In his current popularity, Herman Charles Bosman has come to be viewed as something of an “eternal artist” figure, conveying “marvellous home-truths for all men” (Gray 1977:79). But the truth about the later Bosman is that he became a writer who had a scrupulous, instant understanding with each passing day and each yard of newspaper that underwent his professional scrutiny. Stephen Gray suggests “that he [Bosman] meant himself to be taken as […] a commentator, a newspaper columnist, whose medium happened to be fiction” thus drawing attention to the underlying truths of South Africa (ibid.). By debunking the myth of Boer bravery during the second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) in his short story “Mafeking Road”, Bosman touches upon a subtle theme extant amongst the Boer community, namely extreme Afrikaner patriotism (Wenzel 1999:109-110).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Anglo-Boer Wars (1880-1881 / 1899-1902)
3. Herman Charles Bosman
4. A narrative discourse analysis of H. C. Bosman’s “Mafeking Road” (1932)
4.1. An overview of narrative techniques and oral-style narrative modes
4.2. Analysing “Mafeking Road” on the basis of narrative techniques and oral-style narrative modes
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This academic paper examines Herman Charles Bosman's short story "Mafeking Road" through the lens of narrative discourse analysis. The primary goal is to investigate how Bosman employs specific narrative techniques and oral-style modes to deconstruct myths of Boer bravery, ultimately critiquing the notion of fanatic Afrikaner patriotism during the Anglo-Boer War era.
- Narrative discourse strategies and the construction of fictional plots.
- The influence of oral storytelling traditions on Bosman's prose.
- Deconstruction of Afrikaner nationalism and the myth of Boer heroism.
- The role of the fictional narrator, Oom Schalk Lourens, in mediating social critique.
- Analysis of tragic themes and irony within the context of historical, political, and cultural identity.
Excerpt from the Book
A narrative discourse analysis of H. C. Bosman’s “Mafeking Road” (1932)
In this chapter, I will focus on the narrative mode and oral-style of “Mafeking Road” by depicting Bosman’s deployment of narrative techniques and his use of the oral-style narrative mode, thus introducing Oom Schalk Lourens as the fictional narrator. Oom Schalk Lourens lends unity to the unfolding of “Mafeking Road” and so reflects Bosman’s literary skills which include as models both the frontier, humorist tradition – American as well as Afrikaner – and the highly structured “twist in the tail” that is typical of O. Henry and Guy de Maupassant (Chapman 1996:190). Finally, Bosman’s use of narrative devices extant in “Mafeking Road” as well as several features of the oral-style narration will be discussed in more detail.
4.1. An overview of narrative techniques and oral-style narrative modes
Since historical events “do not contain their meanings within themselves and independent of the eye (I) of the beholder”, a story provides the context in which their meaning can be unfolded (Reckwitz 1996:116). Hence, the historical event is liberated “from any causal or mechanistic determination so that it becomes a freely disposable semantic unit that can be variously explained within the context of different interpretative universes” (ibid.). Due to this, historical events are subjectivized in a story on both the phenomenal and the conceptual level. Whereas the theme of a story and hence the plot are determined on a conceptual level by a chronological sequence of events, the narrative act or discourse, involving the phenomenal level of the story “is not restricted to a linear arrangements of events” (117). In short, the story consists of all events which are to be depicted, while the plot is the chain of causation which dictates that these events told in the story are somehow linked and that they are therefore to be depicted in relation to each other (Cobley 2001:5). The discourse is the modus of presenting the plot of a story which “need not be the same as that of the natural logic of the story” (Chatman 1980:43). Hence, the discourse turns the events in a
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's intent to explore how Bosman critiques fanatic Boer patriotism in "Mafeking Road" by deconstructing historical myths through narrative strategies.
2. The Anglo-Boer Wars (1880-1881 / 1899-1902): This section provides the historical context of Afrikaner nationalism, the origins of the conflicts, and the resulting societal attitudes that Bosman addresses in his work.
3. Herman Charles Bosman: This chapter details the biography of the author, focusing on his personal experiences in the Transvaal and prison, which influenced his literary style and character development.
4. A narrative discourse analysis of H. C. Bosman’s “Mafeking Road” (1932): This chapter provides the core analysis, focusing on narrative techniques and the oral-style mode.
4.1. An overview of narrative techniques and oral-style narrative modes: This section establishes the theoretical framework for analyzing how oral discourse and narrative strategies like frame narration function within written stories.
4.2. Analysing “Mafeking Road” on the basis of narrative techniques and oral-style narrative modes: This section applies the theoretical framework to the text, demonstrating how Oom Schalk Lourens acts as a mediator for ironic social critique.
5. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes how Bosman’s focus on religion and patriotism, mediated through irony and satire, allows him to critique the distortions of perception in the Afrikaner community.
Keywords
Herman Charles Bosman, Mafeking Road, Narrative Discourse, Oral-Style, Oom Schalk Lourens, Boer War, Afrikaner Nationalism, Patriotism, Satire, Irony, Metafiction, Historical Fiction, South African Literature, Myth-making, Tragic Theme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on a narrative discourse analysis of Herman Charles Bosman’s short story "Mafeking Road", specifically examining how he deconstructs myths of Boer bravery.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The core themes include the intersection of history and memory, the impact of fanatic Afrikaner patriotism, religious influences, and the literary representation of social critique in South African writing.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to explain how Bosman uses specific narrative techniques, such as the oral-style mode and unreliable narration, to criticize the extreme ideological beliefs inherent in his depicted society.
Which scientific methodologies are applied?
The author utilizes narratological analysis, discourse analysis, and historical-contextual interpretation to dissect the mechanics of Bosman’s storytelling.
What does the main body of the paper discuss?
It provides an overview of narrative theories, a deep dive into Bosman’s biographical influences, and a detailed case study of "Mafeking Road" as a satirical work.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
Key terms include Narrative Discourse, Oral-Style, Patriotism, Satire, Irony, Metafiction, and Afrikaner Nationalism.
How does the narrator Oom Schalk Lourens contribute to the story's meaning?
As a fictional narrator, Oom Schalk provides a conversational, oral-style framework that mediates the story, allowing the author to maintain critical distance and employ irony to expose the biases of the characters.
What significance does the "twist in the tail" hold in Bosman’s stories?
Unlike traditional endings, the paper argues that Bosman’s "twist" serves to deepen the ironic interplay between appearance and reality, prompting the reader to re-evaluate the tragic aspects of the plot.
How does the author treat the concept of patriotism in "Mafeking Road"?
The paper concludes that Bosman does not condemn the principle of patriotism itself, but rather the fanaticism that leads to extreme, tragic actions, such as a father’s betrayal of his own son.
- Citation du texte
- Hildegard Schnell (Auteur), 2009, A Narrative Discourse Analysis of Herman Charles Bosmans' Short Story 'Mafeking Road' (1932), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/128947
