the theme of young versus old presented in The Lion and the Jewel?
  The characters in The Lion and the Jewel are roughly divided by age, with Sidi and Lakunle being young adults and Sadiku and Baroka older people. Youth and age are also related to modernity and...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Compare and contrast the speech quality of Lakunle and Baroka in The Lion and the Jewel.
  Lakunle speaks directly and often without respect or thought; Baroka is more thoughtful and cautious with his words to help him achieve his goals. Both men, however, speak with the confidence that...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Provide a brief character sketch of Sidi from The Lion and the Jewel.
  Sidi is a very beautiful young woman who understands very well the enormous power that her beauty exerts over men. Sidi's always known that she was beautiful, but after participating in a magazine...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are the character traits of Sidi?
  Sidi is a very beautiful young woman. She's always known that she's beautiful and that her beauty gives her a certain measure of power over men. And after participating in a photo-shoot for a...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  In what way do spiders carry loads the way Sidi carries the bucket of water?
  Lakunle says that Sidi is carrying her load like a spider because she's carrying a pail of water on her head. Lakunle doesn't like seeing Sidi carrying the water on her head. It's in a small pail...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What is the importance of the bride price in "The Lion and the Jewel" by Wole Soyinka?
  The bride price is a dowry that has to be paid in order for Lakunle to be allowed to marry Sidi. Sidi, like most people in her community, takes the bride price very seriously. To her, it is what...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Describe the dramatic roles of Sidi, Baroka, and Lakunle in the play The Lion and the Jewel.  
  Sidi is the village belle and the object of Lakunle and Baroka's affection throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel. She is a beautiful girl but is conceited and rather simple. After seeing her...

  3 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What is the role and function of Lakunle in the play The Lion and the Jewel? 
  Lakunle is the village's school teacher who has an affinity for Western civilization and culture. He wishes to modernize Ilujinle and attempts to marry Sidi without paying the bride-price. He is...

  4 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are the main themes developed in "The Lion and the Jewel" by Wole Soyinka?
  It is a very entertaining play, with only three acts, so if you haven't already, I highly recommend reading it. For a brief summary however, I have provided a link below, and that should help. One...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Discuss how Wole Soyinka depicts culture in the play The Lion and the Jewel. 
  Wole Soyinka depicts traditional Yoruba culture throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel by illustrating the roles and feelings of various characters in their village of Ilujinle. Soyinka...

  2 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  Who are the characters in The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka? This is a study guide question posted by eNotes Editorial. Please write a separate paragraph of analysis for each key character you discuss.
  Sidi Sidi is the jewel of the story. She's the most beautiful young woman in the village where she lives. She is being courted by the school teacher, but she refuses to marry him because he won't...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are some quotes from The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka? This is a study guide question posted by eNotes Editorial. Please identify and analyze at least 3 quotes in your response.
  SIDI: Now there you go again.One little thing And you must chirrup like a cockatoo.You talk and talk and deafen meWith words which always sound the sameAnd make no meaning.I've told you, and I say...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Please analyze The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka. This is a study guide question posted by eNotes Editorial. Your literary analysis may touch on a variety of topics, including (but not limited to) discussions of the author’s style, the use of...
  The Lion and The Jewel is rich with imagery and pageantry. The stage is populated with performers, whose performances of Yoruban music and dance intersperse the plot throughout. On one level the...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are the themes in The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka? This is a study guide question posted by eNotes Editorial. Please clearly identify at least 3 themes and devote a separate paragraph to a discussion of each one
  The Cunning Nature of Powerful Leaders Baroka's trickery is a major theme in the play. He sets things up to achieve his ultimate goal of taking Sidi as his final wife. His wily nature shows why he...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Please write an in-depth summary of The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka. This is a study guide question posted by eNotes Editorial. Please note that this material is intended to supplement the information presented in our eNotes study guide.
  The Lion and the Jewel opens with Lakunle trying to take a bucket of water from Sidi, who has drawn it from the well. It spills and he gets wet but he still believes that Sidi is the one who should...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Evaluate the use of song and dance in The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka.
  Wole Soyinka incorporates numerous dimensions of performance into The Lion and the Jewel. The resulting play is a rich medley of Western and African performance traditions. Rather than relying...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  In the play The Lion and the Jewel, what is the role of Sadiku in the love circle?
  Sadiku is the senior wife of the Bale in the play The Lion and the Jewel. Baroka sends Sadiku to the village with orders to woo the village belle, Sidi, and convince Sidi to marry him. Sadiku does...

