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

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