Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka A Powerful Analysis

Uncover the powerful message behind Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka. This thought-provoking poem exposes racial prejudice with wit and irony. This comprehensive guide breaks down the summary, themes, line-by-line explanation, word meanings, and Q&A. Plus, get extra practice questions and summaries in Hindi and Urdu to enhance your understanding. Dive in and uncover the deeper meaning of this timeless literary piece!

Summary of Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka is a sharp and ironic poem about racism. The speaker, an African man, is looking for a house to rent. He calls a landlady who seems fine with everything—until he tells her he is African. Then, silence.

When she speaks again, her tone changes. She does not ask about his character or background. Instead, she bluntly asks, “HOW DARK?” She repeats the question, trying to measure his skin tone as if it were a shade card. The speaker, both amused and insulted, plays along. He compares himself to chocolate—plain or milk. But the landlady does not understand.

He then describes his skin in a mocking way. He says his face is like a brunette, but his palms and soles are light. He even jokes that sitting has made his bottom darker. The conversation turns absurd. Finally, sensing her discomfort, he suggests she meet him in person to see for herself.

The poem exposes the casual racism hidden in everyday life. The speaker uses wit and sarcasm to show how ridiculous and hurtful such prejudice can be. The imagery—like the red telephone booth and the landlady’s lipstick-coated voice—adds to the tension.

This poem is part of Woven Words, a book for Class 11 Elective English. It is also included in NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Poetry.

Important Themes in Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

Racism and Prejudice in Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

The poem highlights the deep-rooted racism in society. The landlady does not reject the speaker outright but fixates on his skin colour. Her questions—“Are you dark? Or very light?”—reduce him to a mere shade, ignoring his humanity. The speaker’s sarcastic response exposes how people judge others based on race rather than character. The poem reveals the absurdity of such bias, showing how discrimination operates even in everyday interactions. This theme remains relevant, as racial prejudice still affects many individuals worldwide.

Irony and Satire in Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

Wole Soyinka uses irony to mock the landlady’s attitude. The speaker does not directly confront her racism but plays along, using exaggerated descriptions of his skin. His reply—“Palm of my hand, soles of my feet are peroxide blonde”—turns her obsession into something ridiculous. This satirical approach makes the poem both humorous and biting. It exposes the ignorance behind racist thinking. By making the situation absurd, the poem forces readers to see the stupidity of judging people based on skin colour.

Power and Social Hierarchy

The landlady holds power over the speaker because she owns the property. She assumes the right to judge him based on race. This reflects a larger social issue—how certain groups control opportunities while others must justify their identity. The speaker, though intelligent and witty, is still in a weaker position. He must navigate the conversation carefully, aware that his chances depend on the landlady’s biased views. The poem subtly critiques how race and class shape people’s lives.

Silence and Communication

Silence plays a key role in the poem. When the speaker reveals he is African, the landlady pauses. This “silenced transmission of pressurised good-breeding” shows her struggle to mask her racism. Her long pauses suggest discomfort, hesitation, and unspoken prejudice. The speaker also uses silence strategically, letting his words sink in before delivering his sarcastic replies. The breakdown of meaningful communication in the poem mirrors how racism prevents honest conversations and understanding between people.

Absurdity of Discrimination

The poem turns a simple house inquiry into a ridiculous exchange about skin tone. The speaker’s playful comparison of his complexion to chocolate mocks the landlady’s obsession with race. He describes his body in sections, as if it were a scientific experiment. This absurdity highlights the illogical nature of racism. By making prejudice seem foolish, the poem forces readers to question why such biases exist at all. The exaggeration in the poem makes an important point—racial discrimination has no rational basis.

Line by Line Explanation of Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

The price seemed reasonable, location indifferent. The landlady swore she lived off premises.

The speaker is looking for a place to rent. The rent seems fair, and the location does not matter much. The landlady assures him that she does not live in the same house, which might mean more privacy.

Nothing remained but self-confession. ‘Madam,’ I warned, ‘I hate a wasted journey—I am African.’

Before going further, the speaker decides to be honest. He tells the landlady that he is African, so there is no misunderstanding later. He does not want to travel there only to be rejected because of his race.

