Literature Works Of Chinua Achebes English Literature Essay

Literature Works Of Chinua Achebes English Literature Essay The literary works of Chinua Achebe basically revolve around issues touching directly or indirectly on cultural traditions, effects of colonization and internal conflicts existing among contemporary Africans. The combination of these and other related elements makes it practically impossible for a given audience to have a good understanding of such elements. It is from this domain that Chinua Achebe tries to innovatively incorporate elements derived from the Igbo society in his writings so as to enable his audiences get a clear image of the subject content. In the analysis of Chinuas literary works, this paper shall explore various issues defining his writing style, common themes in his writings, and possible factors influencing his writings. Introduction Analyzing Chinua Achebes Literature Works The objective of this research paper is to analyze the various literary works of Chinua Achebe and fully investigate the themes, writing styles and possible factors influencing his capability as an individual to write quality arts of literature. The research paper shall begin with a brief description of Chinua Achebe and highlight some of his works in the broad field of African and English literature. Chinualumogu Albert Achebe is a renowned Nigerian-born African writer, usually regarded as the patriarch of Afro-English literature. He was born in 1930 in Ogidi, Nigeria and raised by Christian parents. Presently, Chinua Achebe is a practicing Christian who has distanced himself from the local traditions and culture of his people. Despite his Western education and career as a literature professor in the United States, Chinua Achebe still respects the Igbo culture and does not in any way despise it. This in itself is a sharp contradiction of most African scholars who adopt modern European culture at the expense of their traditions. Over the years, Chinua Achebe has worked as a novelist, poet, essayist, editor and producer (Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation), literature professor (in the United States and Nigeria), political activist and author of many literary works. His writings are widely popular across the globe and have been used in teaching literature in institutions of higher le arning and secondary schools inmost parts of the world (Lyons, 1998). Some of his major literary works include novels (Things fall Apart- 1958, No longer at Ease 1960, Man of the People- 1966, etc), short stories (the Sacrificial Egg and other stories 1962, Girls at War and other stories 1972, etc). Chinua Achebe is also known for his best selling poetry works (Beware, Soul Brother and other poems 1971), essays (the Trouble with Nigeria- 1983, Morning yet on Creation Day- 1975, etc). In as much as the target audience of the above listed works comprise of scholars and adults, Chinua Achebe is also among the pioneer authors of children literature. Common examples of his juvenilia works include Chike and the River 1966, The Drum 1977 and The Flute 1979 (Lyons, 1998). The Major Themes of Chinuas literarily works The story lines in most of his novels revolve around Nigerias colonial period and political unrests in the post-independence country. In most occasions, Chinua Achebe uses his ingenuity to clearly bring out the intended meaning of his writings, by illustrating the impacts of European culture and imperialism on African traditions. This approach is the defining characteristic of his debut novel, Things Fall Apart. However, Achebes novels touch on a wide range of themes for instance the description and illustration of the Nigerian Igbo culture, effects of colonization on African traditions, the relationships between femininity and masculinity, etc. The Theme of Culture and Tradition In most of his literary works, Chinua Achebe makes several attempts to illustrate the interactions of African culture, in this case the Nigerian Igbo and modernity as an effect of British colonization of Nigeria. In his first novel, Things Fall Apart, the introduction of Christian culture in Umuofia village as a result of the arrival of European missionaries is met by sharp resistance and opposition by the locals who strive to defend their local heritage at all costs (Emenyonu, 1991). In Things Fall Apart, the newly created roles of the District Commissioner and magistrate courts are interpreted by the locals as a way of locking them out in major decision making processes of issues directly affecting the community. This in effect acts as a springboard for their opposition to European invasion (Emenyonu, 1991). The interference of local traditions by European culture is further depicted in the novel, Anthills of the Savannah by the character, Sam Okoli, a typical example of a Western educated individual who despises his native traditions. This makes it difficult for him to effectively play the role assigned to him by the author, i.e. the president of Kangan (Gera, 2001). The Theme of Gender (Femininity and Masculinity) The manner in which Chinua Achebe assigns roles to characters in his novels and other writings puts into consideration the individual roles of both men and women, in regard to the norms and expectations of the society. Tracing his origins back to the patriarchal Igbo community where important family decisions are made by the paterfamilias, Chinua tries to incorporate these societal elements in his writings. Looking at it from the traditional angle, Igbo men were polygamous in nature and were allowed to beat up their wives in case of any domestic misunderstanding (Mezu, 2006). This is probably why he depicts Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart as a man with three wives, and with a chauvinistic attitude that his masculinity allegedly