umhlaba ofile

For those of you in Matric in 2025, I express my sympathies. This setwork is not great at all. It’s also not going to be examined again, and it hasn’t been examined before. So this page has resources to help you make sense of it.

The first section (A) is a set of contextual questions, which is good for revising your knowledge of the story and its details. The second section (B) is the same, but at a higher level and more like what you can expect in the exams. The third section (C) is in the style of the paragraph questions or imibuzo yezigaba in the exam, and looks at isizinda (setting) and abalingiswa (characters). The fourth section (D) is a good idea to prep a dialogue of some sort, and the fifth section (E) is an essay. The sixth section (F) is all about character sketches, and the seventh section (G) is about the themes of the novel.

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A. First set of Contextual / Short Questions (thank you to Jaz for this)

Extract & Umbuzo 1

“Kwaqhuma isililo esikhulu abantu bekhala bezithulisa ngenxa yomonakalo odalwe yiziwuhlu zemvula ezihambisana nesiphepho senkanyamba esishanyele izindlu zabo. Bakhona abanye ezawela kubona zabamboza badlula emhlabeni. // Okumangazayo ukuthi lwase kuyinsakavukela umchilo wesidwaba ukuthi izulu libonakale linolaka olungaka. Umphakathi wawusumangele ukuthi kanti woneni kuSomandla kangaka.” [ikhasi 1]

1. Obani abalingiswa abasemqoka kule ndaba? Bhala igama nesibongo. (2)
2. Laba bafana bahlala kusiphi isigodi? (1)
3. Babefunda kuliphi izwe? (1)
4. Kungani bathola umfundaze? (1)
5. Nikeza igama elimqondofana naleli: uSomandla. (1)
6. Chaza lesi simo senkulumo: “Kwaqhuma isililo”. (1)
7. Yini inkanyamba? Khetha impendulo enzansi: (a) ingwe (b) inyoka (c) ibhubesi. (0.5)
8. Kwakuyinsakavukela umchilo wesidwaba kuchazani? Khetha impendulo ngezansi: (a) into eyenzeka zonke izinsuku (b) into efana nesidwaba (c) into enokwenzeka ngesinye isikhathi. (0.5)

This extract comes from the very first page of the book, and you will notice that, apart from the two figurative language questions and the synonym question, the extract has no relation to the questions being asked. Oh well. Here are the expected answers and some explanation:

1. nguSolomon Gasa noJohn Ntuli [these are the two main characters of the story]
2. bahlala eMafakathini, ngaseMgungundlovu [this is the area where the Gasa and Ntuli families live]
3. babefunda eMelika [this is asking about where they studied]
4. bathola umfundaze ngoba behlakaniphile / bekhaliphile / ngenxa yenhlakanipho yabo [this is asking why they got a bursary to study there]
5. uMdali / uNkulunkulu / uMvelingqangi [this is asking for synonyms for ‘God’]
6. Lesi simo senkulumo sisho ukuthi kwaba nokukhala okukhulu [this figure of speech means that there was a lot of crying or lamentation]
7. B. inyoka [inkanyamba is a mythical snake that lives in rivers and which is the folktale explanation for hurricanes and tornadoes]
8. A. into eyenzeka zonke izinsuku [this figure of speecg means that this occurrence is a regular thing: if asked to explain it, say yinto eyenzeka mihla namalanga]

Umbuzo 2

Phendula le miibuzo ngokwazi kwakho indaba

1. Le ndaba yenzeka emakhaya / emadolobheni? Sekela loku ngamaphuzu amathathu achazwe kahle. (3)
2. Babeziphilisa kanjani abantu bakule ndawo? Bhala okubili. (2)
3. Le ndaba yenzeka esikhathini samanje. Sekela loku ngamaphuzu amabili. (2)
4. Bhala izindikimba ezimbili ezitholakala kule noveli. (2)
5. Ukuguquka kwesimo sezulu (climate change) kulethe ziphi izinkinga? Bhala okubili. (2)

