A Dance of the Forests
by Wole Soyinka
About_
A Dance of the Forests is Wole Soyinka’s allegorical play in which spirits, gods, and the restless dead confront a
group of modern mortals during a festival meant to honor Nigeria’s ancestors. Through a journey between the
present and a brutal ancient court, the play questions whether the past truly offers a noble mirror for the present,
or whether history simply repeats its cruelties. This study guide walks students through each major movement of
the play, from the arrival of the Dead Man and Woman to the final Dance of the Unwilling Sacrifice. This study
guide contains 65 questions across 5 chapter sections (50 Factual + 15 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and
1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 5 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (50 total), 5 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (15 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 11-12, Introductory College
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to help students navigate the play’s dense symbolism and shifting timelines with confidence,
building both close-reading skills and deeper thematic discussion. The factual questions anchor comprehension
while the critical questions push students toward the play’s harder questions about guilt, history, and justice. We
hope it saves you preparation time while giving your students a rich, guided path through this challenging text.