overshadows anything feminine around him (Achebe, 1994). On the other hand, he portrays women in his writings as cowards and submissive wives, not allowed to take part in either traditional or modern leadership roles. To minimize the chances of being branded as a sexist chauvinistic author, Chinua Achebe at one point tries to appreciate the role played by women in the society. This is seen in Chapter fourteen of Things Fall Apart in the characterization of Ani and subsequent discussions of Nneka, translated to mean, the supreme mother. In addition, arguments may be put across that the problems and tribulations faced by Okonkwo may be attributed to his attitude toward women through regular mistreatment and offenses made against the feminine gender (Thomson, 2008). In his other novel, Anthills of the Savannah, Chinua Achebe treats women with respect as seen when he portrays Beatrice as an independent city woman fighting for her identity and position in the society. She is presented as a principled iron lady with both feminine and masculine character traits and does not rely on men for survival and security in marriage (Bicknell, 1996). Research Methodology In carrying out this research, various works carried out by critics of Chinua Achebes literary works were explored. These include peer review journals and other scholarly sources. In order to ensure accuracy and consistency, some of his novels such as Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God were studied closely and used at various levels during the analysis. It should however be noted that the methodology followed in developing this research paper exempted some of his works, especially those touching on children stories and associated juvenilias. Factors influencing Chinua Achebes writings Just like any other author, Chinua Achebes quality of writing has been positively influenced by several factors. To start with, he in most cases quotes, paraphrases and/or translates Igbo proverbs, idiomatic expressions, and associated folklore to describe Christian dogmas and European political ideologies. This creativity and innovativeness on his part makes it easy for his target audience (especially that derived from contemporary Africa) to identify with, and understand the context of his work. In addition, Chinuas understanding of African traditions, history, politics and the society at large makes it possible for him to compare European and African cultures before presenting insightful and well thought out novels on the same. The Igbo widely believe that at any given time, no single man or single idea can be regarded as the gospel truth. They believe in accepting corrections and learning from past mistakes and experiences of one another. This attitude of the Igbo is partly responsible for his nature of writing in that he neither portrays fatalistic inevitability nor moral absolutes. This perception is illustrated in the novel Anthills of the Savannah, when Ikem, one of its characters accepts the fact that everyone has to accommodate opinions of other people in order to live in harmony (Mezu, 2006) Arguments may also be put across that the kind of education received by Chinua Achebe from early childhood to graduation is partly responsible for sharpening his writing skills (enotes.com, 2010). At a tender age, Chinua the Church Mission Society School before joining Umuahias government college for further studies. He then joined the Ibadan University College, a constituent college of the University of London where he majored in English literature. This educational background makes it possible for Chinua Achebe to contribute in arguments touching directly on Christian doctrines, local politics and European affairs. His understanding of both African and European cultural traditions makes him better placed to critically analyze a broad spectrum of issues revolving around race, religion, colonialism, academics and traditions. This has the general effect of minimizing biasness, prejudice and fixed mindsets in most of his writings. His works of literature therefore discusses various iss ues using diverse cultural approaches, making them acceptable to various audiences across the globe. In one way or another, Chinua Achebes attitude towards the universality of human nature and active involvement in Nigerian politics (at one time served as the vice president of Peoples Redemption Party in the early 1980s) also influenced his writings, making them to extend beyond the Nigerian borders and also beyond the political, sociological and anthropological concerns of the post-independence Africa. He also attempts to invert the existing stereotypes and mindsets held by most westerners. Previously, most European literature work and narratives e.g. those composed by Doris Lessing and Alan Paton presented Africa as continent faced by droughts, famine and constant turmoil. It is from this domain that Chinuas work unearths the myths and misrepresentations of Africa (Lyons, 1998). Achebes writing Style In his novels and short stories, Chinua Achebe incorporates various elements of oral literature at different levels so as to make his works interesting and appealing to the readers. Being a Nigerian Igbo by birth, he intertwines the oral traditions, folk tales and related narratives of his ethnic community into most of his books. A case example is the inclusion of the folk tale- the Sky and the Earth in his 1958 novel Things Fall Apart. Other than making the story line appealing, oral traditions in this case help in making it easier for his target audience to understand and/or interpret various themes of his novels/books. By way of example, the narrative on the Sky and the Earth is used by the author to emphasize on the theme relating various aspects of masculinity and femininity. This is seen when Nwoye, one of the characters