These questions are useful for revising for the paragraph questions of the exam, in that they ask about setting (isizinda) and themes (izindkimba). They might also help you prepare for the essay section. Here are the expected answers, plus some explanation:

1. Indaba yenzeka emakhaya, ngoba: kunemfuyo / izinkomo (1); izindlu ziqhelelana (2); ugesi ufika no-Eskom (3). [this question is asking for proof of rurality: livestock, houses far apart, power from Eskom. You could also add: kunemigwaqo yothuli (there are dirt roads)]
2. Abantu basendabeni baziphilisa ngokufuya (1) nangokulima (2). [This question is asking how people subsist or make a living: by livestock and by farming]
3. Bakhuluma isiNgisi endabeni (1), kunokuguquka kwesimo sezulu (2) [This question is asking about how you know this happens in modern times, and you could also add: abantu bangaya eMelika; kunokundiza emkhathini; kunocingo; kunomsakazo nanjalonjalo]
4. Amaphupho, Inkolo namasiko, iSayensi / Inzululwazi, ukuGuquka kwesimo seZulu, Isimanje nendlela yakudala, Impucuzeko, Imfundo [this question is about themes in the novel, and I have supplied a few that seem relevant: Dreams, Belief and Tradition, Science, Climate Change, Modern vs Olden times, Civilization, Education]
5. Ukuguquka kwesimo sezulu silethe izinkinga ezinje: ukufa kwezilwane / kwemfuyo, utshani abusakhuli, izitshala ziyafa, imvula ayifiki noma ifika ngamandla amakhulu, ilanga lishisa kakhulu, kunesomiso, kuneziphepho [this is a climate change question, and I have supplied the following issues that come about: death of animals / livestock, grass doesn’t grow any more, crops die, rain doesn’t come or it comes with great strength, sun is very hot, there is drought, there are storms]

Extract & Umbuzo 3

“Ithimba lochwepheshe basemkhathini phesheya lalingazibekile phansi. Lalisebenza ngokukhulu ukuzikhandla. Licwaninga okuthile okuthinta umkhathi neminye imihlaba.” [ikhashi 17]

1. Ubani abalandelayo:
   • OnguSolwazi (0.5)
   • Oneziqu zemasters, obizwa ngoMaster(s) (0.5)
   • Owokuqala ukuya enyangeni. (0.5)
   • OwaseNtaliyane ongunjiniyela. (0.5)
2. Yini igama lomkhumbimkhathi abasohamba ngawo? Kungani ubizwa kanjalo? (2)

Right, so this is all about the space travel aspect of the story, and the team of people going into space. This will probably only be asked in the short questions, but it might also make it into the paragraph questions. Answers below, with some explanation:

1. [full names required, please]
   • Ainsley Cassius [aka the Professor]
   • Elphas Edward
   • Neil Armstrong [no matter how badly the name is spelled in the novel, you know better]
   • General Danistus Otrostelli [again, just write it correctly]
2. Umkhumbimkhathi ubizwa ngu-Apollo 23, ngoba kunososayensi ababili abamnyama nabathathu abamhlophe. [this is about the reason for the name of the spaceship. sigh.]

Extract & Umbuzo 4

“Nina baba niyaziduda izingane. Yikho nje zizochachaza emakhanda enu. Ungathini uma bakhe izibhamu? Noma wesaba ukuthi bazokuqhumisela ngebhomu? Angiyazi mina indoda eyigwala kangaka…” [ikhasi 29]

1. Onjani umuntu obizwa ngegwala? (1)
2. UGasa uvela njengomhlukumezi. Wenzeni? Chaza kahle. (2)
3. Igama ‘baba’ likhombisani / lishoni ngoMaZwane? (1)
4. Wena ubuzomluleka uthini uMaZwane emva kwalesi sehlakalo? (1)

These questions are useful for the paragraph section, in that they ask about the relationship between the parents in the story, and about the incident where Gasa abused MaZwane. Question 4 in particular could be fleshed out or made into a dialogue. So give it some thought. As before, answers and explanation follow:

