God's Bits of Wood Questions and Answers
God's Bits of Wood
What is the significance of race, gender, and class in God's Bits of Wood?
Race, gender, and class issues figure prominently into God's Bits of Wood by Ousmane Sembène. Race appears in the struggle between white French owners/colonizers and Black African workers. Class...
God's Bits of Wood
What is the role of women in God's Bits of Wood?
In God's Bits of Wood, women play numerous roles, including the roles of sisters, daughters, wives, mothers, and participants in the resistance movement. Although women are not railroad employees,...
God's Bits of Wood
Why is the book titled God's Bits of Wood?
The book is titled God's Bits of Wood because the character Houdia M'Baye is described as bringing forth "nine bits of God's wood," a metaphor for her children. This metaphor upholds the Wolof...
God's Bits of Wood
What does the quote "treat as a friend who treats you as a friend, treat your master as an enemy" in God's Bits of...
The quote advises treating those who treat you as equals and friends with friendship, while regarding those who assume superiority, like a master, as enemies. It underscores the essence of true...
God's Bits of Wood
What is the significance of the setting in God's Bits of Wood?
The main theme of the novel is the theme of colonization. The plot of the novel is set in the 1940s, which was still a long time before Senegal finally became independent. Through the novel’s setting...
God's Bits of Wood
To what extent is God's Bits of Wood a working-class novel informed by Marxist ideology?
Ousmane Sembene's novel God's Bits of Wood is definitely a working-class novel, for it centers on the efforts of West African railroad workers to improve their lives. These people struggle through...
God's Bits of Wood
What does God's Bits of Wood reveal about Senegalese and Malian society and the role of women?
The novel reveals the socioeconomic struggles in Senegalese and Malian societies during colonial times, highlighting poverty, exploitation, and racism. It underscores the transformative role of...
God's Bits of Wood
Is the quote "I know now what it is what washes the water. It is the spirit." from God's Bits of Wood also found in...
There is no direct parallel to this quotation from God's Bits of Wood in the Bible, although there are some scriptural verses that allude to similar concepts, particularly of water and the spirit...
God's Bits of Wood
Which quotes from Sembène Ousmane's God's Bits of Wood support the idea of colonizers causing internal conflicts...
In God's Bits of Wood, colonizers attempt to create internal conflicts among strikers by manipulating their circumstances. One tactic involves making it difficult for the strikers' wives to buy food,...
God's Bits of Wood
Are there any quotes in God's Bits of Wood that reflect the Black characters' religious beliefs?
The title of Ousmane Sembene's God's Bits of Wood reflects the religious beliefs of its characters, highlighting themes of humility and divine belonging. Characters like Houdia M'Baye view children...
God's Bits of Wood
What is some imagery in God's Bits of Wood?
Sembène focuses on visuals, but also describes aural imagery.
God's Bits of Wood
What are Sembène Ousmane's opinions on leadership qualifications in God's Bits of Wood?
Sembène Ousmane has the opinion that leadership should only be for the benefit of the people, not for the good of the rulers. Ousmane clearly believes that colonial power is unethical and...
God's Bits of Wood
How did the railway strike evolve into a nationalist movement in "God's Bits of Wood"?
To strengthen the hand of Britain in its imperialist struggles against Germany, France and other European rivals. The British hoped to stimulate a revolt among the Senussi in Libya against the...