Browsing by Author "Asfaw, Zerihun"

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    An Analysis of Amharic Folk Anecdotes from Arsi -Robe
    (Addis Ababa Universiy, 2001-06) Tesema, Yeshaw; Asfaw, Zerihun
    This thesis is intended to exam me some possible social issues and literary features of Amharic folk anecdotes collected from Arsi- Robe areas. In my .. undertaking attempted to discern some significant social impulses embedded and literary techniques employed by making sample- based and global analyses. In the activity of sample analysis communicative events of the narrative performances are treated to some detail. Consequently, the analysis in this perspective revealed that, during the actualizing of the stories both parties, narrator and narratee, have almost equal participation. The narrator relates his stories being aware of the cultural system ( respect, politeness, referring to reverend sources, for example) and with democratic freedom. The narratees, on their part, not only listen to the narrator but also argue, comment and add subordinate oral arts. Stylistically the majority of the punch lines of the anecdotes are composed in verse form particularly using Amharic quine. Nearly all anecdotes have introductory parts and punch lines. In the introductory parts, the characters and preliminary events are introduced. Then the amusing part (the punch line) fo llows. In the anecdotes one can view different literary aspects: selection of materials, arrangements of selected elements and surprise endings being the prominent ones. Figures of speech such as irony, hyperbole, paradox, symbol and the like are widely employed. In the anecdotes varieties of social issues are reflected. Economic backwardness, violating injustice, sex inequalities, mutual tolerance of different ethnic groups can be pointed out as significant focuses of the anecdotal stories.
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    The Literary Styles of Haddis Alemayehu and Baalu Girma
    (Addis Ababa University, 1983-06) Asfaw, Zerihun
    The a im of the present study is to i dentify a nd describe the literary styles of Haddis Alemayehu and Bctctlu Girma. To faci li tate this, the study is di vi~ed into four chapte rs . The f i r st chapt",r is intended to give a urief vi8w of the concept of style and to limit the ancle from which the study i s underta!( en . It a l so limits the purpose and scope of the st udy. Chap tel.'s two and three contain the major portion of the 1'8- search. They are se l f - containGd sections ~hat present detail ed descri ptions of the major features of the sty l es of the two Ethiopian nO'Je li s ts. In chapter two, t he mas t outstanding and t'requently occuI'rin;; styl i st i c features of Haddis Al emayehu are described in their contexts. In the thi rd chapter, it Is the style of Baalu Girma that i s presented. As in the preceding chapter, a detailed description of the l'emar l
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    Major Symbols In Selected Amharic Novels
    (Addis Ababa University, 2002-06) Mengistie, Girma; Asfaw, Zerihun
    The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze symbols frequently employed in ten Amharic novels of six pre and post revolution of 1974 writers. The study attempts to investigate the similarities and differences that exist between the writers in their use of symbols. A detailed discussion of the term symbol is presented in order to have a theoretical framework that would provide insight into the meaning of symbol. Symbols identified in the novels are collected, categorized and analyzed in the context of the novels. The main finding of the research is that the writers mostly use universal and public symbols. These symbols are employed to develop the theme of the novels, to portray the mental state of the characters, in a way that they strengthen the theme of the novels. The writers usually use to foreshadow events that will happen in the lives of the main characters. The writers of the pre-revolution period expose the suppressions and evils of the feudal system as well as its corruption. They criticize and satarize some aspects of the traditions of the feudal lords, while in the novels set in post revolution period the writers glorify the revolution and belittle the feudal system. Finally it is recommended that further in-depth research, on the subject should be conducted. Besides, the works of writers that are not included in this study and other new writers should be studied deeply to know the archetypal symbols of Ethiopian writers and the trends that are seen in the use of symbols.
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    Narrative Techniques of Three Selected Ethiopian Hagiographies
    (Addis Ababa University, 1999-06) Eshete, Ephrem; Asfaw, Zerihun
    Foreign and Ethiopian Scholars for example, Hayatt ( 1928), Ullendorf (1945), Harden (1926), Amsalu (1976), etc. Claim that Ethiopian hagiographies are devoid of literary qualities. Some of them even pointed out that these works are completely 'non - indigenous' and there is 'no literature of national origin'. In spite of these claims, however, Ethiopian hagiographies have exerted considerable impacts on the country's literary - thinking. As Anteneh Awoke (1 993) points out, for example, the was profoundly influenced by these works. The latter imitated some techniques from the hagiographers. These religious manuscripts arrested readers' attentions not only for their religious themes but al so for their techniques. However, much research has not been done in these areas. Those who did are interested in the hi storical, philosophical, political and theological issues of the manuscripts. This paper thus, aims at analyzing the narrative structure, characterization and narrative time of the three hagiographies under investigation (i.e. Gadla Gabra Manfas Qidus, Gabra Krestos & Kerestos Samra The thesis has six parts. The first chapter is the introductory part. It gives background information on the research and the genre under considerat ion. The second chapter is devoted to the theoreti cal part which deals with general v considerations of the narrative techniques. The third chapter is concerned with the analysis of gadla Gabra Manfas Qidus, chapter four with gadlii Giibra Krestos and chapter five with giidla Krestos Samra respecti vely. The sixth chapter is the conclusion. The three hagiographi es have different ways of arrangmg events and actions, but they follow identical narrative structures. Their differences in stories do not create differences in structural frameworks. The same is true of the roles of the characters. There are different roles which the characters of the three gadls play that clearly fit with Gremias's 'actants' . On the other hand, the hagiographers use different ways of ordering of events and ac tions, give different emphasis to different events and al so differ in their ways of repet itions.
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    The Portrayal of Women in Selected Novels of Peter Abrahams and Ayi Kwei Armah
    (Addis Ababa University, 2007-07) Admasu, Yodit; Asfaw, Zerihun
    The study is aimed at finding out the portrayal of women as illustrated in four selected novels. It tries to show the portrayal of women as strong and influential in the described society. It also shows that the feminist theories designed by western societies do not necessarily apply to the African societies. I have selected two African writers: Peter Abrahams from South Africa and Ayi Kwei Armah from Ghana, and two novels of each writer that I found portray women’s role in both traditional and modern societies. In the analysis, I have found out that the portrayal of women in African societies is quite different from that of western society. African societies as portrayed in the selected novels acknowledge the role of women in their respective societies. I have also found from the literature review that the integration of gender study in African societies has not achieved the desired result. The society reflects upon the gender studies as a move towards rejection of their culture and identity. Based on the analysis, I have made I have found that African men acknowledge the potential of women. The portrayals of women in the selected works indicate that women in the described societies are given a significant part. I have found that the introduction of foreign theories in a society can have a disastrous effect. In order to move towards development developing nations need to equally involve both women and men.