1. Ngumuntu onovalo / owesabayo / ongenasibindi. [igwala is a coward, so here you have: person who has fear / who is afraid / who has no courage]
2. UGasa ushaye unkosikazi wakhe ngempama ngoba uzizwa sengathi unkosikazi akamhloniphi ngokwanele, ngoba yena uyambuza imibuzo eqinile. [this is the GBV question, and the answer is: Gasa strikes his wife with the flat of his hand because he feels like she is not respecting him sufficiently because she asks him some tough questions]
3. Likhombisa / Lisho ukuthi uMaZwane uyamhlonipha umyeni wakhe. [this is a question about the use of the word ‘baba’, and the key is to talk about how it shows that MaZwane is respectful / using it out of respect]
4. Bengizomtshela ukuthi makamshiye umyeni wakhe / makaye kumaphoyisa ukuvula icala [this is asking what you would advise MaZwane after the abuse: she should leave her husband / she should go to the police and lay a charge against him]

Extract & Umbuzo 5

“Hhayi bo kahle Amahle! Usukhohliwe yini ukuthi uyingodusi yomuntu wena. Ufuna ukususa uthuthuva kungenasidingo. Bayazi lapho basishiya khona futhi.” [ikhasi 35]

1. Ukhuluma nobani u-Amahle? (1)
2. Laba ababili bazana kanjani? (1)
3. U-Amahle uyingodusi. Umuntu onjani obizwa ingodusi? (1)
4. U-Amahle uyingodusi kabani futhi lo muntu usebenza kuphi? (2)
5. U-Amahle uyintokazi engaziphethe kahle. Sekela lesi sitatimende. (1)
6. U-Amahle weyenzani ukukhombisa ukuthi uthanda uSolomon kakhulu? Bhala okubili. (2)

Okay, so these questions are the ‘safe territory’ for most teachers with this book, because they focus on the relationship / love aspect of the story. They are useful because it’s likely to be one of the longer questions in your exam. Again, answers and explanations follow:

1. uBongiwe ukhuluma no-Amahle. [this is asking whom Amahle is speaking with – always good for a single mark in paper 2]
2. Ngabangani, babefunda ndawonye [asking how Bongiwe and Amahle know each other: they are friends, they went to school together]
3. Ingodusi ngumuntu oselotsholiwe / osethenjiswe ukushada [this is asking for an explanation of ingodusi / ingoduso: a person who has already had ilobolo paid over / who is promised to someone to be married]
4. Uyingodusi kaSabelo, ongumuntu osebenza eThekwini [info about her fiance, who is Sabelo and works in Durban]
5. Ngivumelana nalesi sitatimende ngoba u-Amahle akanasimilo: uthandana nabantu ababili ngesikhathi esisodwa, akanaqiniso, akasiye umuntu oqotho [asking about Amahle and the statement that she is a poorly behaved lady: I agree with this statement because Amahle has no good moral character: she is in a relationship with two people at the same time, she is untruthful, she is not an honest person]
6. U-Amahle ukhombisa ukuthi uyamthanda uSolomon ngalokhu: uma uSabelo emshayela ucingo, akalubambi; wayehlala ethatha ibhasi ayobona uSolomon; washo ukuthi ufuna ukumshiya uSabelo; washo futhi ukuthi uyazibona esenguNkosikazi Gasa [this is asking about how Amahle shows that she loves Solomon: Amahle shows that she loves Solomon in these ways: when Sabelo calls her she doesn’t answer; she takes the bus to go and see Solomon; she says that she wants to leave Sabelo; she says also that she sees herself as Mrs Gasa]

Extract & Umbuzo 6

‘Iyona indlu yabo le phoyisa‘. Ekhomba ngomunwe onedumbe. // Kuzwakale ukungqongqoza ngesicathulo. Abonakale uNtuli eqalaza esangweni sengathi uthi ngehliziyo ngaze nganonywao olubi bo. Namuhla solala endlini emnyama ngenxa yalaba bafana abangezwa.” [ikhasi 61]

