Telephone Conversation

by Wole Soyinka

PROSE PARAPHRASE – TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

The speaker telephones a landlady to enquire about renting a house. The rent seems reasonable and the location is acceptable. The landlady tells him that she does not live on the premises, so there should be no problem. Everything appears to be settled.

Before going to see the house, the speaker honestly informs her that he is African because he does not want to waste his time or hers by making an unnecessary journey. After hearing this, the landlady suddenly becomes silent. This silence is awkward and full of tension. It shows her hidden prejudice, though she pretends to be polite.

When she finally speaks, her voice sounds artificial and affected, as if she is a fashionable woman holding a cigarette. Then she shockingly asks, “How dark are you? Are you light or very dark?” The speaker is stunned and offended. He realizes that he has been trapped by her racism. The red telephone booth, the red postbox, and the red bus symbolize his anger and embarrassment.

Feeling humiliated by her rude silence, he asks her to explain what she means. Pretending to be polite, she repeats her question in a softer way. Then the speaker understands her intention clearly. He sarcastically asks whether she means “plain or milk chocolate,” comparing skin colour to chocolate shades.

Her voice becomes cold and scientific, showing complete lack of emotion. Adjusting himself to her tone, the speaker replies that he is “West African sepia,” meaning dark brown. He adds jokingly that this is written in his passport. The landlady remains silent again, trying to imagine the colour. Then she admits she does not understand what “sepia” means. He explains by saying it is like “brunette.” She responds eagerly that it must be dark.

The speaker humorously corrects her. He says that his face is dark, but the palms of his hands and the soles of his feet are very light. He further jokes that the part of his body that touches chairs has become extremely dark due to friction. This exaggerated description mocks her obsession with skin colour and exposes the absurdity of racism.

Realizing that she is about to hang up the phone in anger, the speaker politely stops her and asks if she would prefer to see him in person. The poem ends here, leaving the issue unresolved.

CENTRAL IDEA

The poem exposes:

Racial prejudice

Hypocrisy of polite society

Absurdity of judging people by colour

Soyinka uses humour and satire to strongly criticize racism.

CHARACTER SKETCH

Speaker

• Confident

• Intelligent

• Witty

• Dignified

• Handles racism with humour

• Courageous and self-respecting

Landlady

• Racist

• Hypocritical

• Pretends politeness

• Narrow-minded

• Judges by skin colour

• Represents society’s hidden prejudice

THEME-BASED NOTES

1. Racism

The poem exposes racial discrimination in everyday life.

2. Hypocrisy

Polite behaviour hides deep prejudice.

3. Power of Humour

Speaker uses satire to fight racism.

4. Human Dignity

Colour does not define character.

5. Social Criticism

Modern society still suffers from bias.

EXAM ANSWERS

Q1. Why does the speaker reveal his race early?

He wants to avoid humiliation and wasted journey.

Q2. What does the silence show?

Hidden racial prejudice.

Q3. How does humour help?

It mocks the absurdity of racism.

Q4. What is the message?

All humans deserve equal respect.

MCQs

1. The poem is about:

a) Love

b) Poverty

c) Racism

d) War

✔ c

2. The speaker is:

a) American

b) Asian

c) African

d) European

✔ c

3. Landlady asks about:

a) Rent

b) Job

c) Skin colour

d) Family

✔ c

4. “West African sepia” means:

a) White

b) Light brown

c) Dark brown

d) Yellow

✔ c

5. Tone of poem:

a) Romantic

b) Angry

c) Humorous & satirical

d) Sad

✔ c

6. Red colour suggests:

a) Love

b) Celebration

c) Shame & anger

d) Peace

✔ c

7. Landlady represents:

a) Modern women

b) Racial prejudice

c) Rich class

d) Old age

✔ b

8. Final line shows:

a) Fear

b) Sarcasm

c) Anger

d) Respect

✔ b

QUICK REVISION

✔ Theme – Racism

✔ Tone – Satirical

✔ Technique – Irony + humour

✔ Message – Equality

SUMMARY – TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

The poem describes a telephone conversation between an African man and a white landlady in England. The speaker calls to enquire about renting a house. At first, everything seems satisfactory. The rent is reasonable, the location is acceptable, and the landlady says she does not live on the premises. There appears to be no problem.