in Things Fall Apart brands such tales as women stories to avoid being associated with femininity. This is despite the fact that he does like the narratives bu t only fears the wrath of his father (Ezenwa, 1997). Other than folk tales and oral narratives, Chinua Achebe widely uses proverbs, idioms and similes derived from the Igbo ethnic community so as to enable his audience and readers to make sound judgment of the community. This is portrayed in his books, especially the Arrow of God and Things Fall Apart, where Nwaka and Obierika are respectively regarded as great orators of their time (Egejuru, 1996). In addition, use of folk songs and traditional dancing is a common characteristic of his writing style. In the novel, No Longer at Ease 1960, women are at one point heard singing the Igbos Song of the Heart for Obi. In Things Fall Apart, a comparison of songs sung by the Igbo and Christian missionaries reveals a sharp contrast between the two (Achebe, 1994, pp 135 146). In summary, extensive use of oral traditions in his works is intended for emphasizing on the morals and relevance of cultural traditions to the modern society. Chinua Achebes other main writing style is depicted by his mastery and extensive use of English literature. His choice to use the English language in his works is in itself ironic based on the fact that he was an opponent of the colonization process and any elements of neo-colonization. In order to reach most people across the multi- ethnic Nigeria and other parts of the world, he had to use English, which by then was regarded as the post-independence Nigerias national language. His mastery of the English language made it easier for Chinua Achebe to alter the English syntax, idiom and usage, giving it a completely new African approach to help him in translating and accommodating African ideas with no English equivalents (Ogbaa, 1999). Conclusion In most of his writings, Chinua Achebe uses various literature tools such as symbolism, imagery, metaphors, language mastery and traditions of the Igbo people to illustrate real life situations of the typical Africans, and possible factors responsible for the erosion of African heritage. The quality of his writings and presentation of well thought out ideas has made it difficult for most people to criticize his novels, short stories and poetry. This may also be attributed to the fact that most critics drawn from outside Africa do not have a clear understanding of the African culture, making their criticism limited to the themes and writing styles of Chinua Achebes literary works. For any individual interested in pursuing his/her studies or career in the line of African or English literature, close studies and analysis of Chinua Achebes wide range of literary works may be used in laying a strong foundation in ones understanding of literature tools such as symbolism, imagery, oral narratives, poetry, essay writing, etc. If his works are properly utilized, it may be used in expanding ones horizon both professionally and academically, extending beyond the curriculums taught in schools and institutions of higher learning. It is also from this domain that most of Chinua Achebes literally works have been incorporated into university literature curriculums in most parts of the world.

Baboons :: essays papers

Baboons Baboons belong to the Old World monkey family, Cercopithecidae. They are found in Africa, south of the Sahara as well as in the Saudi Arabia desert (Class Notes 6/12/01). There are five subspecies of baboons including the hamadryas, the Guinea, the yellow, the chacma, and the olive baboons. BABOONS AND THEIR HABITAT The baboon is the most widespread primate in Africa. Well-known for their remarkable ability to adapt, baboons can be found in a variety of habitats, ranging from semi-desert to rainforest, and from coastal areas to mountains. Their adaptability also extends to their feeding habits — baboons will eat just about anything. The baboon's diet includes a wide variety of plants, of which they eat every part: leaves, fruit, buds, flowers, roots, bulbs, tubers, seeds, shoots, bark and even sap. As for meat, these resourceful monkeys will eat insects, shellfish, small reptiles and amphibians, rodents, birds, fish, eggs and even young antelope or livestock. Several kinds of baboons live in Africa and southwestern Arabia. These include the hamadryas baboon, which lives on plains and rocky hills of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and eastern Africa near the Red Sea, and the chacma baboon, which inhabits rocky regions and open woodlands in southern Africa. Olive baboons inhabit the Kekopey cattle ranch located near the town of Gilgil, Kenya. â€Å"The central part of the ranch consists of open grassland studded with occasional patches of bushy shrub, scattered thornbush, and small groves of giant fever trees† (Smuts 17). They eat a wide variety of foods including insects, flowers, leaves, fruits of bushes and herbs, and most significant of all, the grass itself. â€Å"Baboons eat the green blades of grass during the rainy seasons and dig for corms-the underground storage organ of sedge grasses-when the ranch is dry† (Smuts 17-18). They can carry food in pouches inside their cheeks. Probably the most serious predators of baboons are the large carnivores such as cheetahs and leopards. Baboons live mostly on the ground but sleep in such places as trees or cliffs. â€Å"Throughout Africa baboons achieve some protection from nocturnal predators by sleeping in tall trees or on cliffs (Smuts 19). Usually each troop sleeps on a different cliff, but occasionally two troops will share a single sleeping site. In addition to the predators previously mentioned, baboons share their range with antelope as well as other large mammals including zebra, warthog, jackals, and African buffalo.

