10 E Analysis Paper Sources

Bibliography Abdi, Safi. The Ruined House of Somalia. 17 May 2006. AuthorsDen, Inc. 29 October 2007 < http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewPoetry.asp?id=159801>. Garuf, Rashid. The Republic of Somaliland: Chronology of a Nation. 21 August 2001. Somaliland Forum. 29 October 2007 < http://somalilandforum.org/sl/2001/08/21/therepublic-of-somaliland-chronology-of-a-nation/>. Lewis, I.M. From Colonial Partition to Post-Colonial Revolution. 20 March 2004. Somoliland.Org. 26 October 2007 < http://www.somaliland.org/archives/?ID=04032004>. "Somalia: History, Geography, Government, and Culture." Infoplease. 2000-2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease.30 Oct. 2007 . The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. Somalia. October 2007. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. 29 October 2007 .

Melinda Dang English 3 Text and Context Research Experience The general theme of this poem is shown through different uses of personification and symbolism but history is incorporated throughout the whole poem through the use of literary devices. By using different tools to create the feel and meaning of “The Ruined House,” Safi Abdi effectively portrays the theme; A government system that cannot maintain stability of their country will only lead to further conflicts within the country itself. SYMBOLISM: “The Ruined House,” written by Safi Abdi talks about his present stay at his hometown where the influence of Somalia’s past has created crisis in modern Somalia. In the year of 1991, the Barre regime of Somalia ended, efforts to unseat Barre resulted in a Civil war that halted food production in Somalia. Famine created poverty and that is indirectly shown in “The Ruined House,” when Abdi writes: “A disheveled kid rushed on the road, A rusty AK-47 his only Consort (Abdi).” In this quote, the significance of the AK-47 is its symbolic representation of warfare because a gun is a commonly used weapon in war. The gun shows the fighting between individual territories in Africa. Warfare is the child’s only companion, he has no food, and no necessities, have nothing to eat but a gun that can be fired symbolizes the famine that occurred during the civil war. Lastly the child itself is a symbol of Africa. Africa is said to be childish because it’s in a war but doesn’t know what direction to take in order to resolve its own conflicts. The innocence of the civilians living in Africa can also reflect how Africa can be represented as a child. To symbolize Africa using a child is an effective comparison Abdi makes in this poem. Abdi’s poem also personifies Africa to express his own point of view. PERSONIFICATION: Abdi tells Africa to grow up: “Grow up, Africa! Your desperation’s flowered by your own meanness, Own up (Abdi)!” he writes. Abdi

talks to Africa as if he was telling a child to grow up. Abdi is trying to tell the countries inside Africa to grow up because the countries inside Africa are competing for territory among themselves. The “desperation” is the various conflicts occurring between different parts of Africa. For example, in Somalia, even after the 1991 political collapse, Somalia has had no effective national government. The only recognized transitional federal government in Baidoa controls only Southern Somalia and isn’t even recognized by most Somalians. Even with efforts from outside countries like Egypt and Kenya, Somalia isn’t united. Abdi also says Africa’s “desperation” flowered by its “own meanness.” This represents the unsettled disagreements making different parts of Africa turn against each other. Safi Abdi is trying to show that it’s silly for a country where people are the same race and live along the same beliefs to fight against one another.