Organic unity in Alex La Guma's time of the butcherbird
Abstract
The organic unity in Alex La Guma's Time of the Butcherbird has been explored through an analysis of themes, technique and style. The study has examined the development of themes and shown how certain artistic choices have been exploited to enhance narrative cohesion. The study begins with an introduction that encompasses the statement of the problem, the hypotheses, objectives, justification, literature review, theoretical framework, the methodology, the scope and limitation of the study. Thereafter, the study has analysed themes, technique and style as the elements constituting the text's organic unity. Guided by the formalist approach to criticism, the study has focused on organic unity as the ultimate goal of the communion between form and content.
The discussion of themes has focused on racism, relocation and resistance as the major concerns of the writer in the text. The analysis of organic unity has also examined the technique and style La Guma employs in delineating themes. Thus, reminiscences are studied under technique whereas language choice, descriptions and symbolism are studied under style. These artistic choices contribute to the enhancement of the text's meaning and aesthetic appeal. However, the study has examined La Guma's use of technique and style in relation to the enhancement of themes and demonstrated that this relationship between themes and artistic choices is what gives the text its organic wholeness. Therefore, the study has established that La Guma's Time of the Butcherbird has organic unity.
Citation
A project paper submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts in literature in the University of NairobiPublisher
Department of Literature