Current Event on Political Contention: Bush Winning the Political War by Vennochi Essay

An example of newspaper article critiques that is a recent political contention or argument can be the article written by Joan Vennochi entitled ‘Bush Winning the Political War’. This item appeared at the Opinion section of the Boston. com News (http://www. boston. com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/05/06/bush_winning_the_political_war/). It is obvious that what the author had to do in order to attract readers was to give a blunt, eye-catching statement regarding President Bush: â€Å"President Bush doesn’t know how to win the ground war in Iraq. But he does know how to win the political war at home over Iraq† (Vennochi 2007). The use of eye-catching lines and statements attract the readers and keep them from ignoring the pages. It affects content with the need to display facts and incidents that prove the basic argument, which can be stated as follows: Bush loses the ground war over Iraq but wins the political war over the American public. For the author, the ground of the political world only resides at home. What matters in the political arena is the support and strength of the countrymen, so that when it comes to the political war over Iraq, the author is giving a presumption that what the American government should do is to make sure the American troops in Iraq are not hurt—not that there is a timetable for withdrawal, which only suggests that America is on the verge of giving up. Vennochi is like saying that Bush only wants money. For Bush, it is mission accomplished, but for Vennochi, the incident is very far from it. Vennochi has used research, convincing statements, and strong supporting details (such as polls, surveys) to back up his argument, and this gives a very convincing conclusion. In fact, it gave me a different, negative opinion on what President Bush really is like, and it has changed my mind on some beliefs I held only previously. This gives me an impression that the political world works like a movie: Politicians are merely actors that want as much resources as they can accomplish. They get what they want by acting splendidly in front of the camera. Works Cited Vennochi, Joan. Bush Winning the Political War. 6 May 2007. Boston. com News: Opinion. 7 September 2007 .

Essay on Egyptian Culture - 1421 Words

Culture in Egypt is rich and deep. Having one of the oldest cultures dating back to before the pharaohs; Egypt’s culture is well developed and distinctive. With a religious cultured background, Egypt is developing rapidly into a restructured culture, combining old with new. An overview shows a complex structured culture built on many influences. Humanity builds around culture and is a complex system that is difficult to define due to many factors. Webster dictionary defines culture as â€Å"the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations† (Web). A great many things can define a culture. Five of the major†¦show more content†¦Egypt has become modern in contrast to nations around the country as a necessity to survive due to limited resources for food and certain supplies. Egypt has always been a complex country full of an extensive and profound culture spanning thousands of years. The general geography of Egypt is distinctive. A quick look physical natural features and civilian communications will assist partly in understanding Egypt and its development. Egypt consists of a large desert, fertile areas of land, and urbanized areas. The government, due to the limited fertile land, utilizes farming limitation and control. The windblown sand has reclaimed some of the fertilized land and required action to build a dam to regain some land back. Urbanization has taken over part of the fertilized land resulting in even less land to farm on. Because of pesticides and sewage, water pollution has become a problem. With concern of the ecological aspects of the country, the most important areas in Egypt are the fertile land around the Nile River, the dam, and along the Mediterranean coast as well as the oil fields found throughout the country. Egypt conducted a large upgrade to communications in the years following 1990. Three mobile-cellular networks are in place with millions of subscribers and the â€Å"largest fixed-line system in the region† (CIA) was established using coaxial cable and microwave radio relay. Egypt has private and state-runShow MoreRelatedAncient Egypt And The Egyptian Culture1752 Words   |  8 PagesAncient Egypt was a fascinating culture, and still seems to surprise the current generation with more discoveries coming out. And for historians the Egyptian culture has made it easier for scholars and historians to track their life and culture with all the evidence left behind. The Egyptians were people who were divide by gender and a strong hierarchy. And the Egyptian culture was quite advanced for their time in history in regards to technology and economy. Religion was not a single structure;Read