Silence. Silenced transmission of pressurised good-breeding.

There is a pause. The landlady does not respond immediately. The phrase “pressurised good-breeding” suggests that she is struggling to remain polite while hiding her true feelings.

Voice, when it came, lipstick-coated, long gold-rolled cigarette-holder pipped.

When she finally speaks, her voice sounds artificial, as if she is trying to appear refined. The mention of lipstick and cigarette-holder gives an image of a wealthy, upper-class woman.

Caught I was, foully. ‘HOW DARK ?’… I had not misheard… ‘ARE YOU LIGHT OR VERY DARK?’

The speaker feels trapped because of the direct and offensive question. The landlady does not ask about his background or personality. Instead, she wants to know his exact skin tone.

Button B. Button A. Stench of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak.

The speaker is in a telephone booth, where people insert coins to make calls. The stench suggests that it is unclean, reflecting the unpleasant nature of the conversation.

Red booth. Red pillar-box. Red double-tiered omnibus squelching tar. It was real!

The red imagery creates a strong visual of the British setting. The speaker suddenly realises that this is not a bad dream—it is real racism happening in real life.

Shamed by ill-mannered silence, surrender pushed dumbfounded to beg simplification.

The landlady’s silence is awkward and rude. The speaker feels forced to make things simpler for her, even though he should not have to.

Considerate she was, varying the emphasis—‘ARE YOU DARK? OR VERY LIGHT?’

The landlady repeats the question but changes her tone, as if trying to be more polite. However, the meaning remains the same—she wants to know just how dark he is.

Revelation came. ‘You mean—like plain or milk chocolate?’

The speaker finally understands. The landlady is treating his skin colour like a shade of chocolate—light or dark. He responds sarcastically, comparing himself to food.

Her assent was clinical, crushing in its light impersonality.

The landlady answers coldly, without emotion. Her response feels robotic, making the speaker feel small and unimportant.

Rapidly, wave-length adjusted, I chose. ‘West African sepia’—and as afterthought, “down in my passport.”

The speaker tries to play along with her way of thinking. He describes his skin tone using a specific term, West African sepia, as if it were a colour in a catalogue.

Silence for spectroscopic flight of fancy, till truthfulness changed her accent hard on the mouthpiece.

There is another silence. The landlady seems to be imagining what this sepia colour looks like. Then, when she realises she does not know, her voice becomes harsher.

‘WHAT’S THAT?’ conceding ‘DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.’

She admits that she does not understand the term. This shows her ignorance—she only thinks in simple labels like dark or light.

‘Like brunette.’ ‘THAT’S DARK, ISN’T IT?’

The speaker tries to explain by comparing his skin to a brunette (a person with brown hair). But the landlady still insists on categorising him as dark.

‘Not altogether. Facially, I am brunette, but madam, you should see the rest of me.

The speaker takes the conversation in a humorous direction. He says that his face is like a brunette, but the rest of his body is different.

Palm of my hand, soles of my feet are a peroxide blonde.

He jokingly claims that his palms and soles are blonde, as if he is a mix of different colours. This is true for many people with darker skin, but the way he says it makes it sound ridiculous.

Friction, caused—foolishly madam—by sitting down, has turned my bottom raven black—One moment madam!

He continues the joke, saying that sitting down has made his backside raven black. The exaggeration makes fun of the landlady’s obsession with skin tone.

Sensing her receiver rearing on the thunderclap about my ears—

The landlady is clearly uncomfortable now. The speaker can tell that she is about to end the call.

‘Madam,’ I pleaded, ‘wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?’

As a final response, the speaker sarcastically invites her to meet him in person. He knows that her obsession with skin tone is absurd, and he challenges her to judge him with her own eyes.

