CLASS NOTE: LITERATURE-IN-ENGLISH

SUBJECT: Literature-in-English CLASS: J.S.S. 1 TOPIC: Setting and Plot of The Drum by Chinua Achebe TERM: Second Term

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to this comprehensive study of Chinua Achebe’s classic children’s story, The Drum. Chinua Achebe is often called the father of modern African literature. In this story, he uses a traditional African folktale style to teach us important lessons about greed, leadership, and wisdom. Today, we will dive deep into the Setting (where and when the story happens) and the Plot (the sequence of events) of this fascinating book.

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COMPREHENSIVE CORE CONCEPTS

1. Understanding the Setting

In Literature, Setting refers to the time and the place where the events of a story occur. It is the "background" of the story. For The Drum, the setting is not just a location; it is a character in itself because it drives the actions of the Tortoise.

A. The Physical Setting (The Place): The story is set in a traditional African environment, specifically an animal kingdom that mirrors human society.

• The Forest: A large part of the action takes place in the forest, particularly near a palm tree. In African folklore, the forest is often a place of mystery and magic where humans (or animals) encounter spirits.
• The Spirit World: When Tortoise falls down the slope or enters the "underworld" to retrieve his fallen palm fruit, the setting shifts from the physical world to a supernatural one. This transition is important because it shows that the drum is a gift from the spirit world, not something man-made.
• The Village/Animal Kingdom: This is where the animals live. It represents society. When the setting shifts back here, we see how the magical drum affects the whole community.

B. The Temporal Setting (The Time): The story is set during a time of Great Famine. A famine is a period of extreme hunger where there is no food. This is crucial because it explains why the Tortoise is so desperate for food and why the "magic drum" becomes so powerful. Without the setting of the famine, the story would not have the same tension or meaning.

2. Understanding the Plot

The Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. Every plot has a beginning, a middle, and an end. In The Drum, the plot follows a "Circular Pattern"—things start bad (famine), get very good (food from the drum), and then end badly again because of greed.

A. The Exposition (The Beginning): The story introduces us to a world suffering from a terrible drought and famine. All the animals are hungry. The main character, Tortoise (Mbe), is searching for food and finds a single palm fruit. When he tries to eat it, it falls into a hole.

B. Rising Action (The Journey): Tortoise follows the fruit into the spirit world. Instead of getting his fruit back, he meets spirits who give him a Magic Drum. He discovers that whenever he beats the drum, a wonderful feast appears. Tortoise returns home and becomes famous because he can feed all the animals.

C. The Climax (The Turning Point): This is the most exciting part. Tortoise becomes proud and greedy. He wants to show off his power to everyone. However, through his own carelessness or greed (depending on the version, often involving him breaking a taboo or losing the original drum), he tries to get another drum from the spirit world.

D. Falling Action: Tortoise receives a second drum. However, he does not test it first. He invites all the animals to a massive feast, promising them more food than ever before. He is confident and arrogant.

E. Resolution (The Conclusion): When Tortoise beats the new drum, instead of food appearing, thousands of invisible whips emerge and lash out at the animals. The animals flee in pain and anger. The story ends with Tortoise being disgraced, and the famine returning or the animals being scattered.

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KEY POINTS WITH ELABORATIONS

• The Famine as a Catalyst: The famine is the "inciting incident." It is the reason the plot starts moving. Without hunger, Tortoise would never have ventured into the spirit world.
• The Supernatural Element: The setting includes the spirit world, which is a common feature in Nigerian (Igbo) literature. It shows the belief that the physical world and the spiritual world are connected.
• Character-Driven Plot: The plot moves because of Tortoise's personality. His cleverness gets him the drum, but his pride (hubris) causes the disaster at the end.
• The Dual Nature of the Drum: There are two drums in the plot. The first represents "Blessing/Prosperity," and the second represents "Consequence/Punishment." This structure teaches that every action has a reaction.

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MULTIPLE EXAMPLES OF LITERARY ELEMENTS

Example 1: Sensory Imagery in Setting Achebe describes the dry, dusty earth during the famine. You can almost feel the heat and the emptiness of the animals' stomachs. This helps the reader understand why the "sound of the drum" and the "smell of the food" are so important later on.

Example 2: Conflict in the Plot

• Man (Animal) vs. Nature: The animals struggling to survive the famine.
• Man vs. Self: Tortoise struggling with his greed and his desire to be seen as a king.

Example 3: Symbolism

• The Drum: It symbolizes power. In the beginning, it is used for good (feeding the hungry), but when used for the wrong reasons (pride), it becomes a source of pain.

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ENGAGING ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: The "Setting" Map

Instructions: On a blank sheet of paper, draw a map of the story's world.

1. Draw the "Dry Village" (where the famine is).
2. Draw the "Magic Palm Tree."
3. Draw a path leading down into the "Spirit World."
4. Label each area with one sentence describing what happens there.

Activity 2: Plot Sequencing

Instructions: Rearrange these events in the correct order as they appear in the book:

1. Tortoise beats the drum and whips come out.
2. A great famine hits the land.
3. Tortoise follows a palm fruit into a hole.
4. The spirits give Tortoise a magical food drum.
5. Tortoise invites all the animals to a grand feast to show off.

Activity 3: Creative Writing (The Alternative Ending)

Instructions: Imagine Tortoise was not greedy. Write a short paragraph (5–10 lines) explaining how the plot would have changed if Tortoise had shared the first drum's secret with the King of the animals instead of keeping it for himself.

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DETAILED SUMMARY

In The Drum by Chinua Achebe, the setting is a mixture of a drought-stricken animal kingdom and a mystical spirit world. The harshness of the famine sets the stage for a story about survival and morality. The plot follows the journey of Tortoise, a "trickster" character, who moves from a state of poverty to great wealth through a magical drum.

However, the plot serves as a moral warning. Because the setting is an animal kingdom that values community, Tortoise’s attempt to use the spirit gift for personal glory leads to his downfall. The sequence of events moves from the discovery of a solution (the first drum) to the creation of a new problem (the second drum/whips) due to the protagonist's character flaws. By studying the setting and plot, we learn that literature is not just a story; it is a way to understand human nature and the consequences of our choices.

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Study Tip: When reading The Drum, always ask yourself: "Where is Tortoise right now?" (Setting) and "What caused this next event to happen?" (Plot). This will help you master any work of literature!