Essays and Research Papers on African Literature

This 5 page paper studies Chinua Achebe's use of theme. Thematic elements are identified and critically evaluated. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper presents an overview of the work, concentrating on the female protagonists and their roles as well as the significance of the rail workers' strike. The setting is discussed as an important backdrop to present an intricate story of struggle. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page report discusses the Kenyan novelist Ngugi wa Thiong’o, also known as James Ngugi (1938 - ) and his fourth novel, “Petals of Blood” (1977). The book serves as both a sarcastic and bitter indictment against the leaders of post-independence Kenya and how they betrayed the country. Chinua Achebe (1930 - ) of Nigeria is one of ...

A 7 page research paper that examines the poetry and politics of Leopold Sedar Senghor, Senegal's first president and one of the people who coined the philosophy of Negritude in the 1930s. The writer examines how Senghor's politics influenced his poetry. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 6 page essay that discusses what can be inferred about the position of women in Umuofian culture based on Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page outline of the stories which unfold in these three books. The author utilizes a feminist approach to conclude that in comparison to the weaknesses of human nature, the scenarios which unfold in these books reveal the importance on relying on something stronger than humanity. We must look to our spirituality ...

The theme of the human condition includes everything that a human can experience while on this planet. It covers culture, age, gender, social status and monetary abilities. This 5 page paper provides a tutorial based on five stories that are centered on the human condition as it relates to the social stereotypes assigned through time and place. ...

A 7 page paper which examines the protagonist Okonkwo, the African customs as practiced by the Ibo tribe, and the conflict between the African and European cultures. No additional sources are used.

A 5 page paper which if Okonkwo’s downfall is due to his character, or if there are other contributing factors as well. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

Cry, the Beloved Country – Two Fathers Come Together: This 7-page comparative essay examines Alan Paton’s divergent patriarchs, Stephen Kumalo and James Jarvis in Cry, the Beloved Country. The specific events in the novel that ultimately cause them to change are enveloped in the related loss of their sons, their subsequent relationship and the self-revelatory ...

A 10 page paper which discusses the novel "The Housemaid" by Ammo Darko and analyzes it as it entails issues concerning capitalism. In that respect the paper discusses urbanization, the position of women in the society, and the notion that people, as well as items, become commodities in this novel as it addresses capitalism. No additional sources cited.

This 5 page paper considers the themes, story, symbolism and parallels in this story of Timbu, an African women in her childhood. The issues in the book focus on the role of women in the community as subservient, with few rights. Colonisation, which is also considered in the book, has not improved the situation, only ...

A 22 page paper which discusses different aspects of identity as is found in Athol Fugard's play, "The Blood Knot." Homi K. Bhabha's theories, regarding colonial mimicry, are also discussed as they apply to Fugard's play. Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

An 8 page paper which compares and contrasts the women in Mariama Ba's "So Long a Letter" with women in Senegal, Africa. Bibliography lists 3 additional sources.

A 5 page essay that offers a synopsis and analysis of Chinua Achebe's novel Anthills of the Savannah (1987). The writer also discusses the major themes. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which examines the character of Okwonko from Achebe's "Things Fall Apart." The paper examines whether the character can be sympathized with or not. In regards to this examination the paper discusses whether one can lay blame on one group or another. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page essay that examines how fear operates as an underlying theme in Alan Paton's novel of South Africa Cry, the Beloved Country. The writer examines the different types of fear expressed by Paton, as well as his antidote to this factor, which is love and Christianity. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page paper which reviews and summarizes the book "Notes from the Hyena's Belly" by Nega Mezlekia. No additional sources cited.

This 6 page paper provides an overview of the book and evaluates its characters. Ngasa Moke, Nza, Mabalo Lokela, Massnagaya and Father Dubonnett are discussed in depth. Thematic elements and the plot are also briefly discussed. No additional sources cited.

A 5 page paper which examines the role of the Nigerian Woman in Buchi Emecheta's "The Slave Girl." Bibliography lists 5 additional sources.

A 5 page paper which examines the conflict each story’s characters face between remaining loyal to their cultural customs and seeking out the contemporary urban world, the choices and sacrifices each must make, as well as their consequences. No additional sources are used.

This paper examines Chinua Achebe's book Things Fall Apart and discusses the relationship of the main character, Okonkwo, and his concept of family and tribe. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A five page paper which compares these two works, in terms of the way in which they explore the role of women in a male-dominated culture, and the nature of sacrifice in relation to women's place in society. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 6 page paper which examines the development of the immigrant, the white French man Clarence, in Camara Laye’s “Radiance of the King.” No additional sources cited.

An 8 page research paper that focuses on the character of Okonkwo in Chinus Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart. The writer examines how much of Okonkwo's downfall is due to his own character and how this relates to Igbo society in general. Bibliography lists 2 sources.