1. Kukuphi endlini emnyama? (1)
2. Ubani leli phoyisa? (1)
3. Iphoyisa lithi abafana benza ubugebengu. Yibuphi lobu bugebengu ekhuluma ngabo? Bhala okubili. (2)
4. Ubani intatheli eyabhala indaba ngabafana kanye namaphoyisa? (1)
5. Ngaphandle kwephephandaba, indaba yokuhamba kukaSolomon noJohn yaphuma kuphi? (1)

These questions are all about the sub-plots to do with the police and the journalist. There are useful for short questions, and they might even make it into a dialogue. As before, answers and explanations below:

1. Endlini emnyama kusejele. [this question is about what indlu emnyama is: a jail]
2. NguSayitsheni Shezi [as before, it’s important to have th full name of the person: Sergeant Shezi]
3. Ubugebengu amaphoyisa abasola ngabo yilokhu: ukuhwebelana ngezikhali, ukuba nezibhamu ezingekho emthethweni, ukwakha iziqhumane, ukushushumbisa izidakamizwa [this is about the police allegations about the boys: arms dealing, possession of illegal firearms, constructing explosives, drug trafficking]
4. Intatheli nguS’celo Mtolo [this is the name of the journalist who comes to interview the boys]
5. Indaba yokuhamba kwabafana yaphuma futhi emsakazweni uKhozi FM [where else does the story come out: on the radio UKhozi FM]

Extract & Umbuzo 7

“Wavuma uMaZwane ukuthi ulifuna noma libaba kanjani. Futhi waqinisekisa ukuthi uzimisele ukubambisana noMaBhengu kuleli khambi abazoligxoba baliphuze” [ikhasi 89]

1. Laba ababili bazana kanjani? (1)
2. Yini ekhathaza uMabhengu noMaZwane? (1)
3. Yiliphi ikhambi (solution) elafika noMaBhengu? (1)

This is a set of questions about the women in the story who are of the parents’ generation. It might be useful for a dialogue or as part of the essay even, but you will probably need this for the short questions (maybe a longer question about GBV and its effects). Answers and explanations below:

1. Bangomakhelwane / abafana babo bangabangani [this is asking about the relationship: they are neighbours / their sons are friends]
2. Ekhathaza uMaBhengu noMaZwane ngukuthi amadoda abo awabanakile / awanaso isikhathi sabo [reasons for the women’s upset: their men don’t care about them / have no time for them]
3. ikhambi elifika noMaBhengu wukuthi bangabulala amadoda abo [the solution that comes with MaBhengu is that they can murder their husbands!]

Yoh. So these are just some of the questions that you might get asked in the short questions category. More to be added soon.

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B. Second Set of Contextual / Short Questions

(thanks again to Jaz)

“Abanye omakhelwane babethukile bethi isishaye ibuya inkanyamba ekade beyibuka kwezinye izigodi eziseduze nendawo. // uJohn noSolomon babethole umfundaze eminyakeni edlule bayofunda eMelika. Banesikhashana bebuyile phesheyya kwezilwandle, kodwa okumangazayo bahlale bezivalele egumbini likaSolomon kungaqondakali ukuthi benzani kulona” [ikhasi 2]

1. Yini le ebziwa ngomhlaba ofile? Kungani kushiwo kanjalo? (2)
2. Kungani omakhelwane bethukile? (1)
3. Ngokuzwa kwakho, silwane siphi esibizwa ngenkanyamba? (1)
4. OSolomon noJohn babefunda kuliphi izwe? (1)
5. Obani labo abazohamba (bhala igama nesibongo):
   • uSolwazi (0.5)
   • unjiniyela (0.5)
6. Yini igama lalo mkhumbimkhathi abazohamba ngawo? Kungani ubizwa ngalelo gama? (2)
7. Bhala izifiso zikaGasa noNtuli: babefisela izingane zabo (uSolomon noJOhn) ini njengoba sezibuyile phesheya? (2)
8. Chaza ukuthi baboneni uGasa noNtuli egumbini likaSolomon futhi babesola ukuthi benzani laba bafana ngaphakathi? (2)
9. Bhala imikhuba eyayenziwa uJohn noSolomon uma bevuka ebusuku phakathi kwamabili nezimpendulo kade bezinika uGasa noNtuli uma bebabuza ukuthi benzani. (3)

