An Analysis of Literary Techniques in Some of the Prose Works of Ethiopian Women Authoresses 1959-1985 Eth. C.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1995-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to introduce and analyse the
literary techniques of some of the prose works o f Ethiopian women
authoresses. As discussed in the introduction, literary studies
and comments both by Ethiopian and foreign scholars about the
fictional works of Ethiopian women authoresses that appeared t hus
far to the public are very scanty and fragmentary.
Hence, the need for introducing and examining some of the
prose works of women authoresses arises from this reality. The
presentstudyhas, therefore, considered the fictional writings of
twelve authoresses for critical discussion . The works of these
authoresses have been selected based on three different reasons.
The first is the availability of the texts in the thr ee major
libraries. These are: the libraries of the MU, the library of
Ministry of Culture and Sports Affairs, and the library of the Addis
Ababa administrative region . The second reason is the common and
unique characteristics of the authoresses in using different kinds
of literary devices; and tidy the literary genres of the works.
Other than the introduction and conclusion sections , the
study is di vided into three chapters . Included in the introduction
were : literary survey and comments which, directly or indirectly,
deal with the main concern of the present study. The first chapter
focuses on two things. First , it tries t o convey the theoretical
defini tions and explanations of the li terary terms : narration and
different types of points of view. Secondly, it discusses the
outline of seven pre-revolution prose works and analyses some of
the narrat ive methods (including the various points of view) which
the authoresses use to unfold the materials of their stories . The
texts are e xamined in the order of their date of publications.
Chapter two dwells on the various narrative techniques employe dby
the post - revolution women authoresses. Al though the focus of this
chapter is to analyse the methods of narration, it has a
considerable diffe rence from the previous one . Apart from dealing
with such technical elements as point of view epistolary and
flashback methods, chapter two will also attempt to introduce and
examine those new narrative techniques (the employment of
telephone conversation, foreshadowing, dream, and a story within
story method) which are used only in the works of four post revolution
women authoresses.
The aim of chapter three, on the other hands, is to critically
examine whether or not the characterization, plot constructions
and language of some of the prose works of women authoresses are
appropriate , cons istent, coherent, concise, significant and
credible. The summary and conclusion part of the study will provide
the summary of the work and also try to point out some weaknesses and
strengths of the authoresses under consideration . The
contribution of women authoresses to the overall development of
modern Amharic literature is also discussed in the last chapter .
Lastly, the appendixes present the full texts of the interviews
conducted with two "literary techniques " and the social
educational, material , family and literary backgrounds of
Ethiopian women authoresses
Description
Keywords
Prose Works of Ethiopian Women