DSpace Collection: Thesis - Literature

Literature as a Hydro-political Discourse: A Comparative Analysis of Ethiopian and Egyptian Poetry

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:00:17 GMT

Title: Literature as a Hydro-political Discourse: A Comparative Analysis of Ethiopian and Egyptian Poetry

Authors: Yewulsew, Shitie

Abstract: The Nile is a unique river in many respects. It is the longest river in the world that crosses different geographical, ecological and climatic regions. It is also unique in that its basin is the starting point of one of the earliest civilizations of the world. Along its long journey it connects and sometimes divides millions of inhabitants which otherwise do not have geographic boundary. Through this connection exists communication between and among the inhabitants of the basin. This paper focuses on the comparative analysis of the hydro-political communication of the two riparian states of the Eastern Nile Basin. Ethiopian and Egyptian poetry are discussed as hydro-political discourse. The two countries being the source and receiver of the waters of the Nile respectively have long years of relationship which is reinvigorated by their strong tie of Christianity. Logical consideration of the poems of the aforementioned countries is also justified by the long-standing contention of water politics which has always been and will probably continue to be the greatest paradox of the basin. This paper seeks the root cause of this paradox and the key thereof. Egypt, an entirely Nile-dependent country, adopts a “historical right” to the waters of the Nile which is rooted in their long history of dependence and which is reiterated in the colonial treaties of 1929 and 1959. Ethiopia on the other hand, produces over 86 percent of the Nile waters, but as the least beneficiary of the river’s bounty, depends highly on rain-fed agriculture and is bound to be hit by recurrent draught and famine. And thus Ethiopia adopts the “natural right.” It demands a “fair share” of the river. This paradox is articulated by literature of varying nature through the years. So the objective of this research is to find this discourse in the poems of Ethiopian and Egyptian writers and to make a comparative analysis. By so doing the study aims at filling the existing gap in the production of such literary analyses. The method of study employed in this paper is interdisciplinary descriptive analysis of the selected texts based on certain thematic criteria of the poems to be compared. The discourses in the literatures are also checked for their hydro-political content. The study has indicated that through a sharp contrast of the perceptions of the poets of the two countries, the national as well as regional interests of the people and the nations are somehow advocated by the poetries. The long-standing contention that bases itself on the “historical right” of Egypt and the “natural right” of Ethiopia is also aired. Finally, the poets have proved to be proponents of their national interests across the ages.

ABSURDISM AND AUTHENTICITY PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE AS REFLECTED IN THE STRANGER AND I ST AND ALONE

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 07:56:24 GMT

Title: ABSURDISM AND AUTHENTICITY PHILOSOPHY OF EXISTENCE AS REFLECTED IN THE STRANGER AND I ST AND ALONE

Authors: KALKIDAN, WONDIMU

Abstract: This thesis studies the embedment of Absurdism and Authent icity philosophy in Albert Camus’s The Outsider and Berhanou Dinke’s I Stand Alone, respectively. It argues that each of the protagonists of the literary works experiences and corresponds to the twentieth century philosophical thoughts espoused in the present study. The works are analyzed with philosophical foundations consisting of Camus’s Absurd worldview and authentic thoughts advocated by Sartre, Heidegger and other philosophers that made this area of philosophy their concern. Thus, through the analyses of the protagonists in the selected texts, the study discloses how these characters make a choice for their existence. It is brought to light how the characteristics of the absurd man, living a life of indifference, living in the present moment and rebelling against the conventions of society, make Meursault a absurd. Whereas Berhanou whose alienation stems from his political discontentment such as unjust and oppressive rules of the system he serves and represents as a diplomat trigger the protest and consequently his authenthic experience as an exile is analyzed.

The Images of Women in Nibut and Yederasiwa File

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 07:28:44 GMT

Title: The Images of Women in Nibut and Yederasiwa File

Authors: Nahom, Daniel

Abstract: Traditionally, women have been relegated to the margins of society, history and culture in male-dominated environment. Patriarchal systems have long denied women to play an appropriate role in nation building and to enter the public sphere. The representation of female characters in fictions by female writers is different from that of men owning to the fact that they have different life experiences. Both the novels that have been selected for the analysis, Nibut and Yederasiwa File, are written by female Ethiopian writers. The aim of this thesis is to examine and analyze the images of women in the works of Ethiopian female writers. The paper is divided into five chapters. Chapter one deals with the background, statement of the problem, objectives, significance, methodology and scope. The second chapter presents a review of related literature. In this section, an attempt has been made to review material related to this study. In the third chapter, an attempt has been made to explain the conceptual framework which focuses on Socialist feminist literary theory that has been applied in this study. In the fourth chapter, the selected novels have been examined and analyzed using the framework discussed in chapter three. The writer of this research has found out that the writers of the selected novels have tried to reverse the traditional stereotypical portrayal of women by giving the major female characters the face of the New Woman which is characterized by being intelligent, educated, self-reliant, etc. On the other hand, it has also been observed that the female characters are exposed to sexual abuses and harassments, and also are victims of traditional gender roles that have long been established by patriarchal dominated society. Then, the final chapter is the conclusion. In this section a brief summary and some findings have been given.

1Enoch Among the Ethiopians: A Search for the Book’s Influence in the Light of selected Geez Texts

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 07:21:14 GMT

Title: 1Enoch Among the Ethiopians: A Search for the Book’s Influence in the Light of selected Geez Texts

Authors: Yewubdar, Demissie

Abstract: This thesis explores the influence of 1Enoch among the Ethiopians in the light of three selected Geez texts and in terms of Archetypal literary theory, particularly as discussed by N. Frye. The main objectives of the study are investigating the influence of Enochic myths in shaping the thought pattern of Ethiopian writers and to explain the role of these myths in the selected texts. In order to accomplish the aforementioned objectives the writer of this study tries to review relevant literature in relation to 1Enoch, its history in Ethiopia and previous studies undertaken in the area. Moreover, archetypal literary theory, focusing on the insights of Frye, who argues that myths/archetypes are the underling narrative structures of literary works, is discussed. Then an attempt is made to go through the selected Geez texts in accordance with the reviewed literature and theoretical framework by focusing on the thematic aspects of the texts and their narrative structure in relation to the mythical narrative patterns of 1Enoch. In the analysis it is pointed out that the mythical narrative patterns of Enochic myths are the underling narrative structures of the three selected Geez texts. The writers’ special affinity towards these myths was mainly due to their convenience to structure the narratives of the subject texts, which are primarily concerned with praising prominent figures of Ethiopia and the country itself. On the other hand, the subject texts have a common agenda of creating an exalted identity for the Ethiopian nation, thus this issue has become the main point the writers of the three texts tried to promote. From the analysis of the three Geez texts it is concluded that 1Enoch with its central figure Enoch and his extraordinary wisdom, achievements and greatness has become a catch to the Ethiopian writers. In addition to this, the writers of the subject texts have struggled, in their works, to make the Ethiopian people the greatest of all nations of the world.