Amharic Adaptations of English Drama
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Date
1990-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The major objectives of this thesis are to examine closely the
theory and practice of literary adaptation and to give a clear
picture of the role it has so far played and may yet have to play
in Amharic drama. The research is conducted in the hope that it
will bring to the attention of readers and students of literature
an area of study in which little has been done until this point.
Hence, it may hopefully serve as reference material for future
research work done in the same or related vein. The thesis also
aims to describe the characteristic features of literary adaptation
which distinguish it from literary translation, thereby clearing
the confusion which exists at present between the two concepts and
genres.
The thesis comprises four chapters, excluding the
introduction, conclusion and appendix. The introduction describes
the aims and structure of the thesis. Chapter I presents some
background information and the views of certain scholars about the
concept and practice of adaptive writing . Chapter II takes up the
Romeo and Juliet theme in some detail. First, a brief account of
the ancient and pre-Shakespearean versions of the story is given.
Then, Shakespeare's treatment of some of these sources in the
writing of his own play is considered. A discussion of postShakespearean
adaptations and a modern variation of the story is
also presented. Later, a scene-by-scene analysis of Kebede Mikael's
Amharic version of Romeo and Juliet follows.Chapter III covers the origin and development of the Faust
story, the tragic treatments of the subject by Marlowe and Goethe,
and finally Kebede Mikael's Amharic version of the Faust theme .
Chapter IV is entirely devoted to the discussion of Teyaki versus
An Inspector Calls. The conclusion contains highlights of the
foregoing chapters and general remarks made on the basis of the
study. An attempt has also been made in this section to show the
value of literary adaptation in the process of the world-wide
cross-cultural transfer and the invaluable role it can play in
Ethiopian literary life once it is given due attention by scholars
and writers. The appendix examines the Amharic translation of
Macbeth, considers at some length Shakespeare's adaptation of this
play from historical sources, and ends with a comparative and
contrastive analysis of passages from Tsegaye Gebremehdin's
translation of Macbeth and Kebede Mikael's adaptation of Romeo and
Juliet in relation to their sources.