Answer to the questions on Brother Man

Define internal and external conflict.

Internal conflict is a mental or emotional struggle within a character.

External conflict is a struggle that occurs between a character and outside forces, which could be another character or the environment.

Name some conflicts in Brother Man and identify whether they were external or internal conflicts. (Brother Man, Girlie, Papacita, Nathaniel, Cordelia, Jesmina,Minette).

• Brother Man- Internal Conflict can be seen in this character when he tries to fight with his emotions for Minette, trying not to give into her sexual offers or appeals. External conflict can be seen when the people attacked him and he did not fight back with them.
• Papacita- External conflict is evident when Papacita and Girlie fought when they become angry with each other.
• Girlie- Internal conflict can be seen when Girlie tries to face the fact that Papacita is having affairs and she tries to live with the pain of being alone having the only person she ever loved to walk out on her. External conflict is evident when she and her lover (Papacita) argued and fought over trivial matters.
• Jesmina- Internal conflict is portrayed when Jesmina lost her lover Shine and she tried to lived without him, trying not to be emotional over the matter so that she could be strong to deal with Cordelia. Also it is seen when she was concerned about Cordelia's wellfare wondering what to do with Cordelia and how to deal with the matter.
• Minette- Internal conflict is also seen in Minette's life. It is seen where she tried to get Brother Man to notice her and she fought with the idea that Brother Man is always pushing her aside, wondering why he never wanted to be with her even though she presented herself to him countless times.
• Cordelia- Internal conflict is present when Cordelia dealt with the struggle of having a son that is sick and it looks like there's no way out of the situation or like all hope is gone.
• Nathaniel- Internal conflict was seen when he tries to face the reality of raising a child that does not belong to him.

There are three types of irony, list them.

Three types of irony are:

1. Dramatic irony-  the contrast between what the character knows and what his audience knows.
2. Verbal irony- the contrast between what is said and what is meant.
3. Situational irony- the contrast between what was expected to happen and what actually ended up happening.

Look at the book Brother Man and discuss how irony is played out.

In Brother Man, irony is seen where:

• Cordelia killed Tod and after herself- In the narrative Cordelia was presented as a caring mother who loved her son. It was not expected that she would have killed her son or even murdered herself.
• Brother Man and the people- Brother Man was a 'saviour' to the people of Orange Lane. He gave them what they were in need of if he had it. In the book the people turned on Brother Man almost beating him to death. It was not expected that the people he put out himself out for, were the same people who almost took his life.
• Girle and Papacita- Girlie loved Papacita with all her heart. Since they always argued and fought he left her. In the end it was seen that Girlie killed him. It was unexpected that she would have done that since he was the only one she loved.