Class 11 English Civil Peace complete exercise and summary

Answer the following questions: [for 2 marks each]

1. Why did Jonathan think of himself as 'extraordinarily lucky'?
   Ans: Jonathan felt extraordinarily lucky because his family survived the war unhurt, which was rare given the conflict's brutality. His house remained intact while many others were destroyed. That he could still find small ways to earn and live peacefully made him feel fortunate. In a country ravaged by violence, simply surviving and maintaining some normalcy felt like a blessing beyond measure. His optimism set him apart in desperate times.


2. What are the ‘five blessings’ for which Jonathan is grateful?
   Ans: Jonathan’s five blessings include the survival of himself, his wife, and their three children. In a nation torn by civil war, where people lost homes and loved ones, having one’s family alive felt like divine favor. He did not take material possessions for granted but saw life itself as the ultimate gift. These blessings gave him strength and a reason to rebuild with hope despite chaos all around him.


3. Why did Jonathan mistrust the officer who wanted to take his bicycle? What does this tell you about the situation in Nigeria?
   Ans: Jonathan mistrusted the officer because bribery and corruption were rampant post-war. He feared the officer was exploiting authority for personal gain. His bicycle was essential for his livelihood, and losing it would mean economic ruin. This incident reveals how fragile law and order were in Nigeria. Even peace didn’t ensure fairness or justice—ordinary citizens had to guard their hard-earned possessions against officials meant to protect them.


4. What visitors might be at the door? Are Jonathan and his wife completely surprised? Explain.
   Ans: The visitors pounding at the door were armed thieves demanding money. Jonathan and his wife weren’t completely surprised—violence had become a constant presence since the war ended. People expected trouble at any hour. They knew danger lurked behind every knock, so they responded with caution, not shock. While still fearful, their subdued reaction reflected how normalized insecurity had become in the community, draining emotions into resilience.


5. Why does no one in the neighbourhood respond when the thieves pound on Jonathan’s door? Why do the thieves call for the police?
   Ans: No one responds because fear silenced the neighbourhood—people were afraid of retaliation. Calling the police seemed useless, as law enforcement was unreliable and sometimes absent. Ironically, the thieves call for the police mockingly, knowing they won't come. It was a cruel joke—a symbol of failed institutions. Their shout wasn't to invite justice, but to assert control, highlighting how criminals ruled while citizens lived in quiet dread.

Answer the following questions: [for 5 marks each]

1. What does Jonathan mean by his expression “Nothing puzzles God”? What does this expression reveal about his character? Explain by citing details from the story.
   Ans: The phrase “Nothing puzzles God” reflects Jonathan’s unwavering faith and acceptance of life’s unpredictability. When his house survives the war while many others are destroyed, he doesn’t question why—he simply believes it's God's will. This mindset reveals a man who finds comfort in spirituality rather than dwelling on misfortune. Throughout the story, Jonathan uses this expression as a way to cope with Nigeria's post-war chaos. Instead of indulging in bitterness, he moves forward with optimism. Whether it's starting anew by opening a bar or refusing to mourn stolen money, his repeated phrase acts like a mantra for resilience. Achebe shows us a man who refuses to be defeated by confusion or injustice. In believing that God understands even what he doesn’t, Jonathan maintains calm in a world that has lost its order. His faith becomes his armor, helping him rebuild, endure loss, and accept life’s twists without despair.


2. How does Jonathan change as he experiences the conflicts in his life? Explain.
   Ans: Jonathan adapts remarkably to the conflicts thrown at him during and after the Nigerian Civil War. Before the war, he likely lived with modest hope, but his transformation begins when survival becomes a privilege. The war strips away normalcy—yet it builds in him a kind of hardened optimism. After the conflict, rather than becoming resentful, Jonathan redefines his purpose. He opens a bar, rebuilds his life, and stays productive. He accepts the corruption and instability around him but doesn’t let it derail his peace. The biggest test comes when thieves steal his hard-earned twenty pounds. Rather than letting anger consume him, he says, “I count it as nothing.” This isn’t indifference, it’s his evolved form of endurance. Achebe shapes Jonathan into a symbol of post-conflict recovery: someone who doesn’t cling to what’s lost but rebuilds from what remains. His resilience isn’t, practical, grounded in faith and an instinct to survive.


3. Read the extract and answer the questions below.
   “To God who made me; if you come inside and find one hundred pounds, take it and shoot me and shoot my wife and children. I swear to God. The only money I have in this life is this twenty pounds egg-rasher they gave me today ...”
   1. Who is the speaker?
   2. Who is the speaker talking to?
   3. Who does “they” refer to?
   