Right – so those are 9 fairly hard questions, and many of them are similar to those in the first set of questions above. Let’s have a look at what answers would be appropriate, and I will give some explanation of what else is needed:

1. Into ebizwa ngomhlaba ofile yinyanga, ngoba akukho lutho okukhula kuyona / umhlaba esiphila kuwona, ngoba isimo sezulu sesisibi kakhulu futhi izitshalo nezilwane ziyafa. [this one one tricky, because the answer is either that the moon is the ‘dead world’ of the book’s title, or the Earth is the dead world because of Climate Change]
2. Omakhelwane bethukile ngoba kwaba nomoya onamandla owenza umonakalo omkhulu, wawa izindlu futhi bashona abanye abantu. [this question is about the people’s reaction to the horrible weather and its effects on the countryside]
3. Yinyoka [same question as the one above, but this time without multiple choice]
4. OSolomon noJohn babefunda eMelika [A common question, but a good source of one mark]
5. remember to give the full name:
   • u-Ainsley Cassius
   • uGeneral Danistus Otrostelli
6. Yi-Apollo 23, ngoba kunabantu abamnyama ababili nabanye abamhlophe abathathu. [same question as before]
7. Bafise ukuba izingane zabo zibe nomsebenzi futhi zishade zibe nonkosikazi nomndeni. [an odd question, looking at what the fathers expect from their children now that they are back from America]
8. Babona amathoshi, amathini, amabhola egumbini; basola ukuthi badla izidakamizwa (insangu nenyaope) bakhe iziqhumane (amabhomu). [this is an interesting question, asking what the fathers see and what they suspect their sons of doing in the room]
9. uJohn noSolomon bavuka phakathi kwamabili baphumele phandle, abheke esibhakabhakeni ngezipopolo. Impendulo kaJohn ithi ubuka ubuhle bezinkanyezi ababefunda ngazo. Impendulo kaSolomon ithi usaphumuza umqondo wakhe ebuka umhlaba ujikeleza. [imikhuba are strange activities, and this question is asking about the strange behaviour that the boys get up to at night and what they answer when asked about them]

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C. Paragraph Questions / imibuzo yezigaba

Instructions: Funda lokhu okulandelayo bese uphendula imibuzo engezansi. Bhala impendulo ngezigaba. Phendula lo mbuzo ngamagama asukela kwayi-100 kuya kwayi-120. [read the following and answer the questions below it. Write your answers in paragraphs. Answer the questions in 100 to 120 words.]

1. Xoxa ngesizinda phansi kwalezi zihlokwana:
   • le ndaba yenzeka esikhathini samanje. Sekele impendulo yakho ngamaphuzu amathathu. (3 marks) [asking for time setting. with support]
   • le ndaba yenzeka endaweni yasemadolobheni noma esemakhaya? Sekels impendulo yakho ngamaphuzu amabili. (3 marks) [asking for whether this is urban or rural, with support]
   • abantu baphila impilo enjani? Sekela impendulo yakho ngamaphuzu amabili. (3 marks) [asking for what sort of life people are living, with support]
2. Laba balingiswa bangabantu abanjani? Sekela impendulo yakho kahle.
   • uShezi (2 marks)
   • uMaZwane (2 marks)

Alright, so the first paragraph will be about setting, and the second paragraph is about characters. Here are some sentences you could use for each:

