1. Introduction
1.1. Brief introduction to home and belonging as a general idea
Home has a significant function in our lives. Thinking of home we associate notions like shelter and comfort and when we come home we want to feel safe and welcome. John McLeod argues in this sense that “to be ‘at home’ is to occupy a location where we are welcome, where we can be with people very much like ourselves.”¹ We are looking for who we are, where we come from and try to find our place in life. When one is born in a country but moves to another where is one’s home country then? This question is hard to answer, because migration is always a process which implies a struggle of identities. When the 2nd generation is born in the host country- where do they belong if the host country does not accept them as full members? The term home is highly complicated in a complex and multicultural world like ours.
1.2. Procedure and approach of my analyses
I have centered my term paper on an attempt to identify and characterize the concepts of home and belonging in postcolonial literature.
Comparing how the idea of home and belonging is presented in the novels White Teeth by Zadie Smith and Small Island by Andrea Levy, I have tried a text- extrinsic approach. Furthermore, I have analysed the authors’ intentions with regard to the time of publication and the time of the narrative. However, the main aspect of my analyses is which concepts of home and belonging exist and which of them can be found in the novels of my comparison. I have chosen White Teeth because it is a novel that deals with the colonial past and the postcolonial present and I have selected Small Island because it is a novel that deals with migration in the past. Small Island is set at the beginning of migration when many colonized people came to England. Andrea Levy presents different views, the White and Black British point of view at the beginning of migration. My motivation to compare both novels is to go back to the beginning of colonial migration and to show the difference between the concepts from the past to the present.
¹ John McLeod, Beginning Postcolonialism (Manchester, New York: Manchester University Press, 2000) p. 210.
2 Zadie Smith, White Teeth (London: Penguin Books, 2001).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Brief introduction to home and belonging as a general idea
1.2 Procedure and approach of my analyses
2. Theories and concepts of Home & Identity
2.1 ‘Traditional’ concepts of home and belonging
2.2 Fluid concepts- ‘diaspora identities’
2.3 Concept of living ‘in-between’ identities
2.4 Hybrid identities
3. Migration and home – the importance of home in Small Island
4. Traditional concepts of home and belonging in Small Island and in White Teeth
5. Fluid concepts- ‘diaspora identities’, living ‘in-between identities’ and ‘hybrid identities’ in White Teeth compared to ‘in-between identities’ in Small Island
6. Conclusion and outlook
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines and characterizes the concepts of home and belonging within the context of postcolonial literature. By analyzing and comparing the novels "Small Island" by Andrea Levy and "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith, the work investigates how these literary works depict the struggle for identity formation in the wake of migration and the evolving meanings of "home" in a multicultural society.
- The theoretical foundation of static vs. fluid concepts of home.
- The impact of migration on identity and the experience of "exile."
- Comparative analysis of "diaspora," "in-between," and "hybrid" identities.
- The influence of nationalistic representation on the sense of belonging.
- The contrast between first-generation immigrants and their descendants.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Traditional concepts of home and belonging
In this chapter, I focus on home and belonging as a static concept and on home and belonging as a mental construction in the sense of home as a ‘mythic place’. At the end of this chapter, I shortly present home and belonging in nationalist representation.
Traditionally home and belonging can be defined as the place where our ancestors used to live, the place of our origin. Consequently, this definition is dedicated to the past without regard where one lives right now. As a result, it is a very passive and static concept, and home is a fixed place. This traditional idea implies that people define their identity according to their roots.
John McLeod argues in this sense: The concept of ‘home’ often performs an important function in our lives. It can act as a valuable means of orientation by giving us a sense of our place in the world. It tells us where we originated from and where we belong.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter provides a foundational overview of the concepts of home and belonging and details the methodological approach used to compare the two novels.
2. Theories and concepts of Home & Identity: The chapter explores the theoretical framework, distinguishing between static, traditional concepts and modern, fluid definitions such as diaspora and hybrid identities.
3. Migration and home – the importance of home in Small Island: This section investigates the struggles of immigrants depicted in Andrea Levy's work and the critical significance of finding a physical and mental place to call home.
4. Traditional concepts of home and belonging in Small Island and in White Teeth: Here, the author examines how nationalistic representations and ancestral roots define belonging within the characters of both novels.
5. Fluid concepts- ‘diaspora identities’, living ‘in-between identities’ and ‘hybrid identities’ in White Teeth compared to ‘in-between identities’ in Small Island: This chapter provides a comparative analysis of how characters navigate life between cultures and the complexity of hybridity in modern postcolonial society.
6. Conclusion and outlook: The paper concludes by summarizing that there is no singular definition of home, emphasizing the need for fluid and progressive ways of thinking about identity in a postcolonial world.
Keywords
Postcolonial literature, Home, Belonging, Migration, Diaspora identities, In-between identities, Hybridity, Small Island, White Teeth, Identity construction, Multiculturalism, Nationalist representation, Assimilation, Second generation, Cultural exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how the concepts of home and belonging are constructed and perceived within postcolonial literature, specifically through the lens of characters experiencing migration.
Which novels serve as the primary subjects of the comparative analysis?
The study analyzes Andrea Levy’s "Small Island" and Zadie Smith’s "White Teeth."
What is the central research objective?
The goal is to contrast traditional, static concepts of identity with fluid, contemporary concepts to understand how characters negotiate their sense of belonging in a host country.
Which scientific methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a text-extrinsic approach, analyzing the novels in light of postcolonial theory, authorial intent, and the historical contexts of migration.
What key aspects are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers theories of diaspora and hybridity, the significance of the "mythic place," and how the second generation of immigrants struggles with identity compared to their parents.
How would you summarize the core themes using keywords?
Core themes include postcolonial identity, migration, the struggle between ancestral roots and host country assimilation, and the concept of "in-between" living.
Why does the author differentiate between first and second-generation immigrants?
The author notes that first-generation immigrants often view their home country as an idealized "mythic place," while the second generation deals with the complex reality of being "in-between" cultures.
What specific conclusion does the author reach regarding the concept of "home"?
The author concludes that "home" and "belonging" are not fixed, static entities but are continuous processes of construction, especially in a diverse, postcolonial society.
- Quote paper
- Christina Heckmann (Author), 2006, Concepts of Home and Belonging in Postcolonial Literature compared in the novels "Small Island" by Andrea Levy and "White Teeth" by Zadie Smith, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/138596
