Vanity (Birago Diop): JAMB Literature in English Questions, Answers & Notes

What Vanity (Birago Diop) covers in the JAMB Literature in English syllabus

'Vanity' is a poem by the Senegalese poet Birago Diop, and a set poem on the current JAMB list. Its central concern is the futility and emptiness of human life and striving. The poem repeatedly questions whether the cries, laments and words of the living and suffering will ever be heard or heeded, and it reflects on mortality and the living's inattention to the voices and wisdom of the dead (the ancestors). Its tone is reflective, melancholic and sombre, and its lesson is the transience and ultimate vanity of earthly life. (In keeping with copyright, this pack tests the poem's poet, themes and tone rather than reproducing its lines.)

For Vanity (Birago Diop), JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Recall the poet (Birago Diop) and the theme of life's vanity
• Explain the concern with being unheard and with mortality/ancestors
• Identify the sombre, reflective tone

Key facts & revision notes: Vanity (Birago Diop)

These are the recurring points our Vanity (Birago Diop) questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• 'Vanity' is a poem by the Senegalese poet Birago Diop.
• The poem meditates on the vanity, futility and emptiness of human life and striving.
• The poet questions whether the cries, laments and words of the living/suffering will ever be heard or heeded.
• The poem reflects on mortality and the living's inattention to the voices and wisdom of the dead/ancestors.
• The tone is reflective, melancholic and sombre, in keeping with its meditation on life's vanity.
• The poem's lesson is the transience and ultimate vanity of earthly life and human striving.

Worked examples

Three Vanity (Birago Diop) questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How Vanity (Birago Diop) is tested in JAMB Literature in English

Our Vanity (Birago Diop) bank holds 6 questions (4 medium, 2 hard). JAMB Literature in English typically returns to Vanity (Birago Diop) year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer Vanity (Birago Diop) questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on Vanity (Birago Diop). If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one Literature in English item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at Vanity (Birago Diop) is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in Vanity (Birago Diop)

The errors that cost marks on Vanity (Birago Diop) are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise Vanity (Birago Diop) actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is Vanity (Birago Diop) part of the JAMB Literature in English syllabus?

Yes. Vanity (Birago Diop) is a recognised topic in the JAMB Literature in English syllabus, covering recall the poet (Birago Diop) and the theme of life's vanity. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many Vanity (Birago Diop) questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 6 original, JAMB-standard Vanity (Birago Diop) questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about Vanity (Birago Diop)?

'Vanity' is a poem by the Senegalese poet Birago Diop, and a set poem on the current JAMB list. Its central concern is the futility and emptiness of human life and striving. The poem repeatedly questions whether the cries, laments and words of the living and suffering will ever be heard or heeded, a…

How do I answer Vanity (Birago Diop) questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for Vanity (Birago Diop). Practising timed Vanity (Birago Diop) questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB Literature in English Vanity (Birago Diop) questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise Vanity (Birago Diop) questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start Vanity (Birago Diop) practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME Literature in English syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.