A STYLISTIC CRITICISM OF WOLE SOYINKA'S PROSE
A STYLISTIC CRITICISM OF WOLE SOYINKA'S PROSE
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Date
1991-09
Authors
UFOT, BASSEY
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
This research utilizes a stylistic critical method
to examine the use of the English language in Wole Soyinka's
prose works, The Interpreters, Season of Anomy, Ake and
; The Man Died. The aim is to show, by means of a systematic
and comprehensive description of the four prose works, that,
contrary to criticisms of the lack of vision and commitment
often levelled against Soyinka, his works display a consistency
of visionary and committed themes realized by a revolutionary
style. The study examines some of the charges of obscure and
inaccessible diction. It demonstrates that although Soyinka's
riddles and sometimes iconoclastic literary style may often
tax the reader's intellect and require him to possess a certain
amount of ingenuity necessary for proper appreciation, criticisms
of obscurity and difficulty are most often exaggerated
and so invalid.
Chapter one is in two parts. The first part attempts
a general overview of the status of the English language
in the world, showing its prospects and limitations. It also
examines the debate on whether or not the English language
is capable of properly expressing the African world view
and so be in a position to enhance creativity. It goes on
to discuss some of the definitions of style and stylistics
and to show what stylistics can contribute to the criticism
of African literature. Chapter one also distinguishes stylistic
criticism from literary criticism on the one hand, and from
linguistic criticism on the other. It demonstrates that a
purely linguistic or a purely literary critical approach to
African literature is inadequate and concludes that, since
matters of linguistic format are closely related to content
in African literature, a synthesis of both approaches makes
for a more acceptable criticism of literature. The second
part addresses the statement of the problem that the study
hopes to solve. The second part also contains a definition
of the critical and stylistic terms used in the research.
In chapter two, the thesis reviews literature on
Soyinka's use of language within the context of what hasbeen
written about the language question in African literature.
Chapter two also contains a review of literature on
stylistics as a critical discipline and on Wole Soyinka's
prose works. The chapter demonstrates that many of these
opinions are either invalid or inexhaustive because they are
restricted to one aspect or the other of Soyinka's works.
Chapter three appraises in detail the thematic, grammatical,
linguistic and aesthetic aspects of the fictional
works, The Interpreters and Season of Anomy.
In chapter four, the study carries out a similar detailed
appraisal of the thematic, grammatical, linguistic and aesthetic
features on the autobiographical works, Ake and The
Man Died
Chapter five summarizes the major arguments of the
study and draws conclusions.
Description
Department of English
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria.
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Keywords
STYLISTIC CRITICISM,, WOLE SOYINKA'S PROSE,