On Roger Mais

1. Biography of Roger Mais
Roger Mais, born August 11 1905 and died June 21 1955 in Kingston, was a Jamaican journalist, novelist, poet and playwright. By 1951, Mais had won ten (10) first prizes in West Indian literary competitions. His integral role in the development of political and cultural nationalism is evidenced in his being awarded the high honor of the Order of Jamaica in 1978. He wrote several plays, reviews and short stories for the newspapers "Focus" and the "Jamaica Daily Gleaner".
In 1944, he was incarnated for six (6) months in the Spanish Town Penitentiary when he wrote the anti-British satirical tirade "Now we know" criticizing the British colonial rule. While imprisoned he wrote his first novel "The Hills were Joyful Together" in 1953. He went to London, Paris and France to fulfill himself in art. As a result, his own artwork appeared on the cover of his novels. Soon after his first novel was published, his second novel "Brother Man" was published in 1954. His final novel was published a year after "Brother Man". This was called " Black Lightning".
In 1955, Mais returned to Jamaica after falling ill with cancer and eventually died the same year at age 50.

2.How do critics feel about the novel "Brother Man"?
Most critics agree that "Brother Man" is a very interesting novel. They are all of the fact that Mais' view of Ratsafarianism, even in the times that they were seen as being a secret "cult", was one that started out singers like Bob Marley and other Rasta singers on their way of fame. Because of Mais' view also, Rastas have come to gain that respect that the characters in his novel "Brother Man" wanted and eventually got even today in Jamaica.

3. The religious aspects in regards to Rastafarianism
The religious aspect of Rastafarianism is a monotheistic movement that arose in a Christian culture in Jamaica in the 1930's. They worship Haile Selassie, a former emperor to Ethiopia. It is a highly organised religion. However some may say that it is not a "religion" but the "way of life". They eat limited types of meat, they do not eat shellfish or pork. Their approved food is called ital.
Persons are no longer skeptical about the Rastas  because it has become a norm in society.

Definition of terms

Novel- A book-length fictional prose narrative
Novella- A short prose narrative
Short Story- A brief fictional narrative prose
Narrative techniques- The methods involved in telling a story
Point of view- The relationship between the narrator or the story teller to the story
Characterization- The methods of a writer used to reveal the personality of a character
Setting- The time and place in which the events of a story, novel or play occur
Theme- The central message of a story, poem, novel or play that readers can apply to life
Plot- A sequence of events in a narrative work
Style- The authors choice and arrangements of words or sentences in a literary work
Imagery- The "word pictures" that writers create to to help evoke an emotional response
Symbol- Object, person, place or experience that means more than what it is
Irony- A contrast or discrepancy between appearance and reality or between what is expected and what happens
Satire-  Writing that exposes and ridicules the vices or folicies of people or society
Allusion- A reference in a work of literature to a character, place or situation from history or from another work of literature, music or art
Stream of consciousness- The attempt to convey all the content of a characters mind, memory, sense, perception, feelings, intuitions, thoughts in relation to the stream of experience as it passes by often at random
Interior monologue- An attempt to convey in words the process of consciousness or thought
Flash back- An account of an event that happened before the story began
Foreshadowing- The use of clues by the author to prepare readers for events that will happen later in the story
Time frame- A given interval of time especially in relation to a particular event or process
Motif- A significant word, description, idea or image that is repeated throughout a literary work and is related to its theme
Literary content- The historical and tropical information surrounding a specified point in a literary work
Social- Of having to do with human beings living together as a group in a situation which their dealings with one another affect their common welfare 
Historical- Of or is concerned with history or science
Religious-  Characterized by adherence to a religion
Ethnic- Designating or of a population subgroup having a common cultural heritage as distinguished by customs characteristics, language common history
Moral- A practical lesson about right and wrong conduct
Intellectual- The ability to reason or understand or to perceive relationship 
Cultural- The training and refinement of intellect, tastes, skills and art.