THE RAIN CAME

GRACE OGOT I. A. VOCABULARY WORDS

Luo -a tribe in Northern Kenya and Uganda consecrated-to be inducted into a position rebuked-to be criticized Oganda-beans enviable-good fortune that is envied/desired by other people siala tree-acacia tree, is the strongest tree in the desert. It can go many months, years even, without water. hoarse-making a harsh, low sound faint-lacking strength; weak karlamo-the sacred place torrentsa stream of water flowing with great rapidity and violence

B. SETTING The story is set in Kenya, where the Luo tribe had settled near Lake Victoria. The village was facing a severe drought and was in desperate need for rain. The tribe strongly believed in the role of their ancestors as being gods. The uppermost priority for them is pleasing the gods and ancestors. They also believed that a sacrifice was needed in order to please the ancestors so that they may have rain. They all believe in the word of the medicine man, and blindly believed in what the medicine man has told them. C. CHARACTERS Characters Oganda Descriptions The main character of the story. She is the only daughter of Labongo out of 20 children with the fifth wife, Minya. She is fair skinned, thin, tall, beautiful and brave. She has been raised to believe in god/ancestors.

Labongo

He is the chief of the village and the loving father of Oganda. He belives in god/ancestors and is worried about pester.

Osinda

He belongs to another neighboring village and he was the one who gave Oganda the chain on her waist. Hes brave and willing to sacrifice for love. One of the minor characters. The mother of Oganda. She loves her daughter.

Minya

Ndithi

One of the minor characters. The medicine man. Ndithi is a superstitious medicine man for the Labongo tribe. He is a man that is said to have the ability to communicate with their god/ancestor.

D. PLOT a) Introduction The villagers need rain. Labongo, as the chief village, has to come up with a solution to the drought. confided the problem to Ndithi, the medicine man. Ndithi the chief that the only solution to their problem sacrifice Oganda, the only daughter of the chief. b) Rising action Although the thought of letting her daughter be sacrificed for the benefit of the whole village is very painful to Labongo, he decided to let her go. Therefore, Oganda was informed that she of the He then said to was to

is going to be sacrificed for the benefit of the whole village. She does not want to but she has to do so. A feast was prepared beforehand to congratulate Oganda because it was said that it was an honor to be selected to be sacrificed. A lot of friends, relatives and other villagers were gathered, bearing gifts, singing and were dancing but Minya, the mother of Oganda cannot rejoice because her daughter is to be sacrificed to the lake monster. Oganda did not participate in the feast and did not even partake with the food because looking at the dancers same as her age makes her sad. The only thing that comforted her was the chain around her waist which was given by Osinda, the one that she loved. He did not appear on the feast to say goodbye so she thought he must have been ill and that they will not ever see each other again. c) Climax Oganda set off to alone to her journey towards the lake. After a very long, tired and weary journey she was at last almost near the lake when she felt that someone is following her. She wanted to picture if it was the lake monster but she could not do so because of her fright. She chooses to run towards the lake even before sunset. She is determined to jump into the water but someone caught her. d) Falling action Osinda caught Oganda before she jumps into the water. He encouraged her to escape from being sacrificed and that they will go far away from the village. She was convinced and they are going to use coats which are made from the twigs of Bwombwe to escape. e) Resolution As Osinda and Oganda move far away from the lake, the rain started to pour as the thunders roared.

E. CONFLICT Man vs. Society The story has been focused on the tradition that the village has. They believe on sacrificial offerings of life to appease their gods so that it will rain. Oganda has been chosen to be offered and that she cannot do anything but to do so and all the villagers were even happy for her to be sacrificed. Man vs. Nature All the people in the village are suffering because it has been a long time since it rained so they are experiencing drought. II. REACTION OR REFLECTION REVISION OF THE ENDING OF THE STORY The villagers rejoiced because it rained and again there is enough water. Oganda and Osinda returned to the village. They were given a warm welcome and this was the start of the new changes in the village. COMMENT Oganda was very obedient. She did not even try to flee or escape during her journey although she can easily do so because she was just alone. She continued to go to the lake as if this was really on her own will.