This article contains the summary, questions and answers and literary devices of The Generous Hunter by Kaakyire Akosombo Nyantakyi.

What is the story about?

This short story narrates the adventures of a kind hearted hunter called Asempa and how he was able to redeem his image after some individuals tried to destroy his reputation out of greed and jealousy.

A detailed summary

The hunter, Asempa had built a good name in Bobrapa village even though he was a stranger in the village. He came from a nearby village called Kekako to sell bush meat to the market women of Bobrapa.

His kindness and honesty had attracted the Chief of the village, Odeneho Nyansafo. One market day Odeneho Nyansafo called Asempa and asked him if he would be interested in staying in their village because he liked him.

Asempa accepted the offer and chose to settle near the thick forest.

The Rise of Asempa

Asempa’s secret was that he could communicate with animals but he never told anybody.

One day, he showed kindness to a rat and a snake by setting them free from his trap.

To show appreciation, the snake showed Asempa a leaf that could save anyone from a snake bite once it was mixed with the blood of a slanderer.

The rat’s brother in appreciation also gave Asempa a treasure of pure gold and told him to let it remain a secret. From that day, Asempa became a wealthy man but he never gave up on hunting and being kind.

He helped the poor and even built a community social center for the village.

The Fall of Asempa

Every thing went wrong for Asempa when he was called to the Chief’s palace one day to answer questions regarding the whereabouts of some missing gold bars.

Asempa was a suspect because the palace attendant, Kokotako, had told the council of elders that Asempa used to visit the palace at odd times.

When the source of Asempa’s wealth was questioned, he could not give a convincing answer. The Gyasehene, the place property overseer, was particularly bent on making Asempa look bad in the eyes of the elders by bombarding him with questions.

After investigations, Asempa was found guilty of stealing and was to be hanged for his crime.

The Redemption of Asempa

Just as Asempa was was about to be hanged, there was an emergency that the princess, Nana Yaa Bagyina had been bitten by a snake and had died.

Asempa, upon hearing this claimed he could save the princess if given the chance because she was just in coma. After initial hesitation, Asempa was allowed to go into the forest alone to bring the leaf the snake had previously shown him.

To mix the leaf with the blood of a slanderer, the queen mother pointed out Kokotako as a suitable option.

Asempa treated the princess and waited for the good news. He then told the whole truth about his source of wealth and and the story behind the cure for the snake bite.

His story became even more believable when the princess finally woke up from her coma.

After this, Kokotako revealed that, it was the Gyaasehene who told him to lie about Asempa because he didn’t like him.Everyone came to the realisation that it was Gyaasehene who plotted the downfall of Asempa.

Finally the Chief made his final judgment on the whole issue. In the end, Kokotako and Gyaasehene were to be hanged for their crime while Asempa was to be given the position of the Gyaasehene.

Asempa was to be given the privilege of marrying the chief’s daughter, Princess Nana Yaa Bagyina.

Themes in the Short Story

1. It pays to show kindness to others: The source of Asempa’s wealth was because of the kindness he showed to the rat and the snake.

2. A good name is better than riches: Even though Asempa was a stranger in the land of Bobrapa his good deeds earned him a great position as a Gyaasehene in the end.

3. What you sow is what you reap: Gyaasehene’s plan to soil the good name of Asempa backfired. He lost his position and reputation because his heart was full of hatred for an innocent man.

Setting of the Story

The setting of the story is Bobrapa.

Point of view

Third person narrative.

Some Literary devices in the short story

Simile

1. By all standards, they lived their lives as if they knew the Ten commandments that God gave to Moses.

2. Others felt it was Impossible for such a good-natured person like Asempa the hunter to become a criminal overnight.

3. Asempa held out his arm towards the princess and she softly fell into them like a child.

Personification

1. Situations like that usually take care of themselves.

Imagery

1. He was a tall, square-shouldered man with bushy hair. He was dark in complexion, and his eyebrows and mustache were well trimmed.

Alliteration

1. Good God!

2. I became rich just by being kind to somebody somewhere.

3. She didn’t believe he had a hand in the robbery.

Repetition

1. Make you sleep well-well.

2. “We must go with him!” “We must go with him!”

3. “Marry her!” “Marry her!” “Marry her!”

4. “Both must hang!” both must hang!” “both must hang!”

Oxymoron

1. A loud silence suddenly enveloped the entire gathering.

Metaphor

1. …but if she looked at you, you would find yourself deeply drawn by her magnetic eyes.

2. “Since the hunter has declared himself, we should let sleeping dogs lie”

3. The Gyaasehene got up but could not deny and a drench of shame was all over him.

Proverb

1. Odeneho Nyansafo and his Counsel of Elders cannot allow a common handshake to extend beyond the elbow.

Rhetorical question

1. “How can someone who is about to be hanged be allowed to go to the forest without an escort?”

2. Why don’t you give him the benefit of the doubt?

Hyperbole

1. I will be back in no time.

Onomatopoeia

1. Some giggled with delight and others clapped for them.

Some Questions and Answers on the story

1. What special gift did Asempa have?

Ans: He could communicate with animals.

2. Which three animals did Asempa encounter in the story?

Ans: The rat, snake and the rat’s brother.

3. Mention some characteristics of Asempa.

Ans: humble, honest and kind.

4. How did Asempa become rich?

Ans: He became rich when the rat’s brother gave him gold for his kindness.

5. In the end, Asempa ordered for the killing of the Gyaasehene and married the queen. True/False

Ans: False

6. Why was Asempa sentenced to death by hanging?

Ans: He was sentenced to death because he was framed for theft.

7. Which people were gathered for the final sentence of Asempa?

Ans: The people of Bobrapa

8. Who is your favourite character and why?

Ans: Asempa. Because in spite of all the ups and downs he went through, he remained humble throughout.

9. Who was Kokotako and what was his character?

Ans: He was the palace attendant and his character was that of a slanderer.

10. What almost killed the princess?

Ans: A snake bite.

11. “A loud silence suddenly enveloped the entire gathering”: What literary devices can be identified in this statement?

Ans: Oxymoron

12. What was the name of the princess in the story?

Ans: Princess Nana Yaa Bagyina.

13. How did the people of Bobrapa live their lives?

Ans: They lived their lives as if they knew the ten commandments that God gave to Moses.

14. Do you consider Odeneho a wise chief and why?

Ans: Yes. Because he was attentive to the needs of his people.

15. What showed that Princess Nana Yaa Bagyina had agreed to marry Asempa?

Ans: The princess approved of the marriage when she fell into Asempa’s arms.

Conclusion

This short story in the Cockcrow has one of the best happy endings. Jealousy and hatred indeed is not good for the society. People can hate you for no absolute reason so one must be careful of their fellow humans.

Asempa, an innocent man was nearly killed because of false accusations.

What is more commendable about Asempa is that, even in the face of death, he remained humble and truthful.

Thank you for reading this article to the end.