  2 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are some gender issues that are addressed throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka?   
  Wole Soyinka examines several gender issues throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel. One of the most significant gender issues in the play concerns the role of women in society. Soyinka depicts...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Outline the themes in The Lion and the Jewel.
  One of the play's most important themes is the clash between tradition and modernity. Lakunle prides himself on being a modern man, influenced by Western ideas to look down on what he regards as...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Why is Sidi keen on having a bride price paid for her? What does this show about Lakunle's character in The Lion and the Jewel?
  Sidi is keen on having her bride-price paid because she mentions to Lakunle that she will be the laughing-stock of the village if it is not paid in full. Sidi tells Lakunle, "Well, do as you...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  How would you interpret Sidi's decision to marry Baroka in The Lion and the Jewel?
  In The Lion and the Jewel, Wole Soyinka characterizes Sidi—the “jewel”—as smart, resourceful, ambitious, and practical as well as beautiful. As the suitors vie for her affections, the younger man,...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What is the conflict between tradition and modernity in Wole Soyinka's play The Lion and the Jewel?
  In the play The Lion and the Jewel, Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka portrays a theme representative of his Nigerian people: their desire to believe that past village traditions of Nigeria are no...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Discuss the stylistic devices used by Wole Soyinka in The Lion and the Jewel.
  In the play, Wole Soyinka uses Western theatrical conventions and includes traditional Nigerian elements of poetry, music, and dance. The play is a one-act play with three scenes. Each corresponds...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  How is education portrayed in The Lion and the Jewel?
  Wole Soyinka’s play primarily presents education, in the sense of schooling, through the character of Lakunie. In the independent, modernizing society, schools play a vital role in creating the...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Who does the “jewel" refer to in the title of The Lion and the Jewel?
  The "jewel" in the play The Lion and the Jewel refers to the character Sidi. Sidi is a beautiful young woman who is coveted and pursued by both Lakunle and Baroka during the play. After a foreign...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  How do the magazine photographs affect Sidi's perception of Baroka?   
  One of the village girls asks Sidi if she's seen the book with her images inside it. Sidi tells her that she has not seen it yet, and the girl begins to describe how beautiful Sidi looks in the...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  Who is the "jewel" referring to in the play The Lion and the Jewel?  
  The "jewel" in the play The Lion and the Jewel references the character of Sidi. Sidi is a beautiful young woman who has become famous after a foreign photographer published her images in a...

  2 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are some messages that the audience takes away from the play The Lion and the Jewel?
  Soyinka suggests that maintaining traditional customs is essential in light of colonial development. Baroka, a symbol of traditional Yoruba culture, successfully wins the heart of the village...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  How would you describe Lakunle from Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel?
  Lakunle is the village school teacher who opposes traditional Yoruba culture in favor of modern Western civilization. He continually criticizes Sidi, Baroka, and Sadiku for their way of life. At...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  In Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel, how does Baroka seduce Sidi?  
  Baroka successfully seduces Sidi by cunningly devising a plan to make Sidi feel comfortable, then using Sidi's over confidence and infatuation with herself to woo her into sleeping with him. After...

  2 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are some social issues throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel?
  Wole Soyinka examines a variety of social issues throughout his play The Lion and the Jewel. One of the most prominent social issues in the play deals with tradition versus modernity. Lakunle, and...

  1 Educator Answer

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are some moments in the play The Lion and the Jewel where Baroka is depicted as being clever?
  Baroka is portrayed as the wisest character throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel and there are several scenes which depict his cleverness. In the first act entitled "Morning," the village...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What is the impact of setting on characters' growth in The Lion and the Jewel?
  The play takes place in a small traditional African village that is being threatened by the encroachment of the modern world. The Bale refuses to allow this to happen and shows that he will do...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are the flashbacks in The Lion and the Jewel? What do they tell the audience?
  There are a couple flashbacks throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel. The first flashback takes place during "the dance of the lost traveler." The flashback tells the audience the story of how...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What is a character sketch of Sidi from the play The Lion and the Jewel?
  Sidi is a beautiful young woman who becomes famous throughout her village after a foreign photographer publishes images of her in a magazine. Upon seeing her images, Sidi becomes extremely...