MoreThe Egyptian Culture Of Egypt1316 Words   |  6 PagesEgyptian Culture Introduction: For the final paper assignment I chose to write about the Egyptian culture. The reason why I chose the Egyptian culture is because I have always been fascinated by it. My mother was a huge fan of this particular culture, so I grew up going to all the different museums. I am amazed by their pyramids, their history and how they were able to mummify their pharaohs. Geographical area: Egypt’s official name is â€Å"Arab Republic of Egypt†. The country is considered to beRead MoreDifferences Between The Egyptian Culture And General Western Culture1153 Words   |  5 PagesIn today’s world, cross culture communication is used every day within every industry. The ability to communicate effectively between two cultures can be quite a difficult task. In this essay some do’s and don’ts regarding cross cultural communication on a business level between the Egyptian culture and general Western culture will be discussed. The essay will explain the differences in listening and responding in regards to communicating, relationships, and business etiquette. The differences betweenRead MoreThe Culture Of Egyptian Culture1248 Words   |  5 PagesEgyptian culture has its roots in several factors within its borders that define the tradition as well as a way of life in the country. The influences of culture in a country as well as throughout the human civilization underpin the understanding of culture. Egypt is not an exception to this characteristic of culture definition. There exist multiple influencers of culture within the Egyptian border that form the basis in form and principle of their way of life. The population that a form a countryRead MoreThe Culture Of The Egyptian Culture1354 Words   |  6 PagesThe word culture is a term that is used quite often, but what does it mean exactly? If you were to ask a group of philosophical anthropologists whose job it is to study culture, you may get a different definition from each of them. However, even though definitions of culture may differ, many of them do emphasize similar things. The definition of culture is the beliefs, customs arts, of a particular society, group, or time. A particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, which would includeRead MoreEgyptian Culture : Egyptian Cultural Awareness1013 Words   |  5 PagesEGYPTIAN CULTURE 5 EGYPTIAN CULTURAL AWARENESS SGT SHAUN MOORE ALC 13D30 CLASS 005-17 SGL: SSG PAIGE, LLOYD Cultures around the world are based around at least five of the same cultural characteristics which include beliefs, customs, language, religion, and laws. These characteristics are the foundation of each country. (n.d.). Retrieved May 07, 2017, from http://study.com/academyRead More Ancient Egyptian Culture835 Words   |  4 Pageshistorians, Egyptians had made great strides in record keeping which have made studying their culture and society easier than some previous historical eras. Ancient Egyptians were a people who were intensely religious, deeply divided by gender roles and a strong hierarchy, and quite advanced for their period in terms of their technological and economic innovations. Egyptians were deeply religious, and religion played a role in nearly all aspects of their daily lives. When the ancient Egyptians experiencedRead MoreA Study of the Egyptian Culture996 Words   |  4 PagesEgyptian Culture Abstract Culture is perceived to be a structure of symbols that is learned, shared as well as passed on throughout generations of a social assembly. Culture is said to have influences on what a person perceives and also guides persons connections with others and it is a process. This paper will briefly introduce the Egyptian culture and go further to highlight on the said culture in terms of Social stratification, political life, gender roles and statues, marriage family and KinshipRead MoreEgyptian Contributions And Greek Culture1678 Words   |  7 PagesSTATEMENT Egyptian contributions were critical to the development of Greek culture. The Nile Valley civilization is the basis of philosophy, science, and medicine that is often times solely credited to the Greeks. PURPOSE STATEMENT After thorough research and analysis the Nile Valley Contributions to Greek civilization are evident. THE BEGINNINGS Ancient Greece is regarded as the beginnings of advanced sciences and philosophies and the fundamentals of the western world. For years, Greek culture has beenRead MoreEssay on Egyptian Art and Culture2468 Words   |  10 PagesEgyptian Art and Culture Current scholarship generally acknowledges that art does not exist in a vacuum. Rather, art is an expression of the culture which creates it, revealing common beliefs, aspirations, and feelings. Within the vein of cultural art history the true nature of ancient Egypt has become the focus of much questioning. Much has been said regarding this ancient civilization within the context of the continent of Africa. The focus has not been merely geographic—although some scholars