However, before visiting the house, the speaker honestly tells her that he is African because he does not want to waste time. As soon as she hears this, the landlady becomes silent. This silence reveals her hidden racial prejudice, although she pretends to be polite.

When she finally speaks, she shockingly asks, “How dark are you?” and wants to know whether he is light-skinned or very dark. The speaker is shocked and feels humiliated. He realizes that he has been trapped by racism disguised as good manners.

Instead of reacting angrily, the speaker uses humour and sarcasm. He compares skin colour to chocolate and calls himself “West African sepia.” When the landlady does not understand, he explains further. He jokingly describes different parts of his body in different colours, exposing the absurdity of judging a person by skin tone.

As the landlady becomes irritated and is about to hang up, the speaker politely stops her and asks if she would rather see him in person. The poem ends without resolution, highlighting how deeply racism exists in society.

CENTRAL IDEA

The poem criticizes:

✔ Racial discrimination

✔ Hypocrisy of polite society

✔ Judging people by colour

Soyinka shows that racism can exist even among educated and well-mannered people.

HOTS QUESTIONS

Why does the poet choose a telephone conversation instead of a face-to-face meeting?

Hint: Think about anonymity, distance, and hidden prejudice.

How does humour become a weapon against racism in the poem?

Explain with reference to the chocolate comparison and body-colour description.

Do you think the landlady is more dangerous than openly racist people? Why?

Focus: Polite racism vs open hatred.

If the speaker had reacted angrily instead of humorously, how would the impact of the poem change?

What does the red imagery (booth, bus, pillar-box) symbolize psychologically?

How does the poet expose the gap between words and intentions in society?

Why does the speaker remain polite till the end despite being insulted?

What value does this show?

Can discrimination exist in educated societies? Justify your answer using the poem.

How does the poem challenge stereotypes about Africans?

What life skills can students learn from the speaker’s response to racism?

ASSERTION–REASON QUESTIONS

(Choose the correct option)

a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A

c) A is true but R is false

d) A is false but R is true

A: The landlady becomes silent after hearing the word “African.”

R: She is shocked because of her racial prejudice.

✔ Answer: a

A: The speaker uses humour while describing his skin colour.

R: He wants to insult the landlady personally.

✔ Answer: b

A: The poem criticizes polite society.

R: Politeness is often used to hide discrimination.

✔ Answer: a

A: The speaker compares skin colour to chocolate.

R: He wants to advertise chocolate brands.

✔ Answer: c

A: The landlady appears polite but is actually racist.

R: She judges the speaker only by his skin colour.

✔ Answer: a

A: The red imagery reflects the speaker’s emotional state.

R: Red colour symbolizes anger and shame.

✔ Answer: a

A: The poem supports racial discrimination.

R: It shows Africans as inferior.

✔ Answer: d

A: The speaker finally asks the landlady to meet him.

R: He believes face-to-face interaction can break prejudice.

✔ Answer: a

A: The tone of the poem is humorous.

R: Humour makes social criticism stronger.

✔ Answer: a

10.

A: The poem promotes human equality.

R: All humans deserve respect regardless of colour.

✔ Answer: a

EXAM TIP

HOTS answers should include:

✔ Reasoning

✔ Personal judgement

✔ Reference to the text

Why does Soyinka use racism in this poem?

Soyinka uses racism because:

1. It was a real social problem

When Soyinka lived and studied in England, Africans often faced:

Housing discrimination

Racial insults

Social exclusion

The poem mirrors these everyday humiliations.

2. He experienced racism personally

Wole Soyinka:

Studied in London

Lived among white Europeans

Faced racial prejudice in daily life

Situations like:

Being refused houses

Being judged by skin colour

Polite but discriminatory behaviour

The telephone scene is realistic, not fictional.

3. He wanted to expose polite racism

Soyinka does NOT show violent racism.

Instead, he exposes:

Hidden prejudice

Racism behind good manners

The landlady is:

Well-spoken

Polite

Yet deeply racist

This reflects colonial mentality.

4. He believed in human equality

Soyinka strongly opposed:

Colonialism

Racial superiority

Cultural arrogance

Through this poem, he teaches:

Judging people by colour is foolish and inhuman.