  2 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  In The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka, what evidence is there that Sidi views her sexuality as a weapon, men as her opponents, and her virginity as a treasure to be sold only to the highest bidder?
  In the first scene of the play entitled "Morning," the village girls tell Sidi that she has become famous because her image is throughout an entire magazine. Sidi is excited and believes that she...

  1 Educator Answer

• The Lion and the Jewel
  How does one interpret Sidi's decision to marry Baroka at the end of the play The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka?
  Sidi's decision to marry Baroka can be interpreted in several different ways. Throughout the play, Baroka is viewed as a supporter of traditional Yoruba culture and opposes Western influence....

  2 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  Describe the dramatic roles of the characters of Sidi, Lakunle, and Baroka in the play The Lion and the Jewel.
  Sidi is the village belle of Ilujinle, who becomes conceited after a photographer publishes beautiful pictures of her in a magazine. She rejects the idea of marrying the village schoolteacher,...

  1 Educator Answer

• The Lion and the Jewel
  Why was Sadiku dancing at the beginning of the scene entitled "Night" in The Lion and the Jewel?
  At the beginning of the scene entitled "Night," Sadiku enters the stage with a carved figure of the Bale. She begins to laugh hysterically and comments on how the same thing happened to his father,...

  1 Educator Answer

• The Lion and the Jewel
  Why does Sidi choose Baroka at the end of the The Lion and the Jewel?
  Baroka successfully woos Sidi by showing her a machine that makes stamps and fills her head with the idea that her image will be on every stamp coming from Ilujinle. Sidi loses her virginity to...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are two African proverbs and two Biblical references from the play The Lion and the Jewel?  
  African Proverbs Towards the end of the play, Baroka is attempting to woo Sidi and shows her the machine that makes stamps. He tells Sidi that her image will adorn each stamp leaving Ilujinle, then...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are the themes throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel?
  Wole Soyinka examines several themes throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel. He explores the themes of modernity versus tradition. Lakunle favors Western civilization and wishes that his...

  2 Educator Answers

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are the similarities between Lakunle and Baroka?  
  Although the characters of Lakunle and Baroka have many differences, they happen to share several similarities throughout the play The Lion and the Jewel. Both Lakunle and Baroka wish to marry the...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What is the significance of the title "The Lion and the Jewel"? 
  The significance of the title The Lion and the Jewel depicts the relationship between the two leading characters of the play. The chieftain of the village Ilujinle, a Yoruba village in West Africa,...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are the mimes/flashbacks in The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka about? 
  Early on in the play, Sidi is told about how her images in a foreign magazine have given her fame and prestige. She encourages the villagers to participate in "the dance of the lost traveler."...

  1 Educator Answer

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What happened in the "Night" scene in the play The Lion and the Jewel?
  Sadiku enters the village at the beginning of the scene and is laughing as she recounts her experience with Okiki, Baroka's father. Sadiku was able to make Okiki impotent and gloats at the fact...

  1 Educator Answer

• The Lion and the Jewel
  What flashbacks are found in Wole Soyinka's play The Lion and the Jewel?
  As a play that embodies African village culture, Wole Soyinka's The Lion and the Jewel is full of dancing and music. Many flashbacks are portrayed in the dances and pantomimes that accompany the...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  To what extent is Lakunle a representation of cultural alienation in the play The Lion and the Jewel?
  Cultural alienation is when an individual devalues, dismisses, and abandons one's own culture. In the play The Lion and the Jewel, Lakunle quintessentially represents cultural alienation by...

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• The Lion and the Jewel
  What are the differences between Sidi and Sadiku?
  There are several notable differences between the characters of Sidi and Sadiku in the play The Lion and the Jewel. Throughout the play, Sidi is a young, attractive maiden who is yet to make her...

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