1. Sazi ukuthi le ndaba yenzeka esikhathini samanje ngoba: kunokuguquka kwesimo sezulu (1) / abantu baya phesheya ngemfundo (1) / kunomsakazo nezimoto namaphephandaba (1) / kunemikhumbi yomkhathi (1) / uNeil Armstrong useye enyangeni (1) / basebenzisa amakhompyutha (1). Indaba yenzeka emakhaya, ngoba kunemfuyo (1) / izindlu ziyaqhelelana (1) / kunemigwaqo yothuli (1) / ugesi uphakelwa ngu-Eskom (1). Abantu baphila ngokulima nokufuya (1), bahlala emphandleni (1), ngakho abacebile kodwa abahluphekile.
2. UShezi yiphoyisa (1), usola ukuthi abafana bayizigebengu (1), uthanda ukusola abantu ngezenzo zabo. uMaZwane ngunina kaSolomon (1), noma uhloniphekile uyahlukunyezwa ngumnyeni wakhe (1).

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D. Dialogue / Ingxoxo

Phendula lo mbuzo ngamagama ayi-130 kuya kwayi-150.

Intatheli edumile uScelo Mtolo uvakashele abafana oSolomon noJohn ngesikhathi ebabuza imibuzo mayelana nohambo lwabo. Bhala ingxoxo phakathi kwaSolomon noScelo.

• okubhaliwe (okusendabeni = 7 / okwakho = 3) [10 marks]
• isakhiwo [2 marks]
• uhlelo nolimi [2 marks]
• inani lamagama nokulibhala [1]

So the key to getting 3 easy marks out of 15 here is the following:

1. make sure you give your dialogue a heading [1 mark]
2. make sure your dialogue follows the correct physical structure, including stage directions in brackets [1 mark]
3. put in the word-count at the end of the dialogue [1 mark]

Then you need to focus on getting your knowledge of the story into the dialogue [7 marks] and adding in stuff that isn’t in the story [3 marks].

You can only lose 2 marks for bad grammar or spelling.

What other dialogues are likely?

1. between Bongiwe and John
2. between Solomon and MaZwane
3. between Solwazi Cassius and either Ntuli or Gasa

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E. Essay / i-Eseyi

Funda lesi sitatimende esingezansi. Bhala i-eseyi engamagama ayi-180 kuya kwangama-200

Lo uSabelo. Bheka indlela uSabelo abhekana ngayo nezinkinga zothando lwakhe.

• Yiziphi izimpawu ekade zibonakala kuSabelo ezazikhomba ukuthi wayekhathazekile ngo-Amahle futhi wayehlale ejulile ngomqondo? Bhala amaphuzu amane. [4 marks]
• U-Amahle akasamthandi uSabelo. Wakukhombisa kanjani lokhu? Bhala okune. [2 marks]
• USabelo wamkhohlisa kanjani uBongiwe ukuze akhiphe iqiniso ngokuthandana kuka-Amahle noSolomon? Bhala amaphuzu amathathu. [3 marks]
• Xoxa ngokulwa kukaBongiwe no-Amahle. Bhala amaphuzu amathathu. [3 marks]
• Chaza ukuthi insizwa eyavakashelwa uSabelo elokishini laseMphophomeni emikhukhwini yayibukeka kanjani? Bhala amaphuzu amane. [2 marks]
• Wawuthini umbiko owafika namaphoyisa kwaGasa ngokushona kukaSolomon? [2 marks]
• Uma ubungameluleka uSabelo, yini obungamtshela yona ukuze abhekane nokuphatheka kabi kwakhe? [2 marks]

Uzothola amanye amamaki ngalokhu okulandelayo:

• Isakhiwo [2 marks]
• Uhlelo nolimi [2 marks]
• Amagama [1 mark]

Okay – so the essay is daunting, but it’s really just a series of comprehension-style questions about the novel that you are stringing together. Remember that you get a mark for including the wordcount, another for a title and for writing in paragraphs, and you can only lose 2 marks for poor spelling and grammar.

This is the most likely essay topic, given the craziness of the rest of the novel.

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F. Character Sketches

It is important to know as much as you can about each of the characters, and to be able to respond to questions on them quickly in order to show your knowledge of the novel. The tables below will help you get a handle on the characters.