Words Meaning of Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

Below is a list of difficult words and expressions from the poem along with their simple meanings:

Word/Expression	Simple Meaning
Indifferent	Not caring or not having a strong opinion
Swore	Promised firmly
Self-confession	Admitting something about oneself
Silence	Complete quietness
Silenced transmission	A quiet reaction, as if words were blocked
Pressurised good-breeding	Forced politeness
Lipstick-coated	Having a voice that sounds elegant or fake
Gold-rolled cigarette-holder	A fancy tube used for holding cigarettes
Foully	In a bad or unfair way
Squelching	Making a wet, sucking sound
Ill-mannered silence	Rude pause in conversation
Dumbfounded	Completely shocked or speechless
Beg simplification	Ask to make something easier to understand
Varying the emphasis	Changing the way something is said
Revelation	A sudden realisation or discovery
Assent	Agreement or approval
Clinical	Cold and emotionless
Crushing	Making someone feel small or unimportant
Impersonality	Lacking human warmth or emotion
Wave-length adjusted	Changing the way of speaking to match someone
Spectroscopic flight of fancy	Imaginative thinking, as if examining colours
Conceding	Admitting something reluctantly
Friction	Rubbing that causes a reaction
Thunderclap	A loud noise or sudden shock
Rearing on the receiver	Pulling away from the phone, as if shocked
Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?	A sarcastic way of saying “Why don’t you meet me instead of asking silly questions?”

Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka Questions and Answers

Understanding the Poem

1. State the central issue in the poem. (Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka)

The poem highlights racial prejudice through a phone call between a landlady and an African man. The landlady’s obsession with the speaker’s skin colour shows deep-seated discrimination, revealing how racism exists even in everyday situations like renting a house.

2. There are intervals of silence in the interaction between the landlady and the prospective tenant. What are the reasons for this? (Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka)

The pauses reflect the landlady’s hesitation and discomfort. She struggles to respond politely while concealing her racism. The speaker also pauses, feeling shocked and insulted by her questions. The silences expose the tension and highlight the awkwardness of the situation.

3. How is colour highlighted in the poem and why? List all the words in the poem that suggest colour. (Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka)

Colour is central to the poem, representing racial discrimination. The speaker mocks the landlady’s obsession with shades of black by using sarcastic comparisons. Words that suggest colour include dark, very dark, light, sepia, brunette, blonde, raven black, red (booth, pillar-box, omnibus).

4. Which are the lines in the poem that impressed you the most and why? (Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka)

The lines “Palm of my hand, soles of my feet are a peroxide blonde” are striking. The speaker’s sarcasm turns the landlady’s racist question into a joke. By exaggerating his skin tone, he exposes the absurdity of categorising people based on colour.

5. You know what ‘hide-and-seek’ is. What would ‘hide-and-speak’ mean? (Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka)

Hide-and-speak refers to a conversation where people avoid direct honesty. The landlady hesitates, trying to sound polite while hiding her racism. The speaker, in turn, mocks her politely instead of directly confronting her prejudice.

6. Certain words in the poem are in capital letters—why? (Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka)

The capital letters indicate the landlady’s loud, sharp, and possibly impatient tone. They show her discomfort and urgency in knowing the speaker’s skin colour. It also emphasises how direct and offensive her questions are.

7. Why do you think that the poet has chosen the title ‘Telephone Conversation’? If you were to suggest another title for the poem, what would it be? (Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka)

The title highlights how racism can surface in everyday interactions. A simple phone call turns into an uncomfortable exchange about skin colour. A possible alternative title could be Shades of Prejudice or The Colour Question.

8. The power of poetry lies in suggestion and understatement. Discuss this with reference to the poem. (Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka)

The poem does not openly accuse the landlady of racism but reveals it through her words and tone. The speaker’s sarcasm makes the issue clear without direct statements. The pauses, indirect questions, and the exaggerated descriptions of skin tone all subtly highlight discrimination.

