Incognitos of Christ in the Amharic Novel: A Critical Study of Archetypal Mimesis and Its Literary Functions Based on Two "Novels"
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Date
1998-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The need to beseech researchers in the field of Amharic fictional literature to
pay sufficient heed to its theological dimensions in general and the state of
the Christ-figure in the Amharic novel in particular has initiated this
research. Lack of a related study on this topic which has come out in whole
has encouraged it further. With the hypothesis that Christ has his incognitos
in the Amharic novel by way of which the Bible manifests its influence on
secular literature, two sample "novels" have been selected for scrutiny;
these are Llbb Wallad Tarik and FIQI1' Iska MaqabI1'. To ascertain the
hypothesis these novels have been examined eclectically. The outcome of
the investigation has indicated that the Christ-figure has been utilized as a
major symbol in these "novels". In the former the figure has been
depicted as "quester of benefaction and harbinger of salvation" and in
the latter as "social critic and rej ected reformer." The general "tendency"
seems to be the desire to unmask and shed light on the evil in society and
the longing for an ideal world where "salvation" is attained and peace and
freedom are restored. The result in the end has affirmed the proposition that
studying the Holy Scriptures to fully and COlTectly appreciate the deeper
realities of life and death ("the recurring themes" of imaginative literature)
as depicted in the Amharic novel is of paramount importance. This humble
study concludes its discussion by commending some other Amharic novels
for their convenience to conduct research in this area.
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Keywords
Critical Study, Archetypal