First: abakwaGasa nabakwaNtuli, beseMafakathini

Names and relationship	Details	translations
uGasa isithakazelo: “Phingoshe! Nina enehla ngomzungulu wasale wabola!” uyise kaSolomon umyeni kaMaZwane	ungumlimi, ufuya izinkomo unolaka, untamolukhuni, unesibindi uyikhehla ungumhlukumezi (ekhasini 28/29) “akasatshiswa umebuzo wenyoka efile” ekhasini 33	he is a farmer, he raises cattle he is angry, conservative, and is rash / brave he is an old man he is an abuser (on page 28 / 29) “he is not frightened by the shed skin of a dead snake” on page 33
uNtuli isithakazelo: “Mphemba!” uyise kaJohn umyeni kaMaBhengu	uthulile, unelukuluku uyikhehla uthanda ukhamba lotshwala	he is chilled, he is curious he is an old man he likes the beer pot
uMaZwane isithakazelo: “Mangethe!” unina kaSolomon unkosikazi kaGasa	uvuna izitshalo emasimini uhlonipha indoda yakhe	she harvests crops in the fields she respects her husband
uMaBhengu isithakazelo: “Ngcolosi!” unina kaJohn unkosikazi kaNtuli

Second: abafana nezithandwa zabo

Names and Relationship	Details	translations
uSolomon wakwaGasa indodana kaGasa noMaZwane	uhlakaniphile, wathola umfundaze wokufunda phesheya. Baye eMelika, baphinde bavakashele iRashiya (ekhasini 32) uthanda ukwenza inhlolophenyo. uyisicwicwicwi (ekhasini 34)	he is clever, he got a bursary to study overseas. They went to America, and they also went to Russia he likes to do experiments. he is a bookworm (page 34)
uJohn wakwaNtuli indodana kaNtuli noMaBhengu	uhlakaniphile, wathola umfundaze wokufunda phesheya. Baye eMelika, baphinde bavakashele iRashiya (ekhasini 32) uthanda ukwenza inhlolophenyo. uyisicwicwicwi (ekhasini 34)	he is clever, he got a bursary to study overseas. They went to America, and they also went to Russia he likes to do experiments. he is a bookworm (page 34)
u-Amahle owayeyintombi kaSolomon ingodusi kaSabelo ubefundisana noBongiwe kwaNgcedaMhlophe High School	akanasimilo useyingodusi yomuntu, kodwa ngokusho kwakhe: “uSabelo akangifakile indandatho”	she doesn’t have a good character she is already betrothed to another, but in her words: “Sabelo didn’t put a ring on it”
uBongiwe owayeyintombi kaJohn ubefundisana no-Amahle kwaNgcedaMhlophe High School	unovalo / uhloniphekile uzama ukuxwayisa u-Amahle ngokukhohlisa uSabelo nangokujaha uSolomon: “unogwaja awugijimisi inja” “bayazi lapho basishiya khona, uma besidinga bayosithola khona futhi”	she is scared / respectful she tries to warn Amahle about deceiving Sabelo and chasing after Solomon: “the rabbit doesn’t get the dog to chase it” “they know where they left us, if they want us they will find us right there again”

Third: ithimba lobuchwepheshe basemkhathini / izingqwayingqwayi

Names and Relationship	Details	translations
uSolwazi Ainsley Cassius	ungumcwaningi ungusosayensi mude, uphakeme uyimpandla, ungengelezi ekhanda isifuba sakhe siqoqekile ngoba egumbini lakhe unezinsimbi zokukhanda umzimba	he is a researcher he is a scientist he is tall, lofty he is bald, has a shiny head his chest is buff because he has body-building weights in his room
uMaster Elphas Edward	ungusozinkanyezi unezinwele ezinde mfishane ngesiqu	he is an astronomer he has long hair he is short
uGeneral Danistus Otrostelli	ungunjiniyela ungumlawuli womkhumbimkhathi ungowaseNtaliyane unamadevu azinsansa unentshebe ende unembodlomane yezwi ubuso bushwaqile	he is an engineer he is the pilot of the spaceship he is from Italy he has curly moustaches he has a long beard he has a deep voice his face is hairy
u-Apollo 23 [u-Apollo wamashumi amabili nantathu]	ngumkhumbimkhathi kubizwa kanje ngoba kuzoba nabantu abamnyama ababili [2] nabantu abamhlophe abathathu [3]	it is the spaceship it is called this because there are two black people [2] and three white people [3]