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Try This Out

1. Enact the conversation bits with your partner. (Write a sample script)

Landlady: Hello, who’s calling?
Speaker: Good afternoon, madam. I am calling about the room for rent. Is it still available?
Landlady: Yes, it is. May I ask—do you live nearby?
Speaker: No, but I’d like to check the place. Before that, I must tell you—I am African.
(Pause)
Landlady: Oh… How dark? Are you light or very dark?
Speaker: Like milk chocolate or plain chocolate?
Landlady: I mean, are you dark? Or very light?
Speaker: My face is brunette, my palms and soles are blonde, and my bottom is black from sitting too much!
Landlady: Click! (Hangs up)

2. Attempt a description of

a. The place from which the call was made
The speaker is in a red telephone booth on a busy street. The booth is old, possibly unclean, with the smell of public use. Nearby, a red pillar box stands, and a red double-decker bus moves along the road. The scene is distinctly British.

b. The lady at the other end
The landlady seems upper-class, possibly wearing lipstick and holding a cigarette holder. Her voice suggests she is well-mannered but also distant and judgemental. She is fixated on race, showing a cold and indifferent attitude towards the speaker.

c. The speaker in the poem
The speaker is an African man, well-educated and articulate. He responds to racism with sarcasm rather than anger. Though offended, he maintains his humour, exposing the absurdity of racial prejudice through exaggerated descriptions of his skin tone.

3. The poem evokes a mental picture of the scene. Draw a rough sketch to illustrate the episode.

(Since I can’t draw, imagine a red telephone booth with the speaker inside, holding the receiver. Outside, a street with a red pillar box and a passing bus. The landlady is unseen but imagined as a well-dressed woman with a cigarette holder.)

4. The poem ends with ‘Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?’. Imagine a personal encounter between the two people in the poem and write down the dialogue they might have had.

(The speaker knocks on the landlady’s door. She opens it, looking him up and down.)

Landlady: Oh! You are… darker than I expected.
Speaker: And you are exactly as I imagined—polite but unsure.
Landlady: (nervously) It’s just that… I prefer to know my tenants in advance.
Speaker: So, madam, is my complexion a problem?
Landlady: Well, I usually rent to… lighter tenants.
Speaker: Ah, I see. I hope your walls and furniture match your preferences.
Landlady: Hmm… Perhaps this isn’t the right place for you.
Speaker: Or perhaps, madam, this isn’t the right place for you. (Walks away.)

Extra Questions and Answers – Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka

1. How does the poet use irony in the poem? (Short Answer – 50-60 words)

The poet uses irony by making the speaker respond to racism with humour. Instead of directly confronting the landlady, he exaggerates his skin tone, saying his palms and soles are “peroxide blonde.” This mocks the absurdity of racial categorisation. The irony lies in how the landlady, despite her “good breeding,” openly exposes her prejudice.

2. What is the significance of the speaker’s final line: ‘Wouldn’t you rather see for yourself?’ (Long Answer – 160-180 words)

The final line is both a challenge and a sarcastic remark. Throughout the poem, the landlady fixates on the speaker’s skin colour, as if that alone defines him. The speaker, frustrated yet witty, suggests she see him in person rather than obsessing over shades of black. This statement exposes how absurd her concern is.

It also highlights the speaker’s intelligence and control. Rather than getting angry, he turns the conversation into a joke, putting the landlady in an awkward position. The line also suggests that racism often reduces people to appearances, ignoring their identity and character. By ending on this note, the poem leaves a lasting impact, making the reader reflect on racial bias in everyday life.

3. The poem is written as a dialogue. How does this style affect its impact? (Short Answer – 50-60 words)

The dialogue form makes the poem more engaging and realistic. It captures the tension, pauses, and emotions of a real conversation. The direct speech also highlights the landlady’s casual racism and the speaker’s wit. By using dialogue, Soyinka makes the situation more personal, forcing readers to experience the discomfort of racial prejudice firsthand.

4. What role does humour play in the poem? (Short Answer – 50-60 words)

Humour is used as a tool to expose racism. The speaker’s witty responses, like comparing his skin to chocolate or describing different body parts, mock the landlady’s obsession with colour. This humour does not lighten the issue but instead makes the discrimination more obvious. It also shows the speaker’s intelligence and ability to handle prejudice cleverly.

5. The poem presents a clash between two perspectives. What are they? (Short Answer – 50-60 words)

The poem contrasts the speaker’s perspective, which is humorous and intelligent, with the landlady’s, which is prejudiced and shallow. The speaker sees the world beyond race, while the landlady reduces identity to skin colour. This clash highlights societal racism, where one person is judged not by character but by complexion.