   Ans:
   i. Jonathan Iwegbu is the speaker of this line.
   ii. Jonathan is talking directly to the thieves who break into his house at night and demand money.
   iii. “They” refers to the government officials or the authorities who gave Jonathan the twenty pounds as part of the ex-gratia payment scheme i.e. money meant to help citizens rebuild after the war.
   Jonathan’s desperate plea is deeply emotional. He’s trying to show that he’s an innocent man with nothing to hide. His offer to let the thieves search his house and even kill his family if they find more isn’t just dramatic; it shows the extremes to which ordinary people had to go to protect themselves under threat. It exposes the fragility of “peace” in Nigeria after the war, where lawlessness was the norm and honesty couldn’t guarantee safety.


4. Nigerian English has words like soja 'soldier' and katakata 'confusion', 'trouble' derived apparently from English words but transformed by native languages' phonologies. What does the author’s use of dialect here add to the story?
   Ans: Achebe’s use of Nigerian Pidgin and native phonology enriches Civil Peace with authenticity. Words like soja and katakata anchor the story in its cultural landscape, showing how language evolves during historical turmoil. These expressions aren’t just linguistic quirks—they reflect the lived experience of a population navigating colonial legacies, war trauma, and local identity. The dialect offers rhythm and color to Jonathan’s world, showing how characters communicate with humor, urgency, and subtle resistance. It also helps distinguish characters by class, region, and education, subtly commenting on social divides. Achebe’s choice to embed this local flavor doesn’t alienate the reader—it invites us in. We feel the rawness of post-war Nigeria through the way people speak and express emotion. The dialect adds texture and truth—it isn’t just a story told about Nigeria, it’s told from within. That shift deepens the impact and keeps the voice alive long after the final page.


5. Why do you think the thieves who come to rob Jonathan speak English with a heavier African accent than Jonathan does?
   Ans: The thieves’ heavier accent reflects differences in education, exposure, and social standing. Jonathan, though poor, seems to have had some formal education or at least regular contact with structured society. He conducts business, interacts with officials, and communicates clearly. In contrast, the thieves represent chaos—they are aggressive, anonymous, and function outside social norms. Their speech is jagged, intimidating, and mocking. By giving them a distinct linguistic tone, Achebe separates those trying to rebuild peace from those continuing the war unofficially. The accent also emphasizes fear—they sound foreign even in their own country, showing how fractured Nigeria has become. Language becomes symbolic: Jonathan’s more neutral English reflects structure and civility, while the thieves' accent suggests disruption and the loss of shared identity. It’s not about mocking dialect—it’s about how trauma reshapes voices, and how even language carries the weight of who people become after conflict.


6. The title of the story "Civil Peace" itself is ironical as there is little to differentiate ‘civil peace’ from ‘civil war’. Do you think that the title of this story is appropriate, or would “Civil War” have been a better title? Explain.
   Ans: “Civil Peace” is an ironic title, and that’s exactly why it’s powerful. On the surface, the story takes place after the civil war, when peace should return—but this “peace” is chaotic, corrupt, and unsafe. Achebe deliberately chooses this title to show that what followed the war wasn’t true peace—it was survival in a broken system. If the story had been called “Civil War,” it would only reflect the past conflict. But “Civil Peace” exposes a deeper tragedy: the idea that peace can be just as dangerous, just as unstable, as war itself. Thieves roaming freely, government inefficiency, and citizens fending for themselves—it’s peace in name only. This paradox forces the reader to think critically: is peace just the absence of war? Or is it something more? Achebe’s title challenges expectations, urging us to see that post-war realities often continue the conflict in quieter, more insidious forms.

Summary of Civil Peace [for 5 marks]

After the Nigerian Civil War, Jonathan Iwegbu considers himself lucky to have survived with his family and home intact. Though life is tough, he remains optimistic. He starts small businesses to support his family, including turning his damaged house into a bar and earning an ex-gratia payment of twenty pounds from the government. But one night, thieves arrive demanding the money. With no one responding to his cries for help, Jonathan calmly gives the thieves his twenty pounds. The next morning, he resumes life as usual, saying “I count it as nothing” and repeating his belief that “Nothing puzzles God.” The story highlights Jonathan’s resilience, faith, and practical attitude in rebuilding his life amid social chaos. Achebe uses irony to show that even during “peace,” ordinary citizens struggle with insecurity, corruption, and hardship. The title “Civil Peace” hints at the harsh reality that peace isn't always peaceful.