Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom & A Tiger in the Zoo Vocabulary

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions derived from the text 'Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' and the poem 'A Tiger in the Zoo'.

Apartheid

A political system that separates people according to their race.

African National Congress (ANC)

The political party led by Nelson Mandela that won 252 of the 400 seats in South Africa’s first democratic elections.

Inauguration ceremony

The historic event that took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria on 10 May 1994.

Amphitheatre

A building without a roof, with many rows of seats rising in steps, typical of ancient Greece and Rome.

Besieged

To be surrounded closely by others, such as dignitaries and world leaders.

Confer

A formal word meaning to give, used in the context of giving glory and hope to newborn liberty.

Emancipation

Freedom from restriction.

Deprivation

The state of not having one’s rightful benefits.

Discrimination

The act of being treated differently or unfavourably.

Spectacular array

An impressive, colourful, and attractive display, such as the South African jets over the Union Buildings.

Chevron

A pattern in the shape of a V.

Despised

To have a very low opinion of something or someone.

Wrought

An old-fashioned, formal word meaning done or achieved.

Profound

Deep and strong, often used to describe hurt or wounds.

Resilience

The ability to deal with any kind of hardship and recover from its effects.

Transitory

Not permanent; used by Mandela to describe his childhood freedoms.

Illusion

Something that appears to be real but is not.

Curtailed

Reduced or restricted.

Prejudice

A strong dislike without any good reason.

Inclinations

Natural tendencies of behaviour.

Snarls

To make an angry, warning sound, as described in the poem regarding a tiger.