Beka Lamb by Zee Edgelle: at The Wake

Chapter 12:
At the Wake
Beka Lamb by Zee Edgelle
1
Summary:
 In chapter 12 basically Beka is exposed to

some of her culture as promised by her
mother in the previous chapters . Here it
integrates Beka into her culture with
reference to the death of her great
grandmother (great granny Straker).
2
Characters:
 Beka Lamb
 Bill Lamb
 Lilla Lamb
 Zandy Lamb
 Chuku Lamb
 Granny Ivy
 Uncle Curo
 Aunt Tama
 Miss Eila
 Miss Flo
 Miss Janie
 Miss Winny
 Mr. Phillip
3
Character sketch:
 LAMB FAMILY
Beside for the obvious of the Lamb family i.e.
there humble ways hence the name “Lamb”
we see there is a balance in terms of the
average Belizean family. We also realize that
great granny Straker had an enormous role to
play in the family’s life
4
Family tree:
5
Character sketch:
 UNCLE CURO
In the efforts to display a Caribbean setting Uncle
Curo appears drunk “a glass in his hand” telling
the children “brer” Anancy stories “brer” meaning
brother and some geographical reference when
the Sibun river used in the story. We were
introduced to Beka’s uncle in chapter 4 in
reference to Beka’s lying . He is Granny Ivy’s 2nd
son that works as a warder in His Majesty’s
Prison.
6
Character sketch:
 MR. PHILLIP
Mr. Phillip presence was to emphasize the beliefs of the
Caribbean which is people should be afraid of the dead
( Bill said “the mattress not even turn over yet.”
meaning in his eyes it was not “safe” to sleep on the bed
this also emphasizes the Caribbean stereotypes) “this
girl have bigger heart than we” i.e. she is much braver
than an average 14year old(which is another example of
how she is wiser than her years and has a tendency to
act more mature) Mr. Phillip was a civil servant at the
Customs House and was half Bill Lamb’s age
7
Character sketch:
 AUNT TAMA
She not only houses the wake but shows us the reader that
someone still has hope in Beka and thinks she is worth
something “aunt tama was always so encouraging and
thought Beka was gold” also we see the author trying to
portray Beka’s uniqueness “this is my grandniece ,my only
one”
 MISS FLORENCE (FLO)
She also emphasizes on the above point as well as emphasize
the norms of old Belize with the comfort of saying that her
granddaughter has three different children for three
different men
8
Reference characters:
 TOYCIE
Toycie is made reference to in the wake to
symbolize the expectations of the girls but the
irony in that is that Toycie is already pregnant as
we realize when Beka is in her great
grandmother’s room reminiscing on the past
events “she’s craving green mangoes and salt just
like they say pregnant ladies crave dirt” this simile
also adds to the dramatic irony. EMILIO was also
made mention of in relation to Toycie
9
Reference Characters:
 GREAT GRANNY STRAKER

Her death was the cause of this whole “get together”
and her comparison to Beka is to emphasize the
clash of the old ways to that of the new “her spirit
will live on in Beka” when Beka enters her great
grandmother’s room the first thing she noticed is
the Sacred Heart with blood dripping an the rosary
strung on it to emphasize the burden society has
on Beka as well as that anything is possible
through Jesus Christ who strengthens us
10
Conflict:
 Man vs. supernatural: Bill and Mr. Phillip’s

comments show us there is some what a
phobia of the supernatural
 Man vs. self: Beka had an intrapersonal
conflict we realize that she bears societies
burdens wit her interest in politics but in this
chapter we see that her love for Toycie has
her worrying about her well being as well as
her failing form two (2)
11
Mood:
 The mood of this chapter is:
 Sad : due to the death of a village elder/family
member
Reflective : when Beka’s mother lit the candle and
when Beka was in her great grandmother’s bedroom
Sober :when aunt tama breaks down crying
Lively :when the tempo of the wake “heats” up and
the adults begin to have fun
Care free: when Beka was leaving and she hears Miss
Flo’s voice above the rest
12
Setting:
 the major setting is Aunt Tama’s house; here

we visit great granny Straker’s bedroom, on
the front step, the parlor, the front yard, the
kitchen,
 Manioc road
 Outside Holy Redeemer Cathedral
 Rum lane
13
Literary devices:
 SIMILIE : aunt Tama’s body felt like the soft pudding Beka had
been eating……this is used to show the soft nature of aunt Tama
• Breasts hanging like hoops….to show her age
• Laughed like a dog choking…..
• Moving her stringy throat up and down, like a peeled neck
chicken
• Her face bumpy like pineapple skin….
• Craving green mango and salt just like they say pregnant ladies
crave dirt ……
 HYPERBOLE/PERSONIFICATION :blowing her nose with loud
honks….
 REPITITION: Whe fu do,…….show her distress
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Conclusion:
 At the end of this chapter we see Bill Lamb allows Beka to continue to go to school on
the claim that she passes the 2nd form
 According to A Handbook of Catholic Sacramentals, by Ann Ball (Our Sunday Visitor
Books), the practice of lighting candles in order to obtain some favor probably has its
origins in the custom of burning lights at the tombs of the martyrs in the catacombs.
The lights burned as a sign of solidarity with Christians still on earth. Because the lights
continually burned as a silent vigil, they became known as vigil lights.
Vigil Lights (from the Latin vigilia, which means "waiting" or "watching") are
traditionally accompanied by prayers of attention or waiting. Another common type of
candle offering is the votive light. Such an offering is indicative of seeking some favor
from the Lord or the saint before which the votive is placed.
Lighting a candle is a way of extending one's prayer and showing solidarity with the
person on whose behalf the prayer is offered.
Hence the reason for Lilla lighting the candle to symbolize hope in the darkness of life
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Presented by:
 DaeNia La Rodé
 Shallun McIntosh
Thank You!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 12:

Beka Lamb by Zee Edgelle

 In chapter 12 basically Beka is exposed to

 GREAT GRANNY STRAKER

 Man vs. supernatural: Bill and Mr. Phillip’s

 the major setting is Aunt Tama’s house; here

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