Merger of Theme and Style in Chimamanda Adichie’S Purple Hibiscus and Zaynab Alkali’S the Virtuous Woman
The merger of Theme and Style in Chimamanda Adichie’S Purple Hibiscus and Zaynab Alkali’S the Virtuous Woman.
ABSTRACT
This work is a study of the merger of theme and style in Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus and Zaynab Alkali’s The Virtuous Woman. It is an analysis of how a special configuration of language has been used in the realization of a particular subject matter/theme in the two novels to achieve a specific aesthetic purpose.
The linguistic means as applied in the two novels include how, through characterization, the authors were able to bring out themes and stylistically developed them to capture the interest of readers. These linguistic means include linguistic parallelism, syntactic devices, lexical equivalent, violation of selection restriction rule, and literary devices.
These features have combined to produce the aesthetics of the novels under study. In undertaking this study, we have relied on primary and secondary sources. Intensive research in related published works and internet material helped to provide an adequate theoretical framework.
Adichie’s and Alkali’s lexical selections delivered the message of the novels in spite of the presence of indigenous words. Thus, Adichie and Alkali have established themselves as prolific writers with great aptitude for presenting their socio-cultural themes with amazing flexibility and dexterity.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Approval page… … … … … .. … … … i
Title page… … … … … .. … … … … ii
Certification… … … … … .. … … … iii
Dedication… … … … … .. … … … — iv
Acknowledgements… … … … … .. … … v
Abstract… … … … … .. … … … … vi
Table of contents … … … .. … … … .. vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study…… … .. … … — 1
1.2 Objective of the Study… … … .. … … … 10
1.3 Significance of the Study… … … .. … … 10
1.4 Scope of the Study … … … .. … … … 11
1.5 Research Problem…… … .. … … … — 11
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Conceptual Framework … … … .. … … — 13
2.2 Theoretical Framework… … … .. … … — 22
2.3 Empirical Framework… … … … … … … 27
CHAPTER THREE:
Methodology … … … .. … … … … … 29
CHAPTER FOUR:
Textual Analysis… … … .. … … … … — 30
CHAPTER FIVE:
Summary, Conclusion, and Suggestions… … … — 61
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The relationship between language and literature has remained a subject of scholarly debate. While language is a set of words and phrases with the meaning behind them, literature is the manipulation and use of those words and phrases to communicate the intended message. In literature, language is meticulously crafted, not just to inform a reader but to persuade him, to play and poke at his mind.
Consequently, there is this question of whether content can exist independent of form or form independent of content or still whether both work together in the actualization of aesthetics. In this regard, language comes under the form, since it is the carriageway through which the literary artist passes on his message which is content.
It is obvious that understanding content involves understanding the medium that carries it and the medium exists because it has content to pass across. Valery in Todorov (30) says that “literature is and cannot be anything but a kind of extension of the application of certain properties of language”.
Trial (28) also argues that “proficiency and competence in the use of language provide effective reading and proper understanding of desired experience in a work of art”. Spitzer quoted in Leech (2) states that “the smallest detail of language can unlock the “soul” of a literary work’’, showing the relationship between language and literature.
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