RAL NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: A FORMALIST STUDY OF AKACHI ADIMORA-EZEIGBO’S SELECTED WORKS
RAL NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE: A FORMALIST STUDY OF AKACHI ADIMORA-EZEIGBO’S SELECTED WORKS
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Date
2021-04
Authors
JOSHUA, Josephine
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Abstract
Most critical investigation carried out on Nigerian Children‟s Literature have either focused on
the linguistic elements and thematic interpretation or the identification of structural motifs of the
text. However, this dissertation examinesthe elements of oral narrative techniques in selected
Nigerian Children‟s Literature, with special focus on Akachi Ezeigbo‟s children‟s narratives to
demonstrate the extent to which and to what purpose they have been used in the texts. The
research adopts the Formalist literary theory as its tool of analysis with the aim to investigate the
effects of the supernatural, the magical, the talking animals and journey quest as fundamental
elements of narrative techniques in Akachi‟s Asa and the Little Stream (2004), The Adventure of
Anum the Tortoise (2006), Whisker the Brave Cat (2005), Snake Child and Star Baby (2005),
Ezezemale and the Tree Spirits (2006), Red One and the Wizard of Mula (2005) and Fire from
the Holy Mountain (2007). The work also adopts the qualitative research methodology in which
non-statistical mode of data collection and analysis is applied, thereby relying on books, journal
articles, library materials and internet sources. The study argues that the supernatural, the
magical, talking animals, and journey quest are all elements of oral narrative techniques
deployed in children‟s texts to achieve thematic, didactic, structural, and aesthetic purpose(s), not
only in Nigerian children‟s narratives but also in all other forms of literary works. Thus, the
research finds that the supernatural, magical, talking animals and journey quest are oral narrative techniques deployed in texts under study.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS
(M.A.) IN ENGLISH LITERATURE
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH AND LITERARY STUDIES,
FACULTY OF ARTS,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
RAL NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES,, NIGERIAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE,, FORMALIST STUDY,, AKACHI ADIMORA-EZEIGBO’S SELECTED WORKS.