Fourth: abasizayo, abaqhathayo nembangi (helpers, pests and the rival):

Names and Relationship	Details	translations
uSayitsheni Shezi	wesaba izinto ezingaziwa ucabanga ukuthi abafana bayizigebengu	he is scared of things he doesn’t understand he thinks that the boys are criminals
uScelo Mtolo	unelukuluku, efuna ukwazi ngezinto ezishaqisayo ngoba zingamdumisa futhi	he is curious, wanting to know surprising things because it will make him famous again
uSabelo	unesikhwele, uthukuthele ngoba u-Amahle uyamkhohlisa amlahle abuyele kuSolomon.	he is jealous, and angry because Amahle deceives him and dumps him and goes back to Solomon
Indoda yasemkhukhwini	uyinkabi, uthanda izidakamizwa nodlame.	he is a hitman, he likes drugs and violence

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G. Themes / iziNdikimba

The themes in this novel are a bit crazy – they range from Science to Infidelity! The following tables look at the themes a bit more closely.

Indikimba Theme	ivezwa kanjani? how is it shown?	translation
umhlaba ufile / uyafa	isihloko sendaba sithi ‘Umhlaba ofile’ – nguMhlaba, noma yiNyanga? ekhasini 26: “eminyakeni ezayo kulo mhlaba esikuwo, kuzobe kungasahlaleki kahle kuwona” “Masibe nomhlaba omusha!” ekhasini 38: “ukhona omunye umhlaba oyisipele esingasiza, esingathuthela kuwona”	the title of the book is ‘the dead world’ – is it the Earth, or is it the Moon? on page 26: “in the coming years on this planet on which we are, it will become uninhabitable” “Let us have a new world!” on page 38: “there is another world which is a ‘spare’ that can help us, to which we can move”
isayensi / inzululwazi	endabeni yonke kunezinkulumo ngodaba lwesayensi – phakathi kwabafana noyise babo; phakathi kwabafana nentatheli; nangaphakathi kwethimba lobuchwepheshe langaphesheya. isayensi libukeka sengathi lizosindisa abantu engozini yokuguquka kwesimo sezulu neyokufa komhlaba	in the whole novel there are conversations about the issue of science – between the boys and their fathers; between the boys and the reporter; and among the team of experts from overseas. science is seen as the thing that will save people from the danger of climate change and the death of the earth.
ukuphambana kwesikhathi samanje nesakudala / kwemfundo nempucuzeko nenkolo namasiko	kunezinkulumo phakathi kwabafana noyise babo, lapho kunokuphambana kwemibono. Oyise bacabanga ngendlela yakudala, kodwa abafana bacabanga ngendlela yesimanje. abafana bafundile, banempucuzeko – kodwa oyise abafundanga, balandela inkolo namasiko	there are conversations between the boys and their fathers, where there is a difference of opinions. The fathers think in the old way, and the sons think in the modern way. the boys are learned, and they are civilized – but the fathers did not study and they follow religion and traditions
ukuguquka kwesimo sezulu	ukuguquka kwesimo sezulu kuyingozi enkulu emhlabeni – imfuyo nezitshalo ziyafa ngenxa yesomiso, noma kunemvula neziphepho ezibulalayo	Climate Change is very dangerous for the Earth – livestock and crops die because of drought, or there is destructive rain and violent storms.

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Please comment and ask questions here. Injobo enhle ithungelwe ebandla – many viewpoints help to make this easier.