6. How does the setting contribute to the theme of the poem? (Short Answer – 50-60 words)

The poem is set in a telephone booth, which is small and confining, much like the experience of racial discrimination. The red colour of the booth, bus, and post box may symbolise frustration or alarm. The public setting contrasts with the private nature of the call, showing how racism is present even in everyday interactions.

7. Why does the speaker use scientific terms like ‘spectroscopic flight of fancy’ and ‘West African sepia’? (Short Answer – 50-60 words)

The speaker uses these terms sarcastically to mock the landlady’s obsession with skin tone. ‘Spectroscopic flight of fancy’ suggests that she is analysing his skin as if he were an object. ‘West African sepia’ sounds official, like a passport classification, highlighting how society labels people based on race rather than seeing them as individuals.

8. Why is the landlady’s voice described as ‘lipstick-coated’ and ‘long gold-rolled cigarette-holder pipped’? (Very Short Answer – 30-40 words)

These descriptions suggest sophistication and wealth. The landlady appears well-mannered, but her questions reveal her racism. The contrast between her refined voice and crude concerns highlights the hypocrisy of polite society, where discrimination exists beneath polished appearances.

9. What does the phrase ‘stench of rancid breath of public hide-and-speak’ suggest? (Very Short Answer – 30-40 words)

It suggests discomfort, dishonesty, and prejudice. The phrase implies that racism, like bad breath, is unpleasant and hard to escape. ‘Hide-and-speak’ means people hide their true prejudices behind seemingly polite words, exposing their discrimination indirectly.

10. Why do you think Soyinka chose to write this poem in free verse? (Short Answer – 50-60 words)

Free verse allows a natural, conversational tone, making the dialogue realistic. The irregular structure mirrors the pauses and interruptions in speech. It also reflects the unpredictable nature of discrimination—there is no fixed pattern to racism, just as there is no fixed rhythm in the poem.

Telephone Conversation Summary in Hindi

परिचय:
वोले सोयिंका की कविता Telephone Conversation नस्लीय भेदभाव पर कटाक्ष करती है। यह एक अफ्रीकी व्यक्ति और एक श्वेत मकान मालकिन के बीच की बातचीत को दर्शाती है। यह कविता नस्लीय पूर्वाग्रह को उजागर करने के लिए व्यंग्य और हास्य का उपयोग करती है।

सारांश:
कवि एक किराये के मकान की तलाश में है। उसे एक अच्छी जगह पर मकान मिलता है और मकान मालकिन बताती है कि वह वहीं नहीं रहती, जिससे उसे कोई परेशानी नहीं होगी। लेकिन जब कवि उसे बताता है कि वह अफ्रीकी है, तो बातचीत का स्वर बदल जाता है।

मालकिन कुछ देर तक चुप रहती है, फिर अचानक पूछती है—“तुम कितने काले हो?” यह सुनकर कवि को झटका लगता है, लेकिन वह व्यंग्यपूर्ण अंदाज़ में जवाब देता है। वह त्वचा के रंग को चॉकलेट और “वेस्ट अफ्रीकन सिपिया” कहकर समझाने की कोशिश करता है। मकान मालकिन को यह समझ नहीं आता, और वह फिर से पूछती है कि वह “डार्क” है या “लाइट”।

इसके बाद, कवि हास्य का सहारा लेते हुए कहता है कि उसके हाथ और पैर की हथेलियाँ हल्के रंग की हैं, लेकिन बैठने की वजह से उसका पिछला हिस्सा और भी काला हो गया है। यह सुनकर मकान मालकिन नाराज़ हो जाती है और फ़ोन काटने की तैयारी करती है। अंत में, कवि पूछता है—“मैडम, क्या आप खुद आकर देखना पसंद करेंगी?”

कविता का संदेश:
यह कविता नस्लीय भेदभाव की विडंबना को दर्शाती है। मकान मालकिन दिखावे में सुसंस्कृत लगती है, लेकिन उसके सवाल उसकी असली सोच को उजागर कर देते हैं। कवि की व्यंग्यपूर्ण भाषा इस भेदभाव का मज़ाक उड़ाती है और पाठकों को सोचने पर मजबूर कर देती है।

Telephone Conversation Summary in Urdu