Subjective element (Autobiographical influence)

Yes, the poem contains subjective (personal) elements:

Poem Element Real Life Connection

Speaker is African Soyinka is Nigerian

Living in Europe Soyinka lived in England

Housing discrimination Common experience of Africans

Use of humour Soyinka’s personal style

Calm dignity Soyinka’s own personality

The poem reflects his own voice.

Why he uses humour instead of anger

Soyinka:

Was highly educated

Preferred intellectual resistance

Used satire to:

Expose stupidity

Avoid violence

Make readers think

Final Answer (Exam-ready)

Soyinka uses racism in Telephone Conversation because it was a real experience in his life. As an African living in England, he faced discrimination in housing and social interactions. The poem reflects this personal experience. He exposes the hypocrisy of polite society where racism hides behind good manners. By using humour and satire, Soyinka criticizes racial prejudice effectively. Thus, the poem has a strong subjective and autobiographical element.

Key Line for Exams

✔ The poem is rooted in Soyinka’s personal experience of racial discrimination in England.

Question:

Why does Wole Soyinka use racism as the central theme in the poem “Telephone Conversation”? Is this theme connected to his personal life?

Answer:

Wole Soyinka uses racism as the central theme of Telephone Conversation because it reflects a real social problem that he personally experienced. When Soyinka lived and studied in England, Africans often faced discrimination in daily life, especially in matters like housing. The situation shown in the poem—where a landlady judges the speaker solely by skin colour—is a realistic portrayal of such experiences.

The poem has a strong subjective and autobiographical element. Like the speaker, Soyinka himself is African and lived in a European society where polite behaviour often concealed racial prejudice. Through this poem, he exposes “polite racism”—discrimination hidden behind good manners.

Instead of reacting with anger, Soyinka uses humour and satire to highlight the absurdity of judging people by colour. This approach makes his criticism more effective and thought-provoking. Thus, the poem is not just a social comment but also a reflection of Soyinka’s personal encounters with racism.

Conclusion:

Soyinka uses racism in the poem because it was part of his lived reality. The poem combines personal experience with social criticism to promote human equality and dignity.

Describe the Poetic Craft of Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka’s poetic craft is marked by intellectual depth, social commitment, and cultural richness. He uses poetry not merely as an artistic exercise but as a powerful medium of protest and moral reflection. His craft reflects a unique fusion of African tradition and Western literary forms.

1. Social Commitment

Soyinka’s poetry strongly engages with social and political realities. He writes about:

Racism

Colonial oppression

Political tyranny

Human suffering

In poems like Telephone Conversation, he exposes social hypocrisy and racial prejudice. His poetic craft shows his belief that poetry must respond to social injustice.

2. Use of Satire and Irony

A distinctive feature of Soyinka’s poetic craft is his mastery of satire. He uses:

Irony

Humour

Sarcasm

to criticize society. Instead of open anger, he prefers intellectual mockery. This makes his criticism sharper and more memorable.

3. African Cultural Influence

Soyinka’s poetry is deeply rooted in African (especially Yoruba) culture. He uses:

Indigenous myths

Rituals

Tribal symbols

Oral traditions

These elements give his poetry a strong African identity while addressing universal human issues.

4. Complex Language and Imagery

His language is often:

Dense

Symbolic

Allusive

He challenges readers to think deeply. His metaphors and images are intellectually demanding, reflecting his belief that poetry should stimulate thought.

5. Fusion of Traditions

Soyinka skillfully blends:

Western literary techniques

Classical myths

with

African folklore

Traditional rhythms

This fusion creates a unique cross-cultural style.

6. Moral Responsibility of the Poet

Soyinka believes the poet must act as:

Society’s conscience

Voice of the oppressed

Critic of injustice

His poetic craft reflects moral courage and responsibility.

7. Strong Personal Voice

Many of his poems carry:

Autobiographical elements

Direct personal involvement

This makes his poetry authentic and emotionally powerful.

Conclusion

The poetic craft of Wole Soyinka is characterized by:

✔ Social awareness

✔ Satirical brilliance

✔ Cultural depth

✔ Intellectual complexity

✔ Moral purpose

Through his poetry, Soyinka transforms literature into a tool for social change. His craft stands as a blend of art and activism, making him one of the most powerful voices in modern African literature.