Browsing by Author "Yewubdar Demissie"

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    Construction of Self: Narrating Minds in Two Novels of Adam Retta.
    (Addis Ababa University, 2021-01) Yewubdar Demissie; Abiye Daniel
    This dissertation examines the construction of self in two Amharic novels of Adam Retta, ―Yesinibit Kelemat‖ (2016) and ―Merek‖ (2017). The main objective of the study then, is to examine the relationship between life story and construction of self, thereby understand and gain more insight into the processes of self construction in the context of fictional characters. In order to accomplish this objective, I tried to review relevant literature in relation to self, narrative and plot. Moreover, the social constructionists approach to narrative and self, together with a theory of plot structure, has laid the foundation for the study‘s theoretical framework, which made it interdisciplinary by its nature as it draws concepts from literary theory and narrative identity theory in social psychology. Social constructionism contends that self is defined through a continuous process of narrative construction in social contexts. My research uses this premise as a starting point and asks how the character-narrators in these novels attempt to organize their life experiences into coherent self-narratives to define themselves. Then an attempt is made to perform a textual analysis on five selected self narratives from the two novels in accordance with the reviewed literature and theoretical framework by focusing on dominant stories constituted by important life events and their organization into a coherent life story in order to define the self. The findings indicate that dominant stories are frequently found to be problem-loaded with three recurring experiences, i.e., the physical body, suffering and relationships, which are found to be fertile grounds from which the characters draw a strong sense of selves. Beginnings of the narrative texts provided hints on specific points that the narrating subjects want to accentuate on, while chronological beginnings shed light on familial influences on identity. Multiple flashbacks also situate some of the self narratives with beginnings ―in medias res‖, which in most cases served as indicators of the following chaotic life story with conflicting selves and identity struggles. Endings, on the other hand, gave some of the self-narratives definite conclusions, while leaving others open, designating the ongoing nature of identity work. In addition to this, turning points in characters‘ life involved surprising incidents which, usually, are followed by profound shifts in identity. Besides this, identity changes are mainly triggered by influences from significant others, followed by sudden and enlightening realizations about the self. In conclusion, the self narratives demonstrated how self-construction is an ongoing social narrative practice and not something to be settled once and for all.
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    Enoch Among the Ethiopians: A Search for the Book’s Influence in the Light of selected Geez Texts
    (Addis Ababa University, 2012-06) Yewubdar Demissie ; Olga Yazbec
    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.