Realism in Sahle Sellassie Berhane Mariam’s Warrior King and the Afersata
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis is to show how Sahle Sellassie Berhane Mariam, who has
proven his worth as an Ethiopian novelist, represents the Ethiopian social and political
environment in a thoroughly realistic way. Realism portrays the world as it really
appears. Moreover, the study contribute to the study of Ethiopia literature in English
which has not yet got due consideration so far.
This thesis has five major chapters. The first chapter shows that the background of
Ethiopian literature in English, statement of the problem, objectives, significance,
delimitation and organization of the study as well as operational definition of terms.
Previous studies are reviewed under chapter two and the methodology of the study is
treated under the third chapter. Chapter four is the theoretical framework that reviews
the theoretical issues related to Realism and its tenets. Chapter four is the analysis of
characterization in Warrior King, a realistic depiction of cultural and traditional beliefs
in The Afersata and major themes in both novels. It is this part of the thesis that explores
how Realism emerges through such elements. Chapter five is the last chapter that deals
with conclusion and recommendations.
It is found that, in Warrior King, all events and episodes were realized in the novel
without any fantasy and extraordinary exaggeration since it is a historical novel. The
upbringing, family background, brevity, and military talent of the hero, Emperor
Tewodros, are portrayed and indicated as real as in history of Ethiopia. In The Afersata
novel of Sahle Sellassie, the story focused on the communal and traditional court system
called the Afersata to investigate the arson which was a real experience of the Gurage
people in the past. The author revealed different customs and beliefs. Besides political
corruption, social insecurity and economic woes are revealed. The story evolves during
Emperor Haile Sellassie’s regime where Ethiopia suffered from bureaucratic government
system.
Description
Keywords
Sahle Sellassie Berhane Mariam’